The Subtle Signs of ADHD Women Often Overlook

Sponsored by Supernus Pharmaceuticals.
Intended for U.S. Audiences Only.

Everyone thinks they know what attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) “looks” like. ADHD is a condition characterized by an ongoing pattern of symptoms that fall into one or more categories: inattention, hyperactivity and/or impulsivity. The less obvious signs, though, get missed. Maybe it’s feeling like you’re being pulled in a million directions or realizing more than halfway through a conversation that you haven’t heard a word. On their own, these moments feel small—easy to brush off as “being scatterbrained” or having a bad day. But add them up, and a pattern starts to emerge, one that’s more common than you’d think. In fact, the percentage of women newly diagnosed with ADHD between ages 23-49 nearly doubled between 2020 and 2022. And boys are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls. 

That’s exactly why Ms. Represented, a campaign by Supernus Pharmaceuticals, exists—to make sure women’s symptoms aren’t overlooked or misdiagnosed, and to encourage women to talk to their doctor about potential treatment options like Qelbree® (viloxazine extended-release capsules).

Qelbree is a prescription medicine used to treat ADHD in adults and children 6 years and older. Please click here for full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning, and Medication Guide.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Qelbree may increase suicidal thoughts and actions, in children and adults with ADHD, especially within the first few months of treatment or when the dose is changed. Tell your doctor if you or your child have (or if there is a family history of) suicidal thoughts or actions before starting Qelbree. Monitor your or your child’s moods, behaviors, thoughts, and feelings during treatment with Qelbree. Report any new or sudden changes in these symptoms right away.

Important Safety Information continued below.

Consider this a starting point, not a checklist. ADHD looks different for everyone, and these are just a few of the many ways it can show up.

You tell yourself you’ll relax as soon as you finish one more chore, one more email, one more errand. But the finish line never arrives. Feeling persistently 'on the go'—or uneasy whenever you aren't being productive—is a recognized hyperactive symptom of ADHD that can leave you feeling overwhelmed.

You’re out to coffee with your friend. They start talking, and you nod along, make eye contact, or laugh at the right moments—yet you still walk away without a clue what was actually said. That’s another potential sign of ADHD. It doesn’t mean you’re rude, checked-out, or uncaring. Your brain may be wired to process information differently. 

A typo in an email. A missed line item in a report. A meeting you could’ve sworn was at 1 p.m., not noon. Though this may read as not trying hard enough at work, these small—but frequent—errors are more like behaviors that tend to hide in plain sight. The patterns aren’t just frustrating; they can leave you second-guessing your own work, though you know you’re capable of better. 

From the outside, you look like you have it together. On the inside, well, that takes work. Masking or overcompensating for your ADHD symptoms is a key reason why women may get a delayed diagnosis—and it’s specifically why the three signs above often go unnoticed in the first place. Girls with ADHD are less likely to be diagnosed and treated in childhood than boys, since their symptoms are often overlooked, in part because they tend to blame themselves rather than external factors.

Recognizing these patterns isn’t about looking for something wrong—it’s about finally understanding what’s always been right there. It’s about feeling empowered to take action, such as starting a conversation with a healthcare provider and exploring treatment options like non-stimulant Qelbree once diagnosed. 

Learn more at Qelbree.com/MsRepresented.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION (CONTINUED)

You should not take Qelbree if you or your child: 
Take a medicine for depression called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) or have stopped taking an MAOI in the past 14 days. Also, you or your child should avoid alosetron, duloxetine, ramelteon, tasimelteon, tizanidine, and theophylline.

Qelbree can increase blood pressure and heart rate. Your or your child’s doctor will monitor these vital signs.

Qelbree may cause manic episodes in patients with bipolar disorder. Tell your doctor if you or your child show any signs of mania.

Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Qelbree will affect you or your child. Qelbree may cause you or your child to feel sleepy or tired.

The most common side effects of Qelbree in patients 6 to 17 years are sleepiness, not feeling hungry, feeling tired, nausea, vomiting, trouble sleeping, and irritability, and in adults, insomnia, headache, sleepiness, tiredness, nausea, decreased appetite, dry mouth, and constipation. These are not all the possible side effects of Qelbree.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see Medication Guide, including Boxed Warning.

Qelbree (viloxazine extended-release capsules) is available in 100 mg, 150 mg, and
200 mg capsule strengths.

Qelbree is a registered trademark of Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
©2026 Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. All rights reserved.

QBE.2026-0294