Question:
My son is 7 years old and may have ADHD, I cannot control
him any more. I just made an appointment with a neurologist.
What if he needs to be medicated? I am scared to put him
on any medication that can hurt him. What happens when you
stop the medication? Can it hurt him in the long run?
Please help.
Dr. Heller's Answer:
While more research is needed, Ritalin appears to be an
extraordinarily safe medication. After over 30 years the
only long term effects have been 1) a reduction in substance
use, 2) a reduction in auto accidents, and 3) a reduction in
cancer, especially breast cancer.
"Side effects" usually indicate other diagnoses. Increased
irritability or anger usually indicates depression (30% of
those with ADHD are depressed) or bipolar, both of which
need to be treated. Increased anxiety symptoms usually
indicates the generalized anxiety disorder, which likely
needs to be treated with BuSpar.
The long term consequences of not treating ADHD are
impressive and include an increased risk of developing the
borderline disorder, cigarette smoking (which "treats"
ADHD), cocaine use, depression, a 500% higher risk of auto
accidents, divorces, incarceration, and not reaching their
potential academically or in their careers.
I don’t believe ADHD is a disease. It’s a genetic trait
that has advantages in some environments and disadvantages
in others. They are tuned into their senses and looking for
predators and prey. They are hunters in a world dominated
by details they aren’t genetically designed to handle.
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