The FDA recently sent out a severe warning on the potential lethal effects of drug therapy for ADD and ADHD.
We knew this 15 years ago when we began treating many children - some only 6 years old - who had been prescribed exotic, untested combinations of drugs.
We became determined to provide real options for treatment of this disorder - not just management of symptoms, but real resolutions.
The Problems with Drug Treatments for ADD and ADHD
Back in 1992, we recognized that doctors relying on drug therapy to treat ADD and ADHD were using a band-aid approach and were not actually treating the disorder.
To our regret, we were right, and some of these children have been unalterably affected detrimentally by these drug “treatments”. Prolonged drug use made it difficult for us to completely rid some children of their dependencies - they were hooked.
Sometimes these temporary drug solutions make sense, but sooner and not later we need to actually treat ADHD and ADD symptoms and seek symptom resolutions - not just suppression, which comes with a price.
ADD / ADHD Drug Side Effects
Even short term, the drugs can cause side effects including:
- sudden death
- psychotic reactions
- a slow growth rate
- altered cardiovascular function
- emotional rebound
- possible chromosome damage
- loss of appetite
- tics
- insomnia
- withdrawal effects
As the FDA recommends, these drugs should be used with caution, and at Drake we go one step further and use them only temporarily if at all. You and your child deserve a real solution to a real problem.
