Is Adderall just a placebo? - The Week.
I stumbled upon this story about Adderall and other ADHD medications just being a placebo. My first reaction was simply to laugh. I have had ADHD since I was a little girl. I didn't start medicating until I was 26. My doctor tried me on Ritalin first, but it made me sleepy and groggy. Then he switched me to Adderall IR. Trust me, this is not a placebo. Adderall IR did not just trick my mind into thinking I was focusing better. Yes, there is the initial euphoria when taking the medication, but as your body adjust to the medication, you will find yourself in a whole new light. On the days I don't take my Adderall, I am like the 7 year old girl again who couldn't focus on one thing, hyperactive and simply surrounded by unfinished tasks. It truly has helped me get my life on a more organized track.
On another note, I do not believe this should be the "Study Drug" of college students. There are so many side effects, even deadly sife effects of these medications. A lot of college kids who take them probably have no clue the long list of side effects. There was enough to intimidate me and I actually had a prescription and diagnosed ADHD. ADHD drugs effect everyone differently. So when people without ADHD/ADD take the medications, they can be playing with fire.
