ADHD is associated with a litany of negative consequences if left untreated. An increase in the risk of a rare cardiac issue seems trivial next to the well documented risks of not treating this condition as effectively as possible.
One simple example that supports this conclusion can be found in driving (the most dangerous routine activity most people engage in?), where stimulant medication significantly improves outcomes for those with ADHD. I don't have specific links handy, but a simple Google search (https://www.google.com/search?q=adhd+medication+driving+safe...) will offer ample confirmation.
The funniest thing is how it all comes back once I'm 2 days off the meds, though.
The current wisdom is as soon as a diagnosis is made: go straight on the meds because there is minimal side-effects. So environmental modifications as treatment are not explored. Plus, once meds are involved, you now have a stimulant dependence to deal with too involving a afternoon crash, and increased anxiety, etc. Then your on anti-depressants to counteract these side-effects, etc. etc.
I was listening to the All-In podcast and Chamath's child got a diagnosis recently, and they said: absolutely no meds. Then took his iPad away and symptoms decreased dramatically.
But talk to any people who actually have ADHD and you'll realize that this doesn't help anyone: ADHD doesn't mean "easily distracted", it means "inability to maintain control over focus", and taking distractions away doesn't make this even marginally less impactful. You might be more likely to come back to a task instead of getting lost in distractions, but it's never gonna be enough for anyone but the lightest cases and misdiagnoses.
Just stop trying to decide how people should treat their disabling medical conditions. You've got millions saying "stimulants are the only thing that helped", and yet every time the topic of ADHD comes up, someone goes "hmm but maybe we shouldn't give people stims, and force them to use self-control they don't have to stop having ADHD ??"
I don't understand why so many people act otherwise when it does come to issues you can't see.
I don't have ADHD but I have friends who do. And no it's not a question of willpower they need meds to function. So I'm very sensitive when it comes to people saying it's on them like poster before you somewhat implies.
:(
It's actually the opposite.
It is now practically forbidden to criticize anything related with ADHD.
After reading all the literature I concluded there were huge problems with almost every aspect of it. Then you go try to tell people and you are tarred and feathered.
Then look at incentives: on one side is: "a citizen concerned that maybe taking stimulant meds is going to cause greater problems" vs "drug companies and psych industry making huge money from increasing lifetime prescriptions of stimulants".
The people on the "hang on a minute" side of things are concerned about health and safety of society. They stand to make ZERO money from raising the alarm. On the other side its billions of dollars.
> trying to decide how people should treat their disabling medical conditions.
Trying to raise awareness of risks. I think people don't understand the risks. They see a smart pill with no side-effects.
Do what you like.
You can block it and measure consumption. This is easy.
> 2. antidepressant
Originally stims weren't suppose to be used if someone is depressed. But now heaps of people are on both. If you are spiking dopamine you are bound to have a crash and the symptoms of it. There is a lot of reports of this. This crash can feel like depression. So its like a cycle of one drug covering for another.
> 4. Would you tell someone...
What is the _organ transplant event_ analagous to in an ADHD scenario? Does not fit.
Most of my ADHD social circle does in fact not use any social media. Reading/posting on HN does kinda count tho, I guess.
I get it’s a catch 22 sometimes, especially trying to get diagnosed as an adult, but the benefits in my life have been immense.
I’d encourage you to muster the willpower (that we feel we lack so often) and book it if you can afford it. It took me years to get to this point and I wish I had done it sooner. Life is short, allow yourself to live it fully!
If meds still offset that risk, meds are still a better option. Everything is a choice between evils.
Also not very significantly:
> You can have almost 2,000 patients on these medications for a year and you might only cause one of them to have a cardiomyopathy that they otherwise would not have had, but if you leave them on it for 10 years, 1 in 500 will have that happen.
