4 ms·

If we're getting into a debate of whether medications can have other effects than intended, I cannot argue that. ADHD and ADD should be treated in completely d

by tomlin 15y ago

If we're getting into a debate of whether medications can have other effects than intended, I cannot argue that. ADHD and ADD should be treated in completely different ways. People diagnosed with ADHD have a much higher chance of psychotic symptoms than those who are only of the inattentive type. Then there is the old saying, "if you've seen one child with ADHD, you've seen one child with ADHD." In my experience, and for many others, it has provided a world untold, halted depression, increased motivation and enjoyment in life. Stimulants aren't perfect, but we're throwing the baby out with the bath water when we ignore their usefulness.

Alex3917 15y ago
What you're experiencing now is called the honeymoon period. You can go Google for what people on r/drugs have written about their experiences with this, or you can just wait to find out on your own. edit: http://www.reddit.com/r/Drugs/comments/excne/advice_needed_how_do_doctors_typically_deal_with/ http://www.reddit.com/r/Drugs/comments/excne/advice_needed_h...
- tomlin 15y ago
  It may be my honeymoon period, but plenty of others who are well past their honeymoon period and still enjoying the benefits of stimulants. Again, it's not a perfect drug, but it works if you use it as a tool and not as a silver bullet.
Rexatron 15y ago
Your experience is yours. How long have you been on medication? What medication specifically? I've heard that some new meds are not stimulant. They might be good. But the old Ritalin/Adderall stimulants have quite possibly caused the psychotic symptoms you are talking about. That's what they do. Are you familiar with street meth? Ritlain/Adderall are pharma grade long duration forms of that. They have made me crazy before. And they don't "Halt Depression" they get you so busy you that you won't reflect on yourself. Artificial increases in motivation are silly. If you aren't inspired on your own to do something, you probably should be doing something else. Stimulants are much less than perfect and throwing out a pharma grade street drug with the bath water is fine with me. It's drugs or it's not. There are ways to handle ADD/ADHD without drugs. Change the environment. Forcing kids to take meth is just wrong.
- true_religion 15y ago
  If you're willing to throw out a "pharma grade street drug" then wouldn't you be willing to throw out any pharma-grade drugs that are used directly on the street such as codeine, morphine, Valium, Vicodin, and any other broad spectrum pain reliever.
  - Rexatron 15y ago
    Not pain meds for legit pain. But as a ex-addict of benzos I would restrict those to epileptic patients... The data on benzos for mania, depression, and suicide is scary. Long term use has terrible effects. Most docs don't prescribe the heavy ones for psychiatry anymore. Seizures are a different story.
    - Alex3917 15y ago
      "Most docs don't prescribe the heavy ones for psychiatry anymore. Seizures are a different story." Benzos have actually made a huge comeback recently, and are quickly catching up to their peak prescription levels in 1975. In 2009, benzos were 3 of the top 20 most-prescribed psychiatric drugs prescribed in the US: 1. Alprazolam (Xanax) 44,029,000 3. Lorazepam (Ativan) 25,868,00 10. Diazepam (Valium) 14,009,000 There were 83 million prescriptions for benzos written in 2007, as compared with 103 million at their peak in 1975. (Granted there are more people today, but still.) source: http://www.erowid.org/general/newsletter/erowid_newsletter18.pdf http://www.erowid.org/general/newsletter/erowid_newsletter18... (And also Anatomy of an Epidemic, p. 131)
      - Rexatron 15y ago
        That is scary. My experience,when I was addicted, was that I couldn't find a doc to prescribe them for me. Was it the dead-faced junkie staring back that prevented it? Probably. It's sad they are so heavily prescribed again, because I know how it feels to rely on a pill to stop the pain and get out of my own head/anxiety. I'm lucky to have found another way.
- roel_v 15y ago
deleted 15y ago
[deleted]
flatline 15y ago
This highlights the problem in my mind. We're not dealing with very well-grounded science here, we're dealing with statistical improvements from a shotgun approach to medication for a set of somewhat subjective symptoms. Most people who take the drugs are going to get decent results for a while. Some people will get great result for a long time. Unfortunately this leaves everyone else.
- tomlin 15y ago
  I agree with the shotgun analogy, it is certainly true. Hopefully advancements in individual genome sequencing and the advancement of personalized medication seeks to improve upon this point.

by tomlin 15y ago

Alex3917 15y ago

What you're experiencing now is called the honeymoon period. You can go Google for what people on r/drugs have written about their experiences with this, or you can just wait to find out on your own. edit: http://www.reddit.com/r/Drugs/comments/excne/advice_needed_how_do_doctors_typically_deal_with/ http://www.reddit.com/r/Drugs/comments/excne/advice_needed_h...

tomlin 15y ago
It may be my honeymoon period, but plenty of others who are well past their honeymoon period and still enjoying the benefits of stimulants. Again, it's not a perfect drug, but it works if you use it as a tool and not as a silver bullet.

Rexatron 15y ago

Your experience is yours. How long have you been on medication? What medication specifically? I've heard that some new meds are not stimulant. They might be good. But the old Ritalin/Adderall stimulants have quite possibly caused the psychotic symptoms you are talking about. That's what they do. Are you familiar with street meth? Ritlain/Adderall are pharma grade long duration forms of that. They have made me crazy before. And they don't "Halt Depression" they get you so busy you that you won't reflect on yourself. Artificial increases in motivation are silly. If you aren't inspired on your own to do something, you probably should be doing something else. Stimulants are much less than perfect and throwing out a pharma grade street drug with the bath water is fine with me. It's drugs or it's not. There are ways to handle ADD/ADHD without drugs. Change the environment. Forcing kids to take meth is just wrong.

true_religion 15y ago
If you're willing to throw out a "pharma grade street drug" then wouldn't you be willing to throw out any pharma-grade drugs that are used directly on the street such as codeine, morphine, Valium, Vicodin, and any other broad spectrum pain reliever.
- Rexatron 15y ago
  Not pain meds for legit pain. But as a ex-addict of benzos I would restrict those to epileptic patients... The data on benzos for mania, depression, and suicide is scary. Long term use has terrible effects. Most docs don't prescribe the heavy ones for psychiatry anymore. Seizures are a different story.
  - Alex3917 15y ago
    "Most docs don't prescribe the heavy ones for psychiatry anymore. Seizures are a different story." Benzos have actually made a huge comeback recently, and are quickly catching up to their peak prescription levels in 1975. In 2009, benzos were 3 of the top 20 most-prescribed psychiatric drugs prescribed in the US: 1. Alprazolam (Xanax) 44,029,000 3. Lorazepam (Ativan) 25,868,00 10. Diazepam (Valium) 14,009,000 There were 83 million prescriptions for benzos written in 2007, as compared with 103 million at their peak in 1975. (Granted there are more people today, but still.) source: http://www.erowid.org/general/newsletter/erowid_newsletter18.pdf http://www.erowid.org/general/newsletter/erowid_newsletter18... (And also Anatomy of an Epidemic, p. 131)
    - Rexatron 15y ago
      That is scary. My experience,when I was addicted, was that I couldn't find a doc to prescribe them for me. Was it the dead-faced junkie staring back that prevented it? Probably. It's sad they are so heavily prescribed again, because I know how it feels to rely on a pill to stop the pain and get out of my own head/anxiety. I'm lucky to have found another way.
roel_v 15y ago

deleted 15y ago

[deleted]

flatline 15y ago

This highlights the problem in my mind. We're not dealing with very well-grounded science here, we're dealing with statistical improvements from a shotgun approach to medication for a set of somewhat subjective symptoms. Most people who take the drugs are going to get decent results for a while. Some people will get great result for a long time. Unfortunately this leaves everyone else.

tomlin 15y ago
I agree with the shotgun analogy, it is certainly true. Hopefully advancements in individual genome sequencing and the advancement of personalized medication seeks to improve upon this point.