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Post by Linda on Mar 16, 2005 15:28:37 GMT -5
I was reading an article on ADHD in the military. It said World war 2,Japenese,Russian, and German armies used Ritalin as a means of combatting battle fatigue. They discovered that soldiers using Ritalin followed directions more easily and focosed better on their tasks.
This is what bothers me....I have always thought that Ritalin did not work if a person was NOT ADHD. I have to say right at this moment I am confused.
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Post by AnneM on Mar 16, 2005 15:50:13 GMT -5
Linda this is really interesting ..... and also something that has always been a big  factor with me .... whether ANYBODY focusses better with meds or whether it is just those with adhd .... I personally suspect - based on this article and on a non-adhd friend of mine who tried a ritalin tablet one day and found herself able to concentrate much better and for much longer - that ritalin DOES work for everybody.... but is particularly beneficial in adhd ... Will be interested to see what everyone else thinks ... Linda ... can you post the link to the article here? |
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mothercat
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With a little luck and a lot of Gods help anything is possible!
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Post by mothercat on Mar 16, 2005 15:56:49 GMT -5
According to one of Bobo's friends who was a seal (special forces) in Nam..the US gave the men ritalin there for the alertness affect.
Someone we talked to that works for the state told us that if your son is on ritalin they are not eligable for the military ...I hope they were wrong as I think Jared would be well suited when he grows up.
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Post by Linda on Mar 16, 2005 16:03:02 GMT -5
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Post by Linda on Mar 16, 2005 16:11:58 GMT -5
If this is true...then is it safe to assume a lot of kids are put on stims that don't need them?
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Post by AnneM on Mar 16, 2005 16:18:11 GMT -5
I don't think so Linda ... I think our kids with add/adhd DOOO benefit from the stims ... but that is not to say that other people also won't benefit ... the difference (IMHO) is that our kids "need" them ... in other words they are much more affected by lack of concentration etc than the average human being and therefore their benefit will be greater ... BUT at the same time ANY human being has concentration problems to a degree and therefore ANYBODY will notice a difference if they take a stimulant !! (Again as I say this is IMHO) ... BUT ... what I think it really DOES mean is that adhd is NOT easy to diagnose ... and nor should we simply say "Ah.. the stimulants work ... so he/she must have adhd" ... not necessarily so !! ... Sooooo.... IMHO ... the picture is even cloudier than we had previously thought !!  |
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sportsmom
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Post by sportsmom on Mar 16, 2005 17:30:27 GMT -5
I remember reading about this as well. I would think that the ritalin would work something like an energy pill (ex: yellow jackets, mini thins, 357, etc.) in a person that doesn't have adhd to help keep their focus and to be alert. I also remember reading that when the service men were given ritalin they had a high dose. Sounds like our goverment would do anything possible to win the war . I do know when my dr. prescribe me a diet pill believe it or not it would help me with my concentration--was it because it was a stimulant with a different name or that I was able to finish the task because I had the energy?? |
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Post by Linda on Mar 16, 2005 17:34:49 GMT -5
I was told by Paul's Ped. a few years back that if you were not ADHD and took ritalin it would do nothing for you.
sweety....Sue....marja....I know you are nurses...any input?
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Post by geewiznit on Mar 17, 2005 1:48:24 GMT -5
One thing I do know is that at colleges (and I have this from the horse's mouth, my son), Ritalin, Adderall, etc. are in high demand at final exam time to help students stay up and concentrate to study and finish term papers. It works for some; others find it too much of a "buzz". Any student with a stim prescription can clean up financially. Sad, but true.
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mothercat
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With a little luck and a lot of Gods help anything is possible!
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Post by mothercat on Mar 17, 2005 7:00:23 GMT -5
Another sad but true...if you open a ritalin bottle and smell it..it smells just exactly like some other street type drugs.(white cross, chrystal, etc) These are drugs that once you smell them you will never " forget "the smell and sad but true methylphenidate is popular amongst teens . ( especially ground up and snorted ) I think that is why they are so regulated. In the wrng hands teens can make out like bandits.
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Post by Linda on Mar 17, 2005 7:08:32 GMT -5
I remember a small boy that was dx with ADHD and was given a script for ritalin.He ended up in emergency because he was freaking out. I knew this boy because he was in Paul's class. There was definitely something going on with him. He was not only hyper he was MEAN. So I have always wondered what was going on with him.
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mothercat
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With a little luck and a lot of Gods help anything is possible!
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Post by mothercat on Mar 17, 2005 7:22:11 GMT -5
maybe he was having a simple reaction to the drugs or something...its a shame if he dx'd with adhd . I know people react differently but with little kids it really is a shame. One would hate to think something else was going on. One of the bangers out here was dx'd adhd and I can tell you he is mean..and I am almost sure he gets none of his pills. (By the way three of our gang bangers thay we are always having probs with are facing felony charges !  The worm has turned and we are starting to win! ) |
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Post by Linda on Mar 17, 2005 9:20:44 GMT -5
Or maybe he had a co-morbid condition that wasn't explored. |
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mothercat
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With a little luck and a lot of Gods help anything is possible!
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Post by mothercat on Mar 17, 2005 9:30:03 GMT -5
Could very well be .. lets hope the emergency room found or at least started the search for the reason. poor little guy. |
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Post by sweety on Mar 17, 2005 10:37:03 GMT -5
 Don't know much about ritalin other than it has a long history of being used and abused as a stimulant and weight reducer. Movie Stars used to take it to loose weight and be "UP" for a function the next day. (remember Judy Garland?) It is kept under lock and key and counted in the hospitals. I think it is one of those things that affects people differently. They had me on Concerta and I'm definately ADHD. I got to the point where I was almost manic depressive. I was happy and going a mile a minute with super concentration in the A.M. by 4 P.M. I was ready to cry and throw things. I'm now on strattera and don't have those mood swings. Dd is on 45mg concerta every day and is almost always her happy pleasant singing self. If there is a way to abuse some drug there are people who will doanyting totry to find it. 
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