FDA withdraws approval for ADD drug (pemoline)

I did great in school, at least when it came to tests and all that. I could never remember the homework, projects, etc. My poor mom had both my brother and I to deal with on the ADD/ADHD front (and my dad), and a sister who had issues of her own.

I always remember sitting at the table at 3 am working on a science fair project, or a book report, or whatever.

I never slept as a kid, and I don't get a lot of sleep now, still. But, after I got diagnosed officially (I had suspicions early, but just never went to get checked out) and got on meds, I at least get some sleep. AND, I don't stay up until 3 am working on projects anymore. :)

These drugs are dangerous. I know a young man whose whole life has been one long series of these drugs. He's 16 years old and somewhere around 5 ft. tall.

Now if the drugs had made the young man's life better it may have been worth it, but they have not helped one bit and may have done more harm than stunting his growth.

The thing about ADD is that it is not neccesarily a negative thing, in fact it can be a positive thing. We are much much better at doing certain things than the general population. We are also much poorer at doing other certain things.

What are some of the positive things? and negative things?

I think that ADD folks are able to make inferences and comparisons between things that others are not able to. See the 'big picture' etc...

However, this ability can be hurtful if you're in class because anything the teacher says may send your mind off on tangents that have little to do with subject matter.

So, I think generally ADD folks tend to do well where they can be creative/artsy, chanlleging, and stimulating jobs. Repitition, or jobs involving monotony and organization/memory etc... might not be best.

It sounds foolish but the SAME ADD person could be the best CEO or the worst Janitor (of course not to disparage janitors :) ).

The hyperfocus capability, to be intensily stimulated and focused for large periods of time on interesting projects cannot be sustained by the general pop. But without this motivation we become apathetic and useless.

Basically, if you think of the brain as a bunch of wires that 'light up' when activated, you'll find that an ADD persons brain will flutter between highly lit up and not at all. They key is to place yourself in a situation where it is 'lit up' more frequently, but stay away from the bad things that we are always tempted to get involved with as they stimulate us in this way too... ADD folks tend to be involved in substance abuse, super social, crazy accidents etc...

The neurological theories of this sort of thing are fascinating.

But take it all with a grain of salt, there are various types and comorbidities of ADD which mean that these experiences vary vastly from person to person. I'm just guestimating a general overview...

oh and we are also suppsosedly pretty good at meditation. :)

Why couldn't we be supposedly good at math? That would have really been helpful. :)

I have a masters degree in math, so there are individual differences like you mentioned, tk. And I know another ADD math major. lol

It must be just the choice of hyperfocus! LOL. That is so great to hear some positive benefits for a change. Thank you!

That is so great to hear some positive benefits for a change.
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yea it is really tiresome to hear all the negatives and words like 'disorder', when many ADD folks are the most intelligent, interesting, curious, creative, and fascinating folks I know.

I'm sure you know of the many famous persons that are said to have had ADD, Edison etc.. (heck, probably Clinton)

Intelligent use of medication can really give us hope these days too... :)

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