ADHD Medication

English 12: Blake Sherrell: Research paper rough draft

We had all known or heard about the boy who does not know how to stay in his seat. Instead he climbs furniture and makes noise during work time. We also know of the girl who stares at blankly at a wall, daydreaming instead of paying attention to the teacher. There is a good chance the boy has a neurological disorder called Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). Experts recently discovered the girl also has ADHD. Sometimes called ADD because it occurs without hyperactivity. Now imagine seeing the boy and girl three months later and not recognizing them. That boy is a zombie, so still and silent you did not know he was in the room. The girl is no longer staring at a wall. Her blank
emotionless face looks toward the teacher with intense focus. These two kids were put on medication by their parents. At a very young age they are exposed and at risk to the life altering effects of ADHD medication. Thousands of parents do this thinking it will make their kid better. Those parents do not realize it might ruin their kids childhood and even future.
What is ADHD?
Parents and young adults need to understand what ADHD is before they turn to a doctor for medication. The three important symptoms of ADHD are inattentiveness, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. The Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Health explains that these symptoms are not enough to make a diagnoses because everyone eventually has the same symptoms. These symptoms must be persistent, frequent, and severe for a minimum of six months.
Though it is possible to be diagnosed as an adult, the symptoms must be shown no later than age seven. Also, the symptoms must occur in multiple settings. For example, during school and work or home. Furthermore, ADHD can only be diagnosed if symptoms make it difficult to function in society, academically, and/or at work. ADHD is not a single condition, there are three different types. People with the predominantly inattentive type have trouble paying attention, (Daydreaming, Disorganization, and careless mistakes). Those with the predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type are hyperactive and impulsive, (Fidgeting, constant talking, and Impatience). The third type includes all three major symptoms. The well known symptom of ADHD may be hyperactivity. Hallowell and Ratey emphasize that all people with ADHD are indeed hyperactive. They say people with ADD, (mostly girls) are quite daydreamers. Children and Teens with ADHD are consistently inconsistent. This means that a student can do very well in school one month, then poorly the next. Also, Hallowell and Ratey point out people with ADHD can hyper focus. Which means they can have an intense focus on one thing then have a hard time stopping when it is time to finish.
Treatment for ADHD ADHD is a is a disorder that is caused by low Dopamine levels. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter released by the brain that plays a number of roles in humans and other animals. Some of the notable functions are movement, memory, pleasure, behavior, attention, inhibition, sleep, mood, and learning. Abnormal Dopamine levels can cause drug addiction, Parkinsons disease, and many other conditions. In 1955 the FDA approved a drug called Ritalin. This drug got more popular as ADHD became more understood. As time went on diagnoses increased and smarter drug variants were produced. This has led to where we are today, thousands of americans have been diagnosed with ADHD. ADHD cases began to climb significantly in the 1990’s. Experts believe the rise of diagnoses are caused by more children developing the disorder. Another possibility could be doctors making diagnoses more efficiently due to a better understanding of ADHD. Also, more parents are aware of ADHD and are reporting their children's symptoms. I strongly believe this rise of ADHD diagnoses is caused by the medication. As of today, (11/3/16) ADHD diagnoses continue to rise. 10.2% of kids 12-17 years of age are diagnosed with this disorder. Scientists are trying to identify the causes of ADHD as well as possible treatment options. Researchers claim they are dedicated to find solutions. Unfortunately, only one possible cause has been found. Experts believe genetics play a big role in the disorder. Medication is the only effective way to temporarily cure ADHD. Other options are not nearly effective such as fish oils, neurofeedback, green time, behavior therapy, and special diets. Furthermore not a lot of ADHD victims try these solutions. The reason for that is simple: Why would parents or adults try something that might not work when they can go to a doctor for medication that immediately produces results?
ADHD Medication You need to have a clear understanding of ADHD medication before you start taking it or letting your child take it.
Your doctor may recommend it, but that does not mean it is harmless. Yes, it works great and can do really good things. Look at the other side, could it effect me in a negative way? ADHD medication affects everyone in a different way, But is the risk really worth the reward? ADHD medication can come as a stimulant, or as a non-stimulant. When diagnosed you will most likely be prescribed a stimulant (unless you ask for a non-stimulant). Stimulants are psychoactive drugs that induce temporary improvements to either mental or physical functions. The stimulant medications act in the brain similarly to a family of key brain neurotransmitters called Monoamines, which include Norepinephrine and Dopamine. Stimulants enhance the effect of these chemicals in your brain that control movement, memory, pleasure, behavior, attention, inhibition, sleep, mood, and
learning). Many different medication variants have been produced for ADHD. They come from three generic families. Methylin and Ritalin come from Methylphenidate. Adderall and Dexedrine come from Dextroamphetamine. The last and least popular drug called Focalin is from Dexmethylphenidate. Methylin and Dextroamphetamine are the most popular options. They are meant to do the same thing but usually you will react significantly better to one over the other. Beyond those three generic family’s there are even more options. Adderall for example can come in two different forms. It can come in a capsule, which is the extended release variant (XR). This is very common for kids and teens who attend school because it is simple. You take one capsule after breakfast and it lasts throughout the day (8-12 Hours). The other form is immediate release (IR). This variant of adderall is stronger for a shorter period of time. It is used in extreme cases or to add a couple more hours to the extended release pill. Immediate release comes in a tablet and only lasts four to six hours. Most of the stimulants come in both XR and IR. The most important difference between XR and IR is the addiction. Stimulant medication has had great success with ADHD cases. It can turn a lazy teen into a machine. Daniel Tobin said he felt like Tony stark. Adderall is known for a couple key things. It can make you lose weight, increase your GPA, and even produce a sense of euphoria. Those are the 3 main reasons the drugs are abused so often by teens. The medication is believed to make you smarter. Though that is not true, that is how it is seen by a majority of teens and young adults. The feelings that stimulant medication may produce are nearly indescribable. Say your friend gives you a 30mg Adderall XR pill to try. Chances are, your friends did not give you much information about how it will affect your day. Depending on the time you take it, you probably will not get much sleep. Motivation for the day will no longer be a problem, boring tasks will now be satisfying, and your focus will be unbreakable. Bad habits will not be a problem for you. A feeling of calmness will flow through your body and mind and hard work will not feel hard. As you go through the day your happiness with be at a climax. Your outlook on everything will be positive. You will now be social and outgoing. Everything will have a feeling of clarity. Your confidence will be so high it could be mistaken for ignorance. That day will never be forgotten, it might even be the best day of your life. Sounds pretty great right?
Those feelings are intriguing to just about any kid or teen in school. Why would someone not want a day like that? Before you consider trying adderall keep the following in mind. Many teens take adderall prescribed or unprescribed, imagine if you will a guy no older than 18 had recently experimented with adderall he had gotten from his friend. After just one dose he loved the drug. He loved it so much he lied to his parents and got them to take him to a doctor. Three weeks later the kid is diagnosed with ADHD and prescribed adderall. How is that possible? There is no real test for ADHD, all that kid did was look up symptoms on google, then he lied to his doctor and parents. Six months pass and that kid is miserable. He is addicted and dependant to the drug. He is easily agitated which caused him to push away his friends. Severe depression has been developed. The adderall is causing him to crash harder than a rock. Headaches are now an everyday thing but is cured by tylenol abuse. This kid is constantly tired but at 11pm he can not sleep. He now feels hopeless and has severe mood swings. His body aches due to his lack of hunger. His mouth is dry along with blurred vision. This poor guy is physically weak and nervous at all times and his sexual desire no longer exists. Does this sound fun? These are the common side effects of ADHD medication. Would you want temporary happiness if you knew that would happen?
Doctors know the side effects of these drugs, yet there is no stigma against it. Teens and young adults are sucked into the medication because nobody expresses the other side. All it takes is one pill to feel a gravitational pull towards taking more. Adderall and all the other medications are said to be “safe” and “non-addictive” by doctors. I disagree with a strong passion for one reason, I have been experienced these same draining side effects for nearly a year. My doctor had diagnosed me with ADD half way through my junior year. My parents were not the ones who suggested it, but I did. My grades were poor, I was often putting off necessary tasks, and I did not fully understand what was happening to me. After hours of online research to find a logical reason for my inability to focus I found myself researching ADD. All the symptoms matched how I felt and described these sudden unpleasant changes in my life. Despite all of the negative side affects I had found myself reading about Adderall and all the positive impacts it has. That’s all it took for me to want it, for me to convince myself that I had a problem. As of today I have been on ADHD medication for about a year and my life has changed in both positive and negative ways. I have accomplished things I had only dreamed of. My grades are untouchable, averaging a 3.7 GPA. My motivation has led to good habits that were once bad. A positive outlook on life is projected through my eyes. Though every high is followed by a low.
The great changes in my life are no longer visible without my medication. An endless fog spreads through my mind. Anything that once pleased me is now a drag. Twelve hours of sleep feels like four. Words of confusion hit me like bullets causing anger and aggression. The focus I once had is now non existent. I now need the medication to function, without it my ADHD symptoms are worse than they ever were before I was diagnosed.
Conclusion
To conclude, parents and young adults should have a better understanding of ADHD and the medication used to treat it before they turn to a doctor.
It is especially important for parents to know the side effects of medication before they put their child on it. Also, they should try other solutions first and only turn to medication as a last resort. Parents often hook their child on these drugs thinking it can only have a good effect. They should have a clear understanding to decide if the potential risk is greater than the reward. These drugs are not harmless, doctors may support them but that is not always a green
light.