Using Medication Wisely
Melissa G. Hunt, Aaron T. Beck in Reclaim Your Life From IBS, 2022
It’s important to understand that these medicines are not “addictive” and you won’t become “dependent” on them. They are not “fake” neurotransmitters (like the benzos) so they don’t lead to tolerance and withdrawal. They work by indirect mechanisms to change how neurotransmitters are stored, released, and transmitted. There are medicines that are addictive and cause physiological dependence and tolerance – these include the stimulants (like Ritalin [methylphenidate] and Adderall [amphetamine and dextroamphetamine]) and the anti-anxiety drugs from the benzodiazepine family discussed earlier. Interestingly, those drugs are all sold illegally as “street drugs” because you can get high by taking them. No one would ever sell Elavil, Prozac, or Effexor illegally – because no one would buy it! They don’t make you high. They don’t even elevate your mood. If you’re depressed, they take at least two weeks (and often up to six weeks) to kick in and start making you feel better. They don’t change your personality – although they can make negative, catastrophic thoughts less intense, and they might make it easier to learn and use the cognitive-therapy skills taught in this book. The relief you get from them isn’t “fake” – it’s just you at your best.
Simple questions with complex answers
Jed A. Yalof, Anthony D. Bram in Psychoanalytic Assessment Applications for Different Settings, 2020
Mr. S appeared to feel more comfortable with Dr. K. He openly acknowledged that cultural and familial attitudes had stigmatized participation in mental health treatment. He disclosed that he had used a friend’s capsules of the stimulant Adderall, which he believed provided him with relief from depressed mood, improved his concentration, and (seemingly inexplicably) helped him sleep better. Perhaps in response to Dr. K’s shared cultural background and the more directive and structured format of medication-focused psychiatric consultations, Mr. S acknowledged a history of ingesting cannabis via vaporizer and recent episodes of excessive alcohol abuse. Further, after describing his parents’ severely dysfunctional relationship, Mr. S reported that he was “inspired” by his younger brother’s recent move from the family home to his own apartment. Dr. K started a trial of antidepressant medication and, rather than formally evaluating him or referring him out for a sleep consultation, recommended that Mr. S use melatonin to help regularize his sleep-wake cycle and arranged to meet with Mr. S at monthly intervals.
Neurofeedback in an Integrative Medical Practice
Hanno W. Kirk in Restoring the Brain, 2020
Treatment: A course of neurofeedback was started per Othmer protocols with an initial site of T3-T4 for headache stabilization at an optimal reward of 0.1 mHz. Good sleep hygiene was reviewed and begun. Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D3 2000 International Units (IU) per day were started. 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) supplements, full spectrum lights in the morning, and the need for ongoing mental health counseling were discussed, but patient did not “get around” to trying them. A household chore chart was concocted for patient’s husband and son. Severe headaches abated within 10 sessions of neurofeedback. Facial droop cleared except for times of extreme stress. Additional neurofeedback sites included T4-P4 for physical and emotional calming, Fp2-T4 for anxiety, and Fp1-T3 for focus issues. By 30 sessions, chronic daily headaches were resolved and the patient had only mild headaches every week or two. Fatigue was still an issue at the end of a long working day, but the patient rarely used Adderall to get through the day. The patient continued to be unhappy about aspects of her home and work life but felt like things were considerably less stressful.
An exploratory study of indicators of recent nonmedical prescription stimulant use among college students
Published in Journal of American College Health, 2023
Charles Ashley Warnock, Carolyn L. Lauckner, Lucy A. Ingram
In 2018, an estimated 8.5% of U.S. college students used a prescription stimulant without medical supervision in the last 12 months.1 A review of the literature from 2002 to 2013 found lifetime prevalence rates of ever using a prescription stimulant nonmedically ranging from 14% to 34% among students at various U.S. universities.2 Stimulant medications like Adderall® and Ritalin® are often prescribed to treat hyperactivity in people living with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).3 However, students without a diagnosis of ADHD engage in NPSU to subjectively enhance academic ability, improve focus, and increase energy to study or party.4–7 Indeed, college students are disproportionately at risk of engaging in nonmedical prescription stimulant use (NPSU) in comparison to their similarly-aged, noncollege peers.1,8 As use of other types of prescriptions like opioids and tranquilizers have fallen among U.S. college students, NPSU has risen, and interventional tools to reduce NPSU have been slow to develop and disseminate.9
Examining associations between prescription stimulant misuse frequency and misuse characteristics by race/ethnicity
Published in Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse, 2023
Jocelyne Mendez, Kyle Yomogida, Wilma Figueroa, Kate Diaz Roldan, Niloofar Bavarian
Prescription stimulants, such as amphetamines (e.g. Adderall) and methylphenidate (e.g. Ritalin and Concerta), are medications used to treat various health conditions (e.g. attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], narcolepsy). For example, health care professionals commonly prescribe amphetamines and methylphenidates to individuals diagnosed with ADHD in order to enhance their levels of alertness, energy, and attention (NIDA, 2014). Over the years, the number of college students diagnosed with ADHD has increased (Benson et al., 2015) which, arguably, has increased the availability of prescription stimulants for college students without an ADHD diagnosis (McCabe et al., 2006). As a result, the misuse of prescription stimulants (MPS; i.e. use without a prescription, use in excess of what has been prescribed and/or use for nonmedical reasons; Bavarian et al., 2015), has become prevalent on college campuses, with variations reported across campuses (e.g. McCabe et al., 2005; Bavarian et al., 2013; Schulenberg et al., 2020). The prevalence of MPS is of concern due to the many health effects (e.g. paranoia, increase in body temperature, irregular heartbeat, and death (NIDA, 2014)) that could result from misusing prescription stimulants. Moreover, as there has been a substantial increase in the racial/ethnic diversity of college students (Espinosa et al., 2019), examinations of MPS should explore variations and similarities across racial/ethnic groups.
Prevalence and factors associated with non-medical prescription stimulant use to promote wakefulness in young adults
Published in Journal of American College Health, 2022
Eleanor R. King, Whitney Willcott Benoit, Lily M. Repa, Sheila N. Garland
Students use various different methods to combat the negative effects of sleep disturbance and one of the most common is stimulant use. A survey study involving 877 university students in the UK and Ireland reported that offsetting sleep deprivation was the second most common reason for stimulant misuse, after cognitive enhancement.8 In Canada, 72% of prescription stimulant abuse occurs among those aged 15–24, indicating that it is a particular issue for teenagers and young adults.9 Moreover, a U.S. National Survey on drug use found that the non-medical use of Adderall (an amphetamine) was more common among college students (9.9%) than same-aged peers who were not in college (6.2%),10 suggesting that simply being a college student may pose as a risk factor for non-medical use of prescription stimulants.
Related Knowledge Centers
- Amphetamine
- Combination Drug
- Dextroamphetamine
- Enantiomer
- Levoamphetamine
- Pharmacodynamics
- Racemic Mixture
- Stimulant
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Salt