The amphetamine debate : the use of Adderall, Ritalin, and related drugs for behavior modification, neuroenhancement, and anti-aging purposes

249 Pages·2011·1.69 MB·English

by  Elaine A. Moore

T A
HE MPHETAMINE
D
EBATE
MCFARLAND HEALTH TOPICS
Living with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: Narratives of Coping.
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Graves’ Disease: A Practical Guide.
Elaine A. Moore with Lisa Moore. 2001
Autoimmune Diseases and Their Environmental Triggers.
Elaine A. Moore. 2002
Hepatitis: Causes, Treatments and Resources.
Elaine A. Moore. 2006
Arthritis: A Patient’s Guide.
Sharon E. Hohler. 2008
The Promise of Low Dose Naltrexone Therapy: Potential Benefits
in Cancer, Autoimmune, Neurological and Infectious Disorders.
Elaine A. Moore and Samantha Wilkinson. 2009
Living with HIV: A Patient’s Guide.
Mark Cichocki, RN. 2009
Understanding Multiple Chemical Sensitivity:
Causes, Effects, Personal Experiences and Resources.
Els Valkenburg. 2010
Type 2 Diabetes: Social and Scientific Origins, Medical
Complications and Implications for Patients and Others.
Andrew Kagan, M.D. 2010
The Amphetamine Debate: The Use of Adderall,
Ritalin and Related Drugs for Behavior Modification,
Neuroenhancement and Anti-Aging Purposes.
Elaine A. Moore. 2011
T A
HE MPHETAMINE
D
EBATE
The Use of Adderall, Ritalin and
Related Drugs for Behavior
Modification, Neuroenhancement
and Anti-Aging Purposes
Elaine A. Moore
Foreword by K. Scott Pacer, M.D.
MCFARLAND HEALTH TOPICS
McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Jefferson, North Carolina, and London
ALSOBYELAINEA. MOORE:Encyclopedia of Sexually Transmitted
Diseases (McFarand, 2005; paperback 2009) and Encyclopedia of
Alzheimer’s Disease; With Directories of Research, Treatment and
Care Facilities (McFarland, 2003)
LIBRARYOFCONGRESSCATALOGUING-IN-PUBLICATIONDATA
Moore, Elaine A., ¡948–
The amphetamine debate : the use of Adderall, Ritalin and
related drugs for behavior modification, neuroenhancement
and anti-aging purposes / Elaine A. Moore ; foreword by
K. Scott Pacer
p. cm. — (McFarland health topics)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-7864-5873-8
softcover : 50# alkaline paper
¡. Amphetamines. 2. Methylphenidate. 3. Central
nervous system stimulants. 4. Attention-deficit hyperactivity
disorder—Chemotherapy.
[DNLM: 1. Amphetamines—therapeutic use.
2. Amphetamine-Related Disorders—psychology.
3. Amphetamines—adverse effects. 4. Attention Deficit
Disorder with Hyperactivity—drug therapy.
5. Methylphenidate—therapeutic use. QV 102]
RC568.A45M66 2011
362.29'9—dc22 2010038425
British Library cataloguing data are available
© 2011Elaine A. Moore. All rights reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, i ncluding photocopying
or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,
without p ermission in writing from the publisher.
Front cover image © 20¡1Shutterstock
Manufactured in the United States of America
McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Box 6¡¡, Je›erson, North Carolina 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
To my husband Rick for his constant patience, encouragement
and support. Who else would hook up the generator in our camper
so I could have a place nearby to write whenever the winter snow-
storms or spring winds knocked down our power lines?
This book is not intended as a substitute for medical treatment.
It is intended for the education and empowerment of those in
need of information on amphetamines and related drugs used in
the treatment of behavioral disorders, neuroenhancement and
anti–aging. Patients interested in using the therapies described in
this book should consult their personal physicians.
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Table of Contents
Acknowledgments viii
Foreword by K. Scott Pacer, M.D. 1
Introduction 5
ONE: History of Amphetamine and Related Psychostimulants 9
TWO: Medical and Other Effects of Amphetamine Compounds 34
THREE: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) 52
FOUR: Ritalin, Adderall, and Other Treatments for ADHD 80
FIVE: Amphetamines as Cognitive and Performance Enhancers 108
SIX: Methamphetamine—From Pervitin to Desoxyn to
Crystal Meth 131
SEVEN: Amphetamines and Drug Dependence 149
EIGHT: Short and Long Term Adverse Effects of Psychostimulants 170
NINE: The Neuroscience Revolution: What Comes Next? 189
Resources 211
Glossary 215
Bibliography 221
Index 233
vii
Acknowledgments
I have many people to thank for making this book possible.
I’d especially like to take this opportunity to thank my good friend
Dr. Judy Canfield for reviewing chapters, proofreading, assisting
with research and offering suggestions for improvement. Special
thanks also go to John Peters for reviewing early drafts and offering
insightful critiques. I’m also grateful to my colleague, the clinical
chemist Marv Miller, for his clever illustrations that help lighten
up the technical sections. In addition, I’d like to express my grat-
itude to Dr. David Sulzer from Columbia University for graciously
sending me reprints and for Dr. Nicholas Rasmussen for his guid-
ance. Thanks are also due to Dr. Scott Pacer for steering me in
the right direction and answering my many questions regarding
the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
I’m also grateful to my friends, friends of friends, and acquain-
tances who willingly shared their personal experiences and the
experiences of their children using amphetamines and related psy-
chostimulants as cognitive enhancers or as treatments for ADHD.
Although their stories shall remain anonymous, they know who
they are and I appreciate their honest evaluations. Last but not
least I must thank my family for their unconditional support.
viii
Foreword by
K. Scott Pacer, M.D.
Effective treatments for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
have evolved over the last few decades as our understanding of neurochemistry
has improved. In addition, subtypes of ADHD, as well as the frequent coex-
istence of comorbid conditions, are now recognized. Comorbidities are very
common in individuals with ADHD, and the effective treatment of ADHD
is truly a biopsychosocial model. This means that although stimulant med-
ications for ADHD have brought about rapid improvement in symptom con-
trol, behavioral and social treatments are also important in helping improve
functioning in the home, school and in daily interactions with peers. A thor-
ough evaluation for ADHD needs to be comprehensive and must include an
evaluation for comorbities. When comorbidities are found, they must also be
treated because comorbities increase impairment and complicate ADHD treat-
ment.
Some of the comorbities associated with ADHD are oppositional defiant
disorder (ODD), conduct disorder, major depressive disorder, anxiety disor-
der, bipolar disorder and tic disorders. Any patient with mood or anxiety
symptoms need to be evaluated for a possible comorbidity. In evaluating indi-
viduals with behavioral disorders, it’s important to determine if specific symp-
toms are primary or secondary to ADHD. For instance, is the child or adult
who is depressed or anxious exhibiting symptoms due to ADHD affecting
their lives or are they expressing symptoms of a true comorbidity?
Mood and anxiety symptoms when they co-exist with ADHD need to
be treated first as treatment with stimulant medications can often exacerbate
these conditions. Medical disorders such as absence seizures or sleep disorders
or environmental issues such as abuse or family adversity also need to be ruled
out as the cause of inattention or behavioral problems. Once these are fully
evaluated and treated, then there should be a revaluation for ADHD symptoms
to evaluate the benefits of treatment for an individual in more than one setting.
This is the art of treating ADHD.
1