Adderall

Understanding Ritalin Addiction and Getting Help from LaPalomaTreatment.com

Many children and even adults are diagnosed with ADD or ADHD and are put on medications to help control the symptoms. The most common drug used to help those symptoms is Ritalin. This is a drug that is supposed to help the individual focus on the tasks at hand and be able to concentrate. Unfortunately, many teens and young adults have realized that there are other uses for Ritalin. When it is crushed and either snorted or injected, it can have effects that are similar to cocaine. There are many people who have this medication due to their ADD, but there are many people who are getting it to get high. There are a few things to look for when dealing with someone who’s addicted to this drug.

Many people become addicted to this drug when they do not use it as it’s prescribed. Those who are not victims of ADD may become addicted to the drug faster than those who have to use it for ADD. This drug can mimic the effects of amphetamines too. In fact, many college students get hooked because they are using this drug to help them stay awake and study. Another problem stems from people with legitimate prescriptions selling the medication to those who want to achieve a high.

Being addicted to any drug can have a devastating impact on the addict’s family. If you know someone who is dealing with a Ritalin or other addiction, then LaPalomaTreatment.com can help. This is a great rehabilitation center that specializes in cases of addiction. The staff can help get the patient comfortable and deal with the withdrawal symptoms that may occur. Addiction is a serious problem that requires intensive treatment. Helping your loved ones find the help they need is important to getting them on a path to recovery.

Filed Under: Adult ADD Treatment Tagged With: Adderall, Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, Health, Mental health, Methylphenidate, Pharmaceutical drug, Ritalin, Symptom

ADD, ADHD and Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Attention deficit disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have long perplexed scientists, physicians and parents alike. First diagnosed in 1902 it was referred to as post-encephalitic behavior disorder and had several monikers after that until it was finally coined ADD by scientists. ADD and ADHD are considered one of the most researched disorders on the planet but few actually know what brings it about or what can cure it. Currently the symptoms that are known are as follows:

-The inability to focus even while reading or listening others, even in the middle of a conversation
-The inability to finish tasks and overlooking details leading to incomplete work and inaccurately
-Memory problems due to inability to listen for long periods of time

There are several drugs on the market that help alleviate symptoms such as lack of concentration. Among them are Ritalin, which has been around since 1956 and newer additions such as Adderall, Concentra, Metadata, Focalin and Strattera. These all help alleviate or mask symptoms but not completely. However in a fairly recent study in Durham, England researchers were able to completely alleviate symptoms of ADD and ADHD due to a simple supplement regime. In the study 117 children aged 5-12 with a tendency toward ADD and ADHD were given a daily dose of containing 500 milligrams of omega-3 rich fish oil for three months.

This was a double blind study where half the children received a placebo while the other half received the actual 500 mg of Omega -3. The results of the trial showed that over the three months the children receiving omega-3 fatty acids tripled the rate of their reading ability and more doubled their spelling ability. The study also took another turn when the subjects who were taking the placebo crossed over and were given the supplement halfway through the study. Once these students started the supplement their concentration levels and their ADHD symptoms showed drastic improvement.

Filed Under: Adult ADD Symptoms, Adult Attention Deficit Disorder, Facts & FAQ Tagged With: Adderall, Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, Omega-3 fatty acid

Prescription Drugs

The war on drugs has been raging for decades and no one claims that drugs are good for society. Many people believe that those on drugs should be locked up. They believe street drugs such as cocaine, heroin and crystal meth are so dangerous that the users and sellers of such drugs need to be prosecuted and put in jail. But typically the same people who regard these streets drugs as so highly dangerous are the same people who do not hesitate to take a pill to alleviate some problem or go to the doctor to try to fix the slightest of maladies. We have to ask ourselves just because its legal does that make it good?

Many prescription drugs have now taken the place of street drugs in high schools, colleges and suburbs around the country. Attention deficit disorder drugs like Adderall and Ritalin are being pill popped by housewives who wish to have more energy and lose weight. Young adults are using pain killers and anxiety relievers such as Xanax, codeine and Percocet to get high without any thought that these are drugs are as highly volatile as the same street drugs D.A.R.E. warned them against in the sixth grade.

And with more and more romanticized Hollywood deaths being attributed to prescriptions drugs such as Heath Ledger, Corey Haim, Michael Jackson and Anna Nicole Smile the propensity towards these drugs is higher than ever. While high profile prescription drug deaths are nothing new in Hollywood Stars going back as far back as Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley. The difference now is that the access for the lay person is unprecedented and the fact that most prescription drugs are abuse by just taking it from someone you know and not buying it on the streets makes it seem like a safer option when in reality it is not.

Filed Under: Adult ADD Treatment Tagged With: Adderall, Percocet, Prescription drug

History of ADD and ADHD

Attention deficit disorder has gain wide-spread acknowledgment in the last 10 to 20 years but the disease has been around a lot longer and was actually first diagnosed in 1902. At the time they did not us the term attention deficit disorder but instead called it Morbid Defect of Moral Control, or at least that was the clinical description.

After that the disorder garnered different classifications and has been renamed several times including in 1922 when it was labeled as post-encephalitic behavior disorder, in 1960 as minimal brain dysfunction and again in 1968 as hyperkinetic reaction. It was not until 1980 that attention deficit disorder becomes and official disorder with the national institute of mental health. However, treatment for these said disorders started in 1956 with the introduction of Ritalin as a treatment for children that were hyperactive, a strong symptom of Attention Deficit Disorder. During this time many children were misdiagnosed and were labeled wrongly as simple hyperactive. Many were given the label of having learning or behavioral disabilities if they exhibited behavior reminiscent of what constitutes Attention Deficit Disorder.

The next advancement did not come until 1996 when a new drug, named Adderall, was approved by the Federal Drug administration to be used for the treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder and its newly coined cousin Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. During this time a huge number of children and adult began to be diagnosed with the disease and millions of dollars was poured into research giving Attention deficit disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder the moniker of one of the best-researched disorders in medicine by the American medical Association in 1998. However, the first once a day prescription version of the drug was not introduced until 2000. After that a slew of new drugs approved for the treatment of attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder saturated the market including Concerta, Metadata, Focalin and Strattera.

Filed Under: Adult Attention Deficit Disorder, Facts & FAQ Tagged With: Adderall, American medical Association, Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

Stimulants as an ADD Treatment

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When someone is diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), they may be prescribed with stimulant medications like Adderall or Ritalin. This can be confusing to some. After all, how could adding a stimulant to someone who has trouble sitting still or paying attention possibly help?

Stimulants work very differently in the patient with ADD or ADHD when compared to how they work for someone with normal brain functions. In a typical person, a stimulant will increase their agitation and anxiety. However, the same medication can reduce anxiety and slow down a person who has ADD or ADHD.

Once the ADD or ADHD patient has been on stimulant therapy for a short period of time, they usually experience a number of benefits in their mental functioning. They may find that it’s easier to remain focused and concentrate on the task at hand. Stimulants can help some people ignore distractions, calm their actions, and reduce their impulsive behavior. Social functioning becomes easier because the ADD or ADHD patient can keep track of the conversation better and is less prone to interrupting or going off subject.

Some thoughts point to the improved mental functioning as the reason why stimulants can dramatically reduce the levels of anxiety in ADD and ADHD patients. Because they are no longer concerned about constant criticism, and their performance has improved, they just have less to worry about in the first place. Stimulants can also relieve the symptoms of depression and leave the patient feeling up, energized, and motivated.

While stimulants can help people who truly need them, they do come with risks. If the person with ADD or ADHD has any history of heart disease, psychosis, or substance abuse problems, they should look for a different solution. Prescription drug abuse is one of the leading causes of addition today in both adults and teenagers. While many people seek out narcotic medications, others have found that stimulants are their drug of choice. If someone is prescribed a stimulant to treat ADD or ADHD, they should never share their medication with anyone else.

Filed Under: Adult ADD Treatment Tagged With: Adderall, Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, Mental health, Methylphenidate

Four Medications Used for Treating ADHD

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Treating ADHD with medication has become a popular treatment for the issue. Many people disagree with the widespread use of ADHD medications while some parents deem it necessary to help their child focus, improve their performance in school and treat this issue. Here are some of the more popular ADHD medications and some facts about them.

Ritalin
You have probably heard about this ADHD medication as it is one of the most popular ones for treating this condition. Ritalin is a stimulant that stimulates the central nervous system. This tends to have a calming effect on the person taking the medication and it helps restore their focus and ability to concentrate.

Intuniv
This relatively new ADHD medication is not a stimulant and it has been shown to be effective in treating ADHD in kids between the ages of 6 and 17. The most common side effects associated with Intuniv are headaches, sleepiness, decreased appetite, dry mouth, dizziness and stomach pain.

Strattera
This non-stimulant medication is another popular drug used to treat ADHD. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2005 and is designed to treat ADHD in people over six years of age. This medication works by inhibiting the impulses that lead to the inability to focus. As a result, patients who take this medication are less impulsive and they can keep their hyperactivity under control. However, one of the unfortunate side effects is that there is an increased risk of suicidal thoughts in children and adolescents taking this medication.

Adderall
Adderall is much like Ritalin in that it is a stimulant used to treat ADHD. It is available as either an instant release medication or an extended release medication. It was introduced in 1996 and it has also been known to be an effective treatment for conditions like narcolepsy. One long-term effect is that it can hinder your child’s growth so it is important to keep an eye on their weight and height and alert your doctor if there has been no growth in several months.

Filed Under: Adult ADD Treatment, Facts & FAQ Tagged With: Adderall, Food and Drug Administration, Mental health, Methylphenidate