Ten Tips for Adults with ADHD

10 Tips for Adults with ADHD

The following are tips designed to help adults with ADHD at work, at home, or at school.

  1. While at your desk, minimize distractions. Keep only what you're working on out in front of you, and get clutter off your desk.
  2. Repeat to Remember. Repeat back what someone has said. This may help you remember multi-step instructions at work. It may also help you remember what your friend said, and they will feel like you are listening.
  3. Focus on one task. This may help you get started on a project you've been putting off. Set a timer for 15 minutes. If you can't continue the project after 15 minutes, stop, give yourself a break, and finish later.
  4. Delegate! If you can afford to hire people to help you, do it!
  5. Be realistic. If you know you can't wipe down every cabinet in your kitchen, for example, choose the ones that need the most attention and focus only on those.
  6. Organize at home with a 'launch pad.' Identify a table or bookshelf near the door you enter to your house as your 'launch pad' or 'landing pad.' Put a container or basket there to catch keys, glasses, papers and wallets and other important items. Pocketbooks, brief cases, backpacks and papers can be stored there to help provide a smooth take-off in the morning.
  7. Try the 10-minute pickup. Each night try to spend 10 minutes quickly going through the house seeing how many items you can pick up and put away. Set a timer. Take a bag, basket or container and go through the house picking up items and dropping them off where they belong.
  8. Observe others. You may be able to learn a great deal by watching others do what you need to learn to do. Try selecting "models" in the workplace or in your personal life.
  9. Identify a supportive friend or spouse to serve as your volunteer coach. Review and discuss your steps and goals with your coach. Hopefully, your volunteer coach will help monitor your progress and provide support along the way.
  10. Use prompts as helpful reminders. Prompts can help you remember to do something or say something. Types of prompts can be visual (a post-it note), verbal (someone telling you to be quiet), physical (a vibrating phone alarm), or a gesture (someone pointing to their nose).

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INDICATION

Vyvanse is a prescription medicine for the treatment of ADHD in children ages 6 to 17 and adults. Vyvanse should be used as part of a total treatment program that may include counseling or other therapies.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR VYVANSE (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate)

Vyvanse has a risk of abuse or dependence. Keep in a safe place to prevent misuse and abuse. Selling or sharing Vyvanse may harm others and is illegal. Vyvanse is a stimulant. Misuse of stimulants may cause sudden death and serious heart problems.

  • Do not take Vyvanse if you or your child:

is taking or has taken within the past 14 days an anti-depression medicine called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor or MAOI is sensitive to, allergic to, or had a reaction to other stimulant medicines

  • Some people have had the following problems when taking stimulant medicines, such as Vyvanse:

Heart-related problems including: sudden death in people who have heart problems or heart defects stroke and heart attack in adults increased blood pressure and heart rate

Tell your doctor if you or your child has any heart problems, heart defects, high blood pressure, or a family history of these problems. Call your doctor right away if you or your child has any sign of heart problems such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or fainting while taking Vyvanse.

Mental (psychiatric) problems including: Children, Teenagers, and Adults new or worse behavior and thought problems new or worse bipolar illness new or worse aggressive behavior or hostility

Children and Teenagers new psychotic symptoms such as: hearing voices believing things that are not true being suspicious new manic symptoms

Tell your doctor about any mental problems you or your child has, or about a family history of suicide, bipolar illness, or depression. Call your doctor right away if you or your child has any new or worsening mental symptoms or problems while taking Vyvanse, especially:
seeing or hearing things that are not real believing things that are not real being suspicious

  • Vyvanse may cause serious side effects, including:
    • slowing of growth (height and weight) in children. Your child should have his or her height and weight checked often while taking Vyvanse. The doctor may stop treatment if a problem is found during these check-ups.
    • seizures, mainly in people with a history of seizures
    • eyesight changes or blurred vision
    • worsening of sudden, repeated movements or sounds (tics) and Tourette’s syndrome in people who already have these problems
  • The most common side effects reported in studies of Vyvanse were:
    • anxiety
    • decreased appetite
    • diarrhea
    • dizziness
    • dry mouth
    • irritability
    • loss of appetite
    • nausea
    • trouble sleeping
    • upper stomach pain
    • vomiting
    • weight loss

This is not a complete summary of safety information. For additional safety information for Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate), please click here for Full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide, including Warning about Potential for Abuse, and discuss with your doctor.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.