Medication for ADHD

"Do I need medication?" is a question I'm often asked by my patients.

My answer usually is  "it depends".

According to Dr. Russ Barkley, taking medication for ADHD is like taking insulin for diabetes: you need it every day, there are no days off or weekends off or summers off.

My patients tell me this isn't always true.

Some find medication makes them feel like "zombies", ie restricted affect, tense. Others feel it zaps their creativity, one of the defining features of ADHD. I also hear that it interferes with sleep and sometimes, it gives headaches, loss of appetite or other side effects.

My advice: I think medication is an individual choice. Many people find they are fine without it; they prefer meditation and/or exercise and diet to manage their symptoms. Some are put off by the stigma attached to stimulants. Others feel like it's a wonder drug: they can focus, take care of chores, stop procrastinating; they find it lowers anxiety and depression and some can go off their ssri's. Even if you find someone to diagnose and prescribe for you, it does sometimes take quite a bit of experimentation to find the right med and the right dose.