Posted by Aurelie on March 3, 2001, at 11:35:16
In reply to Re: My son tried Adderal » Sulpicia, posted by Elly on February 27, 2001, at 20:41:56
In patients who have genuine ADD/ADHD, stimulants can settle them down. It may seem paradoxical, but think of the effect that smoking a cigarette has on certain people -- it calms them down, eases their nerves.
However, for "normal" people, prescription stimulants (Adderall and Ritalin being the most common) do cause a "high". It can produce an intense mood elevation and a somewhat scary ability to concentrate. It is for these two reasons that abusing prescription drugs has become popular among adolescents. There are numerous side effects, though -- first and foremost being addiction. When the stimulant effect wears off, you experience withdrawl symptoms, ranging from a deep depression to an overwhelming exhaustion. The most common side effect of stimulants is insomnia, but can be as serious as increased blood pressure and irregular heartbeat. All together, this can be way too much for any body to take, much less a body that is still growing. For good information on the use/abuse of various drugs by adolescents, go to www.doitnow.org; for specific information on Ritalin/Adderall, check out www.add.about.com and follow the Medication link to the Medication abuse section (this site also has comprehensive information and FAQs about these drugs apart from their high potential for abuse).
Hope this helps -- a drug may seem like a magical solution, but if your son doesn't truly suffer from ADD, it could be a dangerous path to get him started on. Take him to a psychiatrist for a full evaluation.
poster:Aurelie
thread:105
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/child/20000813/msgs/112.html