Five Common Problems With ADHD Medications

Once a child receives an ADHD diagnosis, he or she must be treated for the disorder immediately, but many parents understand this to mean a quick and easy solution. ADHD medications are the most popular treatment for this very reason. Children who pop a pill experience immediate benefits - they can sustain their attention for long periods of time, control their impulses, and stop any hyperactive behavior. Unfortunately, these benefits come at a cost; stimulants like Adderall and Ritalin cause a wide range of side effects. Below are the five most common problems experienced by children who take medication for ADHD.

Half-life problems

A drug's half-life means the amount of time it takes for a medication to reach 50% of its effectiveness. A medication with a longer half-life means it will take more time for the drug to become 100% effective. This type of drug should be taken at a certain time so that the bloodstream will receive a steady dose throughout the day. Drugs with a shorter half-life should also be taken as directed. Otherwise, the child experiences discontinuation syndrome, a condition where a child experiences irritability, difficulty sleeping, and flu-like symptoms that persist for several weeks.

Side effects of stimulants

Stimulants like Ritalin and Adderall are the most prescribed drugs for ADHD, but they come with a host of serious side effects. The most common ones include insomnia, dry mouth, nausea, dizziness, anxiety, weight loss, and increase in blood pressure. If the dose is not reduced, stimulants may cause cardiac problems, even among children with no previous record of heart disease.

Side effects of non-stimulants

Non-stimulant drugs like Strattera are thought to be safer alternatives to Ritalin because they produce fewer and less severe side effects. However, they are not as effective as stimulants and come with their own set of problems. Some common side effects are sleep problems, headache, grogginess/sleepiness, nausea, and vomiting.

Effects last too long

Some ADHD medications like Concerta are designed to be long-acting and last for around `12 hours. The effect should wear off by dinner time, but some children are so sensitive to the drug that they're still up and about by bedtime.

Medications aren't working

Many children jump from drug to drug because they don't deliver the results parents want, or because they don't provide any benefits at all. If this sounds like your child, consider getting a second opinion to see if he or she really has ADHD. Another great option is to try drug-free ADHD treatments like diets, neurofeedback, or detoxification. For best results and successful long-term ADHD management, seek a doctor who can provide a multimodal treatment plan - a comprehensive recovery plan that combines several scientifically-tested ADHD natural treatments.

Dr. Yannick Pauli is an expert on natural approaches to ADHD and the author of the popular self-help home-program The Unritalin Solution. He is Director of the Centre Neurofit in Lausanne, Switzerland and has a passion taking care of children with ADHD. Click on the link for more great information about what is ADHD.

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Adult ADHD: Common Problems and Symptoms

ADHD in children is a little more obvious and easier to detect. As the name suggests, attention deficit hyperactive disorder is a condition characterized by the inability to sit still, pay attention for prolonged periods of time, or controlling one's impulses. Come adolescence and adulthood, the hyperactive ADHD symptoms tend to get replaced by a host of other problems related to behavior, mood, and productivity. Adult ADHD still comes with difficulties paying attention, remembering information, and completing tasks. However, the disorder is also more likely to cause the following related problems if the person does not seek help immediately.

Relationship problems

All couples experience problems at some point in their relationship, but having ADHD tends to complicate these issues. ADHD symptoms can be very erratic - an adult with ADHD may be extremely open and loving one day but hyperfocused in a couple of hours. This can be very confusing for a partner to deal with, especially when their loved one suddenly seems cold or distant for no reason. Adults with ADHD also tend to have short fuses that can be set off by almost anything. The partner of such an adult is often left confused and angry about the outbursts that seem to occur from out of nowhere. It's hardly surprising that adults with ADHD tend to have more marital problems, multiple marriages, and higher incidences of divorce or separation.

Career problems

An adult with ADHD faces a lot of challenges at work. Poor time management, disorganization, and distractibility are just some of the symptoms that can impair one's productivity and performance. Even symptoms like interrupting others or blurting blunt statements can make a negative impact on one's relationship with co-workers and colleagues. All of these traits increase one's risk of losing a promotion or getting fired.

Another problem adults with ADHD contend with at work is their need for stimulation and excitement. Almost every job requires doing mundane, repetitive tasks, which can trigger boredom that sidetracks the adult and causing his or her performance to suffer. For these reasons, adults with ADHD are likely to change employers frequently or have fewer occupational achievements.

It's important for adults with ADHD to be able to find work they consider interesting. Once they find a job they feel passionate about, their performance usually soars and their symptoms seem to have a smaller impact on their work.

Emotional problems

Adults with ADHD are more likely to experience anxiety, depression, low frustration tolerance, and mood swings. Experts believe that these emotional problems are either caused by ADHD themselves or their difficulties dealing with the symptoms. These problems also increase the risk of substance abuse or addiction, getting into motor vehicle accidents, impulsive shopping, or eating disorders.

Adult ADHD can be treated

Reading this list of problems might sound a bit discouraging, but adults with ADHD don't have to be slaves to their symptoms forever. There are many treatment options available to adults, from medication to behavior therapy. While ADHD cannot be outgrown, adults can learn to adapt and work around their symptoms so they can develop their strengths and live productive, meaningful lives.

Dr. Yannick Pauli is an expert on natural approaches to ADHD and the author of the popular self-help home-program The Unritalin Solution. He is Director of the Centre Neurofit in Lausanne, Switzerland and has a passion taking care of children with ADHD. Click on the link for more great information about what is adhd.

View the original article here ezine.com

Post-traumatic stress disorder common following significant orthopedic trauma

ScienceDaily (July 7, 2011) — Although most commonly associated with military combat, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can occur in civilians, too -- and with consequences that are just as serious, according to a new review article in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS). PTSD is a type of anxiety disorder that occurs after a person experiences a traumatic event involving physical injury, and occurs in 20 to 51 percent of patients with an orthopaedic injury.

"PTSD occurs with a significant frequency in civilian patients who have sustained an orthopaedic trauma, and it can hinder their emotional, physical and functional recovery following orthopaedic treatment," said Daniel Aaron, MD, a clinical instructor in the department of orthopaedics at Brown University in Providence, R.I.

Many types of accidents can cause PTSD, including car or motorcycle accidents, gunshot wounds, vehicle-pedestrian accidents and falls from height, among many others.

"Generally, higher-energy mechanisms are most commonly associated with PTSD, but no specific type of fracture or injury has been identified," Dr. Aaron said. "Basically, any type of muscuolskeletal injury that results from significant trauma may be associated with PTSD."

PTSD can have a significant impact on a patient's ability to perform simple, daily chores, and can slow the rehabilitation process, even affecting how the patient experiences pain and perceives his or her recovery.

"The development of PTSD adversely affects the ability of the patient to recover and may specifically compromise physical rehabilitation and patient satisfaction following orthopaedic treatment," Dr. Aaron said. "Without effective treatment, PTSD can hinder activities of daily living, such as bathing, eating, paying bills, shopping, laundry and other household chores. Patients with PTSD also may be delayed in returning to work."

A diagnosis of PTSD relies on the presence of specific behaviors or symptoms, including:

re-experiencing the traumatic event, including nightmares, flashbacks and intrusive memories;avoiding situations reminiscent of the original trauma, reluctance to talk or think about the original trauma, or feeling emotionally "numb" about the event; and,anger, irritability, difficulty concentrating, insomnia and/or an increased startle response.

In addition, the symptoms must have occurred for at least one month and they must be severe enough to cause a noticeable change in normal behavior.

PTSD can occur in any person at any age, but Dr. Aaron said several risk factors make PTSD more likely to occur, including:

One study also suggests people of Hispanic origin may be at greater risk for PTSD, he added.

"Although no single prevention protocol has been described, therapy with a psychiatrist or psychologist may help, as well as the use of certain medications, including anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications," Dr. Aaron said.

Recognizing the symptoms of PTSD early offers the best chance of effective prevention. Orthopaedic surgeons can improve patient outcomes by knowing which patients are at risk of developing PTSD and initiating prevention strategies, noted Dr. Aaron. Some studies indicate that when PTSD is identified early, progression of the condition may be prevented through use of medications, he added.

"Identifying at-risk patients is an important first step in preventing the ill effects of PTSD," he said. Many orthopaedic surgeons may not recognize the signs and symptoms of PTSD, and remain unaware of prevention and treatment strategies. As a result, recovery can be delayed.

In addition to understanding and evaluating for the risk factors of PTSD, asking patients questions about the emotional and physical problems they are experiencing as a result of their injury can also help physicians determine if a patient is at risk for developing the condition.

Treatment of PTSD begins with referral to a psychiatric professional, who may prescribe medication and implement a behavioral therapy program to help deal with the traumatic event and its effects.

Although PTSD clearly impacts recovery in patients with orthopaedic injury, currently there are no studies that directly link treatment or resolution of PTSD with orthopaedic improvement, and many of the options for treatment of PTSD are in the experimental stage, Dr. Aaron noted.

"In addition to continuing to look at treatment options and their effects, we need to study the effectiveness of prevention strategies," he said. "And we also need to look at whether physical and functional outcomes do indeed improve as the emotional symptoms of PTSD are treated."

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Journal Reference:

Daniel L. Aaron, Paul D. Fadale, Colin J. Harrington, and Christopher T. Born. Posttraumatic Stress Disorders in Civilian Orthopaedics. J Am Acad Orthop Surg, Vol 19, No 5, May 2011, 245-250 [link]

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

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