11 ms·

This study focused specifically on methylphenidate, one of many medications prescribed for ADHD. The title should be adjusted accordingly, as the current title

This study focused specifically on methylphenidate, one of many medications prescribed for ADHD. The title should be adjusted accordingly, as the current title is ambiguous and potentially misleading.

pflats 4y ago
The study also does not claim to show a causal relationship.
- citilife 4y ago
  I was actually going to point that out. IMO from what I've seen of parents are that people who bring their children at a young-ish age to a therapist have a different issue. Especially "being to hyper" or "being unable to focus" have a different issue. Children are supposed to be outside moving 8-12 hours a day, have you seen puppies? They need something similar. Instead many parents give their children tablets, plop them in front of the TV and do something else. Kick them into the back yard or go throw a ball with them. Every child I know diagnosed with ADHD had parents who didn't want to deal with them. Bringing them to the gym, to the park, playing in the backyard; it's a lot of work. Kids who have trouble focusing are likely tired and overstimulated. Reduce the number of toys, remove TV / tablets, and send them outside. It'll probably solve itself. As an experiment, look at the people you know on medication (or ask), look at the troubled children, etc. I guarantee you'll see the same trend: single parent home, started medication at an early age, regular therapist appointments, etc. They're unhappy and need depressants, ADHD medication, etc. It's not always the case, but it's a trend. People who are diagnosed with ADHD at a younger age likely have parents who just don't want / know how to deal with issues. Mental health "experts" treat the symptoms via medication, but the underlying issue(s) just continue to fester. What we really need is a strong emphasis on family development, courses built around it and support groups. Parents naturally do this, but I think it's been severely broken down the past 50-60 years and is getting exponentially worse. As such we see more: single parent homes, abundance of medication, reduction in religion and adult social clubs, etc.
  - zrail 4y ago
    So it feels to me that you're saying ADHD doesn't exist and it's a matter of parental failure or indifference. Do I have that right?
    - nominusllc 4y ago
      I have ADHD, and increasing eustress by working out or doing fun physical things like sports to the point of being tired is one thing that is better than anything I've been prescribed. It's not fall asleep tired, it's more akin to being physically spent. When there is no more need to fidget and do things, I focus like a laser and am less prone to impulse.
      - adastra22 4y ago
        Great it works for you. You probably have the hyperactive type of ADHD. For me and my daughter with inattentive/non-hyperactive ADD, doing physical things, while fun, just make us tired and want to sleep. Not a good idea if you need to focus and get work done. I take daily medication and it has been literally life saving as I was able to turn things around and keep my marriage from falling apart, not to mention my happiness from being able to accomplish much, much more. I'm holding off medication for my daughter only because it lessens appetite and she is very skinny already. Once she's grown to her full height we'll get her meds she can use too.
        nominusllc 4y ago
        I feel for you, I hope you guys settle on something that works with as little sides as possible. It's a spectrum with a lot of means to address a moving target, so some trial and error unfortunately comes with it. Luckily I was able to work with my doc to find things that work for the things that eustress cannot solve. Just curious, what do you take?
    - davemp 4y ago
      I don’t see how you are getting that from OP’s comment. OP seems to be claiming that ADHD is often over diagnosed and/or treated improperly. A viewpoint shared by people I know in the field.
- jobu 4y ago
  As the parent of a child with ADHD that is medicated, it seems completely plausible that it could cause depression. When my kid has had too high a dosage (or accidentally takes a double dose) she's like a zombie, completely flat affect, and very little motivation. It's like it drains her life away. Part of the problem is that it's very difficult to get the right dosage for any given day because diet, metabolism, and hormones seem to have a big impact on how effective it is. We've found it's better to go with a lower-dose extended release, and then let her self-medicate with 5mg regular tablets as needed. This works great now because she's a fairly responsible teenager (when medicated), but it was really hard when she was younger.
  - adastra22 4y ago
    What is she taking?
    - jobu 4y ago
      It's changed a few times over the years because of insurance, but right now it's Focalin XR and 5mg Ritalin as needed up to 2 times a day.
      - adastra22 4y ago
        Thanks!
  - krono 4y ago
    I share this experience myself, in particular the dosage not providing a consistent effect day to day - every specialist I've spoken has told me this is weird and shouldn't be happening and yet it is so. Switching to staged release medication (Medikinet CR) has helped me too. Unfortunately extended release Methylphenidate of any kind/brand is only partially covered by Dutch health insurance[1], and I'm certain the cost is prohibitive for people who might be less well off. 1: In essence, the government has determined that all Methylphenidate variants are equal, and so you can just take the cheapest instant release variant or else pay the difference out of your own pocket.
  - 4y ago
calvinmorrison 4y ago
Common brands: Quillivant XR, Daytrana, QuilliChew ER
- kayodelycaon 4y ago
  It's marketed as Ritalin and Concerta in the US. Wikipedia has quite a lot of information on it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylphenidate https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylphenidate

pflats 4y ago

The study also does not claim to show a causal relationship.

citilife 4y ago
I was actually going to point that out. IMO from what I've seen of parents are that people who bring their children at a young-ish age to a therapist have a different issue. Especially "being to hyper" or "being unable to focus" have a different issue. Children are supposed to be outside moving 8-12 hours a day, have you seen puppies? They need something similar. Instead many parents give their children tablets, plop them in front of the TV and do something else. Kick them into the back yard or go throw a ball with them. Every child I know diagnosed with ADHD had parents who didn't want to deal with them. Bringing them to the gym, to the park, playing in the backyard; it's a lot of work. Kids who have trouble focusing are likely tired and overstimulated. Reduce the number of toys, remove TV / tablets, and send them outside. It'll probably solve itself. As an experiment, look at the people you know on medication (or ask), look at the troubled children, etc. I guarantee you'll see the same trend: single parent home, started medication at an early age, regular therapist appointments, etc. They're unhappy and need depressants, ADHD medication, etc. It's not always the case, but it's a trend. People who are diagnosed with ADHD at a younger age likely have parents who just don't want / know how to deal with issues. Mental health "experts" treat the symptoms via medication, but the underlying issue(s) just continue to fester. What we really need is a strong emphasis on family development, courses built around it and support groups. Parents naturally do this, but I think it's been severely broken down the past 50-60 years and is getting exponentially worse. As such we see more: single parent homes, abundance of medication, reduction in religion and adult social clubs, etc.
- zrail 4y ago
  So it feels to me that you're saying ADHD doesn't exist and it's a matter of parental failure or indifference. Do I have that right?
  - nominusllc 4y ago
    I have ADHD, and increasing eustress by working out or doing fun physical things like sports to the point of being tired is one thing that is better than anything I've been prescribed. It's not fall asleep tired, it's more akin to being physically spent. When there is no more need to fidget and do things, I focus like a laser and am less prone to impulse.
    - adastra22 4y ago
      Great it works for you. You probably have the hyperactive type of ADHD. For me and my daughter with inattentive/non-hyperactive ADD, doing physical things, while fun, just make us tired and want to sleep. Not a good idea if you need to focus and get work done. I take daily medication and it has been literally life saving as I was able to turn things around and keep my marriage from falling apart, not to mention my happiness from being able to accomplish much, much more. I'm holding off medication for my daughter only because it lessens appetite and she is very skinny already. Once she's grown to her full height we'll get her meds she can use too.
      - nominusllc 4y ago
        I feel for you, I hope you guys settle on something that works with as little sides as possible. It's a spectrum with a lot of means to address a moving target, so some trial and error unfortunately comes with it. Luckily I was able to work with my doc to find things that work for the things that eustress cannot solve. Just curious, what do you take?
  - davemp 4y ago
    I don’t see how you are getting that from OP’s comment. OP seems to be claiming that ADHD is often over diagnosed and/or treated improperly. A viewpoint shared by people I know in the field.
jobu 4y ago
As the parent of a child with ADHD that is medicated, it seems completely plausible that it could cause depression. When my kid has had too high a dosage (or accidentally takes a double dose) she's like a zombie, completely flat affect, and very little motivation. It's like it drains her life away. Part of the problem is that it's very difficult to get the right dosage for any given day because diet, metabolism, and hormones seem to have a big impact on how effective it is. We've found it's better to go with a lower-dose extended release, and then let her self-medicate with 5mg regular tablets as needed. This works great now because she's a fairly responsible teenager (when medicated), but it was really hard when she was younger.
- adastra22 4y ago
  What is she taking?
  - jobu 4y ago
    It's changed a few times over the years because of insurance, but right now it's Focalin XR and 5mg Ritalin as needed up to 2 times a day.
    - adastra22 4y ago
      Thanks!
- krono 4y ago
  I share this experience myself, in particular the dosage not providing a consistent effect day to day - every specialist I've spoken has told me this is weird and shouldn't be happening and yet it is so. Switching to staged release medication (Medikinet CR) has helped me too. Unfortunately extended release Methylphenidate of any kind/brand is only partially covered by Dutch health insurance[1], and I'm certain the cost is prohibitive for people who might be less well off. 1: In essence, the government has determined that all Methylphenidate variants are equal, and so you can just take the cheapest instant release variant or else pay the difference out of your own pocket.
- 4y ago

calvinmorrison 4y ago

Common brands: Quillivant XR, Daytrana, QuilliChew ER

kayodelycaon 4y ago
It's marketed as Ritalin and Concerta in the US. Wikipedia has quite a lot of information on it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylphenidate https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylphenidate