I Have ADHD Podcast 370 PMS, Pregnancy, Perimenopause: How Estrogen Hijacks the ADHD Brain
Jan 20, 2026
Dr. Patricia Quinn, a developmental pediatrician and ADHD expert, sheds light on the hormonal dynamics affecting women with ADHD. She discusses how estrogen alters neurotransmitters, leading to mood and attention fluctuations throughout the menstrual cycle, during pregnancy, and into perimenopause. Dr. Quinn emphasizes the importance of tracking symptoms to tailor treatments effectively. She presents hormone replacement options and strategic adjustments in ADHD medications to better manage symptoms across various life stages, offering women hope and practical solutions.
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Stabilizing Estrogen Changed Her Life
- Kristen Carder shares that starting birth control to stabilize estrogen removed her monthly emotional whiplash and improved baseline functioning.
- Her husband noticed the change and their household steadied when her hormones were stable.
Estrogen Directly Boosts Key Neurotransmitters
- Estrogen enhances release of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine at synapses, accounting for ~20% of these chemicals' activity in the brain.
- When estrogen drops, those neurotransmitters fall and ADHD and mood symptoms predictably worsen.
The Monthly Crash Explains Symptom Swings
- Premenstrual estrogen decline causes drops in dopamine and serotonin, producing both magnified ADHD symptoms and PMS/PMDD mood changes.
- Many women experience a consistent monthly pattern of improved function then a premenstrual crash.
