Psychostimulants – in terms of ADHD treatment – have both advantages and disadvantages. Stimulants used in the treatment of ADHD are no exception to the rule that all drugs have potential negative side effects. Hence, the disadvantages will be related to the latter and are to be explored and understood carefully. One cannot treat ADHD with stimulants taking into account solely their benefits. However, when an individual quits taking the psychostimulant, the majority of the quick physical side effects of stimulant prescriptions disappear.
Lack of appetite, losing weight, teenagers’ delayed development, disturbed sleep, and compulsions are a few possible lengthy physical health consequences. Then, children’s growth may be impacted by ADHD drugs. The possibility that ADHD stimulants may hinder or inhibit growth is one of the topics that has received the most research. Children’s development can momentarily be slowed by stimulants, but it does not subsequently improve. According to Snitselaar et al. (2017), protracted stimulant usage in children was associated with a slight overall decline in weight and height. Moreover, among the most studied symptoms within the scope of the theme is anxiety (Poysophon & Rao, 2018). Stimulants enhance cerebral and dopaminergic activity, which can make someone feel tense or agitated.
Despite the potential for negative consequences, stimulant therapy is an effective treatment for ADHD signs. As a result, it has the potential to greatly raise someone’s quality of life. The possible advantages include decreasing the suicide risk, the frequency of drug-related incidents, encouraging improved academic performance, lessening the possibility of car accidents, and diminishing crime rates (Zhou et al., 2020). Even after stopping the medicine, a person’s symptoms may occasionally continue to get better. Thus, within the scope of ADHD using psychostimulants, both their significance and flaws should be considered. Anyway, stimulants cannot be taken after a thorough and continuous assessment by a physician.
References
Poysophon, P., & Rao, A. L. (2018). Neurocognitive deficits associated with ADHD in athletes: A systematic review. Sports Health, 10(4), 317–326. doi: 10.1177/1941738117751387
Snitselaar, M. A., Smits, M. G., van der Heijden, K. B., & Spijker, J. (2017). Sleep and circadian rhythmicity in adult ADHD and the effect of stimulants: A review of the current literature. Journal of Attention Disorders, 21(1), 14–26. doi: 10.1177/1087054713479663
Zhou, Z., Betts, K. A., Bocharova, I., Kinrich, D., & Spalding, W. M. (2020). Concomitant use of psychotropic medication with stimulants for the treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents: A retrospective insurance claims study in the United States. Journal of Attention Disorders, 24(2), 336–347. doi: 10.1177/1087054718784668