Side Effects of Stimulants

Ever wondered what the short term and long term side effects of stimulants are on your child? Stimulants are the treatment of choice for many doctors who treat children with ADHD but that does not mean they are totally safe. In fact, many complications and dangerous side effects have been reported with the use of stimulants.

The problems with psychostimulants are that they are not a cure-all and do not help your child achieve permanent recovery. Many parents mistakenly believe that they can get rid of their child's ADHD if they give them psychostimulants. Some children may benefit from them and others may not. Some children may simply be unable to take them because they suffer from too many dangerous side effects.

Stimulants only suppress the symptoms of the problem and do not treat the underlying cause. If your child stops taking them, the symptoms will return. The short term side effects of stimulants include but are not limited to mood swings, anxiety, insomnia, headache, decreased appetite, and stomachache.

Other problems with psychostimulants include the fact that they interact dangerously with certain drugs. For example, some doctors prescribe a high blood pressure medication called clonidine for ADHD treatment but since it doesn't treat all symptoms of ADHD it is often prescribed along with a psychostimulant. These two drugs combined can be very dangerous and there have been four sudden deaths reported from taking this combination.

The long term side effects of stimulants are unknown but some of the early findings are alarming to say the least. Studies show that children who take stimulants are more likely to have substance abuse problems in adulthood. Studies also show that stimulants may cause permanent brain changes, perhaps suppressing your child's real personality. Many parents complain that their children act zombie-like when they take psychostimulants. Another issue is the higher incidence of depression in adults who took psychostimulants as children.

Other problems with psychostimulants include the likelihood of abuse. Many people who don't have ADHD take psychostimulants to get high, making them dangerous narcotics that need to be strictly controlled. You should never let anyone force you into the decision to give your child psychostimulants. After all, they are hard drugs with potentially significant side effects.

So you're probably wondering what alternatives there are to psychostimulants. Due to the dangerous side effects of stimulants, it's best to consider them a last resort. Homeopathic remedies are highly effective when combined with dietary control, behavioral therapy, and a healthy lifestyle. What's great about homeopathic remedies is that they are 100% safe and side-effect free. They also address the underlying cause of your child's ADHD and help to achieve permanent recovery.

Do yourself and your child a favor by weighing treatment options very carefully prior to making a decision. The side effects of stimulants are too grave to ignore so your best bet is to consider them a last resort. Many parents have found great success with natural treatments like homeopathy. What's great about natural treatments is that they do more than just suppress the symptoms of ADHD. They help your child maintain overall good health and long term recovery by restoring balance at a cellular level.

Laura Ramirez is a passionate researcher of natural remedies for ADHD and other health issues. Read more about her research by going to http://www.treating-adhd-naturally.com.

Ms. Ramirez is also the author of the award-winning parenting book, Keepers of the Children: Native American Wisdom and Parenting and is the publisher of Family Matters Parenting Magazine. She is a parenting educator and speaker.

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