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Dr. David W. Goodman

Dr. David W. Goodman invited to speak at the Neuroscience Education Institute in Las Vegas, April 2020

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A faculty speaker for the Neuroscience Education Institute (NEI) for many years, I have been invited to present several talks on adult ADHD and the complexity of medications. There are currently 28 different ADHD stimulant preparations (my last count). While there are only 4 different chemical compounds (methylphenidate, d-methylphenidate, amphetamine, d-amphetamine), the technologies delivering medication have exploded. With so many options, individual selection for each patient is possible. Good news for patients. Confusion for prescribers.

One of my presentations will focus on how to think through the medication options. How do you decide on the chemical compound? How do you select the delivery system? What medications interactions are concerning and what are not? Will side effects change if the deliver system is changed, even though the medication compound is the same?

Patients can help prescribers understand their experience with the medication by describing:

  1. What positive cognitive effect do you notice with the medicine? What time do you take it and when do you notice it’s cognitive effect wearing off.
  2. What side effects do you notice and when do they occur relative to taking the medication? Do the side effects occur 1-2 hours after taking medicine or do the side effects occur when it is wearing off? What side effects are subsiding and which ones are persisting?
  3. Can you afford the medicine? There are large price difference between medications. Without understanding the range of options (remember: 28 different stimulant preparations), you may not know there is a more affordable option.
  4. Can you swallow the medicine? There are several different forms: tablet, liquid, chewable, patch. All these forms have long-acting delivery systems so once daily dose is still possible.

The biggest challenge for prescribers now is the obstacle of insurance prior authorization and approval. This is an increasing frustration for patients and prescribers who work hard to find the right medication only to have insurance companies “decide” what medication is “appropriate” for you, the patient. Work with you prescriber to negotiate this obstacle course. Every time a patient changes insurance policy, these issues raise their head. Even if you have been stable on medication, the new insurance policy may deny future coverage. Oh, boy. Now that’s scary.

Believe it or not, I intended to describe my upcoming talks in April but got distracted by what I believe are important issues for patients to understand. It is the doctor in me to come back to the patient treatment and benefit.

Thank you for your valuable time. David W. Goodman, M.D.

Addendum: Because of COVID-19, this Neuroscience Education Institute conference was postponed and has been scheduled for Colorado Springs, Colorado November 5-8, 2020.

Dr. Goodman, panelist, 2020 Annual APSARD conference January 12, Washington DC

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Dr. David W. Goodman has been invited as a panelist to discuss clinical implications of adult ADHD research and the use of medications in complex treatment. APSARD, American Professional Society for ADHD and Related Disorders, is a nationally and internationally represented professional organization devoted to the advancement of ADHD education, research, and treatment. I have been a member of the Board of Directors for several years and now Co-chair for the Education Committee along with Dr. Len Adler at New York University.

I am honored to be invited this year as a panelist to discuss the clinical implications and translation of research to the care of patients. The title of the presentation “Plenary Session: Comparative Efficacy and Tolerability of ADHD Medications in Children/Adolescents and Adults: What is the Evidence and What Are the Implications for Guidelines, Algorithm Development, and Clinical Care“

The conference is open to all physicians and mental health professionals. Because of the scientific nature of the presentations, it is not open to the general public. The general public can take advantage of APSARD’s information by visiting www.adhdinadults.com for up to date and medically supported perspectives on diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in adults.

The APSARD conference this year will include representatives from the FDA to explore and understand the research review protocol to advance approval of proven effective medications.

Needless to say, in addition to caring for patients in my full time practice, I countinue to be actively involved with teaching/lecturing at continuing medical education conferences. Among other dates, I will be presenting at the Neuroscience Education Institute in Las Vegas in April 2020.

I advise my patients and their families to stay apprised of the current research and state of the art in diagnosis and effective treatments for ADHD. Don’t be fooled by marketing over research. Marketers will say “Let’s use it while it still works” meaning, once research investigates it, it may be nothing more than placebo. This couldn’t be more true then in the nutriceutical supplements for ADHD and memory. But that’s a discussion for another time.

Thank you for your time.

David W. Goodman, M.D., LFAPA

Psychiatric Times interviews Dr. David W. Goodman about ADHD in older adults

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Psychiatric Times interviewed Dr. Goodman about the unrecognized prevalence of ADHD in adults over age 50. The Psychiatric Times, , a profession psychiatric print newspaper, is  distributed to 30, 000 U.S. psychiatrists. You can listen to the concise 6 minute interview and learn more about ADHD that persists throughout one ‘s life. While the challenges of life change at different developmental phases (school, college, first job, marriage, children, job changes/promotions), ADHD symptoms persist to an impairing degree for 60% of children with ADHD.

The impact of untreated ADHD later in life can have significant negative impact on your ability to effective handle daily tasks and responsibilities. In fact, no adults over age 60 diagnosed with ADHD were diagnosed as children. Makes sense since ADHD was rarely considered in the 1950s and 1960s.

Treatment seems to be effective later in life and people with chronic symptoms of ADHD should seek an evaluation with an experienced doctor or clinician. My older patients have been grateful to discover “It was ADHD, not me as a person.”