Consider this: drugs that treat ADHD are stimulants, antidepressants or antipsychotics. Drugs used to treat ADHD were intended for use on patients with severe mental disorders such as schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder; not young children who struggle with impulse control and inattentiveness. Even more alarming, recent studies suggest that Ritalin, a stimulant and one of the most widely prescribed ADHD medications, is similar in composition to cocaine.
Because ritalin and cocaine affect the brain in the same way, children treated with ritalin run a greater risk of becoming addicted to drugs---specifically, you guessed it, cocaine! Traditional ADHD medicines have what can be frightening short and long term side effects. Short terms effects include: weight gain/loss, anxiety, fluctuations in blood pressure and heart rate, skin disorders, and in some cases death. Long term effects include stunted growth, increased risk of depression and psychosis in adulthood. Are there other treatments options? YES!
Alternative treatments are available for treating ADHD without medication. Unfortunately, many children are misdiagnosed with ADHD. While ADHD medications can improve some symptoms of ADHD, parents need to consider if the cure is worse than the disease. Stimulate based medications include Attenta, Ritalin, Ribifen, and Concerta. All of these are psycho stimulant drugs. Psycho stimulant drugs were originally designed for use on the most severe of emotional disorders: Bi-polar disorders and schizophrenia.
Because ritalin and cocaine affect the brain in the same way, children treated with ritalin run a greater risk of becoming addicted to drugs---specifically, you guessed it, cocaine! Traditional ADHD medicines have what can be frightening short and long term side effects. Short terms effects include: weight gain/loss, anxiety, fluctuations in blood pressure and heart rate, skin disorders, and in some cases death. Long term effects include stunted growth, increased risk of depression and psychosis in adulthood. Are there other treatments options? YES!
Alternative treatments are available for treating ADHD without medication. Unfortunately, many children are misdiagnosed with ADHD. While ADHD medications can improve some symptoms of ADHD, parents need to consider if the cure is worse than the disease. Stimulate based medications include Attenta, Ritalin, Ribifen, and Concerta. All of these are psycho stimulant drugs. Psycho stimulant drugs were originally designed for use on the most severe of emotional disorders: Bi-polar disorders and schizophrenia.
No comments:
Post a Comment