The truth about stimulants?
Neurotoxicity?
Permanent brain damage?
Hmm. That’s not what I wanted to hear about my Adderall prescription. But stimulant medication may be causing more problems than solving them, according to Dr. Tracy Ware, a board certified psychiatrist from Chapel Hill who was this month’s guest speaker at the Adult ADHD Meetup group held at GardenSpirit.
Research shows that even long term use of methylphenidate (Ritalin and its ilk) is safe but taking amphetamines is a quite different story. Dr. Ware showed convincing evidence that amphetamines like Adderall, Dexadrine and Vyvanse induce an artificial “hyperfocus” by increasing the availability of dopamine (neurotransmitter) in the brain.
It mimics the “flight or fight” response that evolved to protect us from woolly mammoths (of old) and muggers (of late). In other words, everything that is non-essential to survival either shuts down or shifts focus. Our peripheral vision narrows (to better focus on the danger), our heart rate increases (to better escape the enemy) and our focus pinpoints precisely the object in front of us.
There are obvious advantages to this hyperfocused state – we pay attention to every detail that might save our lives. But for ADHD, hyperfocus is an overresponse to force our wandering brains to PAY ATTENTION, DANG IT!
I’ll share more of Dr. Ware’s info in a later post but, I wanted to come clean first: I stopped taking my Adderall. Not as a direct result of her presentation, but a few days before the Meetup gathering.
I was in a terrible place when I returned from Chicago, the ADHD Coaches Organization conference and a visit with my family in central Illinois. I don’t know what happened but I felt so out of control with everything that I needed to stop and regroup.
For some reason, it made sense to me to stop taking medications that were “optional.” I have taken Adderall on a regular basis for only 18 months, so that went first. My Wellbutrin, which has been my main ADHD medication for years, stayed on board.
It’s been three weeks now and … oh, I think I’ll make this another post. It will get waaaay too long to read …. join me in the next post: “Three Weeks without Adderall.”
I agree that doctors are a bit “free” with medications although they would probably argue that the pharmaceutical companies have created demand via their advertising.
But you will certainly get some disagreement with Dr. Ware’s position from other docs. Not everyone sees the amphetamine issue as she does (despite her thorough research). Of course the drug companies have a vested interest in NOT doing research that shows the dangers of amphetamines.
Like you, I haven’t had much success with methylphenidate (sold as Ritalin and its ilk). So I may go back on Adderall. Not sure yet. Will see Tracy Ware next week to see what she says about my particular situation.
I think it is frustrating that doctors vary so much in their advice. Makes me wonder if there is a “good” solution or treatment. But, of course, there are probably as many treatments as there are forms/types of ADHD so perhaps WE are making them a little crazy, too!
I listened to Dr. Ware's explaination of permanent damage from Vyvance. I recently just started it and it works better for me than Ritalin LA. I really like it. But no doctor ever explained the Ritalin group should be 1st choice. I am seeing a new psychiatrist this week and am VERY concerned and upset as I like this med very much. I am not having side effects except for tiredness and I have to take it early as it interfears with my sleep if I take it after 8am. I am getting fed up with doctors who just say ok when I hear about a med and say I would like to give it a try and they just prescribe it with out saying a word about it!