10 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

Vyvanse is a federally controlled substance (CII) because it can be abused or lead to dependence. Keep in safe place to prevent misuse and abuse. Selling or giving away Vyvanse may harm others, and is illegal. Vyvanse is a stimulant. Misuse of stimulants may cause sudden death and serious heart problems.

  • Vyvanse should not be taken by patients who have:

Heart disease or hardening of the arteries, moderate to severe high blood pressure, overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism), glaucoma, agitated states, a history of drug abuse, taken an anti-depression medicine called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) within the last 14 days, or sensitivity to, are allergic to, or had a reaction to other stimulant medicines.

  • Vyvanse is a stimulant medicine. The following have been reported with use of stimulant medicines.

Heart-related problems: sudden death in patients 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 have 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 have any signs of heart problems such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or fainting while taking Vyvanse.

Mental (Psychiatric) problems: All Patients 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, are suspicious) or new manic symptoms Tell your doctor about any mental problems you or your child have, or about a family history of suicide, bipolar illness, or depression. Call your doctor right away if you or your child have 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, or are suspicious.

  • Serious side effects have been reported with use of stimulant medicines such as Vyvanse, including:
    • seizures, mainly in patients with a history of seizures
    • eyesight changes or blurred vision
    • motion and verbal tics. Patients with tics or Tourette's syndrome may experience a worsening of symptoms while taking Vyvanse.
    • slowing of growth. 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.
  • The most common side effects reported in studies of Vyvanse were:
    • upper belly pain
    • nausea
    • dry mouth
    • dizziness
    • weight loss
    • trouble sleeping
    • irritability
    • decreased appetite
    • vomiting

This is not a complete summary of safety information. For additional safety information, 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.