Leading expert in holistic ADHD treatment, Dr. Sanford Newmark, MD, explains the long-term effects of ADHD medications. He reveals that 30% to 50% of children outgrow ADHD without any pharmaceutical intervention. Long-term clinical trials on ADHD stimulant medications are lacking. These drugs affect brain development and neurotransmitter balance. Their subtle, long-term side effects remain largely unknown. A medical second opinion ensures an accurate ADHD diagnosis. It also helps choose the best integrative treatment plan.
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Understanding the Long-Term Effects and Risks of ADHD Medications
Jump To Section
- ADHD Medication Overview
- Short-Term Efficacy and Safety
- Long-Term Outcome Concerns
- Brain Development Impact
- Natural Outcomes Without Meds
- Integrative Treatment Approach
- Full Transcript
ADHD Medication Overview
ADHD medications are primarily stimulants, often amphetamine derivatives. Dr. Sanford Newmark, MD, notes that these pharmaceuticals stimulate the central nervous system. They are a common treatment, with about two-thirds of diagnosed patients receiving them. The list of available ADHD medications is long, but their mechanisms are similar.
Dr. Anton Titov, MD, discusses their widespread use in the interview. These drugs work by altering neurotransmitter levels in the brain.
Short-Term Efficacy and Safety
ADHD medications demonstrate high short-term efficacy for symptom control. Dr. Sanford Newmark, MD, states they are effective for about 70% of children with attention deficit disorder. The short-term safety profile of these ADD medications is also well-studied and established.
However, Dr. Newmark is quick to point out that these drugs come with a lot of side effects. They can provide crucial short-term stabilization for a child failing in school or social settings.
Long-Term Outcome Concerns
The long-term efficacy of ADHD pharmaceuticals is not well-supported by data. Dr. Sanford Newmark, MD, references the few existing long-term clinical trials. These studies show that the positive effects of ADHD medications appear to diminish over time.
Dr. Anton Titov, MD, highlights that children often take these drugs for 5 to 10 years. The clinical trials did not find that medications lead to better school success or improved behavior in the long run. The reason for this attenuation of effect remains unclear to experts.
Brain Development Impact
A significant concern is how long-term ADHD medication use affects brain development. Dr. Sanford Newmark, MD, explains that these stimulants change neurotransmitter levels. This alteration inevitably influences the developing architecture of a child's brain.
Dr. Sanford Newmark, MD, emphasizes that no one has studied the subtle, long-term side effects of this impact. It is unknown if this change helps, harms, or makes ADHD worse over decades. The potential for long-term side effects is a critical area requiring further investigation.
Natural Outcomes Without Meds
A substantial number of children will outgrow ADHD naturally without any medication. Dr. Sanford Newmark, MD, provides a key statistic: 30% to 50% of children with ADHD will not have a diagnosable condition as adults. This natural resolution occurs without pharmaceutical intervention.
This data, discussed with Dr. Anton Titov, MD, suggests medication may be unnecessary for a large cohort. The decision to medicate must be weighed against the child's current level of suffering and impairment.
Integrative Treatment Approach
An integrative medicine approach offers a powerful alternative or complement to pharmaceuticals. Dr. Sanford Newmark, MD, advocates for treatments with long-term positive effects and fewer negatives. The best therapy for ADHD often combines dietary changes, consistent exercise, and behavioral modification.
Dr. Anton Titov, MD, reinforces that a medical second opinion is vital. It confirms the ADHD diagnosis is correct and complete before committing to a long-term treatment plan. This holistic strategy addresses the root causes and promotes sustainable health.
Full Transcript
Long-term effects of ADHD medications have not been well studied. Stimulant medications affect brain development. Subtle long-term side effects of pharmaceutical ADHD therapy are likely. 30% to 50% of children will outgrow ADHD without any medications.
But which children need ADHD treatment? A leading expert on holistic treatment of ADHD discusses long-term effects of ADHD medications.
ADHD medications affect brain development. We know that. 50% of kids with ADHD outgrow it without medications.
Long-term effects of ADHD medications have to be better investigated. Finding the correct ADHD medication is possible only after detailed evaluation by an ADHD specialist. Avoid long-term side effects of ADHD medications.
Parents have to make sure ADHD diagnosis is correct and complete. The best medicine for ADHD in kids is integrative medicine treatment. The best therapy for ADHD is a combination of dietary changes, exercise, and behavioral modification.
Dr. Sanford Newmark, MD: Medications to treat ADHD are mostly amphetamine derivatives that stimulate the central nervous system. Their long-term side effects are not known. No long-term clinical trials on ADHD medication side effects have been done.
Long-term effects of ADHD medications can lead to a change in brain development and brain architecture.
Dr. Anton Titov, MD: Let's talk about treatment of ADHD. Two-thirds of patients who received the ADHD diagnosis are treated with pharmacological medications. Most ADHD medications are stimulants, amphetamine derivatives.
There is perhaps less doubt that ADHD medications are effective in the short term. The short-term safety profile of ADD medications is well studied.
But what about the long-term efficacy of ADHD medications? What are potential long-term side effects of ADHD pharmaceuticals?
Dr. Sanford Newmark, MD: It turns out that ADHD medications are very effective in the short term. They have a lot of side effects. But for some kids they might apparently work OK. ADHD medications are effective for about 70% of kids with attention deficit disorder.
You can look at the few long-term clinical trials of ADHD medications that have been done. Results do not look so good. It does not look like overall ADHD medications are all that helpful.
Nobody is really sure why. But so far the long-term data does not indicate that ADHD medications are helpful for better success at school. ADD medications do not help with better behavior.
We really don't know a lot about long-term side effects of ADHD medications. We know that there are not dramatic long-term side effects. Because kids have been using ADD medications for a long time, since the 1950s really.
But nobody has ever looked at subtle side effects. Nobody has ever looked at how ADHD medications affect brain development. We know they affect brain development.
ADHD medications have to influence brain development. Because you are changing the neurotransmitters in the brain by using these stimulants. That is part of how the brain develops in these children.
Maybe in the long-term it could help. Maybe it's making ADHD worse. We don't know. Long-term side effects of ADHD medications is something we really need to look at.
Dr. Anton Titov, MD: In the long-term clinical trials another result was seen. The effect of ADHD medications was at least attenuated. ADHD medications had a diminishing effect with time.
The children take these drugs for maybe 5 to 10 years. Then they grow to be adults. Is anything known about what happens when children with ADHD stop taking medications?
Because the balance of neurotransmitters in their brain is affected for over a decade or so. What happens if you suddenly stop or decrease the dose of ADHD medications?
Are there any clinical trials done in young adults about that?
Dr. Sanford Newmark, MD: No. What we do know is this. If you leave kids with ADHD without medications, about 30% to 50% of kids will outgrow their ADHD. They just won't have ADHD as an adult.
They will not have a diagnosable ADHD. They may have that behavioral tendency. Some people are quieter, and some people are more active. Some people are more organized. Some people are disorganized.
But 30% to 50% of children will outgrow ADHD.
Dr. Anton Titov, MD: Without any medications?
Dr. Sanford Newmark, MD: Yes.
Dr. Anton Titov, MD: That is a very large number.
Dr. Sanford Newmark, MD: It is a large number.
Dr. Anton Titov, MD: Medicating almost half of the kids who legitimately do have an ADHD might be a wasteful thing to do.
Dr. Sanford Newmark, MD: It might be, but it depends on how much they are suffering from their ADHD. I use medications. I don't want to present myself as somebody who is totally against medications for treatment of ADHD.
Sometimes you have a kid who is failing school. Who is having a terrible social life. The house is in complete uproar because of their behavior.
Then you really need to use these medications to stabilize things so kids can succeed. Even if they are going to outgrow ADHD later.
We haven't studied this. But my guess is that kids with more severe ADHD are the ones who are not going to outgrow their ADHD anyway.
But you don't know. There is a role for medications to treat ADHD. But also there's a bigger role for some of the other treatments that may have a long-term positive effect without the negatives.