Medication for ADD can be useful for a kid with AS?

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The classical medication for ADD/ADHD can be useful for a kid (let's say, with 11 y.o.) with AS, to reduce the ADD-like symptoms usually associated with AS?

Or, because of the differences between "true" ADD and the "ADD" symptoms of AS, could be bad idea (for example, the individual could become even more hyperfocused)?

I am imagining myself as a kid, hyperfocused on stacking blocks for hours at a time. To the brainstew, add amphetamines...ruh-roh.

Drugs are bad. There purpose is to make children manageable, not to actually help the child. For example I know a pediatrician who had a patient with Down Sydrome and ADHD or something, and while he was off the drugs he was verbal and everything, but on the drugs he stopped being hyper, but he also stopped talking and stuff and compulsively washed his hands.

Not all ADHD medication is amphetamines. I don't take amphetamines.

You can have AS and ADHD co-morbid so I'm not sure what this 'true' ADHD is about.

Hyper focus is an ADHD symptom and it's to a lesser degree to autism special interests.

What someone does on the medication is their own responsibility or the parents. You just can't give someone a pill and expect all their symptoms to mysteriously disappear. You need to to plan what the person does when on them, otherwise he/she could easily spend all day playing video games.

The medication could help the child become more organised if first they are instructed to do this. I write a to-list a day and tick off each task as it's done. I decide what to do when on medication to get the best use out of them including chores, writing and reading. Yes, I need medication to read the long complicated books I read. Because I don't take medication on the weekends that's when I take time off reading.
It helps with memory too and perhaps blocking out distractions. It makes you concentrate on a single thought instead of 5 going at once.

So yes, ADHD medication may help but you need to make sure the user is not going to waste the time they have on them.

Also, I've had remarkable social improvements thanks to my ADHD medication. Ritalin to be more precise. And now I'm going to do the dishes and write for four hours.

Last edited by pensieve on 24 Oct 2011, 5:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.

They're bad if you don't control what you do when on them. They just balance out your neurotransmitters. It's up to you or a parent to be able to deal with the symptoms while on them. Consider them like a walking cane for someone with a limp.

Anyway, I can see it's pointless to argue with someone who has already made their mind up.

I'm going to take my meds and kick procrastination's arse with my superior level of concentration, motivation and productivity.

Well drugs are fine if you actually need them, but they do have averse effects as well as positive effects.

This is why medication is only one part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes counseling/therapy and a structured environment. Because the stimulants don't cover an entire 24 hours (seeing as their purpose is to last through a school day), and for the kids it does help, stimulants don't work every day. Most days, sure, but not all the time. I know because I take long-acting Ritalin. It lasts eight to nine hours, and within those hours I prioritize the important tasks to get done.

You have no idea how much I enjoyed this ....

All medication has adverse side effects. I think doctor's that prescribe ADHD medication need to take the side effects seriously though and do the appropriate tests before prescribing the medication. They really need to tell people how to take them too. None of this take 3 a day and stop taking it if you get the shakes.


Is the dot dot dot thing signalling sarcasm? I've never been sure of this.

By 'superior' I didn't mean better than those who don't take it. You don't need to take it because you can focus and self motivate and probably don't use up your entire mental capability in 2 hours.