To add: At least for methylphenidate, there are several studies showing neuronal long term improvements, "brain normalisation", in people with ADHD. That's rare in psychopharmacology...
I do understand hesitation about immediate release amphetamine, but the retarded formulations are also quite hard to abuse. If you do more than prescribed, you won't get high, you will have a bad time. "Getting high", requires a sudden onset, rush, and sharp peak, which retarded meds won't induce.
Denying people with ADHD to try stims, is really, really unethical considering our knowledge on their effectiveness treating the condition.
True. That's a whole nother can of worms. You often only get something like 30 days worth of pills per prescription before you have to visit your doctor again. For someone with poor time and tasks management, those 2-3 hours lost (and adding the "resources" spent on mental overhead/stress/anxiety), are actually a significant burden.
I do understand hesitation about immediate release amphetamine, but the retarded formulations are also quite hard to abuse. If you do more than prescribed, you won't get high, you will have a bad time. "Getting high", requires a sudden onset, rush, and sharp peak, which retarded meds won't induce.
Denying people with ADHD to try stims, is really, really unethical considering our knowledge on their effectiveness treating the condition.