Adverse drug reactions from stimulants

Regardless of what causes ADHD, the behavior of a person with ADHD improves in the short term after taking a stimulant drug such as Ritalin. Ritalin also improves concentration, increases attention span, and lowers the activity level both in individuals with ADHD and without. On the other hand, Ritalin may cause several adverse drug reactions, from growth inhibition to psychosis. 

The presence of other adverse drug reactions, often involving akathisia or stimulation along a continuum from irritability and agitation to agitated depression and mania, as well as indifference and apathy... 

The stimulant drugs, including all methylphenidate and amphetamine products, produce a wide array of adverse effects on the brain and mind as well as the overall body. Strattera, marketed by Eli Lilly as a nonstimulant, shares most of these adverse effects. Table 11.1 summarizes the adverse drug reaction data from eight controlled clinic trials. Table 11.2... 

Table 11.5 provides descriptions of stimulant adverse reactions from the clinical and research literature that are consistent with the brain-disabling principle. A broad array of stimulant side effects in fact provides the primary effects of the drug. 

Toxicities are very low 150 g/kg crude drug or 50 g/kg decoction fed to mice did not produce any toxic reactions, and no adverse side effects have been reported from clinical use of this drug. However, since it is known to be a uterine stimulant, caution is advised in pregnant women (jiangsu wang). ... 

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