5 ms·

Considering there's no biological measurement being used to diagnose or correct ADHD, it's more of an "art" than a science. I presume you're looking for the sa

by toolz 3y ago

Considering there's no biological measurement being used to diagnose or correct ADHD, it's more of an "art" than a science. I presume you're looking for the safest drug that's also effective, because the safest would be not taking any drugs and optimizing for general health and lifestyle. I've heard of people achieving modest success with modafinil. Also with l-thyeanine/caffeine combos. Both of which have very well understood safety profiles. In the states you'll be unlikely to get a modafinil prescription as psychiatrists here have some perverse relationship with more potent and more harmful (dextro)amphetamines.

Rewrap3643 3y ago
Psychs won't prescribe it because it's a wakefulness promoting agent, not a typical stimulant. There's insufficient evidence to prescribe it as a first-line treatment for ADHD. Insurance companies are also unlikely to pay for it in absence of a diagnosed sleep disorder. Methylphenidate is the clinically correct alternative to amphetamines.
- toolz 3y ago
  So we should first-line treat people with addictive, known long-term harmful medicines rather than try things that have a known long-term safe profile simply because it's understood to be less likely to work? That's just bonkers to me. I'll try every single safe potential treatment before resorting to higher evidenced unsafe treatment. Also this "wakefulness" doesn't mean much. It's much like ADHD doesn't mean much - we're just describing symptoms. If we decided to describe the symptoms of taking modafinil as increasing concentration (which being more awake does) then it would be just as accurate. There is no chemical being measured when we diagnose these medications and there is no chemical being measured when we clinically determine a successful treatment. It's all symptoms and entirely subjective. Which is exactly why we should tell people safe things work and allow the science of suggestion alongside medicine help treat people more safely.
  - hirvi74 3y ago
    If Modafinil is truly effective, then why is it not commonly used? The fact that is less commonly used seems to point two potential reasons: 1. It's safety profile is actually not that much better the what is commonly used for ADHD. 2. Its efficacy is significantly worse than what is commonly used, and thus, there is no point in using it. > There is no chemical being measured when we diagnose these medications and there is no chemical being measured when we clinically determine a successful treatment. I'll give you that one. I have personally always been bothered by this too. I just cannot understand why so many psychs have to go through a rigorous and scientifically based education program only to discount much of it in practice.
    - toolz 3y ago
      > 1. It's safety profile is actually not that much better the what is commonly used for ADHD. Modafinil is sold over the counter in many countries. Your claim does not reflect modern research findings. It's really not even close. > 2. Its efficacy is significantly worse than what is commonly used, and thus, there is no point in using it. efficacy for whom? ADHD isn't an infection that is treated with specific antibiotics. It's symptoms that arise in individuals with potentially drastically different root causes. For some people modafinil is effective for treating ADHD symptoms. Speaking of other countries, Japan won't prescribe methylphenidate for ADHD - only issues prescriptions for sleep disorders. Most ADHD medications aren't even legal to bring into Japan, much less get prescriptions for them. I think you'll find there isn't some global consensus on ADHD and medications and there's a good reason for that. ADHD treatment is barely science.
      - hirvi74 3y ago
        > Modafinil is sold over the counter in many countries. Your claim does not reflect modern research findings. It's really not even close. What I was trying to say was that there are to potential reasons why Modifinil is not commonly used for ADHD. By potential reasons, I meant those two reasons might some of the reasons that could be an explanation, but that does not mean those two reasons are the definitive reasons nor the only reasons. Now, I would agree from what I have read that Modifinil is probably safer than Amphetamine or MPH based medications in terms of addiction safety. Though all the reports of SJS and other issues do not seem like it's some perfectly safe medication either. > efficacy for whom? A large enough population size across multiple studies to deem it a safe and effective treatment -- like all other medications approved by some kind of governing regulatory agency. The approval of one medication does not disprove the efficacy of other medications. > For some people modafinil is effective for treating ADHD symptoms. Sure, the same can be said for caffeine, nicotine, plenty of other substances, exercise, etc.. I understand there is an individual aspect to all medication conditions. However, a medical system, at least none I have ever used, curtail all treatments to an individual. There seems to be more of an procedural approach to medical treatments in which the results are "good enough for most people." > Speaking of other countries, Japan won't prescribe methylphenidate for ADHD - only issues prescriptions for sleep disorders. Most ADHD medications aren't even legal to bring into Japan, much less get prescriptions for them. Are claiming that Japan based this decision on medical research and not [historical] social issues which plagued them? I would not cite Japan's drug laws, as well as plenty of other laws in their legal system, as the paragon for the world to follow either. > I think you'll find there isn't some global consensus on ADHD and medications and there's a good reason for that. I would imagine it's quite difficult to find global consensus on plenty of medical practices. > ADHD treatment is barely science. This we can agree on.

by toolz 3y ago

Rewrap3643 3y ago

Psychs won't prescribe it because it's a wakefulness promoting agent, not a typical stimulant. There's insufficient evidence to prescribe it as a first-line treatment for ADHD. Insurance companies are also unlikely to pay for it in absence of a diagnosed sleep disorder. Methylphenidate is the clinically correct alternative to amphetamines.

toolz 3y ago
So we should first-line treat people with addictive, known long-term harmful medicines rather than try things that have a known long-term safe profile simply because it's understood to be less likely to work? That's just bonkers to me. I'll try every single safe potential treatment before resorting to higher evidenced unsafe treatment. Also this "wakefulness" doesn't mean much. It's much like ADHD doesn't mean much - we're just describing symptoms. If we decided to describe the symptoms of taking modafinil as increasing concentration (which being more awake does) then it would be just as accurate. There is no chemical being measured when we diagnose these medications and there is no chemical being measured when we clinically determine a successful treatment. It's all symptoms and entirely subjective. Which is exactly why we should tell people safe things work and allow the science of suggestion alongside medicine help treat people more safely.
- hirvi74 3y ago
  If Modafinil is truly effective, then why is it not commonly used? The fact that is less commonly used seems to point two potential reasons: 1. It's safety profile is actually not that much better the what is commonly used for ADHD. 2. Its efficacy is significantly worse than what is commonly used, and thus, there is no point in using it. > There is no chemical being measured when we diagnose these medications and there is no chemical being measured when we clinically determine a successful treatment. I'll give you that one. I have personally always been bothered by this too. I just cannot understand why so many psychs have to go through a rigorous and scientifically based education program only to discount much of it in practice.
  - toolz 3y ago
    > 1. It's safety profile is actually not that much better the what is commonly used for ADHD. Modafinil is sold over the counter in many countries. Your claim does not reflect modern research findings. It's really not even close. > 2. Its efficacy is significantly worse than what is commonly used, and thus, there is no point in using it. efficacy for whom? ADHD isn't an infection that is treated with specific antibiotics. It's symptoms that arise in individuals with potentially drastically different root causes. For some people modafinil is effective for treating ADHD symptoms. Speaking of other countries, Japan won't prescribe methylphenidate for ADHD - only issues prescriptions for sleep disorders. Most ADHD medications aren't even legal to bring into Japan, much less get prescriptions for them. I think you'll find there isn't some global consensus on ADHD and medications and there's a good reason for that. ADHD treatment is barely science.
    - hirvi74 3y ago
      > Modafinil is sold over the counter in many countries. Your claim does not reflect modern research findings. It's really not even close. What I was trying to say was that there are to potential reasons why Modifinil is not commonly used for ADHD. By potential reasons, I meant those two reasons might some of the reasons that could be an explanation, but that does not mean those two reasons are the definitive reasons nor the only reasons. Now, I would agree from what I have read that Modifinil is probably safer than Amphetamine or MPH based medications in terms of addiction safety. Though all the reports of SJS and other issues do not seem like it's some perfectly safe medication either. > efficacy for whom? A large enough population size across multiple studies to deem it a safe and effective treatment -- like all other medications approved by some kind of governing regulatory agency. The approval of one medication does not disprove the efficacy of other medications. > For some people modafinil is effective for treating ADHD symptoms. Sure, the same can be said for caffeine, nicotine, plenty of other substances, exercise, etc.. I understand there is an individual aspect to all medication conditions. However, a medical system, at least none I have ever used, curtail all treatments to an individual. There seems to be more of an procedural approach to medical treatments in which the results are "good enough for most people." > Speaking of other countries, Japan won't prescribe methylphenidate for ADHD - only issues prescriptions for sleep disorders. Most ADHD medications aren't even legal to bring into Japan, much less get prescriptions for them. Are claiming that Japan based this decision on medical research and not [historical] social issues which plagued them? I would not cite Japan's drug laws, as well as plenty of other laws in their legal system, as the paragon for the world to follow either. > I think you'll find there isn't some global consensus on ADHD and medications and there's a good reason for that. I would imagine it's quite difficult to find global consensus on plenty of medical practices. > ADHD treatment is barely science. This we can agree on.