Karen,
A complex question indeed and one that I am not qualified to answer authoritatively.
Heck, that never stopped me before so here goes:
There are a couple schools of thought on ADD/ADHD. I'm in class at the "they are the same disorder being manifested differently because of many other variables not fully understood" school.
A couple of real authorities including Dr. Daniel Amen, a psychiatrist who has my highest respect, disagree. Another preeminent figure in the field is Dr. Russel Barkley, a psychologist. He is currently teaching at my school but may jump ship if future research results put ADD in its own category.
Whatever the case, ADD and ADHD respond to nearly identical therapies with the variance to the best of my knowledge being ADD responds better to a lower dose of a stimulant class med than ADHD. Keep in mind that not all with ADHD respond to stimulants. About 25 to 30 percent do not respond at all, that is, to stimulants focus enhancing, implusivity and hyperactivity suppressing properties. Other meds not classed as stimulants nor having stimulating properties can be used to suppress hyperactivity and impulsivity because of their sedative effects.
Both your daughter and Goody2Shuz's daughter have lots of Hyperactivity so forget the ADD. Your psychologist ruled out bipolar but just in case watch daughter carefully if stimulants are prescribed. Stimulant intoxication is mania. They are capable of sending bipolar suffers into the most dangerous mania imaginable.
Stimulants are first line meds except when abuse may be a problem. The stimulant meds are Ritalin (
methylphenidate), Foculin (l-methylphenidate), Adderall (a mix of d-amphetamine and l-amphetamine – their molecules mirror each other if you are a chemistry buff), Dexedrine (d-amphetamine) and rarely Desoxyn (methamphetamine).
I got to tell you since I've been there and done that, that Dexedrine and methamphetamine are as addictive as hell IF ABUSED. Anything that can make us suffering humans feel that good is difficult to resist unless a good deal of mental, emotional and moral stability is firmly in place. By moral stability I mean the cognition that abusing drugs is wrong.
Ritalin and Adderall can also be abused but because their "high" isn't as "high" as meth or dex amphetamine they are much better choices for the teen years when roller-coaster emotions are the normal.
Down side is more possible side effects and higher doses may be required to achieve efficacy. Extended release formulas are less likely to be abused because the release mechanism prevents the full dose from slamming into the CNS. That slam action is why dope-fiends use needles.
Barring the potential for abuse (other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how did-cha enjoy the show?), the stimulants are remarkably free from serious side effects given a healthy heart. Stimulants generally slow heart rate but raise blood pressure. They cause the heart to pump harder hence less need for frequency. As long as heart is healthy, not a problem.
There is a slew of other meds if stimulants don't work, can't be used because of drug/alcohol abuse history or commorbidies such as bipolar indications.
Sometimes a combination of meds is needed.
Do you want your question answered?
Stimulant class meds are first line choice for inattention, implusivity and hyperactivety symptoms.
Linear Mode
