More new ADHD science
From Dr. Wilens and AudioDigest and others:
1. Research shows that the stimulants are not risky for the heart or stroke. Nonetheless, I probably wouldn’t prescribe them for someone with heart trouble. Kids on stimulants may have a slowing of growth, with lower weight and height, but they eventually catch up.
2. Adding guanfacine, a blood pressure medicine that is calming and sometimes used alone for ADHD, to a stimulant may sometimes be more helpful than either alone.
3. Other research shows that the only alternative treatment supported by evidence is omega 3 fatty acid. Not biofeedback, diet, etc. That doesn’t mean that no one will benefit from alternatives, but the odds are against it. We are each unique.
4. 50% of children with ADHD will still have it in adulthood. 75 % of adolescents who have ADHD will still have it as adults. Of those who seem to recover, nearly 100% will still show brain abnormalities and have some mild symptoms as adults.
5. People who disbelieve or pooh pooh ADHD will rarely be impressed or influenced by facts. (Personal observation)
Tip O the Day: Don’t bother arguing with them. Just laugh at them and walk off.
doug
@addstrategies #adhd #add @dougmkpdp
No one is more certain in their views than the one who has no idea what they’re talking about.
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- ADHD mind
Who, me?
At any age.
ADHD is Not –
Did I ever grow up?
Hi Doug
It’s interesting to know that Biofeedback (a type of which is Neurofeedback, apparently) is considered alternative and that there’s no proof it works. It’s seems to be used in Germany quite often, and some people with ADHD swear by it, although, well… Lots of germans swear by homeopathy as well – they did invent it.
When I recently complained to my shrink that I was feeling blue and pessimistic all the time, and often just felt numb like something was missing from me, he suggested I try neurofeedback. He didn’t push it though, because I immediately frowned when he mentioned that it’s not covered by the standard national health insurance. So he prescribed me a light dose of escitalopram instead – which worked fine and way faster that the first time I took it years ago.
Can the brain remember medications? When I first took methylphenidate, I had awful side-effects the first couple of weeks. After a year, I changed to lisdexamphetamine – with no side-effects. Because lisdexamphetamine isn’t covered by my health insurance because I’m an adult, I got back on methylphenidate and I had no side-effects whatsoever. Same thing with escitalopram: first time 4 years ago, I had mild side-effects and it took me two weeks until the first effects became noticeable. This time around, no side-effects and the mood started improving after only one week. Have you ever heard of this phenomena?
Anyway, I did feel intrigued at the idea of neurofeedback, but not intrigued enough to give my money for it.
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Ram – i think the idea that biofeedback is alternative is pretty solid, at least in the US. I think it works for some things for some people sometimes, just the research doesn’t support it for ADHD. The research could be wrong of course.
Glad the meds are working for you. Don’t know about the brain remembering the meds, I tend to think the meds have no permanent effects, yet now we know that being on the stimulants seems to permanently make some brain change towards normal. Tis a puzzlement.
Pretty clear that everyone is different, and so are different countries.
Thanks for the comment
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