ADHD Information Center

10 Tips for Adults with ADHD

The following are tips that may help you, as an adult with ADHD, to be more productive at work, at home, or at school.

While at your desk, keep only what you're working on in front of you. Get everything else out of your line of sight.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking a person to repeat what he or she has said if you catch yourself drifting during a conversation.
Set a timer to go off in 15 minutes and stay with the task for those 15 minutes. Don't drift off and do something else. And reward yourself after it is over.
Delegate! If you can afford to hire people to help you out, do it!
Be realistic: If you know you can't wipe down every cabinet in your kitchen, choose the ones that need the most attention and focus only on those.
Begin with the job you are dreading the most. Once done, you'll feel a huge sense of accomplishment and will more likely have the energy and confidence to tackle the rest that are on your list.
Use the "10 in 10" method to reduce clutter. Get a garbage bag and walk through your house and find ten things to throw away in ten minutes. Do this once a week.
Get the kids involved and make it a family affair. Give each family member a room or task to be in charge of. To prevent boredom, rotate chores.
Be playful. Write down the chores, toss them in a bowl and pick your chore for the day or week. Or draw straws. Think of creative ways to get things done.
When someone's speaking, concentrate on waiting until he ends his sentence before you jump in. If you have a question, ask permission before asking it."Excuse me, may I ask a question?"

Important Safety Information

Vyvanse is indicated for the treatment of ADHD. Efficacy based on two controlled trials in children aged 6 to 12 and one controlled trial in adults.

Tell the doctor about any heart conditions, including structural abnormalities, that you, your child, or a family member, may have. Inform the doctor immediately if you or your child develops symptoms that suggest heart problems, such as chest pain or fainting.

Vyvanse should not be taken if you or your child has advanced disease of the blood vessels (arteriosclerosis); symptomatic heart disease; moderate to severe high blood pressure; overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism); known allergy or unusual reactions to drugs called sympathomimetic amines (for example, pseudoephedrine); seizures; glaucoma; a history of problems with alcohol or drugs; agitated states; taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) within the last 14 days.

Tell the doctor before taking Vyvanse if you or your child is being treated for or has symptoms of depression (sadness, worthlessness, or hopelessness) or bipolar disorder; has abnormal thought or visions, hears abnormal sounds, or has been diagnosed with psychosis; has had seizures or abnormal EEGs; has or has had high blood pressure; exhibits aggressive behavior or hostility. Tell the doctor immediately if you or your child develops any of these conditions or symptoms while taking Vyvanse.

Abuse of amphetamines may lead to dependence. Misuse of amphetamine may cause sudden death and serious cardiovascular adverse events. These events have also been reported rarely with amphetamine use.

Vyvanse was generally well tolerated in clinical studies. The most common side effects reported in studies of Vyvanse were: children — decreased appetite, difficulty falling asleep, stomachache, and irritability; adult — decreased appetite, difficulty falling asleep, and dry mouth.

Aggression, new abnormal thoughts/behaviors, mania, growth suppression, worsening of motion or verbal tics, and Tourette's syndrome have been associated with use of drugs of this type. Tell the doctor if you or your child has blurred vision while taking Vyvanse.

For more information, please see Full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide.

Vyvanse^™ is a registered trademark of Shire LLC.

WebMD does not endorse any specific product, service, or treatment.