Brain Studies Show ADHD Is Real Disease

[Drolefille]

However, having this gene doesn't mean you have ADD and not having it doesn't mean you don't. It is nice that they're getting closer to pinning down the cause though.

And this may explain why anti-depressants and anti-depressant-like medication (Strattera was a failed anti-depressant) works on ADD.

[Kevin]

I have it. As a child, I was a subject in many of the early studies.

I have found that for me, simply coping is the best thing to do. I'm not a fan of medication for ADD/ADHD -- at least, not in my case.

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by Kevin

I have it. As a child, I was a subject in many of the early studies.

I have found that for me, simply coping is the best thing to do. I'm not a fan of medication for ADD/ADHD -- at least, not in my case.

I have to second that, the two most likely types of medication are speed and something else, i forget what it's called, but it's been shown to cause cancer

heart attack at age 35 or cancer 50, i can just cope, well, I cna't just cope, but I cope better by myself than when hopped up on pep pills

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by RU OX Alum

I have to second that, the two most likely types of medication are speed and something else, i forget what it's called, but it's been shown to cause cancer

heart attack at age 35 or cancer 50, i can just cope, well, I cna't just cope, but I cope better by myself than when hopped up on pep pills

Strattera doesn't cause cancer, and Ritalin (and other stims) are not speed though they shares similar qualities.

Methamphetamines can be used to treat ADD though I that's not exactly common.

ETA: it's actually Ritalin that had been linked to small incidences of cancer in animals, but the only source of info I could find was an Anti-ADD site. Sorry, but if you don't believe my disease exists, I don't believe that your numbers are real. In the real world, there hasn't been evidence of it, although there are some concerns. So it's both speed and a carcinogen if you're going to be picky...

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

And this may explain why anti-depressants and anti-depressant-like medication (Strattera was a failed anti-depressant) works on ADD.

Wellbutrin is another anti-depressant that is often prescribed for people showing symptoms of ADD. It seems like doctors these days are less willing to prescribe Ritalin and Adderall because of the potential for abuse.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

Wellbutrin is another anti-depressant that is often prescribed for people showing symptoms of ADD. It seems like doctors these days are less willing to prescribe Ritalin and Adderall because of the potential for abuse.

I'm not sure what motivates doctors to perscribe the reuptake inhibtors vs. the stimulants. I think abuse is certainly part of it, but I wonder if they're also trying to medicate kids (and adults) less. I don't find the effects of Strattera to be as strong as my brother finds his Concerta.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

I'm not sure what motivates doctors to perscribe the reuptake inhibtors vs. the stimulants. I think abuse is certainly part of it, but I wonder if they're also trying to medicate kids (and adults) less. I don't find the effects of Strattera to be as strong as my brother finds his Concerta.

I don't know that much about individual drugs, but it was explained to me (by an MD/PhD) that they would rather prescribe Wellbutrin vs. a regular anti-depressant AND an ADD medicine. Plus, doctors in colleges are much less likely to prescribe one of the traditional ADD meds, since the whole issue of students getting prescriptions and selling the pills is a problem.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

I don't know that much about individual drugs, but it was explained to me (by an MD/PhD) that they would rather prescribe Wellbutrin vs. a regular anti-depressant AND an ADD medicine. Plus, doctors in colleges are much less likely to prescribe one of the traditional ADD meds, since the whole issue of students getting prescriptions and selling the pills is a problem.

You might think that, but apparently the Dr. at SLU was an easy hit for a Ritalin script. (Or Adderall or whatever, I'm not sure as I didn't try and get any)

It certainly makes sense that they'd rather treat depression and ADD with the same medication, but the two don't always go together. So what makes the difference... I do know that for adults the only two medications that can be prescribed on-label are Adderall XR and Strattera. Or at least that used to be the case, this may have changed. So if you prescribe an 18 year old Concerta, that's technically off-label use.

I have no idea how much all that matters.