ADHD drugs a lie

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Pg_vnSR ... _embedded#

For me, they are worth the risk.

If they work, they are definitely worth the risk. Statistically (i.e., on average when you look at large numbers of people), people with ADHD are better off on medication, though the best outcome has always been medication plus an organized environment and family therapy. Untreated ADHD seriously reduces your life expectancy, probably because of the impulsivity and absent-mindedness in the area of monitoring one's own health.

That doesn't count the individual cases where medication doesn't work; mine, for example (caffeine does work, though), and doesn't count the cases where medication is contraindicated for health reasons.

ADD meds do not cure ADD...they are an aide..... in my case, a badly needed aide. I wish wish wish wish that there was something that really really worked and wasn't dangerous, addictive, and expensive. With meds, my symptoms do not go away, but I am slightly more able to cope with the complete chaos that I have to manage every single day.
There are adverse effects to being on ADD meds...my meltdowns become more dramatic...I can be more irritable in general...but without the meds...the stress of not being able to do all the stuff I have to do will also cause me to be irritable and have meltdowns and be extremely inefficient in managing all the stuff.
I live in an extremely disorganized environment. My main partner has untreated ADD symptoms...His filing system is to throw everything on the floor. He is forgetful and loses everything...He can be standing right in front of something, and bark at me when I am all the way in the other room to come and find it for him, rather than attempt to look for it himself...It is very stressful...in using the meds, I am sorta attempting to manage the ADD for both of us..The only thing he is able to focus on is his "computer work"...I have trouble when it comes to attempting to focus on things not related to my repetitive non-productive routines...but at least I try...

With the meds, I am only just slightly better....but that slightly better makes it worth the risk...I still have terrible executive functioning, difficult focusing on tedious tasks....difficulty multi-tasking and maintaining an orderly environment....i.e. organizing the piles of random junk that proliferate in every corner of our giant warehouse...
Without meds it is a train wreck.

Ritalin was ineffective, but Adderal seems to help with the lack of executive functioning due to a self inflicted frontal lobe injury I obtained as a child, as well as having an electrically hyperactive brain. I banged my head incredibly hard and very often when I was distressed as a child. I would rather be on Adderal and suffer the long-term side effects than spend my life unable to care for myself (to cook, clean, get ready for work).

For most cases of ADHD I've seen, there are other cognitive behavior modification techniques that would work just as well as medication. Those who call themselves ADHD and have not extensively tried behavior modification before trying medication make me severely angry.

I'm not particularly fond of people taking "XR" versions of medications, because that is very hard on the heart and body. I try and measure my doses to use the least amount of medication per day, and week.

Most drugs are ineffective in the long term and have side effects.
My SSRI's aren't working as good as they once did.

Callista wrote: If they work, they are definitely worth the risk. Statistically (i.e., on average when you look at large numbers of people), people with ADHD are better off on medication, though the best outcome has always been medication plus an organized environment and family therapy. Untreated ADHD seriously reduces your life expectancy, probably because of the impulsivity and absent-mindedness in the area of monitoring one's own health. That doesn't count the individual cases where medication doesn't work; mine, for example (caffeine does work, though), and
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...Caffeine (100 mg) also works for me a little (not a cure). Caffeine for me works better than Ritalin, Dexedrine, Adderall, or Adderall XR. I have been using coffee/FDA approved caffeine compounds (alertness aids) for ADHD Inattentive (not a cure) for over thirty years. Caffeine (not a cure) still works for me today. - pgd ...
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doesn't count the cases where medication is contraindicated for health reasons.
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... - www.rsna.org/rsna/media/pr2005/Coffee.cfm - (For some users, not everyone, coffee jump-starts short-term memory) - http://coffeescience.org/alert (mental alertness) ...

i dont think ritalin is a good idea for children.
i have been on it of and one since i was 15, and had some pretty tough times with it and the side effects.
But 9 out of ten times, people around me would notice a difference. i became more mature on it, more focused and kinda obsessive.
But im now 23 and havent been on it for a year.

I hated being on ritalin. I realize it seemed to contribute to my mechanical way of things. They put me on it starting at age 6, and I must have been continuously medicated from then up till age 19 when I left home.

My personal opinion has been that it is horrible idea to give this type of substance to children. In adolescents or adults it should only be used with discretion on a per-need type basis at most (such as to help during a study session).

when I was a kid they wanted to put me on rittilan but my dad told them medication to control someone is for mental patients. He was afraid the meds would make me into a zombie so he never let me take meds for my ADHD when I was in school. Now I have no will to start things I want to do and I loose intrested quickly when I do manage to start something. Could this be because of my ADHD and could medication help me with it?

It probably does have to do with your ADHD; and whether medication will help remains to be seen but can only be determined if you try it.

Your father sounds like he had some pretty severe prejudice against "mental patients" and medication in general.

Since this topic was first posted, I've found that a very low dose of Concerta seems to work for me somewhat, because regular doses will zombify me... If they do that to you, you could ask for a very small dose instead of a higher one. Being sensitive to stimulants is really not all that uncommon.

What are the long term effects of these drugs? I am going to be tested Aug 6th should I ask to them to put me on something?