I just talked with someone who has adhd and doesn't take meds who's really against it.
He said you just fight it off and and learn to control it and deal with it through self discipline.. In the long term taking medication causes more damage than good..it calms you down because its a drug and thats what all drugs do.. It still damages you a lot and messes with your brain
This is all true :/
But on the other hand meds DO help concentrate, relax, help you feel related to whatever activity you engage in.. without too much effort from your part. But they're still a chemical drug which is bad for you.
I think taking meds are better because who wants to live a life of constant internal battle/"self-discipline" who struggles with everything and has no energy left for anything?..
He said you age faster/die younger maybe from it? because its chemical like all drugs..
There is no proof of that.. at the moment
WHats do you guys think??
Is it worth taking meds?
(gimme a good reason coz i itend to talk him into it!;))

People who take stimulants do die younger and have more strokes and heart attacks than those that do not. This is statistical.

At least short-term, there are no harmful effects of meds. I suppose that you could use them short-term to help you learn new habits so you know how to cope while unmedicated. It's much easier to learn new habits and coping strategies when you are clearheaded, unforgetful, and motivated.

Personally, I don't know how long I want to be on meds. When I eventually dump them (which I am sure will happen) I'll revert back to my heavy caffeine use. Caffeine is the only addiction I ever had that I couldn't stop. At least while I am on Concerta, I am sleeping better and not waking up with a pounding headache (due to over night caffeine withdrawal).

If your friend drinks alcohol on a regular basis or consumes a bunch of caffeine, then I don't think stimulants can do any worse.

People who take stimulants do die younger and have more strokes and heart attacks than those that do not. This is statistical.

That's probably true. Stimulants do increase heart rate and blood pressure. I remember being on Strattera. While it's not a stimulant, it does affect norepinephrine like stimulants do. While on it, I found it nearly impossible to walk up 4 flights of stairs without feeling like I was going to die.

Very few adults have been taking stimlants for long periods of time. There really isn't enough research to back up the claims that long term use is harmful.

There is however plenty of research on how damaging stress can be. There is PLENTY of stress from untreated/unmanaged ADHD!

I say if you are on ADHD meds and are worried make sure you see a doctor reguarly for routines physical exams.

Some people are dead set against taking medications and no matter what you say to them they won't change their minds. If you are taking meds and they are helping you that's great. I wouldn't count on trying to change your friend's mind though!

i agree with `that person to the meds made me sick i have holes in my liver because of it so i understand and i feel the same way that person thinks but sometimes u cant control it

self discipline..


..is easier said than done.

..is easier said than done.


No kidding, especially when prefrontal cortex executive function is lacking...

I dont think stimulants cause any permenant damage, as long as you stick to your dose and dont "OVER DOSE!"

If you are ever going to have any problems with stimulants, it is most likely to effect you in the first month or two, and when it does, you quite simply stop taking them, and try something else.

one other thing...

STIMULANT DRUGS DONT MAKE YOU DIE YOUNGER!

also.... sorry just one other thing....

Stimulants actually decrease the chances of heart failure, as a faster beating heart is much healther than a slow beating heart. (thats a fact)

As long as you stick to your dose, and keep yourself healthy, you will have no long term health issues with the medication.

ok im done. :)

STIMULANT DRUGS DONT MAKE YOU DIE YOUNGER!

also.... sorry just one other thing....

Stimulants actually decrease the chances of heart failure, as a faster beating heart is much healther than a slow beating heart. (thats a fact)


The faster your heart beats, the more beats you are using up of your alloted number in a shorter amount of time. That's an extremely simple way of saying that the heart is only designed to last so long and take so much, doesn't matter how strong you make it, that only ensures you get what you were meant to out of it.

Read some studies. I'm not saying they are "unhealthy" (they are in the strictest sense, any unnatural intake is) but the facts are out there.

I'd rather take the risk of stimulants than having the low self esteem, depression, obesity, financial problems, and anxiety my untreated ADHD affords me. Not to mention the health risks involved w/ self medicating and poor impulse control when it comes to driving, sex, gambling etc. Relying on self discipline to rewire my brain isn't going to cut it.

I had to address this:
The faster your heart beats, the more beats you are using up of your alloted number in a shorter amount of time. That's an extremely simple way of saying that the heart is only designed to last so long and take so much, doesn't matter how strong you make it, that only ensures you get what you were meant to out of it.

Interesting, but does this mean if I exercise and raise my heart rate that I'm wasting my beats, cutting my life short?

Stimulants actually decrease the chances of heart failure, as a faster beating heart is much healther than a slow beating heart. (thats a fact)

I think a stronger, efficient heart is best. Heart failure is caused by poorly controlled blood pressure, history of heart attack, COPD or cardiomyopathy which leads to an enlarged, inefficient heart muscle. Do stimulants lead to the above conditions? Maybe, but no one knows for sure yet. Have to wait for the Stimulants and Cardiac Safety study to conclude.

My plan is to keep taking meds until I order and fix my life (which isn't right now) and then stop taking them slowly. I don't want to depend on those forever.

Interesting, but does this mean if I exercise and raise my heart rate that I'm wasting my beats, cutting my life short?


Yep, but the trade off is your making your heart stronger, ensuring that it keeps ticking as long as it can.

Anyone that understands the body realises that exercise is literally damaging your body, that's why it gets stronger, it wants to make sure it takes the least amount of damage possible. A perfect example is weight lifting. You destroy the muscle tissue, and it rebuilds it stronger than last time, to spite you, and you keep doing it, your muscle gets stronger, but realise that this is an energy intensive thing for your body to do (rebuild the muscle that is) and it takes its toll on your body.

People who take stimulants do die younger and have more strokes and heart attacks than those that do not. This is statistical.

Could you provide any sources on this? Specifically ones saying that Adderall lowers your life expectancy if not abused and the patient is monitored appropriately by his doctor.

[quote=Tara;536342]

There is however plenty of research on how damaging stress can be. There is PLENTY of stress from untreated/unmanaged ADHD!
quote]

AGREED
SO much anxiety over tyring not to mess up and focus. so much energy.

I'm currently googling "can adderall shorten life span?" and "stimulants shorten life span?".... so far nada.

What I have found is "High dose Vitamin E may shorten life span"; "Stress and anxiety are debilitating conditions that can shorten life span".

Frankly, Adderall (stimulant) has changed my life for the better. Immensely. If it somehow shaves 2 or 3 years off my life, woopity doo. At least what years I do have left, will be lived a hell of a lot better than if I'd passed on Adderall because it may or may not affect me negatively.

I'm more concerned about the vitamin E claim since I just bought a bottle of vitamin E oil to massage into my cuticles. :rolleyes:

Mincan: how many heartbeats are we allotted? Actually, could you just elaborate on this theory? No one person's heart beats the same as another so I'm curious how you determine a person's "allotment".

We are encouraged to elevate our heart rate when exercising. Using your theory, doing that will make our heart stronger, yet stop beating sooner? That is a hard one to wrap my brain around. Please provide more info.

I think that it would be rather difficult to perform a study (at least on humans) that shows for certain whether or not stimulants directly cause more strokes or shorter life spans as there are many factors to consider here (those who are predisposed to taking them may be predisposed to other factors as well). There are many cardiovascular factors that correlate and may or may not be related (heart rate, blood pressure, cholesterol, etc.).

We are encouraged to elevate our heart rate when exercising. Using your theory, doing that will make our heart stronger, yet stop beating sooner? That is a hard one to wrap my brain around. Please provide more info.

I'm thinking the idea behind this one is that if one elevates ones heart rate for a relatively short period of time on a regular basis, that one will cause a decrease in heart rate during non-exercise activities. This is unlike taking stimulants, which if a significant increase in heart rate/blood pressure does occur, this will probably be true for more than 20 minutes per day. That's not to say that it's necessarily any better or worse, but I think that may have been the driving point.

you have to look at it this way... the survival rate for everyone at some point will drop to 0 ... doesnt matter if you die from a car crash or dieing a few years earlier from taking meds than if you were not on meds... your still going to die no matter what....

the survival rate for everyone at some point will drop to 0


The teenager's braces wrapped around the ashtray would make a good "anti-smoking" ad.

(anyone who gets that automatically wins 20 awesomeness points)