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While there is a good amount of controversy around the efficacy of antidepressants, first-line ADHD medications (the stimulants) work in roughly 70% of cases, w

While there is a good amount of controversy around the efficacy of antidepressants, first-line ADHD medications (the stimulants) work in roughly 70% of cases, which is much superior to placebo. For those with ADHD, treatment can make a large quality of life improvement. Source - memory from having written a book on adult ADHD

Alex3917 12y ago
> first-line ADHD medications (the stimulants) work in roughly 70% of cases What do you mean by 'work'? The research cited by Anatomy of an Epidemic shows that there is no affect on grades or other academic outcomes. And that while concentration itself improves somewhat in the short term, after 2+ years it is worse than if the person were never given the drugs to begin with. See also: http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887323368704578593660384362292 http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB1000142412788732336870...
- wiredfool 12y ago
  Academic performance doesn't seem to be an optimal measure for Adult ADHD.
  - pessimizer 12y ago
    What is? Self-reporting?
- jeangenie 12y ago
  The history behind ADD medications (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obetrol http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obetrol) is also troubling. This is a drug designed to induce weight loss in adults and today it's widely given to children and even toddlers (http://www.today.com/health/thats-nuts-10-000-toddlers-get-drugs-adhd-2D79684452 http://www.today.com/health/thats-nuts-10-000-toddlers-get-d...).
- Houshalter 12y ago
  That's deeply concerning. Everything I've read highly recommended medication. People with ADHD report it significantly improved their lives. Can anyone say if this article is reliable? I can't even read it on this computer.
  - GHFigs 12y ago
    People with ADHD report it significantly improved their lives. The confounding thing with stimulants of all varieties is that even people without any problem tend to report improvement.

Alex3917 12y ago

> first-line ADHD medications (the stimulants) work in roughly 70% of cases What do you mean by 'work'? The research cited by Anatomy of an Epidemic shows that there is no affect on grades or other academic outcomes. And that while concentration itself improves somewhat in the short term, after 2+ years it is worse than if the person were never given the drugs to begin with. See also: http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887323368704578593660384362292 http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB1000142412788732336870...

wiredfool 12y ago
Academic performance doesn't seem to be an optimal measure for Adult ADHD.
- pessimizer 12y ago
  What is? Self-reporting?
jeangenie 12y ago
The history behind ADD medications (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obetrol http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obetrol) is also troubling. This is a drug designed to induce weight loss in adults and today it's widely given to children and even toddlers (http://www.today.com/health/thats-nuts-10-000-toddlers-get-drugs-adhd-2D79684452 http://www.today.com/health/thats-nuts-10-000-toddlers-get-d...).
Houshalter 12y ago
That's deeply concerning. Everything I've read highly recommended medication. People with ADHD report it significantly improved their lives. Can anyone say if this article is reliable? I can't even read it on this computer.
- GHFigs 12y ago
  People with ADHD report it significantly improved their lives. The confounding thing with stimulants of all varieties is that even people without any problem tend to report improvement.