Diagnosis and Treatment of Attention-Deficit/
Hyperactivity Disorder in Women
In children the male/female ADHD ratio is at least 5/1. However in adults, the ratio approaches 1/1. The common symptoms are careless mistakes, poor listening skills, lack of sustained attention and follow through, difficulty organizing or dealing with multiple responsibilities, and distractability. There must be a childhood history of “underachievement,” i.e, a disparity between innate intelligence and academic performance, most obvious in the educational history.

There are conditions that can mimic ADHD. Major depression, or bipolar illness, anxiety disorder, heavy metal or other central nervous system toxicity, Lyme’s disease, recreational drug abuse, prescription weight loss drugs, overuse of over the counter stimulants and caffeine, alcohol abuse, hypothyroidism, hypoglycemia, and the symptoms of the peri-menopausal time of life.

Medications that are effective in children with ADHD are also effective in adults. Existing pharmacologic therapies attempt to compensate for brain dysfunction by increasing norepinehrine action centrally (atromoxetine..Stattera), by taking advantage of the serotonin sparing effect of various antidepressants (like bupropion...Wellbutrin), or by using stimulants like Ritalin or amphetamines like Adderall. Only Strattera is FDA approved for ADHD in adults, although the others are commonly employed by physicians who treat such patients. The stimulant dugs other than Strattera do have a tendency to suppress appetite and cause some weight loss, and I also have seen women get into some increased mental symptoms, primarily anxiety states, as a result of using these drugs. Plus, all of them either force the release of or reduce the reuptake of brain neurotransmitters. That can be a good thing temporarily, but in the long haul further depletion of neurotransmitter levels occurs, and the drugs become less effective doses are increased, and a negative vicious circle begins.

Natural medicine treatment involves metabolic typing for a diet prescription, elimination of sugar, caffeine, and junk foods, testing for hypoglycemia, nutritional status, metals, and blood acidity (often correlated with anxiety symptoms and lack of concentration), and the use of amino acids and other nutritionals to restore adequate levels of neurotransmitters and attain metabolic balance. There is a place for medications, but it should not be the first or only treatment attempted. We have good success in the treatment of female ADHD without them. 

A Patient Case
A patient emailed the office franticly. She was 'loosing her mind'. She couldn't concentrate and was very anxious. Mostly she was a very together woman. After a history was taken it was clear that she had attention deficit disorder. She was placed on a hypoallergenic diet and received natural hormone replacement. Though the whole process took a few months she is now able to do all of her activities which involves running a household with five children. Her attention is excellent and her anxiety has left. She was grateful because her regular internist wanted to give her 'anti-anxiety' medication.

Being a patient of Caring Medical
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