Jun 2
Join Tracy as she welcomes Dr. Carolyn Lentzsch-Parcells to Episode #122 of ADHD for Smart Ass Women where the conversation will be all about ADHD and medication.
Dr. Lentzsch-Parcells is a board-certified pediatrician and the owner and President of Girls to Women/Young Men’s Health and Wellness Fort Worth, a multi-faceted clinic providing integrated medical care dedicated to meeting the physical and emotional needs of young women and men from 10-25 years old. As a physician with ADHD herself, Dr. Carolyn Lentzsch-Parcells has a special interest in caring for patients with ADHD and learning issues.
She regularly speaks to parent, student, and professional audiences on subjects such as parenting, ADHD, depression, anxiety and stress, adolescent development, sexuality, preparing for college and medication.
Carolyn shares:
The circumstances surrounding her own ADHD diagnosis
What changed once she was diagnosed?
What it means to be a slow metabolizer
The importance of setting expectations around medication
Her opinion around women, anxiety and ADHD medication
The various types of medication used for ADHD
Medications used for Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria
The medication that reduces the chance of misuse
Her thoughts on genetic testing
The medication that most 40+ women are usually prescribed
What she believes the key to living successfully with ADHD is?
APPLE
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YOUTUBE
"I think rejection sensitivity dysphoria, I think it's an interesting entity. I think it's an interesting term. I do like that. It helps us to kind of understand that piece of our ADHD a little bit better."
- Dr. Carolyn Lentzsch-Parcells
"Ask for help. And I think it's one of the things that is not only one of the most crucial things for us, but it's also one of the hardest things for us, especially for those of us who are highly independent."
- Dr. Carolyn Lentzsch-Parcells
"Estrogen and dopamine are completely tied to each other, right? And dopamine is one of the primary neurotransmitters that we know it plays a significant role in ADHD. So before our periods during our periods, not only can our anxiety get worse, or our depression get worse, or irritability get worse, but our ADHD gets worse."
- Dr. Carolyn Lentzsch-Parcells
- Dr. Carolyn reflects on her undiagnosed ADHD and the impact it had on her mental health and academic performance.
- Dr. Carolyn shares her experience with ADHD, discussing her hyperactivity and inability to focus as a child, and how her diagnosis and support from friends and family helped her manage her symptoms.
- Dr. Carolyn shares her personal experience with medication for ADHD, including trying various stimulants and experiencing negative side effects.
[19:53 - 34:36] ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment for Women
- Dr. Carolyn explains that there is no magic cure for ADHD, and that finding the right medication often involves trial and error.
- Dr. Carolyn highlights the lack of research on ADHD in adult women, particularly in regards to medication guidelines.
- Dr. Carolyn hares her personal experience with Vyvanse, noting its effectiveness for ADHD but also higher risk of anxiety and weight loss.
- Dr. Carolyn discusses the challenges of diagnosing and treating adult women with ADHD, including the need for more training and experience in managing medications and understanding the condition.
- Dr. Carolyn explains that methylphenidate and amphetamines are two categories of stimulants used to treat ADHD, with methylphenidate increasing available dopamine in the brain by decreasing reuptake and amphetamines increasing dopamine release from brain cells.
- Dr. Carolyn discusses potential benefits of rejection sensitivity dysphoria medication for ADHD adults, including improved emotional regulation and tolerance for stimulants.
