ADHD Medications: Side effects, Dangers, and other Boogey Men — ADD Tip O the Day 646

 

Why we don’t take the medicine:

Some people just don’t like to take medicines.  It’s just a thing.  OK.

Some people think all medicines are harmful.  Well, that’s OK, too, I guess.

Some people are uninformed or misinformed.  Well, there’s a possibility of help for that.

I prefer natural substances.  Are  you aware that if natural substances work, they generally do the same thing in your body that the medications do?  That they are produced without regulatory control? That most of what you buy does not contain what it says it does and some of it contain things that are harmful?

I don’t want the side effects.   The side effects listed for the medicines are possible side effects.   That does not mean you will get them.  The percentages are available for each medicine – maybe 40% of the people taking this medicine get this side effect, or maybe only 1 in 100,000.  It will still be listed as a side effect.  If you do get a side effect, most of them will go away in a few days if you stay on the medicine.  Or you can reduce the dose, change the timing, or switch to a different medicine.   Almost all side effects will go away if you stop taking the medicine. You don’t have to stay on it and suffer.

It’s too expensive.   Very good point!  But see about the generic, shop different pharmacies, see if your doctor can help you with this.  There may be another less expensive form.

I want to beat this myself, without a crutch.  Good luck with that!  If you try a while and it’s not working, then maybe you’ll try the medicines.

Those medicines are addictive.  The research shows that there is a very low rate of abuse and an extremely low rate of addiction from these medicines in people who actually have ADD ADHD.

The medicines are dangerous.  If you are in generally good health, don’t have high blood pressure, haven’t had heart problems and don’t have a family history of certain heart problems, the medicines are safe.  Even if you have risk factors, usually you can use one of the medicines with some precautions.

My cousin’s neighbor said that her friend’s hairdresser told her that that medicine made his brother-in -law’s hair turn green and his ears fall off.          What can I say?

Try It:

I believe that everyone with ADD ADHD, adult or child, deserves a trial of medication.  It may not help, it will help many, for some it’s  a miracle.  You won’t know without trying it.

doug

Definition O the Day: 

Confirmation bias is the tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms one’s beliefs or hypotheses while giving disproportionately less attention to information that contradicts it.

or put another way:

The Misconception: Your opinions are the result of years of rational, objective analysis.

The Truth: Your opinions are the result of years of paying attention to information which confirmed what you believed while ignoring information which challenged your preconceived notions.

Bonus Link:

Long well-informed well-reasoned excellent discussion by K. Kalikow MD about using medication.

ADD ADHD, the gift that keeps on giving.