ADHD Medication Side Effects Vs. Therapeutic Effects

There is no difference between the therapeutic effects and ADHD medication side effects.
Both are just effects of a medication.
Those changes which are viewed as desirable are called therapeutic and those considered undesirable are labelled side effects.

With that in mind I will attempt to cover many of the side effects of ADHD medications.

The Side Effects of ADHD Medications

I've tried not to make this sound like those TV commercials that you see during the evening news. The first part of the commercial talks about how great the drug is, then a really fast voice lists of every possible symptom that could happen. That voice is the verbal equivalent of small print.

Unfortunately even after editing there is a large myriad of ADHD medication side effects.

Don't worry if this list just seems like a bunch of mumbo-jumbo. I will go in depth with each ADHD medication in specific on their own pages. This list is here to give you an idea of how powerful the ADHD medication side effects really are.

General Side Effects
Accidental injury, aches and pains, allergic reactions, chills, dizziness, fatigue, fever, headache, hyperactivity, insomnia, lethargy, muscle breakdown, slowed growth rate, sweating, weakness, weight loss.

Psychological Side Effects
aggression, agitation, anorexia, anxiety, confusion, depression, drug dependence, hallucinations, irritability, learning deficits, malaise, mania, memory deficits, mood swings, nervousness, panic, personality changes, psychosis, restlessness, social disability, suicidal tendencies, Tourette’s syndrome.Heartangina, arrhythmias, hardening of arteries, cardiovascular disease, circulatory collapse, high normal heart rate, hypertension, hypotension, palpitations, sudden cardiac death.

Nervous System Side Effects
Cerebrovascular disorders, convulsions, hyperthyroidism, motor and phonic tics, seizures, tremor.

Digestive Side Effects
Abnormal liver function, constipation, decreased appetite, diarrhea, acid reflux, liver injury, nausea, pancreatitis, urinary retention or hesitancy, urinary tract infection, vomiting.

Respiratory Side Effects
Cough, dry mouth, hyperventilation, pharyngitis, runny nose, sinusitis, upper respiratory tract infection.

Reproductive Side Effects
Ejaculation failure, impotence, libido decrease, low birth weight, premature birth.

Skin Side Effects
Cyst, hair loss, itch, photosensitivity, rash.

Eye Side Effects
Blurred vision, glaucoma.

ADHD Medication Side Effects Due To Withdrawal

I personally experienced many withdrawal affects from ADHD medications. While i was taking Ritalin these symptoms occurred on a daily basis. After school when the drug was wearing off I would be hungry for the first time in the day. I usually had no appetite while I was on Ritalin. I was not allowed to eat because it would "spoil my dinner".

At dinner time and in the evenings I would experience irritability and be easily agitated. I would often twitch and hit myself out of nervousness and feeling tense. This my father had no tolerance for my behaviours and I was often sent away from the dinner table or not allowed to spend to watching T.V. with the family.

These symptoms of withdrawal were confused with my symptoms of ADHD. Parents often write off anything they see as misbehaviour as "It's just the ADHD".

Much of the anxiety, tics, twitching, and agitation that kept me from spending the evenings with my family were caused by withdrawal from my ADHD medication. Not my own symptoms of ADHD.

I sure didn't want to to acting that way. I can tell you that much.

ADHD Medication Side Effects of a Drug Cocktail

I had a friend who was on up to 5 different pills a day. I have read many books and seen documentaries on ADHD and Bi-polar where the child is on three or more medications to treat ADHD.

When more medication is used to offset the side effects of medication I call it a drug cocktail.

I then have to ask myself.
What symptoms are being treated?
Which ones are being created by a medication cocktail?
Is the child better off with or without medication?

Side effects are as powerful as therapeutic effects

However, the side effects are hidden costs, just as powerful as the therapeutic effects.

Knowledge of how ADHD drugs affect you or your child is one more item to add to your ADHD treatment tool box.

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