Those are all excellent questions. Have you asked your doctor? She hopefully has enough experience with ADHD medications to give you her informed opinion.

You might appreciate these articles:

Adult ADHD Diagnosis: What to Ask Your Doctor

The World Was Waiting for Me: Life After Midlife ADHD Diagnosis

ADHD: Older and Wiser

Adult ADD: Next Steps After a Diagnosis

ADHD Medication FAQs

I hope this helps. Dena

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Like so many issues with ADHD, the answer is not an absolute. For instance, I find most of my symptoms have diminished as I age, especially the symptoms related to hyperactivity and impulsiveness. I am now 49. The Alzheimer's link is interesting, and there is not much information about the connection available online. Some Alzheimer's symptoms (forgetfulness) mimic ADHD. I am more concerned about how three concussions before the age of 12 affects my chances of having Alzheimer's.

I definitely would recommend conculting your doctor about meds. They do not cure any of the symptoms, so you will have to incorporate other methods of managing the symptoms. Moreover, ADHD stimulants can react in an adverse manner with many other medications.

Keith http://www.adhd-information-exchange.com

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I have read a couple of your threads, especially the one about not knowing what you want to B when you grow up. If it makes you feel any better, at 54, I have no idea either. I have had 10 jobs in the last 5 years, too many for my wife of 27 years to understand. She and my 18 year old son are moving to an apartment this weekend. I was lucky to have been self employed in a successful family business for 20 years when I first got married, so I was able to work unsupervised and could make my own schedule. If not I am sure I would be on my 20th job and divorced a long time ago. When we went out of business, I tried to start a new one many times, but lost lots of money. So my ADD along with some depression, got me to this point in my life. I am working at a dead end sales job, and I am always thinking about the next job, or business to open. I am sure you know other ADD adults who take many risks with their money and careers. At this point I do not think I will change, so my wife is wise to get out instead of riding another roller coaster. We get along ok, and I am blessed with two great kids. The irony of my life, which my head docs. always point out, is that I was really a good dad, I did well in the most important job that I had. Of course I would not be half crazy unless I focus on the failures instead of the good things I did.. So you are not alone, and maybe acceptance of our unique perspective on life, is all any of us who are square holes in round pegs, can hope for. I am at a point that I will soon just try to enjoy the ride. Hope some perspective helps. I am pretty new to the blogging threads, and It would be great to get some feed back on my perspective.

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Bruce516

I can definitely relate to what you are saying about jobs. In 29 years in the work force, I've had over 20 jobs, from one end of the spectrum to the other, ranging from janitorial jobs, to day care, to making keys at an auto dealership, to Registered Medical Asst. Some jobs lasted only a few days, one job I got fired my first day. The longest I've lasted at a job, before my current one, is 3 1/2 years. I've been at my current job over 5 years. I'm just trying to hang on a few more years so I can retire. I was considering early retirement, but I can't afford it yet, and I have medical benefits that I need right now. It's a dilemma. I'm not happy with my job, but I have a phobia of job interviews, and just the thought of looking for another job, especially at my age, is enough to give me anxiety attacks. My employment history is a joke! Who in their right mind would hire someone like me, at my age, especially with ADD. Consequently, I've always grabbed whatever job was available, just to pay the bills and keep a roof over my head, and ended up with mostly dead-end minimum wage jobs. Even the good jobs I've had didn't last long. Either I got chewed out for something one too many times, and got mad and walked out, or I got fired.

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That job didn't last, either. I got fired Wednesday night. I guess maybe I'll look into early retirement. I can't face the prospect of going job shopping again, interviews, etc. At my age, with my work record, with all my problems, and with the way the economy is, who in their right mind would even think of hiring me.

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Hello, I would like to extend more information to you regarding your concerns. I just posted an article that speaks about ADD and its connection with B12. Please visit: http://www.ideamarketers.com/?The_ADHD/B-12_connectiona_closer_look&articleid=688924&from=PROFILE

I wish you the best of luck!

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I am 60+ and recently discovered that I have had ADHD all along. There was no support group in the area so I started one. Being 60+ does have some value. I wanted to discover accomodations for all of the ADHD traits and I discovered that I had developed a pretty good set of accomodations along the way. I don't know about meds. I'm maybe OK with it but I have gone all these years without medication, a few more should be easy considering that now I have a better idea of how to deal with "life". Most everyone I talk with is a 30-something. I could be their parent - uggg. I would like to see some "forum" or web site for seniors with ADHD. I think we have a different set of concerns.

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Yes, fogy, I agree a forum specifically for us folks over 60 would be a good idea. Our concerns and issues, and topics of interest are different than the younger generation. I can think of lots of things to talk about, for example:

! Retirement and how does ADHD affect us when we don't have a work-induced schedule or routine anymore 2 Health concerns and how meds might mess up our health, or make existing ailments worse 3 Dating and relationships at our age, and how to get back into the dating scene after years alone 4 Is there a danger of Alzheimers along with ADHD, and how would you tell the difference

Those are just a few of my concerns, just as examples.

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Fogy, if you are interested, I impulsively (Thank you Very Much ADD), started a Facebook group for Senior Citizens. It is called Late-blooming Boomers with ADHD. Hope to see you there.

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