Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder
Studies indicate that both children and adults can suffer from ADHD. And while the cause of ADHD is still unknown, researchers believe genetics, diet, environmental factors, and even infections and an abnormal immune system play a role.

When your ADHD medication is not working anymore

Is your ADHD medication not working anymore or have your medications made your symptoms worse? If so, you are not alone. Standard medications can be very effective in treating ADHD symptoms but for a significant number of patients, medications are not helpful. In fact, as many as 30% of children with ADHD do not respond to stimulants or cannot tolerate the side effects. 1

And 1 in 3 adults with ADHD do not improve on standard medications. 1

ADHD can greatly impair a person’s relationships, career, and day-to-day functioning. Individuals with ADHD have difficulty concentrating and focusing. They may exhibit impulsive behaviors, forgetfulness, aggression, irritability, impatience and have a low frustration tolerance. Typically, these symptoms are managed with standard medications and/or therapy.

If your ADHD medication is not working anymore, it could be due to several reasons: the dosage may be incorrect; adherence may be an issue; co-existing disorders may impede the medications effectiveness or the patient may have another medical condition producing ADHD-like symptoms 3,4 (i.e., infection-triggered autoimmune encephalitis, including PANS and PANDAS).

Get treated for treatment-resistant symptoms

Infections and ADHD-like symptoms

Growing evidence also indicates that, in some cases, an underlying biological or physical cause (i.e. infection) can induce behaviors that mimic ADHD. The association between certain infections and ADHD has been demonstrated in numerous studies. Toto et al. concluded, “streptococcal infections and autoimmune reactions against the basal ganglia are more frequent in ADHD patients than patients in a control group.” 5

In some individuals, infectious pathogens, such as strep, coxsackie and herpes viruses, can trigger an abnormal immune response, resulting in behaviors that mimic ADHD. Patients who appear to have ADHD, may have an infection-triggered autoimmune encephalopathy, which is a treatable autoimmune disorder.

How does this happen? The immune system produces antibodies to fight the foreign germ, but some antibodies may mistakenly attack not only the germ but also healthy cells in area of the brain known as the basal ganglia. This autoimmune attack may cause brain inflammation and the onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as impulsivity, hyperactivity, and concentration impairments.

A study by Giana et al. reports, “Increased levels of anti-basal ganglia antibodies and antibodies against the dopamine transporter” have been detected in patients with ADHD “supporting the role of the immune system in the disorder.” 6

ADHD medication isn’t working anymore

Patients with autoimmune-induced ADHD symptoms often complain that their ADHD medication isn’t working anymore or that it is making their symptoms worse.

Identifying whether there is a biological cause involved (i.e. an infection) is important, since treatment would then focus on immune-modulating therapies, rather than standard ADHD medications. And with proper treatment, patients may experience remission or substantial reduction of symptoms.

  1. https://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/458059_1 MedScape. Advances in the Treatment of Adult ADHD: Landmark Findings in Nonstimulant Therapy. Editorial. Margaret Weiss, MD, PhD; Robert Bailey, MD.
  2. https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/489635#ref37 Leffa D, T, Torres I, L, S, Rohde L, A: A Review on the Role of Inflammation in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Neuroimmunomodulation 2018;25:328-333.
  3. David C. Rettew, MD. ADHD medication is not working, MDedge.com, April 4, 2014. https://www.mdedge.com/pediatrics/article/81356/adhd-medication-not-working
  4. Shim SH, Yoon HJ, Bak J, Hahn SW, Kim YK. Clinical and neurobiological factors in the management of treatment refractory attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2016;70:237-244. doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2016.04.007 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27103462/
  5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22956712 Toto, M., Margari, F., Simone, M., Craig, F., Petruzzelli, M. G., Tafuri, S., & Margari, L. (2015). Antibasal Ganglia Antibodies and Antistreptolysin O in Noncomorbid ADHD. Journal of Attention Disorders, 19(11), 965–970.
  6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25468771 Giana, Grazia et al. Detection of auto-antibodies to DAT in the serum: Interactions with DAT genotype and psycho-stimulant therapy for ADHD. Journal of Neuroimmunology, Volume 278, 212–222.
ADHD medication not working anymore

“Observational data from a large number of subjects show a strong association between ADHD and inflammatory and autoimmune disorders.” 2

Infections may cause ADHD and medication may not be working for ADHA
Find Out: How can an infection cause symptoms of ADHD?

Learn more about how infections can trigger neuropsychiatric symptoms

Cunningham Panel helps identify an autoimmune disorder in child initially diagnosed with schizophrenia

Cunningham Panel™ helps identify an autoimmune disorder in child initially diagnosed with schizophrenia

Researchers describe a complex case involving a 15-year-old girl, who abruptly developed multiple neurologic and psychiatric symptoms.

Autoimmune diseases and severe infections as risk factors for mood disorders: a nationwide study

Autoimmune diseases and severe infections as risk factors for mood disorders: a nationwide study

This nationwide, population-based, prospective cohort study examines the link between mood disorders, infections, and autoimmune disease.

Childhood infections can increase risk of mental illness in kids

Childhood infections can increase risk of mental illness in kids

Nationwide study finds both mild and severe infections can increase risk of mental disorders in children and adolescents.

  • Test Order Process
    The Cunningham Panel™ – Antibody testing that helps determine whether an autoimmune response may be triggering neurologic and/or psychiatric symptoms.

B. Robert Mozayeni, MD

Medical and Clinical Advisor

B. Robert Mozayeni MD

Dr. B. Robert Mozayeni was trained in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology at Yale and at NIH. He has had pre- and post-doctoral Fellowships in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry at Yale, and also at NIH where he was a Howard Hughes Research Scholar at LMB/DCBD/NCI and later, Senior Staff Fellow at LMMB/NHLBI/NIH. Editorial board of Infectious Diseases – Surveillance, Prevention and Treatment. Past President of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS).

He is an expert in Translational Medicine, the science and art of advancing medical science safely and efficiently. He is a Fellow of the non-profit Think Lead Innovate Foundation and is a co-founder of the Foundation for the Study of Inflammatory Diseases. He is a Founder of the Foundation for the Study of Inflammatory Diseases to crowd-source medical solutions for complex conditions using existing knowledge, diagnostic methods, and therapies to meet patient needs immediately. He is the Chief Medical Officer of Galaxy Diagnostics, LLC. He is a Board member of the Human-Kind Alliance. Dr. Mozayeni has held admitting privileges (since 1994) on the clinical staff of Suburban Hospital, a member of Johns Hopkins Medicine and an affiliate of the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center.

Safedin Sajo Beqaj, PhD, HCLD, CC (ABB)

Moleculera Labs, Clinical Laboratory Advisor
Medical Database, Inc., President and CEO

Sajo Baqaj, PhD

Dr. Sajo Beqaj is board certified in molecular pathology and genetics and licensed as a Bioanalyst and High Complexity Laboratory Director. He has been practicing as a laboratory director since 2005.

Dr. Beqaj served as a technical director and was part of the initial management team for several well-known laboratories in the clinical lab industry including PathGroup, Nashville, TN; DCL Medical Laboratories, Indianapolis, IN, and Pathology, Inc, Torrance, CA. He is currently serving as off-side CLIA laboratory director for BioCorp Clinical Laboratory, Whittier, CA and Health360 Labs, Garden Grove, CA.

Dr. Beqaj received his Ph.D. in Pathology from Wayne State University Medical School, Detroit, Michigan. He performed his post-doctoral fellowship at Abbott Laboratories from 2001-2003 and with Children’s Hospital and Northwestern University from 2003-2005.

Dr. Beqaj has taught in several academic institutions and has published numerous medical textbook chapters and journal articles. He has served as a principal investigator in clinical trials for several well-known pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies such as Roche HPV Athena, Merck HPV vaccine, BD vaginitis panel, Roche (Vantana) CINtec® Histology clinical trials, and has presented various scientific clinical abstracts and presentations.

He is a member of several medical and scientific associations including the Association of Molecular Pathology, American Association of Clinical Chemistry and the Pan Am Society for Clinical Virology. He has served on a number of clinical laboratory regulatory and scientific committees, and has assisted several laboratories and physicians as a Clinical Laboratory Consultant.

Rodney Cotton, MBA

Moleculera Labs Board Member

Rodney Cotton, MBA

Rodney Cotton, MBA is an entrepreneurial thought leader in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry who is known for his holistic perspective, bias for action in the face of challenges, and commitment to agile processes.

Rod is an independent director for Orchard Software, a private equity-backed health technology company owned by Francisco Partners; an advisory board member to Flo2 Ventures, a venture capital-backed healthcare and health equity accelerator; and a member of the board of directors and three board committees (Audit, Compliance & Finance; Governance & Equity; and Quality of Care) for Community Health Network.

He built a successful career at Roche spanning more than two decades and culminating in the role of SVP, Head of Strategy & Transformation, and Chief of Staff to the CEO for Roche Diagnostics, the North American headquarters of the world’s largest ($17B) diagnostics company.

While at Roche, Rod led key enterprise initiatives, such as milestone corporate communications, health equity coalitions, the US/Roche Group audit, and global/US acquisition integrations. With 40+ years of experience, he drove the financial turnaround and cultural transformation of four global healthcare companies, led teams of up to 280 total reports, managed P&L of more than $1 billion, and served as a key member of the senior leadership team executing the most significant restructuring of the company in two decades.

In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rod and his team at Roche accelerated six ground breaking products in 11 months, including the first launch of the market’s most accurate and in demand molecular diagnostic test. He also solved extraordinary challenges of product scarcity, supply chain, product allocation, and logistics to achieve accelerated global sourcing and self manufacturing in line with testing guidelines.

A frequent public speaker on health equity and other topics, Rod was named one of the Most Influential Black Executives in Corporate America by Savoy Magazine and one of the Top Blacks in Healthcare by BlackDoctor.org. He also received The Sagamore of the Wabash Award, one of the highest Indiana State honors, bestowed by Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb.

Rod holds an M.B.A. from California State University, Dominguez Hills, an M.S. in Strategic Management from the University of Southern California, and a B.A. in Biological Sciences & Technology from the University of California at Santa Barbara.