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Children taking ADHD drugs showed small increases in blood pressure and pulse rates but ‘risk-benefit ratio is reassuring’
Archived version: https://archive.is/20250406225306/https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/apr/06/adhd-medication-drugs-risks-benefits-children-study
Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.
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For those taking the medication, it is life changing. Like the difference between dropping out of university versus getting a doctorate.
We’ve known ADHD cuts years off a person’s life for a while. Here’s a talk from an expert that uses data from 2019: https://youtu.be/FI7i5iphdLk
He’s given talks about the dangers of untreated ADHD at least 10 years ago and probably further back.
So, uh, say, hypothetically, if someone had, oh I don’t know, 20+ years of untreated ADHD, how screwed would I be, I uh mean them, the hypothetically person?
It’s like smoking. A 20 year smoker will never be as healthy as they would have been without smoking. But someone who smoked for 20 years, then quit for 10 years will be far better off than a 30 year smoker.
ADHD treatment is effective in adults too. I wasn’t diagnosed until my 30s, and it’s something I’m (very mildly) bitter about not being treated sooner.
The big help is unpacking “maladaptations”. Most of ADHD’s problems aren’t direct, but a domino effect. We adapt to try and cope, but cause other problems. Coping with them cause yet more. The best solution is to nip it in the bus, during childhood. However, unpicking them as an adult is possible. The drugs help MASSIVELY with this, though significant personal effort is also required.
Thanks for that nice, in depth response.
I’ve been waiting two years now for a diagnosis. I moved house and I’ve not heard anything in all that time from the NHS. I lost my job to redundancy in October. Nowhere is hiring. I’m struggling to remain focused on job hunting. I’ve just found out I’m going to be a dad.
These articles don’t help because I can’t get medicated. Would love to know if something could help but nobody seems to give a shit.
These articles are less for you than to increase willingness to reduce barriers to diagnosis and prescription
There’s the “right to choose” in England, which allows you to pick a private provider that the NHS will pay for. Wait lists are not short, and places often pause referrals, but wait times are months not years. You need your GP to do the referral and some don’t want to but they have to. Then there’s a bunch of problems with the shared care agreements not being accepted too.
It’s a lot to look into but it might get you there sooner. Ideologically I hate this as it is a waste of NHS money but for those that need the care in a timely manner it can be the only option. It is frustrating that there hasn’t been enough investment in the NHS.
I am not sure what negative effects my meds would have to have before I’d consider not taking them.
If they took away 10 years of my life I’d still take them because the 20 years without them were mostly pretty fucking miserable.
