It's important to find medication(s) that not only alleviates your symptoms but facilitates your physical, emotional, and mental health. Although stimulants have long been considered first-line medications for adult ADHD, before agreeing to take a medication it's important to educate yourself on the positive and negative effects of the drug so you can make an informed decision. It's also very important to read the fine print concerning your medication, including its estimated half-life and peak time, how many doses you need to take, whether the medication is short-acting or long-acting, and whether the medication is available in extended release forms so you can take it once and forget about it. If you're suffering from coexisting conditions that complicate your adult ADHD, it's also important to take medication that controls those symptoms as well.

The Importance of Monitoring Your Meds

While monitoring the effectiveness of your medication will require some effort on your part, the results are well worth it. By keeping track of how well the drug works over time, you and your doctor can make the necessary adjustments in medications and dosages to keep you functioning at your best.

In 2007, the FDA required that all makers of ADHD medications develop patient medication guides containing information about the risks associated with the medications, including possible cardiovascular or psychiatric problems. The guides were the result of data that showed adult ADHD patients had a slightly higher risk of stroke, heart attack, and/or sudden death when taking the medications.

Those taking medication for ADHD were also slightly more at risk for medication-related psychiatric problems, such as hearing voices, having hallucinations, becoming suspicious for no reason, or becoming manic. These symptoms appeared in patients who did not have a history of psychiatric problems.

Best Ways to Take Adult ADHD Medication

To maximize the effectiveness of your medication and to minimize the side effects and risks, follow these easy guidelines for safe use.

Do your homework. Find out everything you can about the ADHD medications your doctor is prescribing, including potential side effects, how often to take it, special warnings, and other medications and substances that should be avoided or used with caution such as over-the-counter cold and flu remedies containing ephedrine, over-the-counter and prescription weight-loss drugs, sleep medications, decongestants, steroids, and asthma medications containing albuterol or theophylline.

Always take your medication as directed. Never take more or less than prescribed, and always take it at the exact time and in the exact way prescribed by your physician.

Don't let a high-fat breakfast sabotage your medication. If you're taking certain stimulant drugs, including Adderall, Metadate, and Ritalin, a high-fat breakfast can compromise the medication's effectiveness by delaying the drug's absorption. It can take as long as two hours for the drug to work instead of the usual twenty to thirty minutes. Forgo high-fat breakfasts and stick to low-fat options like oatmeal with berries or an egg-white omelet with low-fat cheese and low-fat turkey bacon.

Avoid foods and supplements high in vitamin C. Fruit juices high in ascorbic acid, vitamin C, or citric acid may interfere with the absorption of Ritalin because citric acid breaks down the medication before the body has a chance to absorb it. For this reason, your doctor may recommend you avoid fruit juices, high-vitamin cereals, and multivitamin supplements an hour before and after taking medication.

Be patient. Finding the right medication and dose is a trial-and-error process. It will take some experimenting and open, honest communication with your doctor.

Start small. Begin with a small dose and see how it works. The best approach may be to take the least amount necessary to get beneficial results.

Keep records of how the medication is affecting your emotions, behavior, attention, sleep, appetite, weight, and other aspects of your life. Keep track of any unusual or new side effects that occur, and keep an ongoing record of how effective the medication seems to be in alleviating your symptoms.

Don't stop a drug cold turkey because it is ineffective or has unpleasant side effects. You could suffer from discontinuation syndrome, and symptoms like depression, irritability, fatigue, insomnia, and headaches could last for weeks.

Remember that medication is just one side of your treatment triangle. By recording your reactions to drugs on a regular basis, it will be easier to isolate unusual emotional, mental, and physical symptoms that appear to be linked to medication. You'll also be able to identify persisting symptoms that may benefit from other types of treatment, such as cognitive or support psychotherapy, coaching, and support groups.