ADHD drugs: Your experiences and views

Craig Buxton has been on medication for a decade

Treating children who have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder with drugs is not effective in the long-term, research has shown.

A study obtained by the BBC's Panorama programme says drugs such as Ritalin and Concerta work no better than therapy after three years of treatment.

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Here are a selection of your comments and experiences:

They do work and I can prove it, my ADHD is under control thanks to the medication provided by the NHS. If it wasn't for the medication I wouldn't be able to do exams, concentrate in class, do anything that requires thought.
Ned Lay, Petersfield

I have a daughter with ADHD, diagnosed a year ago. When she was diagnosed they asked if I wanted to try her on the medication. I said no not at the moment, I needed to think about things since then they have not offered any sort of help. A year on I rang for an appointment, they said because it's been so long she might have to be referred again now I don't know what to do.
Vicky, Merseyside, England

I am a child with ADHD and I have found no problems with the drugs. They have greatly increased my ability to work and I am greatly in debt to them
Nathan Taylor, Kent

This sounds like scare-mongering to me! Ritalin has been wonderful for our family. My 11-year-old daughter was out of control and a diagnosis of ADHD led to her taking Ritalin. This was our last resort, I suffered from depression and a lot of this was the constant abuse and violence I had from my daughter. We had tried everything else and nothing worked. Within a couple of days of taking Ritalin, we could see a difference and she is much better behaved on the medication than ever before. Her academic grades were going downhill too, but the tablets help her focus and hopefully her work will improve now.
Mrs Hayward, Bristol, England

To treat them with respect, pay them good positive attention, to value them, be firm and consistent, warm and caring. Most of the children diagnosed with ADHD, in my experience, also have difficult home lives, experienced trauma, experienced poor parenting, abuse etc etc, the list of external factors that always seem to accompany ADHD is endless but I think starts with the parents and their behaviours. Drugs blunt these children and the label is an excellent excuse to avoid parents looking at their own shortcomings, or to blame the "illness" or the child themselves.
Brian, Aberdeen

My thoughts are with this family and in particular, this child. My son died four years ago. He was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. He took his own life after 15 years of depression and mood swings. His started at puberty. At the time, I knew nothing of this illness. I have researched it for the last 4.5 years, since my son's death. The main points that I would like to make are that sometimes, this type of behaviour, is a precursor to Bipolar Disorder. It needs to be determined and treated carefully. One needs to find a doctor/psycologist who knows about this type of behaviour. It needs to be handled properly and diagnosed properly. If the wrong medications are given then it can do much more harm than good. We have to remember that as alarming as the symptoms are, it is not the child's fault. He is clearly asking for help. The biggest single help that this child can have is to find a professional who knows about this illness. Do not wait for the NHS to 'find' someone for you, go out looking. Search the internet...look for information on MOOD DISORDERS. Keep your diary, write down main mood swings, let your child know that you are trying to find help. This is a lonely, hard place for a child to be.
Judy, Derby UK

My house is totally disrupted and in utter chaos. One of my children has this disorder, I have four children, three of whom suffer because of one child. I don't believe in the use of drugs - which in my opinion just mask the symptoms - however - without thousands £ in the bank what else is there? The " Dore Centres" seem to be affective. But at a cost!! I am really impressed with the results the centres have had and people should know that there is something else out there!
Annette Apps, Norfolk, England

GPs do not prescribe Ritalin or initiate treatment for ADHD. All kids, nearly all boys, many of single parents are referred to Child psychiatrists who initiate the drugs. In 30 years I have not met any GPs who start Ritalin in kids. I do agree that the drugs do not work and are over-prescribed - even adults are taking Ritalin now because they 'cannot' stop their outrageous behaviour. Please stop blaming GPs. I am one!
Dr John Lalor, Chichester

I'm 20 and have been taking Concerta for 5 years and Ritalin for 1 year before that. Taking the drugs, in the long run, is not the answer, for the simple fact that I am not sure when, or if, I stop taking them what I would be like. Its the same when I forget to them or run out for a short time. Although Concerta is a spectacular drug and has helped on more than enough occasions (I would gladly buy the makers many a pint!) for me to take them for the rest of my life seems almost depressing.
Jeremy, Worcester

I'm 20 years old and I have ADHD, I have been using Ritalin for ten years and it has really helped me. I find it hard to concentrate so when I'm in college or taking a driving lesson, the Ritalin is essential. With my experience of the stuff, I believe it helps but it is important for parents to realise that Ritalin is not the entire answer to ADHD. It does help (for me anyway) but your child will need other forms of help as well.
Joseph, Aberdeen

I have ADHD as I am 49 today it was never diagnosed and my schooled days were miserable. I passed it on to my 2 children. One is 18, medicated and happy he just got three grade A levels in Physics Maths and geog and hopes to go to Oxford after a gap year- he knows when he has not had his tablets and so do we. My 22-yea-old is still at home, has worse symptoms and refuses to medicate - she is incredibly hard to deal with. RITALIN WORKS
Simon Webster, Ashford Kent

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