THOUGHTS AND COMMENTARY
A Book Excerpt From
The Road to Neuroplasticity and Change to Heal Trauma, Improve Cognitive Capacity and Maximize Performance
I have been working on a book on neuroscience that is an easy way to understand the power of your brain, your mind and the thoughts that drive your creativity, insight and intelligence. The most powerful fact about the brain is the concept of neuroplasticity or the brain’s ability to change structurally to grow, evolve and increase it’s capabilities. We do this with cognitive training and surprisingly, mindfulness meditation.
> READ MORE ABOUT NEUROPLASTICITY
> READ MORE ABOUT NEUROPLASTICITY
HOW ADHD MEDICATION WORKS
NEURON ACTIVITY
The brain is composed of nerve cells called neurons. These neurons are separated by tiny gaps. These gaps are called synapses. All functions of the brain and nervous system are based on communication across these synapses. The neurons relay information to each other by sending chemical messengers known as neurotransmitters across the synapses throughout what is referred to as a neural network.
NEUROTRANSMITTERS
Neurotransmitters are produced within a neuron. The neuron releases the neurotransmitter and it travels into the synapse space. The neurotransmitter is accepted by the next neuron by attaching at a site called a receptor. The process transmits information from one nerve cell to another throughout the brain.
In order for these pathways to work effectively to transmit the message the neuron must produce and release enough of the neurotransmitter. The neurotransmitter must stay in the synapse space long enough for it to bind to the receptor site.
After release the excess portion is recaptured or reabsorbed by the originating neuron. In ADHD the neurotransmitter is prematurely reabsorbed. When this occurs, that portion of the neural network is prevented from relaying messages in an efficient and timely way.
Two specific neurotransmitters are affected by medication - dopamine and norepinephrine. Both are important for attention and focus and the functioning of the pre-frontal cortex region of the brain. They are essential for executive functioning—how you plan, how you organize, how you execute.
EFFECTS OF MEDICATION
Stimulants stimulate and increase the release of dopamine and norepinephrine and block or slow how much is being reabsorbed back into the neuron. As a result, more of the neurotransmitter is held in the synapse space long enough for it to properly bind to the receptor. This helps messages within the brain be more effectively transmitted and received.
Dopamine decreases signals from the external stimuli that might be distracting to you and norepinephrine for improves the signal you’re trying to focus on it to pay attention to. When you take a Stimulant like Ritalin or Adderall, what it does is help bring up the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine. Dopamine is thought to play a role in memory formation and the onset of addictive behaviors, while norepinephrine has been linked with arousal and attentiveness.
If you get optimal levels of Dopamine and norepinephrine you are pretty focused. But if you get too much you can stress out the brain. It makes the ADHD is worse. High-dose stimulants can cause dramatic spikes in neurotransmitter levels in the brain, which can in turn impair attention and heighten the risk of developing addiction.
Research suggests that methylphenidate primarily blocks the reuptake of Dopamine and norepinephrine. It slows how much of the neurotransmitter is being reabsorbed back into the neuron so that more is left in the synapse. It facilitates the direct release of neurotransmitter from within the neuron where it's produced and stored, which sends more out into the synapse space.
Amphetamines like Adderall increase the release of Dopamine and norepinephrine. from their storage sites into the synapse. A less significant mechanism of amphetamines is slowing the reuptake of the neurotransmitters.
Brain imaging studies have demonstrated that stimulant medication increases metabolic activity in the prefrontal cortex, specifically the subcortical regions and the cerebellum. These areas are important centers for executive function and appear more active and “turned on” to cognitive tasks when neurotransmitter levels are elevated.
EFFECTIVENESS
Stimulants don't cure ADHD. What they do is help to alleviate or reduce symptoms while the Stimulants is active in your system. If you have ADHD, studies show there’s an over 80% chance that you are going to respond to medication. Within that group, 50% will respond equally well to the two main classes of ADHD medications: methylphenidate (Ritalin and other brands) or amphetamine (Adderall and other brands). Of the other 50%, half will do better on methylphenidate and half on amphetamine.
How can you know if you are part of the 20 percent of people for whom meds don’t work? Unfortunately, as many as one in five people do not respond to the two standard stimulants, methylphenidate and amphetamine.
Effectiveness is measured through a statistical calculation called effect size. All medicines fall within an effect size of 0.4 (barely detectable) to 1.0 (robust therapeutic response). The effect size of the optimal molecule and optimal dose of stimulant can be as high as 2.1. Therefore the benefits of medication are life-changing.
The most common problem in achieving the optimal dose is that physicians stop increasing the dosage at the first sign of positive benefit in their patients because they fear that the development of side effects. Side effects may cause the patient to stop medication.
If you have tried both methylphenidate and amphetamine at adequate dosages, and have seen neither benefits nor side effects, it is possible that you are in the 3 percent of people who just do not absorb these medications orally. The formulation to try at this point is the transdermal delivery system, Daytrana,* also known as the patch.
ABSORPTION
You shouldn’t take ascorbic acid or vitamin C an hour before and after you take medication. ADHD Stimulants are strongly alkaline and cannot be absorbed into the bloodstream if these organic acids are present at the same time. High doses of vitamin C (1000 mg.), in pill or juice form, can also accelerate the excretion of amphetamine in the urine and act like an “off” switch on the med.
If you stop taking the drugs, the benefits dissipate quickly, usually in a matter of hours rather than days. Luckily, these Stimulants work for a lifetime without the development of tolerance, but they need to be taken reasonably consistently in order to get full benefits.
The Stimulant medications are effective as soon as they cross the blood-brain barrier, which takes 45 to 60 minutes. This makes it possible to change the dose of Stimulant medication every day to determine the optimal dose in less than a week. Children, however, often lack the ability to express how the medication is affecting their functioning and mood so for them the medication dose can be raised only once a week.
It is important to remember that with both Stimulants and non-stimulants there is a “therapeutic window.” Doses that are too low or too high are ineffective. Since there is no factor that predicts either the optimal class or dose it needs to be determined by symptoms.
Start with the lowest dose of Stimulant medication and increase it periodically. Continue to increase the dose provided that the target symptoms improve without side effects. At some point, however, an increase in dose won’t see further improvement.
ADHD medications should not change a child’s personality. If a child taking a Stimulant seems sedated or zombie-like it usually means that the dose is too highand med needs to be adjusted. If a child is taking the lowest possible dose that’s effective for him, and still gets moody or irritable, some other kind of treatment should be tried. This usually happens right away, as soon as they start taking the medication, and goes away immediately when they stop taking it.
DEBUNKING THE MYTHS OF ADHD MEDICATION
MYTH: Stimulants are a gateway drug to other drug abuse. Not true for ADHD people. Studies indicate that ADHD kids who take medication are less likely to develop problems with substance abuse. Stimulants are usually abused by people who do not have ADHD.
Myth: You’ll become a drug addict if you take ADHD medication. Stimulants have the potential for abuse. They are a Schedule C drug and tightly regulated because of that. ADHD medication in adults (or kids) does NOT lead to an increased risk of abuse and many studies show that they actually decrease our risk of addiction. Substance abuse is common in Adults with ADHD who are unmedicated. Stimulants reduce impulsivity and improve ADHDrelated struggles. That may be why adults with ADHD who are treated with stimulants are less likely to struggle with addiction and if treatment began in childhood, the reduction in substance abuse risk as an adult is even greater.
MYTH: Violence in schools (in Columbine, Jonesboro, and others) is caused by children on medication. From what we know, about half of these kids were on stimulants. The other half were not. That amounts to about 7 students who shot up schools out of over 6 million prescriptions for Ritalin. School violence is caused by a number of factors. Medication use does NOT appear to be one of them.
MYTH: Stimulants put holes in your brain. This myth came from the PET images of the ADHD brain, which measures heat and blood flow, not the actual image of the brain. The “holes” are areas where there is less blood flow. There are no physical holes in the brain.
MYTH: Stimulants are like cocaine. There are some chemical similarities. Both ADHD medications and cocaine are stimulants However, medications when used as prescribed does not behave in the body like cocaine. In order to get the “cocaine effect,” users have to crush and sniff or inject the chemical into their body. People have died from doing this.
Myth: ADHD medication is basically Meth.. Amphetamine doesn’t have the extra methyl group and isn’t able to cross the blood-brain barrier like meth. Amphetamine like Adderall don’t give you a high if they are used as prescribed. For adults with ADHD it instead creates a sense of calm. Meth stays in the body far, far longer than Amphetamine it also creates a greater degree of side effects, some just very unpleasant and some dangerous. Both Adderall and Meth are chemically similar to phenethylamine, which is naturally produced in humans. Phenethylamine is also considered a stimulant and studies indicate that ADHD people don’t have enough of it. When we take Amphetamine (like Adderall , it increases this natural chemical to the same level as other humans. If Adderall is “basically just meth” it would appear that phenethylamine is basically just like meth too.
Myth: Stimulants like Ritalin are so bad that there was a lawsuit filed to stop people from getting it. To date, of the five lawsuits that were filed regarding this, four have been dismissed by judges after hearing the facts.
Myth: Drugs like Ritalin and Adderall can make you smarter. While these stimulants may help you focus, they don’t help you learn better, and they won’t improve your grades. Being “smart” is about improving your ability to master new skills, concepts, and ideas. Learning strengthens brain connections through repetition and practice to enhance over a lifetime. Shortcuts, like abusing prescription stimulants do not “exercise” the brain. Research has shown that students who abuse prescription stimulants actually have lower GPAs in high school and college than those who don’t.
Myth: Prescription Stimulants are just brain vitamins. Unlike vitamins, these drugs contain ingredients that can change brain chemistry and may have serious side effects. Also, unlike vitamins, they require a doctor’s prescription. If you take these drugs more often than directed, in too high a dose, or in some way other than by mouth, you are abusing the drug, which can lead to addiction.
Myth: These drugs can’t hurt you. Prescription Stimulants like Adderall or Ritalin are safe and effectivewhen prescribed for people with ADHD and used properly. But the same drugs, when used by someone without ADHDcan be dangerous. Stimulants taken without a medical reason can disrupt brain communication. When used improperly or in excess, they can cause mood swings and loss of sleep, and can increase your blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature.
Myth: Taking someone else’s prescription—just once in a while is okay. Doctors prescribe medicine based on your weight, symptoms, and body chemistry. Doctors may adjust how much you take or change to a different stimulantto better treat symptoms or respond to side effects. When you take a Stimulant prescribed for a friend or family member, you haven’t been looked at by a doctor. The possible side effectscan make you sick. Side effects include elevated heart rate, dizziness, and fainting—or, even worse, heart attacks and stroke. Side effects may also include depression and exhaustion.
Myth: If your doctor prescribed the drug, it doesn’t matter how you take it. If you are diagnosed with ADHDStimulants the doctor prescribes for you can help. But always be sure to take the medication exactly as directed. Combining prescription stimulants with other drugs or alcohol can be dangerous.
Myth: Long term, you might be brain dead from Stimulants Decades of research on the long term effects of stimulants have turned up no major issues. There is no greater danger taking stimulants long term than other medications. Stimulants were first used in the 1930’s for things other than ADHD ADHD was first recognized by name in the 80’s. The DSM II called it Hyperkinetic Reaction of Childhood and the study of stimulant use started then. There are almost 90 years of studies on stimulants and more than 50 years of that includes research for ADHD (under both names). In 50+ years of research, we still haven’t found any long term problems of stimulantuse (when used as prescribed).
COMMON CONCERNS FOR ADHD MEDICATION
Addiction
The most common concern about ADHD Stimulant medication is its potential for abuse.
Stunted growth
ADHD medications can suppress a child's appetite. This affects a child's physical growth and development.
Long-term consequences of stimulant medication on a child's brain
Increased suicide risk
Cardiovascular problems
The brain is composed of nerve cells called neurons. These neurons are separated by tiny gaps. These gaps are called synapses. All functions of the brain and nervous system are based on communication across these synapses. The neurons relay information to each other by sending chemical messengers known as neurotransmitters across the synapses throughout what is referred to as a neural network.
NEUROTRANSMITTERS
Neurotransmitters are produced within a neuron. The neuron releases the neurotransmitter and it travels into the synapse space. The neurotransmitter is accepted by the next neuron by attaching at a site called a receptor. The process transmits information from one nerve cell to another throughout the brain.
In order for these pathways to work effectively to transmit the message the neuron must produce and release enough of the neurotransmitter. The neurotransmitter must stay in the synapse space long enough for it to bind to the receptor site.
After release the excess portion is recaptured or reabsorbed by the originating neuron. In ADHD the neurotransmitter is prematurely reabsorbed. When this occurs, that portion of the neural network is prevented from relaying messages in an efficient and timely way.
Two specific neurotransmitters are affected by medication - dopamine and norepinephrine. Both are important for attention and focus and the functioning of the pre-frontal cortex region of the brain. They are essential for executive functioning—how you plan, how you organize, how you execute.
EFFECTS OF MEDICATION
Stimulants stimulate and increase the release of dopamine and norepinephrine and block or slow how much is being reabsorbed back into the neuron. As a result, more of the neurotransmitter is held in the synapse space long enough for it to properly bind to the receptor. This helps messages within the brain be more effectively transmitted and received.
Dopamine decreases signals from the external stimuli that might be distracting to you and norepinephrine for improves the signal you’re trying to focus on it to pay attention to. When you take a Stimulant like Ritalin or Adderall, what it does is help bring up the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine. Dopamine is thought to play a role in memory formation and the onset of addictive behaviors, while norepinephrine has been linked with arousal and attentiveness.
If you get optimal levels of Dopamine and norepinephrine you are pretty focused. But if you get too much you can stress out the brain. It makes the ADHD is worse. High-dose stimulants can cause dramatic spikes in neurotransmitter levels in the brain, which can in turn impair attention and heighten the risk of developing addiction.
Research suggests that methylphenidate primarily blocks the reuptake of Dopamine and norepinephrine. It slows how much of the neurotransmitter is being reabsorbed back into the neuron so that more is left in the synapse. It facilitates the direct release of neurotransmitter from within the neuron where it's produced and stored, which sends more out into the synapse space.
Amphetamines like Adderall increase the release of Dopamine and norepinephrine. from their storage sites into the synapse. A less significant mechanism of amphetamines is slowing the reuptake of the neurotransmitters.
Brain imaging studies have demonstrated that stimulant medication increases metabolic activity in the prefrontal cortex, specifically the subcortical regions and the cerebellum. These areas are important centers for executive function and appear more active and “turned on” to cognitive tasks when neurotransmitter levels are elevated.
EFFECTIVENESS
Stimulants don't cure ADHD. What they do is help to alleviate or reduce symptoms while the Stimulants is active in your system. If you have ADHD, studies show there’s an over 80% chance that you are going to respond to medication. Within that group, 50% will respond equally well to the two main classes of ADHD medications: methylphenidate (Ritalin and other brands) or amphetamine (Adderall and other brands). Of the other 50%, half will do better on methylphenidate and half on amphetamine.
How can you know if you are part of the 20 percent of people for whom meds don’t work? Unfortunately, as many as one in five people do not respond to the two standard stimulants, methylphenidate and amphetamine.
Effectiveness is measured through a statistical calculation called effect size. All medicines fall within an effect size of 0.4 (barely detectable) to 1.0 (robust therapeutic response). The effect size of the optimal molecule and optimal dose of stimulant can be as high as 2.1. Therefore the benefits of medication are life-changing.
The most common problem in achieving the optimal dose is that physicians stop increasing the dosage at the first sign of positive benefit in their patients because they fear that the development of side effects. Side effects may cause the patient to stop medication.
If you have tried both methylphenidate and amphetamine at adequate dosages, and have seen neither benefits nor side effects, it is possible that you are in the 3 percent of people who just do not absorb these medications orally. The formulation to try at this point is the transdermal delivery system, Daytrana,* also known as the patch.
ABSORPTION
You shouldn’t take ascorbic acid or vitamin C an hour before and after you take medication. ADHD Stimulants are strongly alkaline and cannot be absorbed into the bloodstream if these organic acids are present at the same time. High doses of vitamin C (1000 mg.), in pill or juice form, can also accelerate the excretion of amphetamine in the urine and act like an “off” switch on the med.
If you stop taking the drugs, the benefits dissipate quickly, usually in a matter of hours rather than days. Luckily, these Stimulants work for a lifetime without the development of tolerance, but they need to be taken reasonably consistently in order to get full benefits.
The Stimulant medications are effective as soon as they cross the blood-brain barrier, which takes 45 to 60 minutes. This makes it possible to change the dose of Stimulant medication every day to determine the optimal dose in less than a week. Children, however, often lack the ability to express how the medication is affecting their functioning and mood so for them the medication dose can be raised only once a week.
It is important to remember that with both Stimulants and non-stimulants there is a “therapeutic window.” Doses that are too low or too high are ineffective. Since there is no factor that predicts either the optimal class or dose it needs to be determined by symptoms.
Start with the lowest dose of Stimulant medication and increase it periodically. Continue to increase the dose provided that the target symptoms improve without side effects. At some point, however, an increase in dose won’t see further improvement.
ADHD medications should not change a child’s personality. If a child taking a Stimulant seems sedated or zombie-like it usually means that the dose is too highand med needs to be adjusted. If a child is taking the lowest possible dose that’s effective for him, and still gets moody or irritable, some other kind of treatment should be tried. This usually happens right away, as soon as they start taking the medication, and goes away immediately when they stop taking it.
DEBUNKING THE MYTHS OF ADHD MEDICATION
MYTH: Stimulants are a gateway drug to other drug abuse. Not true for ADHD people. Studies indicate that ADHD kids who take medication are less likely to develop problems with substance abuse. Stimulants are usually abused by people who do not have ADHD.
Myth: You’ll become a drug addict if you take ADHD medication. Stimulants have the potential for abuse. They are a Schedule C drug and tightly regulated because of that. ADHD medication in adults (or kids) does NOT lead to an increased risk of abuse and many studies show that they actually decrease our risk of addiction. Substance abuse is common in Adults with ADHD who are unmedicated. Stimulants reduce impulsivity and improve ADHDrelated struggles. That may be why adults with ADHD who are treated with stimulants are less likely to struggle with addiction and if treatment began in childhood, the reduction in substance abuse risk as an adult is even greater.
MYTH: Violence in schools (in Columbine, Jonesboro, and others) is caused by children on medication. From what we know, about half of these kids were on stimulants. The other half were not. That amounts to about 7 students who shot up schools out of over 6 million prescriptions for Ritalin. School violence is caused by a number of factors. Medication use does NOT appear to be one of them.
MYTH: Stimulants put holes in your brain. This myth came from the PET images of the ADHD brain, which measures heat and blood flow, not the actual image of the brain. The “holes” are areas where there is less blood flow. There are no physical holes in the brain.
MYTH: Stimulants are like cocaine. There are some chemical similarities. Both ADHD medications and cocaine are stimulants However, medications when used as prescribed does not behave in the body like cocaine. In order to get the “cocaine effect,” users have to crush and sniff or inject the chemical into their body. People have died from doing this.
Myth: ADHD medication is basically Meth.. Amphetamine doesn’t have the extra methyl group and isn’t able to cross the blood-brain barrier like meth. Amphetamine like Adderall don’t give you a high if they are used as prescribed. For adults with ADHD it instead creates a sense of calm. Meth stays in the body far, far longer than Amphetamine it also creates a greater degree of side effects, some just very unpleasant and some dangerous. Both Adderall and Meth are chemically similar to phenethylamine, which is naturally produced in humans. Phenethylamine is also considered a stimulant and studies indicate that ADHD people don’t have enough of it. When we take Amphetamine (like Adderall , it increases this natural chemical to the same level as other humans. If Adderall is “basically just meth” it would appear that phenethylamine is basically just like meth too.
Myth: Stimulants like Ritalin are so bad that there was a lawsuit filed to stop people from getting it. To date, of the five lawsuits that were filed regarding this, four have been dismissed by judges after hearing the facts.
Myth: Drugs like Ritalin and Adderall can make you smarter. While these stimulants may help you focus, they don’t help you learn better, and they won’t improve your grades. Being “smart” is about improving your ability to master new skills, concepts, and ideas. Learning strengthens brain connections through repetition and practice to enhance over a lifetime. Shortcuts, like abusing prescription stimulants do not “exercise” the brain. Research has shown that students who abuse prescription stimulants actually have lower GPAs in high school and college than those who don’t.
Myth: Prescription Stimulants are just brain vitamins. Unlike vitamins, these drugs contain ingredients that can change brain chemistry and may have serious side effects. Also, unlike vitamins, they require a doctor’s prescription. If you take these drugs more often than directed, in too high a dose, or in some way other than by mouth, you are abusing the drug, which can lead to addiction.
Myth: These drugs can’t hurt you. Prescription Stimulants like Adderall or Ritalin are safe and effectivewhen prescribed for people with ADHD and used properly. But the same drugs, when used by someone without ADHDcan be dangerous. Stimulants taken without a medical reason can disrupt brain communication. When used improperly or in excess, they can cause mood swings and loss of sleep, and can increase your blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature.
Myth: Taking someone else’s prescription—just once in a while is okay. Doctors prescribe medicine based on your weight, symptoms, and body chemistry. Doctors may adjust how much you take or change to a different stimulantto better treat symptoms or respond to side effects. When you take a Stimulant prescribed for a friend or family member, you haven’t been looked at by a doctor. The possible side effectscan make you sick. Side effects include elevated heart rate, dizziness, and fainting—or, even worse, heart attacks and stroke. Side effects may also include depression and exhaustion.
Myth: If your doctor prescribed the drug, it doesn’t matter how you take it. If you are diagnosed with ADHDStimulants the doctor prescribes for you can help. But always be sure to take the medication exactly as directed. Combining prescription stimulants with other drugs or alcohol can be dangerous.
Myth: Long term, you might be brain dead from Stimulants Decades of research on the long term effects of stimulants have turned up no major issues. There is no greater danger taking stimulants long term than other medications. Stimulants were first used in the 1930’s for things other than ADHD ADHD was first recognized by name in the 80’s. The DSM II called it Hyperkinetic Reaction of Childhood and the study of stimulant use started then. There are almost 90 years of studies on stimulants and more than 50 years of that includes research for ADHD (under both names). In 50+ years of research, we still haven’t found any long term problems of stimulantuse (when used as prescribed).
COMMON CONCERNS FOR ADHD MEDICATION
Addiction
The most common concern about ADHD Stimulant medication is its potential for abuse.
- Stimulants are classified as Schedule II medications. They are closely monitored in the United States.
- Stimulants increase wakefulness, suppress appetites, and increase focus and attention. These qualities make these drugs appealing to some people for weight loss or performance enhancement.
- Some Stimulant medications produce euphoria. This makes them appealing to recreational drug users.
- Research suggests that there is no increased risk of substance abuse for people who have ADHD and take medication versus those who do not take medication.
- Some people may fake ADHD symptoms in order to obtain Stimulant prescriptions for illicit drug use, or sale.
- Adderall and Dexedrine are popular in the illicit drug trade because they produce a euphoric high in people who do not have ADHD.
- Ritalin does not produce the euphoria desired by illicit drug users so it has less potential for abuse.
- Tolerance and withdrawal symptoms are typically considered the harbingers of addiction.
- Tolerance refers to a decreasing drug effect over time. Tolerance causes the drug user to take increasingly higher doses to achieve the effect they desire.
- Tolerance is not typical. Once an effective ADHD medication regime has been established, people rarely need to increase their dose. In fact, some adults may find they respond well to lower doses of medication.
- Withdrawal refers to physiological or bodily dependence on medication. We do not usually see withdrawal with ADHD In the absence of tolerance or withdrawal we may reasonably conclude that addiction has not occurred.
- People with ADHD are at greater risk of drug addiction whether or not they are treated with Stimulantmedication.
- Research suggest that ADHD treatment for kids should include interventions aimed at reducing the risk off future substance abuse. It could be that impulsivity is to blame or it may be an attempt to self-medicate.
- Certain subgroups of ADHD children have an even greater risk for addiction. This at-risk group includes children who demonstrate delinquent behaviors (conduct disorders) by age 10, and those who smoke cigarettes by age 12. These two things do not cause addiction. They serve as predicators that help to identify children who are especially at risk.
Stunted growth
ADHD medications can suppress a child's appetite. This affects a child's physical growth and development.
- In 2007, a major study showed that after 3 years, children taking the ADHD medication, Ritalin were behind their peers in growth. On average, they were one inch shorter and 6 pounds lighter
- The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has funded studies to explore this issue. One study is the Preschoolers with ADHD Treatment Study (PATS).
- This study examined 300 preschoolers (ages 3 to 5 years old) who had been diagnosed with ADHD.
- The study found that low doses of the stimulant methylphenidate are safe and effective for preschoolers.
- The study also found that young children are more sensitive to the side effects of the medication, including slower growth rates.
- A recent long-term study examined children on ADHD medication for a period of 10 years. By the end of the 10-year study, the researchers found no differences in height or weight between these children and children who weren't on Stimulants This study did find that differences were observed during the first two years of taking medication. However, over time, most children regained lost ground and caught up with other kids. The study also found no lag in growth in children who go off medication during the summer. This practice is believed to lessen potential consequences of medications, such as growth delay.
Long-term consequences of stimulant medication on a child's brain
- ADHD Stimulant medications cause changes to neurotransmitter levels in the brain. Neurotransmitter are essential to the brain's communication system.
- Some researchers believe changes are caused by the brain's adaptation to the medication. It remains to be determined whether these brain changes are permanent, or if there are significant long-term consequences of these changes.
- Further research is needed to help to identify the consequences of long-term stimulant use in people with ADHD.
Increased suicide risk
- Some antidepressants medications have been linked to increased suicidal thoughts and behavior, particularly in kids. Reports have been on SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors).
- Research from 24 studies and 4600 children found that 2-3% of these children will think about, or attempt, suicide. The first 4 weeks after a patient begins medication, or changes dosage, is the most vulnerable time period.
- A more recent study found that children and young adults taking an antidepressant medication at higher than typical dosages, are at increased risk of suicidal behavior during the first 3 months of treatment.
- Other symptoms of concern are anxiety, panic attacks, impulsivity, uncontrollable restlessness, mania, agitation, insomnia, irritability, hostility, impulsivity, and mania. Promptly report these symptoms or any other unusual behavior to the healthcare provider.
Cardiovascular problems
- People with active heart disease and high blood pressure should avoid stimulant medication. It may exacerbate heart or circulatory symptoms.
- One study included more than 700,000 children. It found 8,300 had ADHD s Within this ADHD group, those taking stimulants for ADHD s were at twice the risk of experiencing a cardiovascular event compared to children who were not.
- Treatment guidelines recommend an assessment of cardiac risk before beginning stimulant treatment. Guidelines also recommend that cardiac risk assessments continue throughout treatment.
STARLIGHT POETRY BY KAI
View Me on Twitter @kairosoflife
See Creativity Chaos - a Creativity Blog by Kai
About | Reprints & Copyrights | Home
© 2019-2020 Copyright Starlight Poetry
VIEW FULL SITE DIRECTORY
View Me on Twitter @kairosoflife
See Creativity Chaos - a Creativity Blog by Kai
About | Reprints & Copyrights | Home
© 2019-2020 Copyright Starlight Poetry
VIEW FULL SITE DIRECTORY