VOLUME 7, NO. 3 APRIL 25, 2002
NJ ADD/ADHD ADULT NEWSLETTER
ADD ADULT SELF HELP SUPPORT GROUP
FOR ADD/ADHD ADULTS
AND THEIR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS
MEETING: THE NEXT MEETING OF THE ADD ADULT SELF HELP SUPPORT GROUP WILL BE ON APRIL 25, 2002 AT 7:30 PM AT MONMOUTH MEDICAL CENTER, ROOM 114 STEINAM HOUSEMAN, LONG BRANCH, NJ. GO TO THE RECEPTION DESK IN THE MAIN LOBBY AND GET DIRECTIONS. THE TOPIC WILL BE: ADD BOUNDARIES, ASSERTIVENESS, & SELF ESTEEM--YOUR PERFECT RIGHT
RESEARCH: IN A RESEARCH ARTICLE BY H.PENTIKIS, PH.D. etal., METHYLPHENIDATE BIOAVAILABILITY IN ADULTS WHEN AN EXTENDED-RELEASE MULTIPARTICULATE FORMULATION IS ADMINISTERED SPRINKLED ON FOOD OR AS AN INTACT CAPSULE, J.AM.ACAD.CHILD ADOLESC.PSYCHIATRY, 2002, 41(4): 443-449, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE BIOAVAILABILITY OF A FORM OF RITALIN, METADATE CD EXTENDED RELEASE CAPSULES, WAS NOT ALTERED WHEN THE CAPSULE WAS OPENED AND SPRINKLED ON A SMALL AMOUNT OF APPLESAUCE.
COMMENT: FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE DIFFICULTY SWALLOWING PILLS OR CAPSULES (26% OF THE ADULT POPULATION), THIS IS A WELCOMED RESEARCH FINDING. THIS EXTENDED RELEASE FORM OF RITALIN WORKED WELL EITHER AS A CAPSULE OR SPRINKLED ON APPLESAUCE.
RESEARCH: IN A RESEARCH ARTICLE BY D.CONNOR, M.D. etal., PSCYOPHARMACOLOGY AND AGGRESSION. I: A META-ANALYSIS OF STIMULANT EFFECTS ON OVERT/COVERT AGGRESSION-RELATED BEHAVIORS IN ADHD, J.AM.ACAD.CHILD ADOLESC.PSYCHIATRY, 2002, 41(3): 253-261, IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE STIMULANT MEDICATIONS RITALIN, DEXTROAMPHETAMINE, AND PEMOLINE DECREASED OVERT AND COVERT AGGRESSION TO THE SAME DEGREE THAT THE MEDS TREATED THE CORE SYMPTOMS OF ADHD (INATTENTION, IMPULSIVITY & HYPERACTIVITY). OVERT AGGRESSION WAS DEFINED AS DIRECT CONFRONTATION WITH THE ENVIRONMENT (PHYSICAL ASSAULT, VERBAL THREATS, OPPOSITIONAL, DEFIANT, AND NON-COMPLIANT BEHAVIORS, MALICIOUS TEASING, EXPLOSIVE OUTBURSTS, TANTRUMS, RAGE ATTACKS, HOSTILITY AND IRRITABILITY). COVERT AGGRESSION INCLUDED: LYING, STEALING, CHEATING, DELINQUENCY, VANDALISM, AND FIRE-SETTING. WHEN CONDUCT DISORDER PLUS ADHD WERE DIAGNOSED THE EFFECTS WERE NOT AS ROBUST.
COMMENT: MANY SPOUSES COMPLAIN THAT THEIR ADHD PARTNERS ARE TOO AGGRESSIVE. THIS ARTICLE SUGGESTS THAT STIMULANT MEDICATIONS CAN USUALLY TREAT BOTH THE ADHD AGGRESSION AND THE ADHD CORE SYMPTOMS.
RESEARCH: IN A RESEARCH ARTICLE BY J.MORRISON, PH.D. etal., METFORMIN FOR WEIGHT LOSS IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS TAKING PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS, AM.J.PSYCHIATRY, 2002, 159(4): 655-656, IT WAS REPORTED THAT A MEDICATION APPROVED BY THE FDA FOR USE WITH CHILDREN TO DEAL WITH WEIGHT GAIN WAS VERY EFFECTIVE IN NOT ONLY PREVENTING WEIGHT GAIN FROM SEVERAL PSYCHOACTIVE MEDICATIONS, BUT ACTUALLY CAUSED THE PATIENTS (AGES 10-18 YEARS) TO LOSE WEIGHT (RANGE 9-26 POUNDS). METFORMIN IMPROVES INSULIN SENSITIVITY, INCREASES MITOCHONDRIAL METABOLISM, STIMULATES AEROBIC RESPIRATION AND MITOCHONDRIAL B-OXIDATION. THE DOSAGE USED WAS 500mg t.i.d. MEDICATIONS INVOLVED INCLUDED ZYPREXA, RISPERIDONE, VALPROATE.
COMMENT: YOU MAY BE WONDERING WHY I REVIEWED THIS FOR THE ADHD GROUP. MANY ADDers REFUSE TO USE SOME OF THE EFFECTIVE MEDICATIONS FOR THEIR PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF FEAR OF WEIGHT GAIN. HERE IS A POSSIBLE EFFECTIVE, SAFE ALTERNATIVE TO AVOIDING AN APPROPRIATE MEDICATION. CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR OR BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB.
COMMENT: DR. RUSSELL BARKLEY WAS QUOTED IN AN ARITICLE IN ATTITUDE, 2002, 2(5):57 AS SAYING THAT ADHD IS A REAL DISABILITY AS EVIDENCE BY THE FOLLOWING STATISTICS: 32-40% DROP OUT OF SCHOOL; 5-10% DO NOT COMPLETE COLLEGE; 50-70% HAVE FEW OR NO FRIENDS; 70-80% UNDER PERFORM AT WORK; 40% OF ADHD FEMALES ARE MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE TEEN PREGNANCY etc.
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PEACE!!! Bob