Kids on ADHD drugs score higher on tests

[SirStev0]

Originally posted by: bbdub333

Originally posted by: SammyJr

Originally posted by: bbdub333

Originally posted by: SammyJr


That's actually typical ADHD behavior. A person with ADHD can easily focus on things that interest them for hours. The problem is when confronted with a task that doesn't fit that mold, like much school work, house work, job duties, etc. They have extreme difficulty focusing on those sorts of things.

I think that most "underachievers" have a degree of ADHD.

The describes just about everybody I know, including myself.

But most people still do the tasks they dislike or find boring and do well enough. A person with ADHD will either not do the task or do it very poorly and to below their potential.

Honestly, if that is the criteria for ADHD, the majority of America would be on pills.

Actually they are.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Originally posted by: SammyJr

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: aphex
I have mild ADHD and Adderall has been a big help for me even though I was diagnosed fairly late in life. For me, it does wonders. Previously I was so easily distracted I had a hard time getting anything done, with the Adderall its the complete opposite. I feel considerably more efficient since I can focus on things much longer, while keeping everything organized and prioritized in my head. It really was interesting once I started taking it to see how I adjusted over the years to my little idiosyncrasies, including setting reminder timers to keep myself on track throughout the day, or even removing things from my life that proved to be distractions (only to have them replaced with other distractions).

I was able to make it through 20 years of school without any medicated assistance, but since I started taking the meds it really has made a difference.

What you said applies to anyone taking Adderall... there is a reason why anyone in college takes it. Chemical replacement of discipline.

Too bad I didn't have any.... I might have actually gone to class.

Maybe I should work on getting some for finals weeks this week and next

 

[bbdub333]

Originally posted by: SirStev0

Originally posted by: bbdub333

Originally posted by: SammyJr

Originally posted by: bbdub333

Originally posted by: SammyJr


That's actually typical ADHD behavior. A person with ADHD can easily focus on things that interest them for hours. The problem is when confronted with a task that doesn't fit that mold, like much school work, house work, job duties, etc. They have extreme difficulty focusing on those sorts of things.

I think that most "underachievers" have a degree of ADHD.

The describes just about everybody I know, including myself.

But most people still do the tasks they dislike or find boring and do well enough. A person with ADHD will either not do the task or do it very poorly and to below their potential.

Honestly, if that is the criteria for ADHD, the majority of America would be on pills.

Actually they are.

Touché

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

I work in an awfully distracting environment, where if I make an error someone can die. That's incredibly stressful. No, I'm not stupid. Every IQ test I've ever taken puts me waaayyy up there. Because everyone can be a genius on the internet I won't bother to post the score. The number is irrelevant. It's always been hard to block out the background for me.

Turns out I have moderate ADD sans hyperactivity. I'm smart enough to have developed coping mechanisms, but as the workplace becomes more fragmented and my time spent any single task dwindles I found it extremely hard to focus.

So I was tested, and to no ones surprise I was diagnosed. Taking Adderal now and it's night and day.

For someone who hasn't the problem it's easy to say that the individual needs more discipline or motivation, but I'm at the upper end of both curves in that regard. I can simply do more and better than before.

It's real and people who don't want to believe it will just have to suck it up.

 

[bbdub333]

Originally posted by: Hayabusa Rider
I work in an awfully distracting environment, where if I make an error someone can die. That's incredibly stressful. No, I'm not stupid. Every IQ test I've ever taken puts me waaayyy up there. Because everyone can be a genius on the internet I won't bother to post the score. The number is irrelevant. It's always been hard to block out the background for me.

Turns out I have moderate ADD sans hyperactivity. I'm smart enough to have developed coping mechanisms, but as the workplace becomes more fragmented and my time spent any single task dwindles I found it extremely hard to focus.

So I was tested, and to no ones surprise I was diagnosed. Taking Adderal now and it's night and day.

For someone who hasn't the problem it's easy to say that the individual needs more discipline or motivation, but I'm at the upper end of both curves in that regard. I can simply do more and better than before.

It's real and people who don't want to believe it will just have to suck it up.

But the way you are talking... *everybody* can benefit from this drug. You speak as if you are only distracted if you have ADD. Everybody suffers from distractions, wandering thoughts, etc. You could claim it to varying degrees, but I guarantee everyone has the same symptoms. Is the solution to medicate all of society? Why do these drugs even require a prescription anymore?

 

[OCGuy]

Originally posted by: Hayabusa Rider
I work in an awfully distracting environment, where if I make an error someone can die. That's incredibly stressful. No, I'm not stupid. Every IQ test I've ever taken puts me waaayyy up there. Because everyone can be a genius on the internet I won't bother to post the score. The number is irrelevant. It's always been hard to block out the background for me.

Turns out I have moderate ADD sans hyperactivity. I'm smart enough to have developed coping mechanisms, but as the workplace becomes more fragmented and my time spent any single task dwindles I found it extremely hard to focus.

So I was tested, and to no ones surprise I was diagnosed. Taking Adderal now and it's night and day.

For someone who hasn't the problem it's easy to say that the individual needs more discipline or motivation, but I'm at the upper end of both curves in that regard. I can simply do more and better than before.

It's real and people who don't want to believe it will just have to suck it up.

Getting high off amphetamines and performing better does not mean you had an illness. It means your are normal.

 

[JS80]

maybe poor people can't afford drugs and rich kids can afford it and rich kids generally score higher on tests?

 

[cubby1223]

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/200...us_adhd_drugs_learning

CHICAGO (Reuters) ? Children given stimulants to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms score higher on math and reading tests than children with the condition who do not get drugs, researchers said on Monday.

Really? And how did they determine this? There is no test for ADD or ADHD, only a list of "symptoms" and see how many the child exhibits - most of the symptoms also symptomatic of... just being a kid.

 

[Modelworks]

Adderall does not make someone high. It usually has two effects on people. Either it increases concentration so their thoughts don't wander or it slows down their thinking and calms them so they can focus. I have seen people that are almost put to sleep by taking adderall. For me I take adderall for EDS. I have tried about every other option from nutrition to exercise, none of them worked. I then tried provigil and ritalin. Neither had any effect. Finally I had a doctor that said lets try something old, amphetamines. It worked, and it worked well. Can I function without it ? Sure I can. But its a miserable day when I do because I constantly want to sit down and go to sleep and it is hard for me to sit watching a movie because I feel like I need to get up and do something , can't sit still.

It really is a miracle drug for me.

For children I do think they prescribe it too young. It is hard to tell in young children what is a medical problem and what is not. I can't say whether a child should be on the drug or not because I am not a doctor.

I think the reason children score higher when taking it is because it is a stimulant. Anyone who takes a test is going to do better when wide awake vs groggy. Lots of children do not get proper sleep , they stay up all night then go to bed, sleep 5 hours and go to school. Of course a stimulant will make a difference in test, even a cup of coffee would.


Adderall xr also just went generic this month, so it has become cheaper to take.

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: cubby1223

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/200...us_adhd_drugs_learning

CHICAGO (Reuters) ? Children given stimulants to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms score higher on math and reading tests than children with the condition who do not get drugs, researchers said on Monday.

Really? And how did they determine this? There is no test for ADD or ADHD, only a list of "symptoms" and see how many the child exhibits - most of the symptoms also symptomatic of... just being a kid.

There are test for ADD. The problem is that doctors are allowed to prescribe for the condition without ever giving the test. They have allowed general medical doctors to prescribe things like adderall when it should be done by people like psychiatrist or pediatricians who specialize in the condition.

Someone just walking into a office and saying I have problems concentrating should be required to be tested before prescribing. The same with other drugs. Doctors prescription powers need to be changed. They were written at a time when there were not many drugs and very few specialty drugs. They need to be revised so that only the people with the proper knowledge can write for each prescription. Being able to go to a general practitioner and get something like a anti-depressant is a bad idea !

 

[OCGuy]

Originally posted by: Modelworks
Adderall does not make someone high. It usually has two effects on people. Either it increases concentration so their thoughts don't wander or it slows down their thinking and calms them so they can focus. I have seen people that are almost put to sleep by taking adderall. For me I take adderall for EDS. I have tried about every other option from nutrition to exercise, none of them worked. I then tried provigil and ritalin. Neither had any effect. Finally I had a doctor that said lets try something old, amphetamines. It worked, and it worked well. Can I function without it ? Sure I can. But its a miserable day when I do because I constantly want to sit down and go to sleep and it is hard for me to sit watching a movie because I feel like I need to get up and do something , can't sit still.

It really is a miracle drug for me.

For children I do think they prescribe it too young. It is hard to tell in young children what is a medical problem and what is not. I can't say whether a child should be on the drug or not because I am not a doctor.

I think the reason children score higher when taking it is because it is a stimulant. Anyone who takes a test is going to do better when wide awake vs groggy. Lots of children do not get proper sleep , they stay up all night then go to bed, sleep 5 hours and go to school. Of course a stimulant will make a difference in test, even a cup of coffee would.


Adderall xr also just went generic this month, so it has become cheaper to take.

Bullshit. In my younger...err...recreational days, I would pop an adderall, and it was basically the same as one of the black market varients that I had also sampled.

 

[cubby1223]

Originally posted by: Modelworks

Originally posted by: cubby1223

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/200...us_adhd_drugs_learning

CHICAGO (Reuters) ? Children given stimulants to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms score higher on math and reading tests than children with the condition who do not get drugs, researchers said on Monday.

Really? And how did they determine this? There is no test for ADD or ADHD, only a list of "symptoms" and see how many the child exhibits - most of the symptoms also symptomatic of... just being a kid.

There are test for ADD. The problem is that doctors are allowed to prescribe for the condition without ever giving the test. They have allowed general medical doctors to prescribe things like adderall when it should be done by people like psychiatrist or pediatricians who specialize in the condition.

Someone just walking into a office and saying I have problems concentrating should be required to be tested before prescribing. The same with other drugs. Doctors prescription powers need to be changed. They were written at a time when there were not many drugs and very few specialty drugs. They need to be revised so that only the people with the proper knowledge can write for each prescription. Being able to go to a general practitioner and get something like a anti-depressant is a bad idea !

I'd like to know what these tests are, just for knowledge. I just remember watching a documentary on tv maybe just a month ago. Perhaps such a test only works for, say, 10 or 20% who have the condition, so a positive test is a positive confirmation while a negative test is still nowhere near a negative confirmation?

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: OCguy

Originally posted by: Modelworks
Adderall does not make someone high. It usually has two effects on people. Either it increases concentration so their thoughts don't wander or it slows down their thinking and calms them so they can focus. I have seen people that are almost put to sleep by taking adderall. For me I take adderall for EDS. I have tried about every other option from nutrition to exercise, none of them worked. I then tried provigil and ritalin. Neither had any effect. Finally I had a doctor that said lets try something old, amphetamines. It worked, and it worked well. Can I function without it ? Sure I can. But its a miserable day when I do because I constantly want to sit down and go to sleep and it is hard for me to sit watching a movie because I feel like I need to get up and do something , can't sit still.

It really is a miracle drug for me.

For children I do think they prescribe it too young. It is hard to tell in young children what is a medical problem and what is not. I can't say whether a child should be on the drug or not because I am not a doctor.

I think the reason children score higher when taking it is because it is a stimulant. Anyone who takes a test is going to do better when wide awake vs groggy. Lots of children do not get proper sleep , they stay up all night then go to bed, sleep 5 hours and go to school. Of course a stimulant will make a difference in test, even a cup of coffee would.


Adderall xr also just went generic this month, so it has become cheaper to take.

Bullshit. In my younger...err...recreational days, I would pop an adderall, and it was basically the same as one of the black market varients that I had also sampled.

I see you glossed over the part where it says it has two different effects depending on the person.

 

[OCGuy]

Originally posted by: aphex

Originally posted by: OCguy

Originally posted by: Modelworks
Adderall does not make someone high. It usually has two effects on people. Either it increases concentration so their thoughts don't wander or it slows down their thinking and calms them so they can focus. I have seen people that are almost put to sleep by taking adderall. For me I take adderall for EDS. I have tried about every other option from nutrition to exercise, none of them worked. I then tried provigil and ritalin. Neither had any effect. Finally I had a doctor that said lets try something old, amphetamines. It worked, and it worked well. Can I function without it ? Sure I can. But its a miserable day when I do because I constantly want to sit down and go to sleep and it is hard for me to sit watching a movie because I feel like I need to get up and do something , can't sit still.

It really is a miracle drug for me.

For children I do think they prescribe it too young. It is hard to tell in young children what is a medical problem and what is not. I can't say whether a child should be on the drug or not because I am not a doctor.

I think the reason children score higher when taking it is because it is a stimulant. Anyone who takes a test is going to do better when wide awake vs groggy. Lots of children do not get proper sleep , they stay up all night then go to bed, sleep 5 hours and go to school. Of course a stimulant will make a difference in test, even a cup of coffee would.


Adderall xr also just went generic this month, so it has become cheaper to take.

Bullshit. In my younger...err...recreational days, I would pop an adderall, and it was basically the same as one of the black market varients that I had also sampled.

I see you glossed over the part where it says it has two different effects depending on the person.

And what % of people that take amphetamines for "ADD" have that special brain where stimulants dont get them high?

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: OCguy

Originally posted by: Modelworks
Adderall does not make someone high. It usually has two effects on people. Either it increases concentration so their thoughts don't wander or it slows down their thinking and calms them so they can focus. I have seen people that are almost put to sleep by taking adderall. For me I take adderall for EDS. I have tried about every other option from nutrition to exercise, none of them worked. I then tried provigil and ritalin. Neither had any effect. Finally I had a doctor that said lets try something old, amphetamines. It worked, and it worked well. Can I function without it ? Sure I can. But its a miserable day when I do because I constantly want to sit down and go to sleep and it is hard for me to sit watching a movie because I feel like I need to get up and do something , can't sit still.

It really is a miracle drug for me.

For children I do think they prescribe it too young. It is hard to tell in young children what is a medical problem and what is not. I can't say whether a child should be on the drug or not because I am not a doctor.

I think the reason children score higher when taking it is because it is a stimulant. Anyone who takes a test is going to do better when wide awake vs groggy. Lots of children do not get proper sleep , they stay up all night then go to bed, sleep 5 hours and go to school. Of course a stimulant will make a difference in test, even a cup of coffee would.


Adderall xr also just went generic this month, so it has become cheaper to take.

Bullshit. In my younger...err...recreational days, I would pop an adderall, and it was basically the same as one of the black market varients that I had also sampled.

Then you are full of crap. Because Adderall is not a straight amphetamine. It is a mixture of different drugs and would not have the same effect as a straight amphetamine which is why it is used instead of plain amphetamine

The composition is below.

* 1/4 dextroamphetamine saccharate
* 1/4 dextroamphetamine sulfate
* 1/4 (racemic dextro/levo-amphetamine) aspartate monohydrate
* 1/4 (racemic dextro/levo-amphetamine) sulfate

 

[zephyrprime]

I don't know if anyone has noticed but 60% performing better isn't really a great percentage. Since half of any large group will do better than average and half will do below average, 60% doing better when medicated isn't all that great.

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: OCguy

Originally posted by: aphex

Originally posted by: OCguy

Originally posted by: Modelworks
Adderall does not make someone high. It usually has two effects on people. Either it increases concentration so their thoughts don't wander or it slows down their thinking and calms them so they can focus. I have seen people that are almost put to sleep by taking adderall. For me I take adderall for EDS. I have tried about every other option from nutrition to exercise, none of them worked. I then tried provigil and ritalin. Neither had any effect. Finally I had a doctor that said lets try something old, amphetamines. It worked, and it worked well. Can I function without it ? Sure I can. But its a miserable day when I do because I constantly want to sit down and go to sleep and it is hard for me to sit watching a movie because I feel like I need to get up and do something , can't sit still.

It really is a miracle drug for me.

For children I do think they prescribe it too young. It is hard to tell in young children what is a medical problem and what is not. I can't say whether a child should be on the drug or not because I am not a doctor.

I think the reason children score higher when taking it is because it is a stimulant. Anyone who takes a test is going to do better when wide awake vs groggy. Lots of children do not get proper sleep , they stay up all night then go to bed, sleep 5 hours and go to school. Of course a stimulant will make a difference in test, even a cup of coffee would.


Adderall xr also just went generic this month, so it has become cheaper to take.

Bullshit. In my younger...err...recreational days, I would pop an adderall, and it was basically the same as one of the black market varients that I had also sampled.

I see you glossed over the part where it says it has two different effects depending on the person.

And what % of people that take amphetamines for "ADD" have that special brain where stimulants dont get them high?

Read some actual books on the subject and you might actually learn something.

I took my morning dose and was actually so tired I went back to bed. It is not a drug like cocaine or crystal meth. They are similar but they work differently.

Google Adderall calming

Some hits

Adderall is a drug used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. It is a stimulant, but when used at the doses for ADHD, it has a calming effect.

Adderall has a calming effect on me, I don't feel nervous, I don't feel detached, or any of that stuff several other folks wrote about.

I have taken aderall about 4 times in the past 2 months. And every time i got drowsy and tired. What the is that about? The first 2 times, they were the same batch. I got a couple from my frined and took them on 2 different occasions. I figured he gave me something else, so i got some from my buddy who has a prescription. I saw them come out of the bottle, so i know what they were. Again, drowsy. What gives?

When used as prescribed, each has a calming and focusing effect on those with ADHD, and has little potential for addiction. When misused by people without ADHD, these drugs have a stimulant effect, resulting in suppressed appetite, increased concentration, wakefulness, and euphoria ? effects similar to the illicit amphetamine

For them, the CNS stimulant drugs Ritalin and Adderall have a calming effect, helping them focus

 

[Mani]

People often have ADD because their brains are moving so fast and they are processing multiple information streams simultaneously. Not unsurprising that when they are able to focus they are able to score better.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: OCguy

Originally posted by: Hayabusa Rider
I work in an awfully distracting environment, where if I make an error someone can die. That's incredibly stressful. No, I'm not stupid. Every IQ test I've ever taken puts me waaayyy up there. Because everyone can be a genius on the internet I won't bother to post the score. The number is irrelevant. It's always been hard to block out the background for me.

Turns out I have moderate ADD sans hyperactivity. I'm smart enough to have developed coping mechanisms, but as the workplace becomes more fragmented and my time spent any single task dwindles I found it extremely hard to focus.

So I was tested, and to no ones surprise I was diagnosed. Taking Adderal now and it's night and day.

For someone who hasn't the problem it's easy to say that the individual needs more discipline or motivation, but I'm at the upper end of both curves in that regard. I can simply do more and better than before.

It's real and people who don't want to believe it will just have to suck it up.

Getting high off amphetamines and performing better does not mean you had an illness. It means your are normal.

Too bad I don't get high off of it. So which medical profession do you practice?

 

[OCGuy]

Originally posted by: Hayabusa Rider

Originally posted by: OCguy

Originally posted by: Hayabusa Rider
I work in an awfully distracting environment, where if I make an error someone can die. That's incredibly stressful. No, I'm not stupid. Every IQ test I've ever taken puts me waaayyy up there. Because everyone can be a genius on the internet I won't bother to post the score. The number is irrelevant. It's always been hard to block out the background for me.

Turns out I have moderate ADD sans hyperactivity. I'm smart enough to have developed coping mechanisms, but as the workplace becomes more fragmented and my time spent any single task dwindles I found it extremely hard to focus.

So I was tested, and to no ones surprise I was diagnosed. Taking Adderal now and it's night and day.

For someone who hasn't the problem it's easy to say that the individual needs more discipline or motivation, but I'm at the upper end of both curves in that regard. I can simply do more and better than before.

It's real and people who don't want to believe it will just have to suck it up.

Getting high off amphetamines and performing better does not mean you had an illness. It means your are normal.

Too bad I don't get high off of it. So which medical profession do you practice?

I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express and have a non-sexual man crush on John Stamos. What is your point?

You dont need to be a MD to know what the pharm industry and ADD are about.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: OCguy

Originally posted by: Hayabusa Rider

Originally posted by: OCguy

Originally posted by: Hayabusa Rider
I work in an awfully distracting environment, where if I make an error someone can die. That's incredibly stressful. No, I'm not stupid. Every IQ test I've ever taken puts me waaayyy up there. Because everyone can be a genius on the internet I won't bother to post the score. The number is irrelevant. It's always been hard to block out the background for me.

Turns out I have moderate ADD sans hyperactivity. I'm smart enough to have developed coping mechanisms, but as the workplace becomes more fragmented and my time spent any single task dwindles I found it extremely hard to focus.

So I was tested, and to no ones surprise I was diagnosed. Taking Adderal now and it's night and day.

For someone who hasn't the problem it's easy to say that the individual needs more discipline or motivation, but I'm at the upper end of both curves in that regard. I can simply do more and better than before.

It's real and people who don't want to believe it will just have to suck it up.

Getting high off amphetamines and performing better does not mean you had an illness. It means your are normal.

Too bad I don't get high off of it. So which medical profession do you practice?

I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express and have a non-sexual man crush on John Stamos. What is your point?

You dont need to be a MD to know what the pharm industry and ADD are about.

So basically you don't have any background at all, but feel qualified to render an opinion. My opinion based on my education, practice and experience is that it's real. No doubt there ARE cases where it's misdiagnosed, however that doesn't mean it's bogus.

 

[OCGuy]

Originally posted by: Hayabusa Rider

So basically you don't have any background at all, but feel qualified to render an opinion. My opinion based on my education, practice and experience is that it's real. No doubt there ARE cases where it's misdiagnosed, however that doesn't mean it's bogus.

You being an adult, I really dont care what you do in your personal life. I am against the children who dont want to do thier homework being force-fed some of the most powerful stimulants on the planet. I have seen people get screwed up pretty bad by Ritalin, adderall, etc.

 

[AreaCode707]

Based on this data, those better focused, higher scoring kids may be limiting their ability to actually learn about the world around them:
http://www.boston.com/bostongl...e_baby_mind/?page=full

 

[JohnOfSheffield]

Originally posted by: OCguy

Originally posted by: Hayabusa Rider

So basically you don't have any background at all, but feel qualified to render an opinion. My opinion based on my education, practice and experience is that it's real. No doubt there ARE cases where it's misdiagnosed, however that doesn't mean it's bogus.

You being an adult, I really dont care what you do in your personal life. I am against the children who dont want to do thier homework being force-fed some of the most powerful stimulants on the planet. I have seen people get screwed up pretty bad by Ritalin, adderall, etc.

Forget it.

 

[Taejin]

Originally posted by: OCguy

Originally posted by: Hayabusa Rider

So basically you don't have any background at all, but feel qualified to render an opinion. My opinion based on my education, practice and experience is that it's real. No doubt there ARE cases where it's misdiagnosed, however that doesn't mean it's bogus.

You being an adult, I really dont care what you do in your personal life. I am against the children who dont want to do thier homework being force-fed some of the most powerful stimulants on the planet. I have seen people get screwed up pretty bad by Ritalin, adderall, etc.

Basically, you don't have a clue, but you've got personal experience, and since it's your experience, it is statistically significant enough for you to render an opinion others take seriously.

Did I sum it up?