Originally posted by: TheSnowman
If kids taking drugs don't turn out any better than the ones only getting therapy, why are we stunting their growth by pumping them full of amphetamines and such? Granted, a lot of people like their speed, and there is a big industry built around that market, but I can't see how pushing it on hyper kids can be considered any better than rubbing whisky on a crying baby's gums.
Stunting growth? My brother is 6 feet tall and he's been on adderall since he as 12...you're just pulling shit out of your ass here.
I had been taking Ritalin for several years, and I tried hollistic (meh results, and expensive, but better sleep). Recently I tried strattera for nearly 2 months, and I didn't react well at all. I pretty much had all of the negative side effects (dark urine, ED - LOL).
I was re-diagnosed with inattentive ADD. What does that mean? Well, there's a ton of different variations of the disorder that we label as ADD. Some relating into anxiety, hyperactivity, impulsiveness. But they are very different. Strictly inattentive ADD is usually caused by a deficiency of dopamine receptors -- which is why strattera didn't work for me...it's for the impulsive/hyperactive ADDers with their norepinephrine deficiency. Adderall pacifies dopamine receptors, and I've gotten on with my life again.
Adderall XR is not some crack like drug. It's very subtle, and goes on over 10 hours. If you want to compare an ADD drug to real drugs, the closest is probably instant release Ritalin. It acts over about 2-3 hours.
As for the long term ineffectiveness...well no shit. I take one every morning. Yes, sometimes I look at it as a crutch. I think that without ADD meds, I probably would have a terrible life. I was the kid that was tutored and failing school in elementary school, and went to graduating the top of my class in engineering. But then again, without modern technology, I wouldn't have contacts either -- pretty much at least half of us would be dead if we were born 500 years ago.