- To Change Your Mind - Details Matter
Vyvanse for ADHD: The Complete Story on CorePsych Radio
Vyvanse Dosing for ADHD: Finding the Safe Top of the Window
June 17, 2009ADHD Medications: More Than ‘Going Fishing’
June 21, 2009Vyvanse Works Well for ADHD – If You Know How to Work It
- Where Are We?
Today [sorry for the short notice], I will spend the full hour on CorePsych Radio going over the details that I have been writing so often about here at CorePsych Blog.
My recent medical road tours from Cally to KY and Ohio have really surprised me – whilst living in my own office world the lights came on out there in their offices when I realized others simply don't have a detailed appreciation of how, why and what on Vyvanse – and how many don't get ADHD!
Most surprisingly, I have been quite overwhelmed by the academic-head-in-the-sand refusal to meet with pharmaceutical reps [not only in one esteemed medical school, but two important schools with national reputations!]. Their refusal implies that the pharmaceutical companies are all the bad guys, and taking the time to the actually discuss the research will corrupt their judgment.
My assumption: they are refusing to look at the street data. Street data counts in my book, and patient reports in the thousands dim the small numbers in their studies – which are quite affirmative with Vyvanse in the first place. It would be interesting to know the numbers of patients seen by all the docs I have seen who are significant ADHD treatment professionals in their respective communities.
I'm sure that academics see me as a ‘pharmaceutical lap dog' on some level, – but my observations on these CorePsych Posts, and with many colleagues on the road, do match well from office to office. The overall impression: Many are not keeping up with good patient care. They may be asking the right questions from their research perspectives, but from my chair I see many patients simply misdiagnosed and ineffectively medicated, even by some of those from the hallowed halls.
And I met only one doc in Santa Cruz who is actively talking about Neurotransmitter Precursors and diet. Lemme see, … where do neurotransmitters come from? I'll be talking about that precursor thing as well this PM.
Do run over to CorePsych Radio and download the Agenda for the 1 hr program this afternoon- times and downloadable pdf at that Radio link
See ya there,
cp
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6 Comments
Re: Street data
For years, I was the only one calling for awareness of how Adderall affected some people with ADHD — by making them irritable, angry, and sometimes even manic. I heard this so much in the online support group, which had taken to calling it “Madderall.”
Too often, if the prescribing docs were even alerted to this problem, they would pronounce: “The medication has unmasked bi-polar disorder.” They never heard about this side effect, because they didn’t track symptoms, didn’t ask, and didn’t ask for input from the spouse. When the patient stopped medication, many docs no doubt attributed it to low adherence and low compliance. They didn’t have a clue. Vast numbers still don’t.
Ask me about how many docs I interviewed who actually knew the difference between AMP and MPH medications or why Adderall might cause this in some people. Yet, somehow there was this nationwide consensus that Adderall was the “best” stimulant. Finally, Dr. Parker came through “on the record,” explaining why response is a highly individual matter with these two classes, and that information has helped so many people.
Gina-
New glasses, new refractions, provide a different, more functional picture of ADHD. Functional issues created different targets that, at this moment in time, few are consciously shooting at. Those new targets do require a deeper and even more consistent application of the stimulant meds. The inevitable positive outcomes are many: Less shame with ADHD, less humor about the outcomes, less joking about the diagnosis, more compliance from those with the problems, – and in these times of attention with medical money: far greater cost efficiency, fewer visits, and the opportunity to set a correct global example for treating this pervasively under-recognized medical challenge.
Whatever our medical oversights over here in the USA, ADHD is treated even more ineffectively in Europe and other highly developed countries. ADHD is a global problem with global consequences. Does impulsivity sound like it might be a newsworthy topic globally? Is ADHD the only problem associated with poor judgment and impulsivity, – of course not. Is ADHD the most common cause of impulsivity – of course it is.
An interesting correlate to this discussion: everyone on the street is an expert on ADHD, and has been for years. Even a small sampling complains of these multiple issues we have been discussing here.
Gina, your articulate, insightful observations, directly from the street do deserve everyone’s attention, and your book, Is It You, Me, or Adult ADD? is a great starting place for those who wonder about the current ADHD confusion – from meds to relationships. Thanks so much for your courage and leadership in a sea of gossip, and a swill of maybes. I appreciate your weighing in over here, your fellowship and engaging reportage help light the path for everyone.
cp
Amen and alleluia, Dr. P!
(Why am I finding this post only now….something must be up with my subscription.)
ARGH, I am getting completely fed up chatter with the psychiatrty-focused blogs. Of course, one imagines that most competent docs don’t have too much spare time for such “discourse.” But something tells me all the “lap dogs” of yesterday (the ones who listened ONLY to pharma reps and not to patients, neuroscience, common sense, and …..) are lurching to the complete extreme, in a showy effort to demonstrate their incorruptible purity!
To that, I repeat what Click and Clak say on The Car Guys: “Bo-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh GUS!” One extreme is as bad as the other, docs. Go for the substance, not the show. Listen to Dr. Parker!
Go team!
g
g,
I see the frustration you are reporting way too often. Pharma are not the bad guys, imprecision and superficial assessments are far more destructive. Interestingly, with ADHD, either on the web or in the press, we are dealing directly with public opinion. My own opinion: Public opinion counts, – and without improvements in our treatment strategies [not the responsibility of Pharma] ADHD will remain misunderstood and treated ineffectively. The public has a considerably larger voice in the matters than is commonly appreciated.
I may have passed the ball, but you ran hard and scored a touchdown! A big long distance high five to you over there in the end zone! -Thanks!
cp
Thanks for being on it Jackie, – is now up and running – well done!
cp
Hi – it doesn’t appear that the download for today’s program (June 18th) is posted yet. Thanks!