![]() ![]() ![]() In other cases, we find that treating the sleep problem directly is a better long-term solution than eliminating the stimulant. We find the Daytrana patch helpful for those with stimulant-induced insomnia, because it’s the only medication that can be shut off early (by removing the patch). If the stimulants are working, we prefer to tinker with their timing and release to improve sleep. A common strategy is to discontinue stimulants and/or switch to a non-stimulant for ADHD. On the other hand, if the teen hasn’t had sleep problems before, hasn’t over-used napping, begins to lose sleep after starting on medication, and doesn’t revert to better sleep in two or three weeks, a decision must be made. After starting a stimulant, one may not be able to nap as easily or as deeply. Many teens compensate for poor sleep by taking naps. That makes it easy to blame the stimulant, rather than a chronic sleep impairment. Figuring this out is subject to the “Hawthorne Effect.” If one is warned that sleep may be impaired by a stimulant, one gets worried about sleep, and may notice it isn’t very good. For many others, insomnia predates stimulant use, which is another reason to assess sleep problems before any medication is prescribed. However, for some people with ADHD, stimulants help sleep. That’s the opposite of what we need when it’s time to hit the hay. The point of stimulant medication is to stimulate the part of the brain that focuses attention. Poor sleep can result from taking ADHD medication, complicating treatment. This is a complex decision, but our experience has been that, even when ADHD symptoms are improved by stimulants, ADHD-related insomnia will limit the effectiveness of treatment unless it too is addressed. ![]() In such cases, the prescriber may consider sleep medication as an adjunct. More often, the insomnia remains but doesn’t worsen on stimulants, just as it has for my kids. Sleeping problems sometimes improve by treating the ADHD. How Can You Treat ADHD-Related Sleep Problems? That generally proves the diagnosis, but it also suggests it’s time to try a different stimulant or to pursue a sleep study. A few will have daytime sleepiness despite taking them. Some teens will sleep better after beginning stimulants. Which comes first: the chicken or the egg? The best solution the prescriber at our clinic has found is to begin treatment with stimulant medication, and follow the case closely for a month. It’s hard to know if this condition describes your child because you can’t easily separate this kind of insomnia from the one previously described. Both of my children have what I call “ADHD-related insomnia.” I made up this name for it because I saw it so often among my clients, whose active minds didn’t shut down just because it was 10:30 p.m. This condition is common but under-recognized. Poor sleep can result from ADHD, complicating diagnosis. Nevertheless, I believe that severe sleep deprivation can present with ADHD-like symptoms, but most of such cases should be screened out from an ADHD diagnosis with an evaluation. But those teens also wound up being treated at our clinic for ADHD. Some were found to have sleep apnea, narcolepsy, or primary insomnia, and treatment improved sleep and reduced symptoms. In my experience, insomnia-induced ADHD isn’t common, but I have referred two dozen teens and young adults for sleep studies to avoid misdiagnosing them. This is why you should start your teen’s diagnostic journey at the door of a qualified professional, and why you should study your child’s sleep patterns to answer the provider’s questions. That’s an overreach, but their findings did support the idea that quality of sleep must be considered in making an ADHD diagnosis. A few years ago, some researchers joined the “ADHD Is a Myth” crowd and declared all people with ADHD to be victims of chronic insomnia. Poor sleep can lead to ADHD-like symptoms and complicate a diagnosis. With attention deficit disorder ( ADHD or ADD), that link is obvious and complicated, because there are several ways sleep and ADHD affect each other. In extreme cases, it can be the cause of the problem. Poor or insufficient sleep makes almost every psychological problem worse. How Does Sleep Impact ADHD - and Vice Versa?įew things impact mental health more than sleep. ![]()
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