ADHD Treatment Options — Your Essential Guide
To medicate or not to medicate — that is the question!
Everybody knows by now that ADHD meds for kids are the first option in the treatment and that is causing much concern among health experts and parents. To medicate or not to medicate becomes a very tormented issue.
What types of meds are we talking about?
If you really want to mention all the ADHD meds for kids, you will end up with quite a long list. Basically there are three types. We have the first type which is based on amphetamines such as methylphenidate and others. The main brands are Ritalin, Adderall, and Concerta. As these are stimulants, they can act on the dopamine neurotransmitter. Results are effective sometimes and there is a marked drop in hyperactivity, improved concentration and also less impulsiveness.
The second type of medication is that of antidepressants. It may seem strange to give a child an antidepressant but some experts are quick to point out that the levels of serotonin which is responsible for our good mood, is often compromised by ADHD. So, they prescribe antidepressants, not worrying about all the side effects. The main ones for ADHD which are popular at the moment are Prozac and Paxil.
Other types of ADHD meds for kids are the newer types of NRIs which act on the norepinephrine transmitter. The best-known ones are Strattera and Welbutrin.
There are concerns that nobody seems to know what effects these meds can have on a child’s developing brain. One study here published in 2019 states that ADHD meds may have an effect on kids’ brain development but more research needs to be done. This, in spite of the fact that Ritalin and other meds have been on the market for 75 years!
Anxiety is a greater risk than heart attacks — yet nobody talks about this!
Just over a year ago, the Journal of the American Medical Association published the report done in a very large study. This study surveyed adults (25 to 64 years old) with ADHD and then assessed whether they were at risk of heart attacks, if they were on the psychostimulant drugs, such as Cylert, Ritalin or Adderall, to name a few examples. The report surveyed about 150,000 volunteers who were on ADHD meds and it covered a two-year period.
The results seemed to contradict previous findings. The number of deaths from heart attacks (296) seemed to be almost the same for those who were NOT on ADHD drugs. The interesting thing though was that the medical authorities said that the best treatment of all was the judicious use of behavior therapy because the ADHD meds seemed to increase anxiety and other anxiety disorders among those surveyed.
The role of drugs in school shootings
The NRA has tried to deflect attention away from the ease with which young people can have access to guns.
That is the real problem.
There is no evidence to show that Ritalin increases aggressive behavior. It can actually help reduce it.
“We have no research in our scientific literature of more than 50,000 articles showing that Ritalin increases aggression on average.” Russell Barkley, clinical professor of psychiatry who monitors ADHD research weekly at the Virginia Treatment Center for Children.
The darker side of Adderall and other meds
When parents ask ADHD questions, they usually focus on the long term effects and the short term side effects of the stimulant meds such as Adderall and Ritalin. Adderall has recently gained a lot of attention in the press because a number of athletes have been found using them in a bid to get more energy and focus.
College students too are at risk
This is a typical ‘off label’ illegal use which has also extended to college students who want to stay up all night studying for an exam or who need that extra focus on the actual day. None of these people have prescriptions for these drugs and that is a felony in itself. Then there are also the ethical and medical implications.
What about behavior therapy? Any good?
A University of Buffalo study (led by William Pelham and Gregory Fabiano) has now confirmed that a correct use of behavior therapy for ADHD could well avoid the necessity of taking ADHD meds and all the risks that go with those medicines. Analyzing the results of over 174 studies, the two researchers have also stated that behavior modification could even be more effective than using psychostimulants. Fabiano was awarded the 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award. By Christ the King School. This is just one of the facts on ADHD meds and ADHD itself which will probably get very little publicity.
What do the experts think?
Most medical authorities now say that the best treatment approach is that of using behavior modification but very few families manage to put it into practice on a regular daily basis. I think the role of the meds is secondary.
The side effects of the meds are troublesome to say the least. About 20% to 30% of children are negatively affected by these and the answer seems to be to put them on even more medication. That ends up with treating them for anxiety, depression, insomnia and various other conditions which all seem to exist alongside with ADHD.
Making other lifestyle changes and not relying on meds alone
Those parents who rely on some behavior modification techniques and changes in diet have a greater chance of getting better results for their children. I know some parents who have eliminated gluten and casein from their kids’ diets and they have calmer and less hyperactive children.
As each child is different it is impossible to generalize here. However, we must keep in mind that a child’s brain really functions better on a more nutritious diet. The evidence for this is overwhelming and we should never forget it.
Overall, a really valid ADHD specialist when deciding what treatment is best will look at everything which affects the child’s life from parenting skills, diet, medication, physical activity, and other factors.
“A Maryland Department of Education study found that white, suburban elementary school children are using medication for ADHD at more than twice the rate of African American students.” ― Mark Sisson, The Primal Blueprint: Reprogram your genes for effortless weight loss, vibrant health, and boundless energy
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