ADHD and Long-Term Side Effects of Treatment

When I first read the idea for this article, my mind immediately went back to 1999. I was a college psychology major and was stunned to learn that at least at that time, there were really no set rules to the diagnosis of ADD/AHD in children. Because of the fact, it was clear long-term effects of Ritalin and Adderall had not been thoroughly examined.

Sometimes a part of me thinks children are placed on this medication needlessly but that would make for another article.

To learn what long-term effects can be caused by the usage of ADHD/ADD drugs, one must look at what ADD/ADH truly is. My nephew was a precocious child and in the 1990s, his teacher tried to put him on a prescription. My sister refused and stated not enough information was known. The problem turned out to be my nephew being well above his fellow classmates in academics, and he simply grew bored. I often wonder how many children are on these medications and do not need to be on them.

Known long-term effects of Ritalin are nervousness and insomnia. Some children develop skin rashes and other not pleasant things while undergoing the treatment. Anorexia, nausea, dizziness, palpitations;, headache; dyskinesia; drowsiness; blood pressure and pulse changes, both up and down; tachycardia, angina, cardiac arrhythmia, abdominal pain, and weight loss during prolonged therapy have been reported. There have been rare reports of Tourette's syndrome. Anemia and blood cancer are also possible complications.

Adderall is another drug prescribed to treat ADD/AHD. Many children wear these as bandages on their arms to release medication. The same drug used in Ritalin pills is used in Adderall. Warnings on the Adderall website site are:

All ADHD stimulant medications now carry warnings that patients with a history of structural heart problems, high blood pressure, or disturbances in heart rhythm (arrhythmia) should not use these drugs. These warnings appear on the prescribing labels of methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerti) and amphetamine drugs (Adder all, Dexedrine).

In 2006, the manufacturer of Dexedrine added additional warning information to its drug label. In addition to heart warnings, the label advises that this drug can worsen behavioral and psychiatric problems in patients with ADHD and accompanying psychotic or bipolar disorders. The drug may also slow growth.

As with many medications, pros and cons must be made on determining you best source of route. Visit a school teacher and/or doctor if you have questions.