Thunor

There is often confusion regarding ADHD and how it responds to various medications.

Although what follows is an oversimplification, for the sake of this discussion, ADHD is defined by a lack of activity in the prefrontal cortex of the brain. This is the part of the brain that is responsible for, among other things, impulse control and concentration. Stimulants act to increase the activity system-wide, which naturally increases the activity of this part of your brain. As this portion of your brain becomes more active, your capacity to control your impulses and to concentrate increases, which leads to an observed calming effect.

Likewise, depressants decrease activity system-wide, which decreases the activity of the prefrontal cortex; your ability to concentrate and control your impulses decreases, and an observed stimulant effect results, as ADHD individuals are more likely to act out.

It's important to realize that in each case, the stimulant or depressant effect is observed, not real. Stimulants and depressants work on ADHDers the same way they do everyone else, but because of the preexisting deficit that is ADHD, the observed effect tends to be opposite of what is expected. This only works so far, of course, more is not necessarily better, as too much of a stimulant will exacerbate symptoms as the system becomes overstimulated. Too much of a depressant will override the increase in impulsiveness as the body and brain begin to shut down, resulting in decreased activity. The are, of course, several other factors that figure into this situation as well, including sleep deficit and diet, as if the stimulants you're using are necessary to provide a reasonable level of wakefulness, the ADHD benefit is diminished.

Further confusing things is the paradoxical effect of some medications in children. Children react differently than do adults to a range of medications, including stimulants. Children often experience a loss of affect (ability to feel emotion) when medicated with stimulants that furthers the observed calming effect. Children also react differently to some depressants, gaining a stimulant effect from barbituates for example, which of course is the opposite of what occurs in adults.