ADHD Medication and Co-Existing Conditions
By
When it comes to ADD/ADHD, it is relatively rare that people just have the one condition. It is very common that people have 2 or even 3 conditions.
What else comes with ADD/ADHD?
It is very common for people to have the following conditions in addition to ADD/ADHD:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Behavior Disorders
- Learning Disabilities
- Tic disorders
- and more…
When doctors are prescribing medication for ADD/ADHD, they may not account for the co-existing condition. Sometimes, the ADD/ADHD medication may impact on the other condition, or vice-versa – i.e. the medication for the other condition (i.e. anxiety) impacts the ADD/ADHD. It is important to understand the nature of this relationship.
This post contains the audio from an interview that I did with Jennifer Koretsky for the Virtual ADHD Conference 2010. In it, I share some facts about ADD/ADHD and co-existing conditions. And, I also encourage you to join us for the conference – where I will spend an hour teaching on this concept, and there will be a lot of other ADD/ADHD experts to help you to find answers to your biggest issues, and learn more about many aspects of this challenging condition. The Virtual ADHD Conference is on October 4, 5 and 6 2010.
Here’s the interview: ADHD Medication and Co-existing Conditions By: Dr. Kenny Handelman
Please note – in standard medical terminology – the term for this is: Comorbidity. In other words, a doctor may say: “he has ADHD and comorbid Depression”. It’s my feeling that people with ADD/ADHD have to deal with so much negativity a lot of the time, that I generally use the term: Co-existing rather than comorbid. Just my preference 
A Bribe To Consider Joining the ADHD Virtual Conference:
Is it wrong to bribe you to consider joining the ADHD Virtual Conference?
From my perspective, if you are considering joining, I want to give you a bonus – or a reason why to join today. If you feel that the conference isn’t for you, then this ‘bribe’ won’t impact you, and you won’t mind anyway, right?
To help to motivate you – especially since it is August – I’ll give a bonus to anyone who signs up before the end of August 2010. So – to qualify for the bonus, you’ll need to sign up before midnight on August 31, 2010.
What will the bonus be?
I’ve been thinking about what I can do to help you after the ADHD Virtual Conference. This conference will host a lot of great ADHD experts, and you may be inundated with information.
What you may need, after a conference like this, is the opportunity to ask questions about how to personalize the information to suit your personal situation or circumstances.
To help you with that – if you sign up from this blog (or my email list), I will host a question and answer call. I anticipate this will be a small group call, which will allow you to ask your questions of me directly. And different than many of the other question and answer calls I’ve done in the past, this one will be with an ‘open telephone line’. That will allow you to talk directly with me, and we can explore your issues in a discussion.
The date for the call will be chosen in early October. It will be one weeknight (i.e. Monday through Thursday) at 9 pm eastern time. There will only be one time and date for the call. If you can’t attend the call live, you can forward detailed question(s), which I’ll answer and you can listen to the recording. And if you attend live, I’ll chat directly with you.
The call will go for approximately 1 hour (or less or more depending on how many questions there are).
How many people will be on this call? If past experience is a measure, it will likely be a small group. This is a great opportunity for you to have a discussion with me, so that I can bring all of my experience and knowledge of ADD/ADHD to help you out in a small, personal setting.
Here’s what to do now:
If you feel like the ADHD Virtual Conference would be of benefit to you, and you’d like the opportunity to have a small group question and answer call with me (to discuss your personal questions or situation), then follow these steps:
- Visit the ADHD Virtual Conference website and register for it
- Forward your receipt email to our email support team: support@theadhddoctor.com
- Wait for the announcement of the special, exclusive Q and A call with Dr. Kenny Handelman. You’ll find out the date in early October 2010, and the call will be in late October 2010, on a weeknight, 9 pm Eastern time. There will only be one option available for the Q and A call, and you can attend live for an ‘open telephone’ conference call to ask your questions, or submit your questions via email to get answers and help for your specific situation.
As a disclaimer, our company receives a small referral fee for sending you to the virtual conference through our link. However, we are encouraging you to participate because we believe that you’ll get great value out of the virtual conference, if you decide to participate.
I hope you’ll join me for the ADHD Virtual Conference!
Best,
Dr. Kenny
p.s. remember – this bonus is only valid for sales which are made before August 31st, 2010 at midnight.
p.p.s. if you’ve already purchased this conference through my blog or email list, you get this bonus already . You just need to forward us the email receipt so that we can put you on the ‘bonus list’
I am unable to attend the virtual ADD/ADHD conference in early October 2010.
Is there a way to have access to an MP3 or CD recording of this event? Thanks, James R. Ballen.
Great question, James. When you register for the Virtual ADHD Conference, depending on which option you choose – you either get mp3 recordings of the event, or physical CDs mailed to you after the fact.
Hi Dr. Kenny,
I am new to your website/mailing list as of a couple months ago.
I heard of you thru my connection with Dr. Stern which i am a member and have been for almost 2 years, however now that i have found a “Canadian connection” for ADHD, i would like to participate in this Virtual Conference.
I am on a disability pension (CPPD) still legally “employed” at a law firm i worked at for 23 years and still receive their Long Term Disability Benefits for my drugs/dental/health.
I have an submitted a form thru my doctor’s office back in May 2010 to get an assessment for ADHD from a psychiatrist in London. I have not got an appointment as of today date. I will be speaking to them today about this.
I know i have difficulties related to ADD but want and need this assessment to know exactly what it is and if so, how to deal with it as it is creating so many challenges in my life right now to really move forward from a lot or recovery/healing work i have been working so hard at for the last 7 years.
I need to know what, if any, the cost in dollars this Virtual Conference is before i sign up and i really feel I need and will benefit in taking advantage of your offer.
I do not have any more time this morning to check in here but will definitely check in here tonight and if i am able to, i will sign up before midnight tonight for your Virtual Conference in October, plus take advantage of your bonus offer!
Thank you for your time,
Judie
Judie and Linda – the costs for the conference are on the conference page (you can look through the banner above – just click through). Although I am responding late – you posted your comment within the time frame of the bonus -so I would honor that if you decide to order in the next day or two.
How much is it to join?
I would like to attend and would like to know where it will be held so I can get there okay. I don’t drive . I am on a fixed income so it will depend on whether I can afford it or not also. I am sorry if this is sent after the cut off date, I’ve been away on a little holiday with family.
Hi Nora,
Thanks for the comment. The event is virtual – so you don’t have to travel anywhere. There is a costs involved – so visit the site (click on one of the banners above) and you can see if it is of interest to you and within your budget.
All the best,
Dr. Kenny
Thank you so much for getting back with me but at this time i am unable to afford this session. My husband has been layed-off and i have put my son in a private school to see if that will help him with his education. Hopefully i will be able to do another one if you ever have one. Thanks
Hi Dr. Handelman,
Thanks for your information on on costs and i realize the cost is very reasonable considering where and how much beneficial information all the topics that will be discussed are being offered, however, unfortunately at this time i am not able to afford to attend this year. I am extremely interested in all it has to offer as i am needing to arm myself with lots of information for an upcoming assessment for ADD by a psychiatrist. For now, I will have to continue to get what information i can from your blog and from Dr., Stern’s website.
I hope this same venue will be offered again next year, and I hope then i will be able to attend. Is there any way to take advantage of any of this conference information after it is over?
Judie
Judie,
Sorry you can’t make it. I don’t think they offer the materials after the conference is over. This is the third year it is running, so it will most likely be back next year.
So,as an adult with ADHD, PTSD, and panic/anxiety disorder accompanied by chronic fatigue, I wonder is there a way to get the spark back? I miss the enthusiasm, I miss the joy of life that I once had… I find myself so afraid, exhausted, irritable, overwhelmed…. I used to be very outgoing and social… now I avoid people, second guess myself all the time, I used to think that people did the best they could with what they had, now I disenchanted and afraid that others will hurt me, or judge me and I feel ineffective and powerless…
Sometimes when I feel joy (like those moments when you look at your children and know how truly blessed you are) it feels so good that I cry because I feel as if it has been gone so long… I don’t know how to explain it. I just feel like life is such a struggle without that joy that I used to have in everything.
I am on Ritalin and the occasional Xanax to ward off an eminent panic attack..
I can’t attribute this loss to my medication as I felt it before I started taking it. The medicine does seem to help a little but I still feel the loss of that enthusiasm deeply.
Dana, have you been diagnosed with depression? That may be something to consider and talk to your doctor about. Not enjoying anything and feeling down a lot could be depression…
Good luck.