Hi I have an AVM and I was diagnosed with ADHD what are my options for treating my ADHD?
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Hey @McLuke
How are you doing? What do you mean about options for treatment for your ADHD?
When it comes to treatment for a brain AVM, many people seem to have migraines or headaches that may be connected to their AVM. Often, doctors disagree that the headaches are related to the AVM and when treatment is undertaken for a brain AVM, the focus is usually (possibly wholly) on reducing the bleed risk rather than anything else. The brain is such a sensitive organ that operating on it in order to remove it reduce headaches would be crazy.
However, there are people who lose their headaches post op. No doctor would warrant it, though.
I guess AVMs can create pressure within the brain and can cause unusual blood flows (including reduced flows) so who knows what effects an operation may have?
What has your doctor talked about?
Best wishes,
Richard
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So if can’t have adderol for my AVM, what are the options?
You’ll need to talk to the doctor about this rather than me but have they indicated that you need to come off Adderall while your AVM is resolving? I assume you’ve had radiotherapy to resolve it.
Adderall can create hypertension, which I guess could increase your risk of a bleed while you’re waiting for the radiotherapy to sort you out. Obviously that’s a long time to get through. The thing the doc needs to do is balance the risks associated with one treatment against the other.
I’d ask if there are other ADHD treatments that don’t bring hypertension with them as a side effect if we think that’s the consideration the doc has had so far. They need to choose the lowest impact/risk way for you to get through the next couple of years.
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Hey @McLuke,
I have to agree with @DickD “You’ll need to talk to the doctor about this”. When we’re talking about the brain often it can all be about location, location, location. For some people their AVM may be slower forming and have less impact. For others the impacts can be HUGE and an alteration in blood pressure could be VERY dangerous. This can only be assessed by your medical team, the people who know your medical history. The people who have access to your medical scans and the people who have training around medications.
For some of us finding the right medication can be a huge issue. Especially when we have multiple health conditions. Taking the wrong 2 medications can be toxic and can literally kill, so please be sure to discuss this with your Dr.
Merl from the Modsupport Team
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@McLuke
Hi there. Like others have said here, it’s all about what the doctor or more specifically a neurologist has to say about your treatment for ADHD in association with your AVM.
Medication contraindications can often be very harmful.
Have you asked your MDs about Jornay PM? It is a treatment for those with ADHD and has a very different half-life, (body’s metabolization method), than that of those with very short or fast acting meds lke ritalin or adderal.
You take the medication at night, then your body slowly processes it and in the morning it starts to work to control your ADHD and lasts all day.
Because it is not generic yet, it can be expensive, but they do offer a savings program that can bring your copays down to $0 depending on what insurance you may have.
Not soliciting its use here or suggesting that you use it, but it may be a good alternative to those medications that you are unable to take. I think it’s definitely worth asking about.
I wish you well in all of challenges.
Have a great day.
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I’m taking Clonidine for my ADHD and my AVM is unaffected
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Hey McLuke,
That would make sense as Clonidine is often prescribed for hypertension and high blood pressure. Lowering your blood pressure would lower the blood circulation through the AVM too, lessening the risks.
Merl from the Modsupport Team
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