The apple doesnt fall far from the tree and my mom (who we all know has ADHD) admitted this morning that it has affected her friendships. She thinks her friends have suffered through her long-winded, winding stories for decades. She has a million other symptoms as well but this is the one that really got her thinking and wondering if she might be too old for medication.
She lives in a rural area and has an internal medical doctor that she adores but I wonder if this doc has any experience with ADHD. Heck, I live in a larger town an hour away and wonder if I can find anyone with that level of expertise for my son and me.
Just wondering if anyone has any experience with people who are older starting medication.
Thanks
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WeespShacky
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Many doctors will not prescribe stimulants to patients your mother's age due to other health issues. If her primary doctor will not prescribe her medication and she has no health conditions that would make stimulants dangerous. A psychiatrist may or may prescribe her medication. Who diagnosed her ? Chances are a new doctor will want to evaluate her for ADHD
I know one, ME! I was 80 when the realization of my ADHD finally hit me. What a revelation and explanation of so many things in my life. !! My doctor was hesitant of course to prescribe adderal because of my age and required a treadmill test, a statemtnt from a cardiologist before he would consider it. This, plus the evaluation took 6 months but finally I am on medication and it is doing amazing things for me. So this is what a neuronormal brain is like; I like it. No, I LOVE it. That was 9 months ago i am doing fine, being very productive and happy. 👍
Yes. I am fortunate. But I had to see 3 licensed professionals and get 3 diagnoses before my doctor was convinced. My primary care doctor kept refusing to accept their diagnoses and reports, one after the other until I finally found one he grudgingly could not in good conscience just discard. He even questioned the cardiologist. But it was worth it. All this to say that my doctor did not want to help and threw every obstacle he could think of at me. Thankfully I was able to overcome them all and get the help I have needed all my life.
You are persistent which is important. I was diagnosed at 61, but “fortunately” my kids are all older and have been diagnosed with ADHD. My youngest lived with me after college and has her masters degree in psychology and neurodivergent populations. She said she can’t believe no one noticed when I was younger, but those were different times.
The psychiatrist did my evaluation and put me on the medication she and my son take. I can finally focus (mostly) and I have two classes left for my masters degree. I know where I got it too. My mom is 94 and I would love for her to try medication. She is healthy except for painful arthritis, but the doctors stare at me like I have three heads when I ask about it. I hate that they keep telling her, “Well, you are 94” about everything. So, what?
I am a 73 year old woman who started working part time for a person who suddenly went blind about 1-1/2 years ago. He has his doctorate in psychology and after knowing me well for a year told me he thinks I should see someone because he thinks I have ADHD and wouldn't believe the difference in my life once I get help. He explained everything similar to what I read after he told me that, and WOW I think I now understand why I felt and acted the way I did in the past and even now. I was successful in school and my career so I though I was fine, but my friend explained why I was able to do so despite my ADHD. I decided to see a cardiologist first, then go to my PCP with what my psychologist friend told me, my checklists and work from there to get therapy and or meds if needed. I don't drive (fear of driving) so it is difficult for me to get to someone nearby. Hoping to be able to do this remotely down the road. I don't want to have my friend be my psychologist for various reasons.
I don’t think she’s too old for medication, but she will need to be assessed to see if she’s healthy enough for the risk-to-benefit ratio is in favor of meds. Heart conditions and interactions with other medications will need to be assessed. I base this on how my own mother has dealt with medical diagnoses and providers who claim any problem is just “aging.” She works out every day, and she still runs a business at 80. Everyone is different in how they age, so really age isn’t the issue. It’s her individual body and situation. In her case she has found going to specialists vs primary care doctor to be important, and uses conservative treatments. Primarily she makes a point to stay physically as fit as possible, which also means the providers make fewer assumptions about her being too old blah blah.
I was diagnosed this year at age 64. My psychiatrist started me on Ritalin but made sure i had a recent EKG and my primary care physician had me buy an ‘at home’ blood pressure measuring device and measure my blood pressure three times a week. I’ve always had low to normal blood pressure but I’m obese so they are very worried about my heart. And my cholesterol numbers are borderline. So they are both watching my heart very carefully. But other than that, my Primary is not adding any obstacles to the Ritalin.
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