Long Term Use of ADHD Drugs Ineffective - Are you paying attention?
Long Term Use of ADHD Drugs Ineffective - Are you paying attention? - In some of my earlier articles I warned about ADHD drugs and their possible side-effects. Now, a study called the Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD, concluded that over the long term, ADHD drugs such as Concerta and Ritalin have no evident benefit for children.
When the cure is worse than the sickness
According to a recent BBC News article, the findings by an influential US study also suggested long-term use of drugs for the treatment of ADHD could stunt children's growth.
Really? I wrote an article on this some time back.
The aforementioned study of children with ADHD has been monitoring the treatment of 600 children across the US since the 1990s. Now, after longer-term analysis, the report's co-author, Professor William Pelham of the University of Buffalo, said: "I think that we exaggerated the beneficial impact of medication in the first study.” (BBC NEWS 12/11/2007).
Medical News Today reported that Professor Pelham said that it had been thought that kids would have better outcomes if they were medicated for longer - however, it is not the case, there were no beneficial effects at all. Pelham said: "In the short run they will help the child behave better, in the long run it won't. And that information should be made very clear to parents." (Medical News Today 12/11/2007).
I can't sum it up any better than Professor Pelham who said that behavioral therapy and a simple diet of Omega-3 may help a child as a first move.
Omega-3? Why didn’t I think of that! Try reading ADHD: Fish oil increases attention, reduces hyperactivity, restlessness and impulsivity.
While you are at it you may want to read the following:
ADHD Medications Stunt Growth
ADHD Drugs: Liver Injury, Heart Attack and Stroke
ADHD Improved When Tonsils Removed
ADHD – Is your child deficient in magnesium?
ADHD Ritalin - Depression and Brain Damage
ADHD Drug Treatment and Hallucinations
