ADHD symptoms may worsen during menopause for a variety of reasons, such as a drop in estrogen. Treating ADHD through medications or therapy can help improve symptoms.

Research has shown that hormonal changes can affect ADHD symptoms at several transitional life stages, including menopause.

When your body experiences dramatic fluctuations in hormone levels, such as during perimenopause and menopause, it may increase your risk of developing mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety.

Depression and anxiety often co-occur with ADHD. If your depression and anxiety symptoms worsen, your ADHD symptoms may also do the same.

Lower estrogen levels can also affect the efficacy of stimulant medications, which are used to treat ADHD.

Perimenopause is the time period leading up to menopause, when your hormone levels are still fluctuating. Menopause doesn’t officially begin until you’ve gone 12 months without a menstrual period or spotting.

On average, perimenopause lasts around 4 years. Over the course of perimenopause, estrogen levels drop. When estrogen levels drop, it affects the levels of other chemicals in your body.

A 2021 study found that decreasing levels of estrogen and progesterone during perimenopause can cause ADHD symptoms to become more severe.

Dopamine and serotonin, two brain chemicals that are known to play a role in ADHD, can be affected during perimenopause. This may lead to worsening of ADHD symptoms.

During perimenopause, people with ADHD may experience increased difficulty with focus and concentration.

There is some crossover between the mental health and cognitive symptoms of ADHD and menopause. For instance, during menopause, you may experience:

  • brain fog
  • forgetfulness
  • poor executive functioning
  • emotional changes

These symptoms can look like ADHD on the surface. However, ADHD also includes symptoms such as:

  • being easily distracted
  • frequently failing to complete tasks, work, or chores
  • making careless mistakes
  • having difficulty with organization
  • easily losing items
  • avoiding tasks that require sustained attention
  • forgetting to do necessary tasks

If you’re not sure if your symptoms are being caused by menopause, ADHD, or menopause making ADHD more severe, it’s a good idea to talk with a medical professional. This is especially important if these symptoms interfere with your daily life.

A medical professional can help you figure out what’s causing your symptoms and can help you find the most appropriate treatment.

There is no cure for ADHD. However, there are many treatment approaches that can help manage symptoms.

The right treatment for you depends on your symptoms, preferences, other medical treatments you receive, and how you’ve responded to any previous ADHD treatments. Options include:

Stimulant medications

Stimulant medications are the traditional treatment for ADHD. For some people, these medications are the best option, but not everyone with ADHD tolerates stimulant medications well.

For example, stimulants can interact with other prescription medications, such as medications for depression, anxiety, and diabetes.

Non-stimulant medications

Non-stimulant medications are also an option for treating ADHD. This includes some antidepressants as well as non-stimulants specifically made for ADHD.

Like stimulants, these medications aren’t the right choice for everyone with ADHD. It is also important to note that the FDA has not approved the use of antidepressants to treat ADHD.

Hormone therapy

Estrogen therapy is sometimes prescribed to treat the symptoms of menopause. This may also help manage some newly worsened ADHD symptoms. However, estrogen therapy is not prescribed for ADHD alone.

Therapy

Therapy can help people with ADHD learn new ways to manage their symptoms. There are different types of therapy, such as:

  • Behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy can help with behavioral changes. It might involve practical assistance, such as organizing tasks, completing schoolwork, and learning social skills.
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT helps a person become aware of attention and concentration challenges and work on skills to improve focus, organization, and completion of daily tasks.

You may also benefit from other types of therapy, such as occupational therapy or ADHD coaching.

Alternative treatments

Some people with ADHD choose treatments, such as supplements. However, there is not enough research to support these treatments as effective or safe ways to manage ADHD.

These types of treatments are also not meant to replace any treatments that your doctor has prescribed for you. Rather, they should complement existing treatments.

It is important to talk with your doctor before trying any alternative treatments, even if they are available over the counter.

Hormone levels are known to have an effect on ADHD symptoms. During perimenopause and menopause, the body makes less estrogen than it used to. As the levels of these hormones drop, it can lead to worsening ADHD symptoms.

Treatment options for ADHD include stimulant medication, non-stimulant medication, and therapy. During menopause, hormonal therapy may also help manage symptoms.