VOLUME 5, NO. 12 December 21, 2000
NJ ADD/ADHD ADULT NEWSLETTER
ADD ADULT SELF HELP SUPPORT GROUP
FOR ADD/ADHD ADULTS
AND THEIR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS
MEETING: THE NEXT MEETING OF THE ADD ADULT SELF HELP SUPPORT GROUP WILL BE ON DECEMBER 21, 2000 AT 7:30 PM AT MONMOUTH MEDICAL CENTER, ROOM 114 STEINAM HOUSEMAN, LONG BRANCH, NJ. GO TO THE RECEPTION DESK IN THE MAIN LOBBY AND GET DIRECTIONS. THE TOPIC WILL BE: GOAL MANAGEMENT WHEN YOU HAVE ADD e.g. STARTING, STEPS, PROCESSING, EVALUATING, ENDING.
MEDICATION REVIEW: A NEW RITALIN MEDICATION, CONCERTA, HAS BEEN OF GREAT INTEREST TO OUR MEMBERS. IT IS A COMBINATION FAST AND SLOW RELEASE RITALIN WITH TWO COMPARTMENTS IN THE TABLET. THE ADVANTAGE OVER PAST FORMULATIONS IS THAT IT CAN BE TAKEN ONCE PER DAY TO GIVE UP TO 12 HOURS OF MEDICATION WITH A SINGLE DOSE. THE ONE NEGATIVE SIDE EFFECT OVER OTHER FORMS OF RITALIN IS THAT THE TABLETS GET EXCRETED INTACT. IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH NARROW BOWEL DISORDER, DISCUSS THIS WITH YOUR DOCTOR. EQUIVALENT DOSES OF RITALIN: 5mg, 2-3 times/day OR 20mg SR vs CONCERTA 18mg;
10mg, 2-3 times/day OR 40mg SR vs CONCERTA 36mg; 15mg 2-3 times/day OR 60mg SR vs CONCERTA 54mg. CONCERTA IS TAKEN JUST ONCE/DAY. OUR MEMBERS HAVE HAD BOTH FAVORABLE AND "HO HUM" REACTIONS TO CONCERTA SO FAR. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CALL 1-888-440-7903 OR VISIT www.concerta.net. ALWAYS CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE CHANGING ANY MEDICATION.
AMERICAN'S WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA): BEFORE IMPULSIVELY INFORMING YOUR BOSS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH ADD OR AD/HD AND NEED ACCOMMODATIONS, YOU NEED TO CONSIDER AT LEAST THREE POINTS: 1) YOU MUST HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH AD/HD USING THE LEGAL CRITERIA OF ADA FOR AD/HD, NOT JUST THE CLINICAL CRITERIA FOR AD/HD; 2) YOU ARE QUALIFIED FOR THE JOB; AND 3) YOUR REQUEST FOR JOB ACCOMMODATIONS IS CONSIDERED REASONABLE AND CUSTOMARY. AS WE HAVE SAID MANY TIMES IN OUR SUPPORT GROUP, MOST PEOPLE WHO REQUEST ACCOMMODATIONS IN THE WORKPLACE ARE EITHER DENIED, DOWNSIZED, OR FIRED. VERY FEW AD/HD INDIVIDUALS HAVE WON COURT CASES UNDER ADA. (LESS THAN 5%).
RESEARCH: AGE DEPENDENT DECLINE OF SYMPTOMS OF AD/HD...BIEDERMAN, J. etal.
AMERICAN J.PSYCHIATRY, 2000, 157(5): 816-818. THESE AUTHORS FOUND THAT THE DECLINE OF AD/HD SYMPTOMS WITH AGE IS NOT UNIFORM. HYPERACTIVITY AND IMPULSIVITY DECLINE AT A HIGHER RATE THAN INATTENTION SYMPTOMS. EVEN THOUGH AD/HD SYMPTOMS DECLINED WITH AGE, FUNCTIONAL RECOVERY FROM AD/HD SHOWED MUCH LESS OF A DECLINE. JUST BECAUSE SYMPTOMS DECREASE DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE UNDERLYING PROBLEMS ARE GONE.
NEWSLETTER RENEWAL: THIS NEWSLETTER IS AVAILABLE FREE A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE MEETING AT http://www.DrLoPresti.com . If you need a mailed copy, please send $10.00 with:
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HAVE A HAPPY AND PEACEFUL HOLIDAY!!!
Bob