Medications used to treat ADHD can be divided into two large groups: stimulants and non-stimulants.
1. Psychostimulants
are the oldest medications used in ADHD. All stimulant medications regardless of how appealing their trademark names sound, carry the stigma of the street name “speed”. Many official sources of information will make it sound that stimulants are innocuous, safe and effective drugs for treating ADHD. These statements escape common sense. “Speed” manufacturers and dealers receive some of the harshest sentences. It is puzzling why official messages are so contradicting: stimulants are safe for the millions of children and are unsafe for the millions of illegal adult drug users. Psychostimulants are “effective” in about 70% of children with ADHD, but the “effectiveness” of stimulants may not be long lasting. According to recently published study, “beneficial” effects of stimulants wear off after a period of about a year and a half.
All stimulants have a potential for abuse and addiction and because stimulant medications have similar chemical structures, they have similar, mostly overlapping side effects.
Adderall chemical name is amphetamine, the oldest synthetic psychostimulant, dating to 1887.
Common side effects: headache, decreased appetite, stomach ache, nervousness , trouble sleeping, mood swings, weight loss, dizziness, dry mouth , fast heart beat, worse behavior.
Serious side effects: slowing of growth, seizures, eyesight changes, blurred vision, high blood pressure, onset of bipolar disorder, tremor (shaking), uncoordinated movements.
Life threatening side effects: sudden death, stroke, heart attack, acute psychosis, cardiomyopathy (heart failure).
Dexedrine is purified amphetamine.
Common side effects: decreased appetite, headache, dry mouth, nausea, trouble sleeping, anxiety, dizziness, weight loss, upset stomach, fast heart beat, worse behavior, tremors.
Serious side effects: slowing of growth, seizures, eyesight changes, blurred vision, high blood pressure, onset of bipolar disorder.
Life threatening side effects: sudden death, stroke, heart attack, acute psychosis.
Desoxyn is a variation of amphetamine.
Common side effects: decreased appetite, headache, dry mouth, nausea, trouble sleeping, anxiety, dizziness, weight loss, upset stomach, irritability, fast heart beat, worse behavior, tremors.
Serious side effects: slowing of growth, seizures, eyesight changes, blurred vision, blockage of the esophagus, stomach, small or large intestine, high blood pressure, onset of bipolar disorder.
Life threatening side effects: sudden death, stroke, heart attack, acute psychosis.
Vyvance is another chemical variation of amphetamine.
Common side effects: decreased appetite, headache, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, trouble sleeping, anxiety, dizziness, weight loss, abdominal pain, irritability, fast heart beat, worse behavior, tremors.
Serious side effects: slowing of growth, seizures, eyesight changes, blurred vision, blockage of the esophagus, stomach, small or large intestine, high blood pressure, onset of bipolar disorder.
Life threatening side effects: sudden death, stroke, heart attack, acute psychosis.
Ritalin, Concerta, Metadate, Daytrana are cehmically identical drugs, made from psychostimulant called methylphenidate, repackaged in different forms to change the duration of action and the route of administration (daytrana is a skin patch).
Common side effects: decreased appetite, headache, dry mouth, nausea, trouble sleeping, anxiety, dizziness, weight loss, stomach ache, irritability, increased sweating, fast heart beat.
Serious side effects: slowing of growth, seizures, eyesight changes, blurred vision, blockage of the esophagus, stomach, small or large intestine, high blood pressure, onset of bipolar disorder, low white cell count, low platelet count, uncoordinated movements.
Life threatening side effects: sudden death, heart attack, stroke, acute psychosis erythema multiforme (a severe inflammatory disease affecting many organs), cerebral vasculitis (disease of brain blood vessels).
Focalin is nothing but purified methylphenidate
Common side effects: decreased appetite, nausea, weight loss, upset stomach ache, fever, fast heart beat, worse behavior, tremors.
Serious side effects: seizures, slowing of growth, eyesight changes, blurred vision, onset of bipolar disorder.
Life threatening side effects: sudden death, stroke, heart attack, acute psychosis.
2. Non-stimulant psychotropic drugs
represent real “progress” in treating ADHD. They belong to several groups of medications and having different chemical structures they have different side effects.
Intunive belongs to a group of drugs called central adrenergic receptor agonists. An older drug belonging to this group, also used to medicate children with ADHD is called Clonidine.
Common side effects: headache, fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea, dizziness, irritability, dry mouth, decrease appetite, constipation, irritability, fatigue, nasal congestion.
Serious side effects: low blood pressure, slow heart beat, excessive sleepiness, excessive sedation, excessive weight gain, abnormal liver function, blurred vision.
Life threatening side effects: heart block, passing out.
Strattera is an SNRI antidepressant from the same group as Cymbalta and Effexor.
Common side effects: upset stomach, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, tiredness, mood swings, constipation, dry mouth, trouble sleeping, problems passing urine, agitation, anxiety.
Serious side effects: suicidal thoughts, abnormal liver function, increased blood pressure, increased heart beat, panic attacks, depression
Life threatening side effects: suicidal actions, sudden death, stroke, heart attack, acute psychosis.
Wellbutrin is an antidepressant with mixed mechanism of action. The end result is higher concentration of neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. The use of wellbutrin for ADHD is “off label”.
Common side effects: dry mouth, nausea, insomnia, tremor, excessive sweating, tinnitus (ringing in the ear), skin rash, anxiety.
Serious side effects: state of mania, seizures, high blood pressure, liver damage, involuntary movements.
Life threatening side effects: suicidal actions, acute psychosis.