The Forums › Forums › Medication › Wonderful article on ADD Medication (Long)
-
AuthorPosts
-
April 22, 2011 at 3:01 am #89494
AnonymousInactiveApril 22, 2011 at 3:01 amPost count: 14413I wanted to share this with everyone on here. It made me feel a LOT better about potentially taking meds. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Glad I ran into it on a Google Search.
from http://floridadetox.com/programs-2/addadhd
PSYCHOSTIMULANT MEDICATION DECREASED SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS, IN MALE ADOLESCENTS
Unmedicated adolescent males with ADHD were 6.3 times (adjusted OR: 6.3 [1.8-21.6]) more likely to report substance abuse disorders than non ADHD control subjects in a study of 56 medicated ADHD subjects, 19 nonmedicated ADHD subjects and 137 non ADHD control subjects. The prevalence of substance abuse disorders in medicated ADHD subjects was only 15 percent (adjusted OR: 0.15 [0.04-0.6]) of the rate of substance abuse, in non medicated ADHD subjects. In other words, ADHD medication was associated with an 85 percent decrease in substance abuse disorders, in the 75 ADHD adolescent males. Abused substances evaluated included alcohol, marijuana, hallucinogens, stimulants and tobacco. Decreased substance abuse occurred, in the medicated ADHD group compared to the non ADHD group, for each of the substances studied. Joseph Biederman, MD, Timothy Wilens, MD, Eric Mick, ScDv, Thomas Spencer, MD, and Stephen V. Faraone, PhD. Pharmacotherapy of Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Reduces Risk for Substance Use Disorder PEDIATRICS Vol. 104 No. 2 August 1999, p. e20 (This article is available in PDF format, at pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/104/2/e20) Dr. Bankole Johnson, Chairman of Psychiatric Medicine, at University of Virgina, states “Dopamine is responsible for a lot of pleasureable experiences.” Eating triples dopamine levels. “Sex is 10 times the normal surge and cocaine is 100 times the normal surge. If you told someone to give up sex, it would be very hard, so you can imagine how hard it is to ask someone to give up cocaine.” Charlottesville Daily Progress, May 31, 2006. Newer research indicates enhancing glutamate levels decreases ADD symptoms. Provigil (modafinal) has been primarily used for narcolepsy and shift work sleep disorders, but has proven effective for attention deficit and cocaine treatment. ADHD Psychostimulant Medications Are Safer Than Aspirin And Auto Travel. Adderall, Ritalin and other psychostimulant medications, for ADHD, are safer than aspirin, acetaminophen and automobile travel. The annual risk of being struck by lightning is 33 times higher than the risk of a serious cardiac event for adults treated with psychostimulants.
The following probabilities help place these risks in perspective
Annual risk per 100,000 persons or patients :
Adults without high blood pressure, psychostimulant fatalities, 0.05/100,000
Adult psychostimulant fatalities, 0.125/100,000
Psychostimulant fatalities per patient, (includes children),0.18/100,000
Psychostimulant adverse cardiac events, (includes children),0.56/100,000
Being struck by lightning, 4.2/100,000
Viagra fatalities per patient, 5.0/100,000
Auto travel fatality risk, 16/100,000 NSAID Deaths per arthritis patient, 38.3/100,000
(aspirin, Motrin, Advil, Feldene, Clinoril, Indocin, Daypro, Aleve, etc.)
Fatalities/acetaminophen(Tylenol) overdose, 360/100,000
Auto property damage collision, 10,000/100,000
Data and annual risk probabilities, for the preceding table and chart were derived from the following sources: Between 1999 and 2003, 25 people had died suddenly, and 54 suffered serious cardiac events such as a stroke, heart attack, hypertension or arrhythmia, while taking psychostimulant medications. http://www.healthyskepticism.org/library/ref.php
About 2.5 million children and teens take ADHD medications. Most of the drugs contain methylphenidate, found in Ritalin and Concerta and many generic ADHD medications. An estimated 1 million adults also use psychostimulant medications. (The National Institutes of Mental Health estimates 68 % of adolescents with ADHD continue to experience adult ADHD) http://www.healthyskepticism.org/library/ref.php
Using these numbers, the probability of a cardiac fatality was 0.18 in 100,000, annually, for patients using Ritalin, Concerta or Adderall, during the 4 year reporting period. This fatality rate is much lower than the fatality rate for Viagra, aspirin or automobile travel and less than the probability of being struck by lightning.
The Association of Reproductive Health Professionals cites a mortality rate of five per 100,000 for Viagra, the erectile dysfunction drug.
A 1998 article in the New England Journal of Medicine estimated that non steroidal anti-inflammatory medications cause 16,500 deaths annually in arthritis sufferers.
The Arthritis Foundation estimated there were 43, 000,000 arthritis sufferers, in the United States, in 1998. http://www.arthritis.org/resources/gettingstarted/default.asp
These medications include aspirin, Motrin, Aleve, Naproxn, Feldene, Sulindac, Toradol and Indocin. Assuming every arthritis sufferer, in the United States, in 1998, used non steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, the annual fatality risk was 38.3 per 100,000.
Another common activity, with a higher fatality risk than psychostimulant medication is automobile travel. Although motor-vehicle accidents claimed 43,300 lives in 1996, the rate per 100,000 Americans has dropped significantly in the last two decades because of safer cars, safer roads, and efforts to curb drunk driving, says Alan Hoskin, manager of research and statistics at NSC. The 1996 rate of 16 automobile travel deaths annually per 100,000 population was down 18 percent from 1986, and down 41 percent from 1966 http://www.defendu.com/realrisk
The Toxic Exposure Surveillance System (TESS) for 2003 showed an increase in acetaminophen poisonings with 40,833 accidental overdoses leading to 147 fatalities. Acetaminophen produced 360 deaths/100,000 overdoses.
Our 80 year lifetime probability of being struck by lightning is 1 in 3,000. http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/medical.htm
A 1 in 3,000 risk, in 80 years is a 4.2 per 100,000 annual risk of being struck by lightning and much higher than a 0.18 in 100,000 annual risk of a cardiac fatality, on psychostimulant medication. Our risk of being struck by lightning is much higher than the risk of a cardiac death, from psychostimulant medication!
How much sleep are you losing, worrying about being struck by lightning?
Florida Detox® uses Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) diagnostic screens, which have been well validated by SPECT brain scans. We also confirm our Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder diagnosis with neurotransmitter testing for homovanillic acid, phenylethylamine and hydRoxy indole acetic acid.
Although Florida Detox® believes Adderall medication is very safe when used properly, for Attention Deficit Disorders, we do recommend nutritional therapies including high dose EPA and DHA essential fatty acids, tyrosine, phenylalanine, micuna, S-Adenosyl Methionine, folate, and ferrous bisglycinate supplementation, based on test results. Thyroid hormone supplementation can reduce attention deficit disorder symptoms, when patients are hypothyroid. Deprenyl (Selegiline) medication can also enhance dopamine levels and reduce attention deficit disorder symptoms.
Food and food additive allergies and nutritional deficiencies also can cause or aggravate Attention Deficit Disorders. One of our Attention Deficit patients tested allergic to Yellow #5 food dye, in a serum immunoglobin test. Many of our patients with ADD/ADHD have low ferritin levels, especially if they suffer from restless leg syndrome. Increasing ferritin nutritionally can reduce Attention Deficit Disorders, if ferritin level is low. GENETIC EVIDENCEADHD occurred twice as often in full siblings, compared to half siblings in a study of ADHD children who were placed in foster care. ). Safer DJ. A familial factor in minimal brain dysfunction. Behav Genet. 1973;3(2):175-186.
ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS AND ADHD
Neurotransmitter receptors are located on cell membranes. Receptor membrane permeability strongly influences neurotransmitter firing in the brain. Cell membranes contain layers of fatty acids called phospholipids. Highly unsaturated fatty acids, including Decosahexanoeic Acid ( DHA ), and Eicosapentaenioc Acid ( EPA ) build membranes which flow nutrients and wastes more easily. Considerable research indicates higher intake of the essential fatty acids Decosahexanoeic Acid ( DHA ) Eicosapentaenioc Acid ( EPA ) and Arachidonic Acid ( AA ) deceases symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorders.Purdue University researchers studied 53 boys with ADHD and found significantly lower levels of Arachidonic Acid ( AA ), Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic Acid ( DHA ) in plasma lipids, compared to 43 boys, without ADHD. Red blood cell lipid Arachidonic Acid ( AA ) and Docosatetraenoic Acid were also significantly lower, in the 53 boys with ADHD. A subgroup of 21 boys with ADHD and more numerous symptoms of essential fatty acid deficiency, possessed considerably lower Arachidonic Acid ( AA ) and Docosahexaenoic Acid ( DHA ), than 32 ADHD boys, with fewer essential fatty acid symptoms. LJ Stevens, SS Zentall, JL Deck, ML Abate, BA Watkins, SR Lipp and JR Burgess. Essential fatty acid metabolism in boys with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 62, 761-768The Omega 3 essential fatty acids, Eicosapentaenoic Acid ( EPA ) and Docosahexaenoic Acid ( DHA ) appear especially helpful, in ADD or ADHD. Frontal cortex dopamine levels decreased 40 to 60 percent, in rats fed an Omega 3 fatty acid deficient diet. Dopamine release was 90 percent lower in the Omega 3 deficient rats. Logan, Alan C. Neurobehavioral aspects of omega-3 fatty acids: possible mechanisms and therapeutic value in major depression Alternative Medicine Review; 11/1/2003Many anecdotal case history reports of decreased attention deficit symptoms, after essential fatty supplementation, have been published on attention deficit bulletin boards and self help sites.
S-ADENOSYL METHIONINES-Adenosyl Methionine (SAMe) is the activated form of the amino acid methionine. It is available, without a prescription, at health food stores. SAMe has activity at dopamine and norepinephrine receptors. In a small 8 person open label trial, 75 percent of adult male ADHD subjects exhibited moderate to marked improvement, in ADHD symptoms. Patients who failed to improve, also failed to improve with methylphenidate (Ritalin).Shekim, W., Antun, F., Hanna,G., McCracken, J., Hess, E. S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) in adults with ADHD, RS: preliminary results from an open trial. Psychopharmacol Bull . 1990;26(2):249-53 AMINO ACID SUPPLEMENTATIONThe naturally occurring amino acids l- tyrosine and l-phenylalanine are enzymatically transformed to dopamine. Tyrosine or phenylalanine supplementation can reduce attention deficit symptoms.
At Florida Detox®, Dr. Sponaugle considers us to be in a race to reduce or eliminate alcohol or drug withdrawal symptoms, before they trigger a relapse. Since prescription medications usually work faster, we generally use them first. Frequently, we can replace all or part of an Adderall dose with the naturally occurring amino acid, Tyrosine. Since Tyrosine is naturally occurring, it is available at health food stores, and is relatively inexpensive. It needs to be taken on an empty stomach, or at least separated an hour from other proteins or amino acids. It is more effective taken sublingually, (under the tongue). This is done by emptying a 500 milligram powder capsule, under the tongue and holding the powder, for about 2 minutes, before swallowing. This allows the amino acid to be absorbed into the mucous membrane, directly into the bloodstream, and increases absorption of the tyrosine. The 500 milligram powder capsule is available at almost any health food store. General Nutrition Centers stock a 750 milligram tablet, which may be chewed, before holding under the tongue. We have a patient who successfully replaced 20 milligrams Adderall, taken 3 times per day (TID), using this method, while he waited for his appointment with a local doctor, willing to continue prescribing Adderall for him. Dosage used to replace Adderall or reduce or eliminate cocaine cravings is 1,500 to 6,000 milligrams per day, split into at least two doses, per day. PLEASE DO NOT DISCONTINUE ADDERALL MEDICATION, ABRUPTLY, WITHOUT CONSULTING A PHYSICIAN. In some patients, tyrosine may decrease in effectiveness, with time. Decreased conversion of tyrosine to dopamine, occurs due to down regulation of tyrosine hydoxylase, by norepinephrine. Recently, concentrated herbal extracts of a plant, called Mucuna Pruriens, which concentrates l dopa, have become available. Since conversion of l dopa to dopamine, is not downregulated, by increased dopamine and norepinephrine levels, Mucuna supplementation could be continued indefinitely, without reduction in dopamine levels. MUCUNA SUPPLEMENTATION SHOULD NOT BE DONE WITHOUT SUPERVISION, OR CONSULTATION, BY A PHYSICIAN. Excess Dopamine production can cause low blood pressure, headache, tremors, eyelid tics, paranoia and hypomania or mania. Tyrosine and Mucuna supplementation can potentially cause these symptoms. Tyrosine and Mucuna Pruriens both can alter blood pressure and should not be used without consultation with a physician. The proceeding information is not considered to be a substitute for medical diagnosis, evaluation or treatment.We recently recommended Mucuna to a previous patient, to help raise his dopamine level. He is a 40 y/o male, with several years of opiate use for chronic pain issues. On several occasions, he related that he felt low energy, and has also said he would like to feel what he felt on the opiates without the dangerous addictive and withdrawal symptoms. He also had an issue with taking Adderall, for ADD, because he has high blood pressure. This patient reported that since he has started taking the Mucuna, he feels great. He says he feels like he has plenty of energy, and it has had no effect on his blood pressure.Florida Detox® recommends targeted amino acid and essential fatty acid supplementation to all of our patients suffering from attention deficit disorders. In view of clear and convincing scientific evidence, ignorance is no longer an excuse to deny effective treatment to attention deficit sufferers.
REPORT ABUSEApril 22, 2011 at 6:11 pm #103459
AnonymousInactiveApril 22, 2011 at 6:11 pmPost count: 14413For those of you like me who hate reading long articles, he is a good summary of the safety of these drugs…
The following probabilities help place these risks in perspective
Annual risk per 100,000 persons or patients :
Adults without high blood pressure, psychostimulant fatalities, 0.05/100,000
Adult psychostimulant fatalities, 0.125/100,000
Psychostimulant fatalities per patient, (includes children),0.18/100,000
Psychostimulant adverse cardiac events, (includes children),0.56/100,000
Being struck by lightning, 4.2/100,000
Viagra fatalities per patient, 5.0/100,000
Auto travel fatality risk, 16/100,000 NSAID Deaths per arthritis patient, 38.3/100,000
(aspirin, Motrin, Advil, Feldene, Clinoril, Indocin, Daypro, Aleve, etc.)
Fatalities/acetaminophen(Tylenol) overdose, 360/100,000
Auto property damage collision, 10,000/100,000
Data and annual risk probabilities, for the preceding table and chart were derived from the following sources: Between 1999 and 2003, 25 people had died suddenly, and 54 suffered serious cardiac events such as a stroke, heart attack, hypertension or arrhythmia, while taking psychostimulant medications. http://www.healthyskepticism.org/library/ref.php
REPORT ABUSE -
AuthorPosts