http://www.artwoo.com Returned search results for concerta Copyright 2008 Sun, 23 Nov 2008 02:12:00 +0000 http://www.artwoo.com/rss/concerta http://www.artwoo.com/article/combating-attention-deficit-disorder-with-medication http://www.artwoo.com/article/combating-attention-deficit-disorder-with-medication#comments Sun, 18 Feb 2007 20:27:05 +0000 attention deficit disorderclonidinstratteraconcertaanti depressantsdrugswellbutrin http://www.artwoo.com/article/combating-attention-deficit-disorder-with-medication Attention Deficit Disorder -- or have a child who has been diagnosed -- there is an element of relief attached to the diagnosis. Finally, their struggles are validated and defined. And now that there's a name for all the symptoms, there comes the opportunity to treat the symptoms as well. For many who are in this situation, Attention Deficit Disorder drugs are the answer for which they've been searching.

Most often -- and most successfully -- stimulants are used as Attention Deficit Disorder drugs. Several have distinguished themselves as the more popular of the group.

Adderall -- a combination of several different stimulants -- is an oft prescribed Attention Deficit Disorder drug that helps to improve concentration and attentiveness in the patient, as well as reduce agitation.

Ritalin, one of the more commonly known Attention Deficit Disorder drugs, has the same effect as Adderall. It has proven very effective in alleviating hyperactivity and emotional outbursts. Other forms of this Attention Deficit Disorder drug are Concerta and Metadate.

Clonidin, most often used to treat hypertension, has shown some success as an Attention Deficit Disorder drug. Much as it lowers high blood pressure it is also beneficial in reducing agitation and hyperactivity.

Strattera is the first non-stimulant medication that has been approved in the treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder. The advent of Strattera is enormously encouraging as it indicates a possible future of other non-stimulant Attention Deficit Disorder drugs.

Some anti-depressants, such as Wellbutrin, have also been identified as having possible success as an Attention Deficit Disorder drug. However, most are not appropriate for children under eighteen years of age. Your medical professional will best be able to guide you in choosing the appropriate medications.

Information on these particular Attention Deficit Disorder drugs -- as well as many others -- can be found online. Be sure to thoroughly research any and all medications that are of interest to you. Not every Attention Deficit Disorder drug works for every patient. Be willing to put in the work to find the suitable therapy.

Finding the appropriate Attention Deficit Disorder drugs can sometimes be a journey; but not one to take alone. Proper medical supervision is paramount to finding the treatment that will work for your specific symptoms. Being an advocate for your own medical care -- or that of your child's -- will arm you with information and increase your chance of success in battling Attention Deficit Disorder. For easy to understand, in depth information about attention deficit disorder visit our ezGuide 2 http://attentiondeficitdisorder.ezguide2.com ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/medical-treatments-for-add http://www.artwoo.com/article/medical-treatments-for-add#comments Fri, 15 Sep 2006 14:27:07 +0000 parts of the brainsymptoms of addadd attentionstimulant medicinesbrain chemicalsstratteraconcerta http://www.artwoo.com/article/medical-treatments-for-add
Individuals who are showing the symptoms of ADD should immediately consult their physicians. Doctors would immediately prescribed medication that can help control these symptoms. Study shows that ADD is attributed to the dysfunction of brain chemicals and prescribed medicines can help with such condition. Specific medicines can influence the make up of natural brain chemicals.

Here are some of the most common types of medical treatments for individuals who suffer from ADD:

• Dexamfetamine (Dexedrine) • Atomoxetine (Strattera) • Methylphenidate (Equasym, Concerta and Ritalin)

The above medicines basically affect the brain's noradrenaline and dopamine. These parts of the brain are responsible for the behavior and attention span of an individual. If an individual suffer from ADD, chances are these parts of the brain remain inactive. Medicines made for ADD could rouse activity in these areas.

Most of these medicines, particularly dexamfetamine and methylphenidate, are actually therapeutic stimulant medicines. These can improve an individual's sympathetic nervous system and are designed to improve alertness. Stimulants medicines have been used to treat ADD for more than three decades. For children one to six years old, atomoxetine is highly recommended.

ADD patients who take these medicines show less violent behaviour and a more controlled temperament. They are observed to have better concentration and listening skills. They begin to be less impulsive and think clearly before taking actions.

These behaviors when maintained would cause dramatic improvements after several months. ADD sufferers can be more effective in school. They can build more stable social relationships with their schoolmates, friends and family members. In the long run, these improvements would instill in them self-assurance to help them go on with their lives.

It is important to note that medicines don't guarantee a cure for ADD. They simply help reduce the symptoms. Although there are certain prescribed medicines to treat ADD, its effectiveness still largely depends on the individual who takes them. For prescribed medicines to be efficient, it should always be coupled with proper support and encouragement from the people that surrounds them. Jason Rickard is the owner of Your Favourite Shop - http://www.yourfavouriteshop.com - Offering White Noise and Relaxation CDs - Visit Hapa Health - http://www.hapahapa.com for more articles. ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/adult-attention-deficit-disorder-diagnosis-coping-and-dealing-positively http://www.artwoo.com/article/adult-attention-deficit-disorder-diagnosis-coping-and-dealing-positively#comments Sat, 18 Nov 2006 14:27:05 +0000 adult attention deficitadult attention deficit disorderattention deficit disorderattention deficit disordersselective serotonin reuptake inhibitoradult addexapro http://www.artwoo.com/article/adult-attention-deficit-disorder-diagnosis-coping-and-dealing-positively Adult attention deficit disorder, or adult ADD, can be a very trying condition to have. Almost all of the initial research and focus for the attention shortfall disorders was focused on children and adolescents, but adults are just as likely to have the condition as youths.

The disorder normally makes itself apparent during childhood, with difficulties at school being one of the most common hallmarks of the condition, which helps to explain why so much focus has been on children with the disease. But children with attention shortage disorder grow up to be adults with attention deficit disorder.

Adult attention deficit disorder is essentially the same condition as the one child has. If you are an adult and you are having trouble focusing at work, difficulty listening to people in everyday conversations, find yourself interrupting people a lot, losing things frequently, are easily distracted from tasks, are easily frustrated or find yourself feeling over stimulated often, you may have adult attention deficit disorder.

Treatment for adult attention deficit disorder mirrors the treatments used for children with the condition. The first step you need to take if you suspect you may have an adult attention deficit condition is to of course see a doctor. There are a bunch of other disorders that can imitate an adult attention deficit condition, such as worry, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, or bipolar disorder, and it's important that these be ruled out before trying treatments.

Typically, most doctors today will begin your adult attention deficit disorder treatment by prescribing a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or SSRI, such as Prozac, Zoloft, or exapro. SSRIs have been helpful for many in treating their adult attention deficit disorders.

If you aren't getting any relief in your symptoms with an SSRI, you may be prescribed a stimulant, such as Ritalin, Adderall or Concerta. These should be taken with caution as they are addictive drugs, and should be avoided completely if you have a history of substance abuse.

Most health experts will agree that there are also a number of non-medication based steps you can take to improve some of your adult attention deficit disorder symptoms. Getting regular energetic exercise has been shown to help a lot of people with adult attention deficit disorder. Also a diet high in lean protein is optional. Keeping lists, writing notes, breaking large tasks down into smaller parts and taking other similar steps to counter your disorder will certainly help as well. John Wellington provides readers with up-to-date commentaries, articles, and reviews for http://www.allhealthcarearticles.com, http://www.healthcare-resource-guide.com as well as related information. ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/natural-medicine-for-adhd http://www.artwoo.com/article/natural-medicine-for-adhd#comments Sat, 03 Jun 2006 00:32:08 +0000 gingko bilobaadhdavena sativaskullcapgotu kolaconcertanatural medicine http://www.artwoo.com/article/natural-medicine-for-adhd ADHD becomes more widely diagnosed, the necessity to find a safe natural medicine for this condition has become a top priority for natural health advocates. Natural cures for ADHD offer a safe and reliable treatment alternative to such common prescription drugs as Ritalin, Concerta and Adderall while still providing the necessary calming capabilities of these conventional medications.

Some of the most promising natural alternatives include: gingko biloba, skullcap, chamomile, gotu kola, and avena sativa. With such a selection of different alternatives, the information provided in this article will hopefully help you choose the natural supplement for ADHD that works for you.

Gingko biloba stands as one of the most popular natural supplements on the market today, mostly due to its ability to benefit the circulatory and nervous systems. Recent studies have shown that the same properties of gingko biloba that benefit the nervous system can also enhance brain activity to act as a natural medicine for ADHD. It has been shown that while the herb can slow mental degeneration, it is also able to increase and optimize brain function. By controlling the nerves in such a manner, gingko biloba becomes a natural supplement for ADHD by allowing the brain to better focus, thereby eliminating the lack of attention associated with ADHD. This effective treatment comes with very few minor side effects (such as headaches), and is considered safe for long term treatment.

Skullcap is another natural remedy for ADHD, which focuses on soothing the nervous system. By slowing down and calming nerves in the brain, a person afflicted with ADHD is better able to control their thought process and focus on tasks requiring full attention. You can use skullcap as a sedative for pain and anxiety relief. There is also a possibility that certain doses of skullcap can help treat heart disease and cancer, but data pertaining to that study is still unproven. Skullcap is widely considered a safe natural supplement for ADHD, with few if any side effects.

Another of the top choices is chamomile. This natural supplement's primary role is to promote relaxation, and give the mind an overall sense of calmness. This proves effective for ADHD treatment, as calming the brain allows someone who suffers with ADHD to be in more total control of their attention. Chamomile is one of the safest natural supplements available on the market today, and contains no side effects other than a possible allergic reaction.

Gotu kola has recently been proven to be effective in treating childhood forms of ADHD. While this remedy has long been known to prevent and cure Alzheimer's and other nervous system diseases, new studies have emerged testing concentration and knowledge retention among children with learning disorders who were administered the herb. Many of the participants were noted as having a significant increase in concentration and attention spans after receiving the supplement for twelve weeks. There are no known side effects associated with gotu kola, although an allergic reaction is possible. Pam Brown is an editor at http://www.yourbodycanheal.com, an easy-to-use resource on natural health remedies. To learn about other natural medicines for ADHD visit: http://www.yourbodycanheal.com/natural-medicine-for-adhd.html ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/long-term-effects-of-medical-and-recreational-use-of-add-meds http://www.artwoo.com/article/long-term-effects-of-medical-and-recreational-use-of-add-meds#comments Fri, 17 Oct 2008 08:22:25 +0000 medication abusenames of drugsdesperate housewivessolution threehectic scheduledexedrineconcerta http://www.artwoo.com/article/long-term-effects-of-medical-and-recreational-use-of-add-meds Dexedrine, Concerta are the names of drugs used to treat ADD. These drugs are more often than not end up being misuse for some reasons. It was even shown in one episode of the Desperate Housewives where Lynette, the character that had hyper boys end up taking their medications so that she can keep up with them. This is a common scenario of ADD medication abuse.

Consider this story.

Mike is a successful attorney with a very hectic schedule. More and more demands are being made on him, and if he wants to make partner at his firm in record time, he has got to find more hours -- and more energy.

He was having drinks with a pal and telling his friend how he is not sure if he can keep up with his hectic schedule let alone working towards making partner. His friend told him that he too was in Mike's condition a not so long ago but ever since he started taking Adderall few months back, life has taken a positive turn. It was easy to get his physician to prescribe him the medication as all he needed to do was confess that he can't pay attention as well as stay organized at work. All this was worth it even if he did felt a little jittery.

Mike took his pal's advice and was easily able to score his very own prescription for Ritalin. For the first few weeks, Mike thought he felt better. He didn't seem to tire as easily and he was winning his cases like crazy! Moreover, he had lost those extra 8 pounds he'd never been able to shed. Mike thought he'd found the perfect solution.

Three month down the road, Mike began experiencing problems. He was loosing sleep and had often slept for no more than three hours at night. His moods became unpredictable and he was also becoming bad tempered. He had often taken this out on his wife and kids for no apparent reason and refuses to listen to his wife when she tries to point this out to him.

At work, things don't seem to be same anymore. Mike's coworkers are puzzled at his change of temperament. He was now treating other attorneys, which whom he had close working relationship with, like they are his nemesis. He is convinced that they only want to bring him down and sabotage his cases.

Mike finally went to a physician and it needless to say the cause was unveiled. He was immediately taken off the medication which was causing these symptoms and a few weeks later things went back to normal for Mike.

ADD medications are dangerous for those who suffer from ADD as well as those who don't. They have the same effect as cocaine. Like cocaine, they increase the amount of dopamine available to receptors which then translates into a calming effect on the body.

Second, even though the goal of using these stimulants illegally is to get that calming effect just like they observe in those who have ADD, they get the opposite effect.

Non-medical users of these stimulants are college students and housewives. This is very much tied to their strong need to be more energized, get more attention as well as get high. The methods of taking them are like normal drugs or, for better effects of the drug, crushed and snorted.

It is essential that long term effects of these stimulants be made known to all as the number of users of these stimulants are gradually increasing.

Abusing stimulants for even short amounts of time alter the brain and its chemistry. These same drugs that are thought to produce that calming effect (remember the dopamine?) actually begin to destroy the receptors for dopamine, which in turn makes dopamine less effective for calming! Other side effects of using these drugs can include:

- Significant losses of grey matter in the brain -- what does that mean? This is stuff in your brain that surrounds the corpus callosum, which is responsible for the communication between the two hemispheres of your brain.

- Deficits in the hippocampus -- responsible for such basic functions such as feeding, drinking, activity level, etc.

- Develop abnormal brain structure akin to deficits in early dementia and schizophrenia seen on MRIs.

If that's not enough to scare you, there are even more side-effects that shouldn't be ignored.

- Paranoia
- Insomnia
- Extreme feelings of hostility
- Anorexia
- Depression
- Short temper
- Poor attention span
- A feeling of "being on the edge"
- Psychosis
- Memory loss
- Hallucinations
- Severe mood problems

Once you are dependent on these drugs, there is no turning back. You will find yourself taking more and more dose of them to get the same effect. This just proves that it is not worth it to get involve in the first place.Jimmy Brownen is a leading expert in the field of ADD/ADHD and has years of experience in the treatment of it. For more information on the disorder or for alternative means of curing ADHD, please visit his site.]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/should-you-take-ritalin http://www.artwoo.com/article/should-you-take-ritalin#comments Wed, 12 Apr 2006 09:00:13 +0000 heart attacksdrugsadhd medicationheart diseasefederal drug administrationdeathsirregular heart beats http://www.artwoo.com/article/should-you-take-ritalin
The doctors prescribe these drugs, but that does not mean they are necessarily safe, says the Federal Drug Administration which is currently looking at placing strong warnings on stimulant ADD medications like Ritalin, Adderall and Concerta.

An FDA advisory panel voted in February to recommend that all stimulant ADHD drugs carry a "black box" warning - the strongest possible safety warning - to indicate that the drugs may increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes and sudden death.

Black box warnings are intended to alert physicians and patients that a drug may carry significant risks. The FDA advisory panel ruled on this black box warning after reviewing data concerning death and other negative heart problems associated with stimulant drug medication use. Although data varies between reporting agencies, 25 to 51 deaths have been attributed to ADHD medication use. Experts estimate that less than 10 percent of serious drug reactions are reported to the FDA, so the deaths and serious adverse effects are undoubtedly much higher.

Of the reported deaths studied by the advisory panel, 19 were children. Other reports described 54 cases of high blood pressure, chest pain, heart attacks, strokes, irregular heart beats and fainting. The number of arrhythmia has been surprising. It is believed to be the pathway for the sudden, unexplained deaths. And because adults have a higher risk of heart disease and stroke to begin with, any increase in risk caused by these drugs could affect a large number of people.

One committee member stated that not disclosing the risks associated with taking these drugs is unethical. Because of the gravity of the side effects, namely sudden death, physicians need to be clearly aware of the serious side effects before prescribing these drugs to their patients. The panel, while expressing concern about the over prescribing of ADHD medications, stated that they want physicians to pause before writing prescriptions for stimulant medications. The FDA advisory committee also unanimously recommended that the FDA include medication guides with all stimulant ADHD drugs warning about the risks.

FDA is not required to follow recommendations given by the advisory committee, though the FDA usually does follow recommendations. The FDA awaits advice from its pediatric panel in March before reaching a decision. The FDA plans to refer the issue to another advisory panel that deals with psychological problems in children. Additionally, the FDA is planning a new study of ADHD drugs that will take approximately 18 months to complete. Some are adamant that the FDA should not wait for the results of this study. The FDA has been criticized in the past for being slow to respond to evidence of health risks associated with such things as drugs, including painkillers and antidepressants.

At least two million children and one million adults take prescription ADHD medication every month. Opponents of this black box warning - the strongest warning in the industry - say that they've found less than one death or injury for every 1 million prescription filled. It is true that the number of deaths caused by ADHD medications make up an incredibly small percent of people using the drug. However, if that one death is someone you love, that fact is little consolation.

One thought is that a black box warning will help the out of control rate in which doctors prescribe ADHD drugs. Many experts believe stimulants like Adderall and Ritalin are being over prescribed, especially to adults, and the public and doctors are largely unaware of the potential risks. They say the chemical structure of stimulants were structurally similar to drugs like ephedrine, that have proven cardiovascular risks. Besides the 25-51 deaths reported between 1999 and 2003, the council also discovered there were 54 cases of cardiovascular problems, which included heart attacks, strokes, and hypertension.

If you or someone you love is currently taking a stimulant ADHD medication for Attention Deficit Disorder, you might want to consider alternatives to ADHD medications. These alternatives can include diet modification, exercise regimes, family therapy, biofeedback and other alternatives that show promise in easing the symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder. About The Author: Jeannine Virtue is a freelance writer who focuses on health related issues. For information about effective and natural treatments for Attention Deficit Disorder and Depression in adults and children, visit the Attention Deficit Disorder Help Center at http://www.add-adhd-help-center.com ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/kids-and-energy http://www.artwoo.com/article/kids-and-energy#comments Fri, 10 Nov 2006 18:27:07 +0000 adhd kidsoversimplifyimmenselyvigorouslyconcertadexedrineparents and teachers http://www.artwoo.com/article/kids-and-energy
Kids and ADHD

Let's start with kids and ADHD. There seems to be a big trend here in the US of drugging our children so they can "control" their behavior in school. I am NOT in favor of this practice.

Why is there such an epidemic of ADHD diagnoses in our children? I don't want to oversimplify but I believe one reason is that our children don't have the opportunities they had in previous generations to run around and expend their energy.

In years past, kids got to play in the parks, in the streets and in their own yards. Today, that happens less and less. Parents are too afraid to allow their children to be outside unsupervised, and rightly so! There are predators out there who would do your children harm. However, kids still need to expend their energy, somehow.

So, many times the activities available to them at home are sedentary, such as playing video games, watching television, talking on their cell phones or using the home computer. None of this provides opportunity to release energy, unless your children are like my niece who paces vigorously while talking on the phone.

Then we send them to school and expect them to sit down and be quiet. In addition, many schools are reducing the amount of physical education time for our kids and I've even seen recently that some schools forbid children to run at recess or use certain playground equipment because they fear of physical injury lawsuit. Is it any wonder our children are having difficulty?

Now I know there are parents and teachers out there who have stories of children who have been helped immensely by the addition of Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta or Dexedrine to their daily diet. If you know a child who is being helped by his or her medication, I'm not saying to discontinue it but for every child who is being helped, I believe there are at least three others who are still exhibiting all the ADHD behavior the medication was designed to reduce.

There have been studies done on placebo medications that show that in double blind studies, when neither the patient nor the doctor knew whether the patient was getting the actual drug or the placebo, the ones getting the placebo actually did better. Is it possible there is a placebo effect with some children?

If your child displays what you or the teachers believe is an excessive amount of energy, do your best to create situations where that child can expend energy. I have two boys who could both have been diagnosed with ADHD as children. They were very physical. Luckily, I lived in the country during a time when parents sent their kids out the door to simply "play." I also spent a lot of my spare time running them around to different athletic events--YMCA soccer, wrestling, flag football, T-ball, basketball, you get the idea. This definitely helps.

Kids and Anger Management

I spoke with a woman over the weekend whose son is 10 years-old and she says has anger management issues. We didn't really get into his specific behaviors but it caused me to reflect on some inherent differences between males and females.

I think that from very early on, boys and girls deal with their anger differently. As a general rule, girls need to talk about it to feel better, while boys need to work it out physically.

So if you have daughters, you want to teach them verbal skills to be able to work out their frustrations but with boys, you will need to provide opportunities for them to work out their anger physically--maybe with a punching bag, racquetball, running, or martial arts. The list of possibilities is truly endless but don't expect your boys to "talk about it," at least not until they've had the opportunity to release the anger in a safe physical manner.

Kids and Computers

This week, a mother contacted me about her child disobeying her limits with the home computer and sneaking time beyond her allowed limit.

In this situation, the mother had a need to protect and nurture her child. She wants to be able to loosely supervise her daughter's time on the computer to possibly prevent her from falling prey to adults who victimize children by finding their victims on the Internet. She also wants to support her child's need for physical activity so she restricts her computer usage and encourage outside physical activities instead. Is this mother wrong? Absolutely not.

Her daughter, on the other hand, has a desire to be on the computer. All her friends are on there and want to know why she isn't. They don't have limits while this girl does. This girl is quite accomplished on the computer and can build website pages for her friends. She also has a high need for freedom and doesn't like being restricted and the computer is plain fun to her. She gets her love and belonging, power, freedom and fun needs met with the computer. Is she wrong? Absolutely not.

How does it get resolved? I think the way to resolve this issue is for the mother and daughter to sit down and talk about what each other needs and wants in the situation. If the child can convince her mother that she has the skills and knowledge necessary to protect herself from predators and she agrees to engage in other healthy activities each day, then her mother could relax her restriction on the amount of time she has on the computer.

In this case, and many others like it, the daughter wouldn't be able to meet her freedom need with the computer if there wasn't a rule to break. Sometimes we create the very behavior we are trying to stop with the rules we make. When a person has a high need for freedom, they will inevitably break the rules, particularly the ones they don't like or that don't make sense.

Parenting is one of the hardest jobs you'll ever do and the stakes are incredibly high. We all do the best we can and hope for good results. Fortunately, when we have good intentions are kids generally survive in even thrive. Kim has a graduate degree in counseling and works with parents and children helping them with their communication skills ultimately leading to an improvement in their relationships. Sign up for her free teleclass Empowerment Parenting at http://www.therelationshipcenter.biz/EmpowerParenting.htm ]]>