Attention ADHD Adults and Parents of Children with ADHD...

A Doctor Answers:
“Do ADD/ADHD Medications Do More Harm Than Good?”

 

From The Desk of: Dr. Kenny Handelman, MD FRCPC DABPN
Subject: How To Get Your Doctor's Undivided Attention

Dear Friend,

You’re going to be shocked that I’d actually admit this… 

As a board certified medical doctor and a medical insider, I can tell you with certainty that the medical system is NOT designed to give you the latest and best treatment for ADHD. (Note: all this applies to ADD as well, of course.)

In fact, the medical system isn’t “designed” at all.  It’s a collection of special interests that are often at odds with each other and with … YOU.

Perhaps you’ve already suspected this. 

But there’s more to the story.

Yearly drug company income from ADHD medications has been growing 35.7 % per year since 2002.  Drug companies are projected to sell $6.642 billion worth of ADHD medications this year alone.  That’s approximately $1 each for every man, woman and child alive today!

With that kind of money at stake, don’t you think it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle?

So what can you do about this?  I’ll get to that below, but first let me ask you…

"Are You a Statistic?"

• Have you ever felt like you (or your loved one) were being treated like a MERE NUMBER by the whole world? 
• Have people ever whispered about you behind your back, making you wonder what’s wrong with you? 
  
• Have you been shunted around from counselor to counselor, doctor to doctor, expert to expert? 
  
• Have you or your child been diagnosed and pigeon-holed and categorized until they have to bring out a forklift to move your bulging medical file? 
  
• Are you or your child a square peg in a round hole, stuck in a box labeled “ADD/ADHD?” …whatever THAT means! 
  

Being a Statistic Sucks

The “System” doesn’t care how you feel. 

The “System” says: 

You don’t fit in?  So, get medicated, get “fixed,” get in your pigeon-hole and shut up! 

But… 
We are each unique, wonderful beings.  Individuals with unique gifts. 

You are unique. 
Your child is unique. 
Nobody wants to feel that they’re an inhuman cog in an unthinking machine. 

You’re not, I repeat, NOT, a statistic.

"I'm Mad As Hell and I'm Not
Going To Take it Anymore"

The “System” is a humongous, headless, self-serving ignoramus that doesn’t know you exist. 

What can you do to STOP being a statistic? 

It’s simple… 
Defend yourself by knowing the ropes. 

That’s it. 
All you have to do is know more about ADD/ADHD and the medications used to treat it than your doctor does. 
And you can – more easily than you may imagine. 

As I’ll explain below, because of the magic of the internet, this isn’t as difficult as you might think. 
But your doctor doesn’t want your opinion, does he? 

What follows may surprise you…   
Your doctor DOES want your opinion about your treatment for ADD/ADHD (or your loved one’s treatment)… IF you do it right.   
Let me explain. 

In the next few minutes you’ll learn: 

• why the health care system was NOT designed with you in mind
• how to get your doctor’s undivided attention about ADHD
• why ADHD (in yourself or your child) is not your fault, and what you can do about it.

But first things first. 

Let me let you in on the health care system’s dirty little secret: 

Most doctors simply DO NOT have the time to keep up with all the latest research.  
After all, they’re busy seeing patients. I’ll tell you more about that below. 

But first...

Why Should You Listen To Me, a Medical Doctor?

After all, I’m a doctor.  (One of the bad guys?) 
But… 

I’m not your typical doctor.   
In the past year I’ve gone to the Harvard ADHD Update Conference.  
I’ve also gone to 3 other conferences where I exchange notes with other ADHD experts. 
I also read a pile of medical journals every month to keep up to date on ADHD. 

I spend thousands of dollars every year to make sure I know everything worth knowing about ADHD.

I'm Not Just a Doctor...I Train Doctors

On the flip side, I’m a trainer of trainers. 

I train pediatricians and child psychiatrists to teach family doctors about ADD/ADHD.
This November I will also be presenting ADHD research at a child psychiatry conference.   

I’ve spent tons of hours making sure my knowledge is up to date. 
I’ve also spent a lot of time figuring out how to teach patient’s parents, doctors and anyone else who’s interested more about ADHD. 

I also see patients day in, day out.  In short, I’m in a unique position to understand and teach about ADHD because I combine daily practical experience with my own ongoing training in ADHD. 

	Who Is Doctor Kenny Handelman? Dr. Kenny Handelman is a Board Certified Psychiatrist in Canada and the USA. He’s an Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Western Ontario. He also won an Excellence in teaching award in 2006 from that University.    As an ADD/ADHD specialist, he’s also a member of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He writes scientific papers on ADD/ADHD as well as articles, news releases and special reports for the layman.    Dr. Handelman has been an advocate for ADD/ADHD patients and has been educating many groups about ADD/ADHD. These groups include: school boards, The Learning Disability Association of Ontario, family physicians, pediatricians, medical students and residents.    In 2006, Dr. Handelman appeared in 8 television presentations to educate the public about ADD/ADHD. And in 2006 & 2007, he was a guest on 12 talk radio shows about ADD/ADHD.    Dr. Handelman is able to reach thousands of people around the world with his website and newsletter, educating them about ADD/ADHD and the latest findings about it.

 

The Health Care System's Dirty Little Secret

Doctors don’t have some supernatural ability to figure out the right diagnosis, and come up with the right treatment, right off the bat. 
I’m sure you’ve suspected this. 

That’s why doctors “practice” medicine – there’s a lot of trial and error, and they’re trying and erring on YOU. 

Well, if doctors don’t diagnose you or your child right off the bat, what DO they do? 

Let me give you an insight about how your average doctor learns about a new treatment. 

After all, your family doctor prescribes hundreds, even thousands of medications every year.  How does he learn about these medications?  

Does he take a couple of weeks off every year to go “back to school” to learn about the newest drugs?  That would be nice, but he’s got his practice to run.   

Instead, he gets a short visit from a pharmaceutical company representative.  These representatives are paid by a pharmaceutical company to travel all over the country.  They have generous expense accounts.   
Why?   

Drugs Are Big Business With Huge Profits

Really big business.  I mean -- really, really big business… with really, really big profits.  Huge profits.   
Pharmaceutical companies, like any other business, are in business to make money.   

Is that right?  Is it wrong? 

I wish I had a simple answer. 

But, the health care “System” was not designed by a wise master planner.  It was just kind of made up as it went along. 
So, I’ll be the first to admit, it’s a far from perfect system. It’s really not designed to provide the best health care possible. 

Anyway, the drug company representative visits your doctor, and during a 10 minute visit (yes, that’s all – 10 minutes!) they tell your doctor about, say, four different new drugs. 

One might be a drug for lowering cholesterol, another might be for treating some aspect of diabetes, and finally, they might get around to talking about their new ADHD drug.   

Total time spent learning about the new ADHD drug:  3 minutes.  On a slow day. 

Now let me ask you, do you think your doctor learns everything he needs to know about the subtlety of a drug in 3 minutes? 

Of course not. 

It’s up to him to learn how the drug REALLY works by trying it out with patients.  Again, why do you think they call it a medical PRACTICE? 

Oh, did I mention the goodies such as pens and pads of paper the drug company rep leaves with your doctor?  Or the medical association conferences the drug company pays for your doctor to attend? 

And the free samples of the drug? 

Your doctor may think he hasn’t been affected by these perks, but he’s a very busy guy.

Your Doctor Appointment 

So, your doctor starts prescribing the new drug the drug company rep told him about. 

You arrive for your 10 minute appointment you’re supposed to have every 3 months when you’re taking ADHD medication. 
(Hopefully, the doctor remembers your name.)

• He starts by asking you questions about your current medication. 
  
• Maybe you’ve been having some problems with your meds. 
  
• Maybe your doctor didn’t get your treatment right the first time. 
  

Most doctors are quite good at getting a lot of information from their patients in the extremely limited amount of time they can spend with them.  They find out how a drug is working for you pretty quickly. 

But the subtleties of how drugs work get lost in hurried exchanges. 
For example, the side effects. 

There you are in your rushed 10 minute appointment, and you just don’t remember everything you wanted to say to the doc.  Maybe you don’t recall all the disturbing side effects you’ve been having while you’re talking to him… 

Think about this: if you haven’t talked to a friend in a year, and you run into him or her for only a few minutes, how much are you likely to find out about what’s REALLY going on with them? 

Your doctor can’t find out everything about you in 10 minutes, either. 

So, your doctor decides to switch you to the new medication to “try it out.”  That drug rep did his job well! 
Is the new medication right for you?  Who knows.  You’re about to get “practiced on.” 

Maybe you’ll NEVER get the right medication for you! 
I’m going to talk more about the importance of medication below, but first, you might be wondering…

ADHD Medications...And Your VERY DIFFERENT BRAIN

People are strange sometimes. 

They assume that everyone should think and believe the same things they themselves do.  When somebody behaves differently, they become afraid, and believe that person is bad. 

Perhaps you’ve seen this when people act strangely towards you or your child.  What they don’t understand – (most people don’t) – is that the ADHD brain is PHYSICALLY different from your average brain.   

Think of it this way.   A sports car is different from an SUV.  Both get you there, but each handles differently.  But don’t ask a sports car to go over rough terrain or through deep snow.  And don’t ask an SUV to hug the superhighway at high speeds and handle as well in corners as a sports car. 

I’ll say it again. The ADHD brain is built differently. It behaves differently from most brains.  It’s not the brain’s fault.   

Is having ADHD fundamentally bad?  Of course not.  People with ADHD have some real strengths. ADHD people are: 

• Creative
• Intuitive
• Intelligent
• Good multi-taskers
• Fun-loving – great sense of humor
• Full of enthusiastic energy
• Excellent problem solvers

Now, if a person has mild ADHD, they can use their strengths to overcome ADHD weaknesses. 

Common ADHD Weaknesses Include: 

• Inattention and/or hyperactivity
• Forgetfulness
• Poor impulse control or impulsivity
• Distractibility

 

However, if the ADHD is more severe, they can’t help acting quite differently. 

Having severe ADHD is uncomfortable because it feels something like having extreme jitters from caffeine and not being able to stop bouncing around like an out-of-control jackhammer. 

It’s also uncomfortable because you can’t pay attention, no matter how hard you try.  You hear people saying over and over, “Pay attention!” or “Why don’t you ever concentrate?” 

The problem is that you really were trying to pay attention. 

It’s as though they were shouting at you, “Juggle 9 flaming swords in the air while reciting the alphabet backwards.” 

You don’t know what they mean, and you can’t do it in any case. 

It’s as though they were shouting at you, “I told you to speak Hungarian!  Now, speak it!”

The ADHD Brain Danger - Drug Addiction

People with ADHD really do want to be like everyone else.  They do want to fit in.  One way they can try to do that is to medicate themselves with so-called “recreational” drugs and alcohol.   

Needless to say, this can be dangerous and counter-productive.  But when I talk to an ADHD drug addict or alcoholic, I soon discover that most of them don’t want to get “high.”   

Then why do they use illegal drugs and drink too much?  Simple.  They want to “calm down” to feel better.

Interestingly enough, they’re trying to do the same thing illegally, and at great personal risk, that the prescriptions I could give them do safely and legally. 

Not everyone with ADHD becomes a drug addict or alcoholic.  But the danger is quite high.   

Make no doubt about it:

ADHD Drugs Have a STRONG Influence On
How You (Or a Relative) Feel, Act and Think

Stimulant medications, for example, affect how good you feel and your energy level.   

In effect, the medicine helps you to sit still longer and concentrate, especially if the task at hand is not the most exciting thing in your life. 
That’s pretty strong stuff! 

Your doctor is glad to hear that you finally cleared off that huge pile of old work on your desk, or that your child is doing their homework without constant supervision.  
But it’s hard for him to figure out if the plusses outweigh the minuses. Only you can do that.   

Is it worth it to be able to sit still if you can’t sleep at night because of the side effects? 

Sorry to break this to you, but prescription drugs have side effects.  That’s part of the “package deal” you get. 

The side effects can take away all the gains made by the intended effect.  Or, they can actually make a situation WORSE. 

On the other hand, your doctor may have heard about the side effects from his other patients, and decide on that basis that a lower dose is better for you, too.  But you may be one of those people who NEEDS the higher dose. 

You’ve been treated like a statistic again!

What To Do When Your Doctor Guesses Wrong

Perhaps you’re one of those poster children featured in the advertisements for a drug.  You know the kind – where the drug works EXACTLY as intended and the side effects aren’t noticeable. 

Does that sound realistic? 
As I mentioned, ADHD medications have a profound effect on how you feel. That’s by design.   

How do you make sure: 

• You’ve got the dose right…
• You’ve even got the right medication…
• You need a medication at all?

 This is SO important.  Can you really be sure your doctor has it right? 
… or is there something more you can do? 

Yes.   

There is...

The Sneaky Way To Get Your Doctor's
Undivided Attention - And Keep It

There is something your doctor absolutely needs from you.  He needs to know how your medication is working.   

But… 

He needs to hear it in his language.  YOU may know what you’re trying to say, but if he doesn’t have the experience or training to understand you, you might as well be speaking, Swahili, Icelandic or Klingon. 

Of course, you NEED your doctor to understand whether an ADHD medication is making you (or a relative) happy… or miserable. 

Your doctor can’t hook you or your child up to a neat little machine that measures how you feel.  Even if you tell him in your words, he might not understand.  But if you tell him in the language of science, THEN he’ll understand! 

But this is only the beginning. 
You see, everyone wants to be happy.  Some people are naturally happy.  Others aren’t so fortunate. 

People with ADHD have a very hard time being happy. 

Never before in history, due to discoveries in science and medicine, have we had such an opportunity to change the poor hand we were dealt at birth due to a brain problem such as ADHD. 

Up to this point, we may have ignored our unhappiness because there wasn’t anything that could be done about it. 

But now, with the right knowledge, you can change that! 

Let me make sure you didn’t miss what I just said: “With the right knowledge, you can now change the difficulties that are caused by ADHD into success and happiness.” 

In fact, with the improvements caused by the right medication at the right dose, the natural strengths of an ADHD personality can shine forth. 

The right ADHD medication at the right dose switches off the traits that cause failure, and turns on the traits that help you soar. 

But it’s up to YOU to tell your doctor what is and is not working… in language he understands.

I Want To Change My ADD/ADHD Difficulties Into Strengths Now>>

How Do You Tell Your Doctor So He Can Understand?

This is how I can help. 

Not only am I an ADHD treatment expert, but I also train my fellow doctors.  They keep inviting me back.  Do you think I know how to talk to them in their language? 

Yep. 

But I also have many ADHD patients who I see, day in and day out.  I also know how to talk to them. 

In short, I’ve created a way of explaining how to treat ADHD that both the layman and the professional can understand. 

And to my knowledge, you can’t find the information on how to do this anywhere else. 

If you’re wondering if there might be a better treatment for yourself or your child, you’ve come to the right place. 

I’m about to start a 7 week ADHD Medication Mastery Course that will teach you more about ADHD medications than most doctors ever learn.  More about this course below… 

Note: this may sound like an exaggeration, but remember that many doctors only get less than 3 minutes training on each medication. And the medical school still don't teach enough about ADD/ADHD.

I will be going into a level of detail in the 7 week course that the pharmaceutical companies and the doctor just don’t have time for. 

You see, I have mountains of practical experience from my practice as well as knowledge from all the ADHD conferences I’ve attended over the years.   

A pharmaceutical company couldn’t pay me all the money in the world to go traveling all over the country training doctors, but I’ll gladly share everything I know with you through the magic of the internet. 

More about that below.

I Want This 7 Week Course With Everything That I Need To Know>>

Your Doctor Will Start Asking You... 

Just imagine, your doctor may be asking YOU for more information, once he discovers how much you know. 

You’ll discover that most doctors are always eager to learn more.  It’s just that they find it hard to take the time for it. 

You’ll have their undivided attention and undying gratitude once they realize the depth of information you can bring them. 

Suddenly your doctor will take that extra time with you that you’ve wanted all along.

This 7 Week ADHD Medication
Mastery Course Is Not For Everyone

Let me be clear: this course is not for everyone. 

If you don’t have ADHD, or you don’t have a relative with ADHD, this course is not for you.  Sorry, you won’t be interested. 
BUT if you do know someone with ADHD, you’ll fully understand the importance of learning everything possible about it. 

After all, we’re not going to be talking about a treatment for hangnails. 
We’re going to be talking about treatments that have a profound effect on the success, or failure, of a person with ADHD. 

Oh, and did I mention that you’ll be getting the kind of attention you need from your doctor to make your treatment successful with a minimum of side effects?

Exactly What Questions
Will You Learn the Answers To?

• How is ADD/ADHD diagnosed?
• What checklist do doctors use in their diagnosis?
• Note: ADHD is a medical condition, like heart disease.
• What’s the difference between ADD and ADHD?
• Who can ADHD medications help?
• What age range can ADHD medications help?
• Do you need therapy if you’re getting medication?
• What other problems mimic ADHD?
• Be careful of ADHD horror stories.
• What medical professionals are trained to diagnose ADHD?
• What support groups should you know about?
• Are there any good ADHD courses?
• Where can you get reliable information online?
• ADHD does not only affect work and school, it also affects social skills.
• ADHD can be a major source of stress in the family.
• Why do ADHD personalities lose things?
• Why is an ADHD teen more likely to get arrested or get into drugs or risky sex?
• ADHD is often not the only problem. What are some related problems?
• How long should you try a medication before you know if its right?
• Will you have to take an ADHD drug the rest of your life?
• About 70% of ADHD kids still have some level of ADHD as adults.
• How do you deal with drug side effects?
• How often should you see the doctor while being treated for ADHD?
• Is Ritalin bad?
  
  I Need To Know This Critical Information>>
• What about unknown long term side effects?
• How does ADHD medication work?
• Exactly how is the ADHD brain measurably different?
• Which ADHD drugs work quickly and which work more slowly?
• What are the different kinds of medications? How are they used?
• What are the side effects?
• How do you choose among different medications?
• How do you recognize side effects such as hallucinations and suicidal thoughts?
• How common are problems such as insomnia and agitation?
• ADHD personalities also sometimes have anxiety or depression.
• Why do ADHD medications reduce the likelihood of drug abuse?
• What is conduct and oppositional defiant disorder and what does it have to do with ADHD?
• Can you combine different ADHD medications?
• What natural food supplements should be part of ANY ADHD treatment?

I Am Ready To Sign Up Now>>>

Wow--That's a Lot To Learn

Will it be worth it? 
After having treated thousands of patients, I can give you an unqualified answer:  “Yes!” 

It pains me to know that more than half of all ADHD cases are entirely untreated.  The waste in human potential is almost beyond comprehension.  

But is it worth it to you? 

Let’s consider the dangers of untreated (or improperly treated) ADHD.  Research shows that untreated ADHD is a risk factor for: 

• Doing poorly in school (i.e. not getting as far in school as is possible, or not graduating)
• Becoming addicted to drugs and alcohol
• Risky sexual behaviors (and more teen pregnancies)
• More injuries and accidents
• More car accidents
• More run ins with the police
• Higher divorce rates (adults with ADD/ADHD)
• Impulsively ending relationships (Adults with ADD/ADHD)
• Trouble keeping jobs (Adults with ADD/ADHD)

 That’s the down side. 

On the upside, proper medication, at the right dose, is just the thing to help an ADHD personality reach his or her potential.

Jaime Says Her Brain Is Finally "Quiet"...

One of my subscribers came right to the point when she made the following comment on my blog: 

	“An Amazing Thing Happens” "... When you finally find the “right” ADHD med, an amazing thing happens; your brain is quiet and you can focus on things you’ve always wanted to do. ...” Jamie Sentelle San Angelo, Texas

Right Jamie!  That’s what I’ve been saying all along.  A proper treatment plan suddenly makes it much easier to concentrate and GET THINGS DONE! 

The following email from one of my clients gives a good “before and after” about how important it is to get the medication just right. 

	“My Son Became Suicidal … He is Doing Much, Much Better Now.” “Travis was on Lexipro and had been functioning pretty well. Then all of a sudden he couldn’t focus on anything.  Couldn’t function at work or at home, was really a mess.  We were really worried about how depressed he was because he couldn’t control his thoughts and became suicidal.  He talked with Dr. Handelman about his medication and learned about how different medications react and what they do.  He also learned about some new medications that could possibly help with his condition.  Travis then was able to meet with his local doctor, talk about his medication and ask intelligent questions because of what he had learned.  The doctor changed his medication to Adderall.  Because Travis was educated about his medication, he was able to work better with his doctor to find what was best for him.  He is doing much, much better now.”  Alan Reed Idaho Falls, Idaho

I Know ADD/ADHD Can Lead To Serious Problems - I Want The Solutions Now>>>

This is a great example of how proper knowledge about ADHD medications saved the day. I wish Travis and Alan hadn’t had to take it upon themselves to figure things out.  But was it worth it to do so?  Of course! Of course! 

Next, the following post was made to my blog.  It’s long, even after I condensed it.   

I find that people dealing with ADHD are intensely curious about WHAT REALLY works with REAL people.   After all, the pharmaceutical companies are just going to make a drug sound good because they’re trying to sell as much of it as possible.   

And the doctor rarely has firsthand experience of the drugs he prescribes.    

But the patients?  They usually don’t have a hidden agenda. Unfortunately, not everyone is equipped to report their experience in a way that’s meaningful to others.  However, I think Lynn does a fine job of doing just that. 

	“My Whole World Changed--Literally!” I’ve been taking Adderall for about 5 years now and it has made a HUGE difference in life. It has not only helped me in my day-to-day living but also in my college career.  I’ve had ADHD my entire life--27 years…  I also knew that for as long as I could remember I had struggled in so many other ways such as the ability to stay on task, focusing long enough to read & study in class as well as outside the classroom, being distracted at the slightest movement or noise.  Never was I able to concentrate when I was put under any type of pressure.  The minute I entered a classroom and I knew we were taking a test, my brain began immediately shutting down because all I could think about was whether or not I was going to finish in time and I would continuously glance at the clock. I needed to be able to read each question and then reread it two or three times, however many times it took for me to comprehend exactly what was being asked.  When put under such pressure by a time clock, there were times I never did understand any of the questions because I wasn’t able to think them through clearly because of the fear in my mind that completely hindered me from being able to concentrate at all. …   I decided to consult my physician.  Among other ADHD symptoms, I struggled with organization, interrupting others for fear of forgetting my thoughts, being on time or even being able determine how much time I needed to allow myself for travel to get somewhere and be on time.   I remember growing up starting so many projects or having visions and goals, but I either never started or never finished them.  Some, I remember, I finished weeks or months later. I almost never completed assignments on time for school…   Once I was finally diagnosed and began taking Adderall my whole world changed--literally! I not only made the Deans List the following semester, but also The National Deans List. I've continued to be able to keep my grades up every semester (even in Statistics I made an A!!! and I never made higher than a 'C' in any of my middle or high school math courses.)   Although I wish my diagnosis of ADHD had been discovered much earlier in my life, possibly saving me a lot of heartache, disappointment, frustration, and failure in school and relationships with my family and friends, I am certainly grateful that I am now receiving appropriate treatment methods. I have received treatment through medication (Adderall,) a part time ADHD coach, many free resources I found via the internet (Thanks Dr. Handleman!,) local community and on-campus support groups, and free teleconferences and seminars from some of the top ADHD specialists in the country.   I can now experience life in so many enjoyable ways that I never could or never knew how to before.  Adderall has helped me tremendously; so much so that I made the National Dean's List the semester after beginning Adderall. Since I had done so well in Statistics, I was asked to become a paid tutor to help other students. Many of my "tutorees" also had ADHD, which isn't surprising being that math is one of the most difficult classes for people with ADHD because of all the many steps, sequences, and/or details involved.  It was an awesome experience because I knew exactly how they needed to be taught (very specific step-by-step, esp. for math sequences & details.) I am now in my senior year and I am very excited about graduating soon and going on to help other children and/or teenagers with ADHD.  It's a fact that there is definitely power in knowledge. But it's what we choose to do with the knowledge we've been given that determines exactly how much power it actually holds.   "We can't change our past but we can certainly choose to change our future." -Anonymous  Lynn Roberston Memphis, TN

 

Thanks Lynn for the detailed “real world” report.  It’s great to read about how you “turned the tables” on your ADHD! 

Like Jamie, I Want to Change ADD/ADHD Rapidly>>>

Finally, a concerned mother points out that getting the ADHD medication right really is an individual matter.  

	“As A Parent, I Want The Very Best For My Children”  Hi Dr. Handelman,  Knowledge of medications for ADHD can be the difference between having a good life or an unhappy life for ADHD patients, but also for their families.  Having all the current information made available to parents and families of ADHD patients gives children and adults with ADHD choices to try the different medications. Not all those diagnosed with ADHD can or should be on the same medication. For example, I have two boys who have ADHD, but are on different medications.   As a parent, I want the very best for my children. Having the information available helps everyone.  I can speak from my own experience for one of my sons. After trying several different medications, we found the right one for him. Now he can function and have a full life, but prior to this, when we were trying to find the right medication and there wasn't a whole lot available, he had dark days and a lot of unhappiness.   Take care, Marie Tepper Caledon, Canada

Do You Really Need Medications For ADHD?

People ask me all the time if medication is really necessary for ADHD. 

I can give them reports and statistics until I’m blue in the face.  But that hardly ever puts anyone at ease. 

But I get to see the dramatic before and after difference for myself every day in my practice. So, I hope the stories above give you a sense of why I feel good about making medication part of ADHD treatment plans. 

I also hope the stories above underscore the need to be educated about treatment options. 

Still not sure whether medications are right in your situation? 
Or that you’ll find the right one for you or your child? 

Again and again we have seen that people will dangerously start to self-medicate with illegal drugs and/or alcohol at a relatively young age if they aren’t already being treated. 

That brings me right back to where I started – knowledge about medications is powerful, and greatly increases the chances you’ll succeed in your treatment.

A successful ADHD treatment plan means a more successful life!

The ADHD Medication Mastery Course

At this point you’re probably wondering what’s in the 7 Week ADHD Medication Mastery Course I’m offering. 
Glad you asked. 

First a confession:
I love what I do. 
I love to teach about ADHD. 

My enthusiasm shows through and in many cases, I’m invited back year after year to teach.   

The problem? 
I tend to over deliver. 
I tend to give so much good stuff it’ll make your head spin. 

But don’t worry.  Because of the magic of internet technology, the entire course will be recorded, so you’ll be able to go back and pick up anything you missed as I unleash the torrent of knowledge, stories and experiences I’ve put on tap. 

When I’ve talked to some of you, I’ve been told that all this can be too much.   
So I’ve decided to break the course into two sections:

• The Essentials Course:
• 4 Modules of 1 ½ hour online classes
• 2 Q & A Teleseminars (get ALL your questions answered by me)
• Overview of ADHD Medications
• How ADHD medications really work
• How to choose a medication with focus on stimulants
• Cost: $149 
  

• The Advanced Course:
• 5 Modules of 1 ½ hour online classes (including all Essentials Course modules)
• 3 Q & A Teleseminars (including all Essentials Course Teleseminars - get ALL your questions answered by me)
• ALL the Essentials Course material
• Is Ritalin like Cocaine? Does it matter?
• Older versus newer medications
• Non stimulant medications
• Medicine special situations and complications
• Alternative and natural treatments
• Cost: $150 more than the $149 Essentials Course (Total - $299) 

I'm Ready To Sign Up Now >>>

We'll Meet Online

The Class Modules are scheduled approximately once each week for 7 weeks in November and early December, 2007.  Each module is 1 ½ hours long.  The Q & A Teleseminars are scattered among the Class Modules. 

These classes are webinars you can watch onscreen and listen to on the telephone conference simultaneously.  The Q & A will be conference telephone sessions.

 

What Will I Teach In the Course Modules?

Now, I'm sure you're wondering if what I'll be teaching will be interesting to you.  Isn't it boring to learn about drugs?

I would have to make this page twice as long in order to tell you everything I'm going to talk about.

And it's not boring!  As I mentioned before, it's fast paced and filled with stories.

Here is a quick overview of what we'll cover in this course:

Module 1: Overview of ADD/ADHD Medication (Essentials Course)
November 5th, 2007 9 pm EDT/6 pm PDT

• A quick overview of ADD/ADHD
• What role medication plays in ADD/ADHD treatment
• What evidence based medicine is - and why it is crucial to your care
• Who can benefit from ADD/ADHD medication
• The research base for medication in this disorder
• 21 critical steps you need to ensure that ADD/ADHD medications are being prescribed and monitored safely

Module 2: How ADD/ADHD Medications Work (Essentials and Advanced):
November 15th, 2007 2 pm EDT/11 am PDT

• An explanation of ADHD being in the brain
• How medications work in the neurons (the brain cells)
• The different parts of the brain affected
• How the stimulant medicines work in the brain (and why they are called 'stimulants' when they often calm people down!)
• How the non-stimulant Strattera works in the brain (and how it is different than the stimulants)
• Advanced Course Topic: How Ritalin works similarly to Cocaine - and why it doesn't even matter to your treatment!
• Advanced Course Topic: The science of older vs. newer medications

Module 3: How to Choose A Medication & The Stimulants (Essentials Course)
November 19th, 2007 9 pm EDT/6 pm PDT

• First, we'll cover the importance of choosing the RIGHT medication for ADD/ADHD:
  • The insider view of how a Doctor chooses a medication for ADD/ADHD
  • How you can help to find the right medicine for ADD/ADHD
• Second, we'll cover the Stimulant Medicines:
  • You'll learn about the two kinds of stimulants: Methylphenidate and Amphetamines
  • You'll fully understand where all of these new medications fit in
  • Including: Ritalin, Ritalin LA, Concerta, Metadate CD, Daytrana, Methylin, Focalin, Focalin XR, Adderall, Adderall XR, Vyvanse, etc.
  • You'll know the insider secrets to how doctors find the:
    • Starting doses of medication
    • How doses are titrated (increased and adjusted)
    • Common side effects
    • Rare but serious side effects
    • Unique aspects of each different medicine
    • Isomers - what these are and why they're used
  • How to convert doses between preparations

Module 4: Non-Stimulants for ADD/ADHD
November 26th 2007 9 pm EDT/6 pm PDT

Essential Course Material:

• Strattera: The only 1st line non-stimulant for ADHD
• It's unique features
• Common side effects
• Rare but concerning side effects - including:
  • Liver Injury
  • Suicidal Ideas
• Weight based dosing - What is a mg/kg/day?
• How is this medicine adjusted to minimize side effects and maximize benefits?

Advanced Course Material:

• Other non-stimulant medicines will be reviewed:
• Clonidine
• Guanfacine
• Wellbutrin
• Modafinil/Provigil
• Tricyclic Antidepressants (like imipramine and desipramine)

Module 5: Medication in Special Situations (Advanced Course Material)
December 3rd, 2007 9 pm EDT/6 pm PDT

In this module, you will discover how to handle ADHD medications when there is a co-existing condition with it. The co-existing (or 'comorbid') condition can change the ADD/ADHD treatment significantly!

You'll discover all about:

• ADHD and poor sleep
• ADHD and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
• ADHD and Conduct Disorder (CD)
• ADHD and Anxiety
• ADHD and Depression
• ADHD and Tourette's (or simple tics)
• ADHD and PDD (Pervasive Developmental Disorders like Asperger's, Autism or PDD NOS)
• ADHD and Substance Abuse/Dependence

Bonus Module #6
December 10th 9 pm EDT/6 pm PDT

And before I forget, you'll get additional bonus material in Extra Module #6.

This Bonus Course Module will discuss treatment guidelines and FDA warnings. You'll go behind the scenes and learn how your doctor makes ADHD treatment decisions.

You'll also learn what to make of those warnings that the FDA sometimes comes out with.  Are the medications safe or not?

This Bonus Module is worth $59.

But you get it absolutely FREE with the Course.

 I Want The Most Comprehensive Course On ADD/ADHD Medication Now >>>

What If You Learn Best By Reading?

You also get typed and edited (no ‘Ums’ and ‘Ahs’) Transcripts of each session. 

Do you need to refer back to something you heard?  Just pull up the transcripts and search for the keyword you’re thinking of.  Presto!  Instant memory! 

If you bought the edited, cleaned up transcripts from me you’d pay $39 each. 

But you get them absolutely FREE with the Course. 

 

What If You Miss Some Modules?

Of course, you can pick and chose which modules you want to participate in as they happen. You can pick up the ones you miss later. Yes, they’ll ALL be recorded. 

Even though the course has already started - when you join now - you will have the benefit of participating live on the remaining sessions and having your questions answered live by me!

Let me tell you more about the recordings of each session.  You can listen to previous sessions any time, day or night, whenever it’s convenient. 

Better yet, you can download them and take them along on your iPod or mp3 player. Then you’ll get your ADHD Mind Meld with a doctor while you’re driving places, going for a walk, or even making dinner. 

I’m charging $49 for each recorded Class Module… 

But you get them absolutely FREE with the Course. 

How Can You Make This
Information PERSONAL To You?

I want to make sure that this information works for YOU!

To do this, I have added 3 live Question and Answer Teleseminar Calls throughout the course.
This will allow you to ask questions specific to your own situation.

Let's be clear about this - I cannot diagnose or prescribe for you.
But I can give you the information that can literally change or improve your treatment - by telling you what to ask your doctor, and what next steps to consider.

So, Here's What You Get:

Essentials Course: ...............................$149
Advanced Course: ...............................$150
Bonus Module 6: ...................................$59
Video/Audio Recordings (9 sets): ............$441
Edited PDF Transcripts (9 sets): .............$351

Total Value: .......................................$1144.00

You may be thinking...
Is that believable?
Over $1000 to learn about medicines for ADD/ADHD?

Let me ask you:

How much is the average monthly prescription for ADHD medication?
(hint $150 per month +)

How much is it to spend 1 hour with a Psychologist or Psychiatrist?
(hint $200 per hour or more)

In this Medication Mastery course, you will get access to 13 + hours of my time, plus material that you will be able to review over and over again as you need to (i.e. as new life situations come up, a different section of the course may become relevant!)

If you were to pay for my time directly, it would be over $2600.

 

Special Bonus: FREE 2 Month Subscription
To My ADHD Membership Website

And I’m still not done. 

I won’t go into great detail here, but I also have an ADHD Membership Site (ADHDMore.com) where members ask me ADHD questions, live, in teleconferences.  I also give additional information in monthly webinars. 

You get 2 months of membership FREE when you sign up for the ADHD Medication Mastery Course.  (Membership is usually $29 per month.) 

Of course, I hope you’ll be blown away by access to me and all the good stuff I talk about on the Membership site, and ask to stay on.  In that case, you’ll discover that the $29 per month membership fee is worth every penny.

 

Is It A Cost, Or An Investment?

A cost is something that you pay for once, and it doesn't lead to any future benefit - i.e. a nice meal, or a night out at the movies.

An investment is something that you pay for once, and it provides benefits to you over and over again.

This course is an investment in your, or your loved one's life.

And I want to make it easy for you to make this investment.

Now, I know money’s tight for some of you. Untreated or under-treated ADHD does take a huge financial as well as emotional toll on you. 

To help you to get your hands on this life changing information, you can access it for less than it costs for 1 hour of my time.

If you order now -you can lock in your low price of: $199.

Total Value for ADHD Medication Mastery:............. $1144
PLUS 2 Months Free in Membership site..................$58

Your One Time Investment: .................................$199

I'm Ready To Sign Up Now >>>

Imagine...

Here's the Really Important Part

You probably have a lot of questions about YOUR SPECIFIC situation.  After all, you're not a statistic.  Click the link below that best matches YOU, or click both of them if both apply, to discover how the ADHD Medication Mastery Course can teach you how to change your life:

Adults With ADHD

Parents With ADHD Children

 

Perhaps you're also wondering if my ADHD Medication Mastery Course can really help you.  I know you've heard people promise you all kinds of things, and then, somehow, things just don't turn out that way.

I can understand that, so I'm going to make you an Iron Clad guarantee the likes of which you probably have never gotten from a doctor before…

 

 

Yes, I'm that confident that my course can help you.

After all, I've been teaching and presenting this information for years now.  That's why I'm so sure you'll be so grateful for what you'll learn, that asking for a refund won't even cross you mind.

So please read how easy I've made it to order right below.

ADHD Medication Mastery Priority Order Form   YES! I want to know everything I can about ADD/ ADHD medications so I can decide what's right for me or my child.  I'm not confident that my doctor can make the best decision about these life altering medications without my help, so I stand ready to talk intelligently with him about this.  Please sign me up for the ADHD Medication Mastery Course for the low investment of $199. I understand my order will be processed on a totally secure server, and once it is processed, I will be notified about the course content and schedule. I understand that I have a full 90 days to request a refund if I'm not 100% thrilled with the mind-blowing amount of high quality information I receive. I understand that I will also get the Advanced Course, edited transcripts, downloadable audios, and live Teleseminar access to Dr. Handelman, all for free.   Don't Delay - Order Now.