Attention deficit disorder: does everyone have it?
Report from the Mind-Meds.com New York office about A.D.D. and Adderall

A.D.D. (attention deficit disorder) is a very popular diagnosis these days. It’s not unusual for patients to ask or tell their doctor that they think they have A.D.D.

Despite appearances, A.D.D. is definitely not contagious, in the sense that the common cold or tuberculosis are. On the other hand, A.D.D. may be psychologically and socially contagious.

People who have (or think they have) attention deficit disorder often seek treatment for this condition. The treatment, as you know, often takes the form of stimulant prescriptions. Widely prescribed (and abused) stimulants include Adderall®, Adderall-XR®. Ritalin®, Ritalin-SR®, and Concerta®. Many people, with or without A.D.D., enjoy the alertness and seemingly boundless energy that medications like Adderall® confer. Right now, in this society, getting ahead in school, career, and in life are more competitive than ever before.  Parents of children who are not pulling A’s on every report card are desperate for solutions, including medications such as Adderall®.

You may have heard otherwise, but there is no ‘test’ for A.D.D. There are no aberrant numbers or cells that show up in blood tests of people with A.D.D. Further, questionnaires, rating scales or formalized step-by-step interviews, merely approach the possibility of diagnosing A.D.D.

A.D.D. is what is known as a ‘clinical’ diagnosis: it is a diagnosis made when the doctor puts together all the information that is available on your childhood development, your interactions with other people, your school performance, and your observed level of psychomotor activity (moving, walking, talking.)

My son Alex always likes to tell this joke about the condition:

Question: Did you hear about the kid with A.D.D.?
Answer: Want to play basketball?
 
Adderall® and related stimulant drugs work for people who have attention deficit disorder—and these drugs also ‘work’ for those without the disorder as well.

When you take Adderall®, you are stimulating the dopamine and norepinephrine centers in your brain. The result: small increments in blood pressure and heart rate, and large increments in alertness, ability to stick with a task, and heightened general interest in people, places, and things. Sometimes people are especially sensitive to Adderall® and other stimulants, and they report uncomfortable feelings of anxiety, restlessness, and even paranoia. Any drug has potential side effects, and Adderall® is no exception to this rule. If you need to take a stimulant, it is important to report possible side effects to your doctor so that he or she can adjust the dosage or possibly switch medication so as to minimize or eliminate side effects such as these.

Adderall® prescriptions are available for patients in New York who suffer from the above symptoms. Contact a New York-based Mind-Meds.com doctor for more information about Adderall® and other medications.