ADHD Medications Can Cause Hallucinations
January 26, 2009 
3 Comments
This morning I was sent the link to an article titled, “ADHD Drugs Can Cause Hallucinations In Some Kids.” You can view it here in it’s entirety.
It begins with the opening line, “Drugs for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can cause children to have hallucinations even when taken as directed…” Startling, isn’t it? Let me just comment that this is an attention grabbing headline. And it should be…. right?
But does it also cause unnecessary fear and panic in the community? Who is this article really for? Is this meant for the general public? Is it meant for professionals? And if it is meant for the general public — what is the purpose?
In some ways this continues the debate of news for the public good versus news for ratings.
In my opinion…this is dangerous news that gets leaked to the public without adequate follow-up or information to help people know what is really going on.
There’s Always Something More…
Shortly after seeing this article, a colleague of mine in the ADHD community e-mailed me to say that this might actually account for undiagnosed Bi-polar Disorder in children who have been inaccurately diagnosed with ADHD.
Sidebar: ADHD and Bipolar Disorder share many similar symptoms and can be misdiagnosed for one another without careful attention to detail.
The Real Take Aways!
- Accurate diagnosis is everything
- Medication is NOT always the answer (and it does not always come without side effects)
- Consult with competent professionals
- Focus on behaviors – labels can be dangerous
- Diagnosis is an art
This article really drives home why it is so important to connect with knowledgeable, trained professionals. There are a lot of people who feel they are experts in ADHD either because they have raised a child with ADHD themselves, or have overcome their own ADHD symptoms and challenges.
I wholeheartedly believe these people have the best intentions, but intentions aren’t enough when it comes to get the right information to support your child, your family, a loved one, or yourself.
Lastly, the article also characterizes, “ADHD is marked by restlessness, impulsiveness, inattention, and distractability that can interfere with a child’s ability to pay attention in school and maintain social relationships.”
**This is yet another misrepresentation, over-generalization, and simplification of a complex condition that we know as ADHD.
- Who doesn’t this describe?
These symptoms are NOT exclusive to ADHD. There could be…. and often times is more going on.
Have a different perspective? We love to hear from our readers. Let us know what you think about this post by leaving a comment below.
PS – Have you gotten your ADHD Essentials Audio Kit yet? Sign Up Today, it’s FREE
I think that most children are like this: “…restlessness, impulsiveness, inattention, and distractability that can interfere with a child’s ability to pay attention in school and maintain social relationships.”
I know I was, and I never had ADHD; I think that a lot of ADHD is set-up so that parents do not have to take personal responsibility for their childrens’ actions, at any level.
The comment like the one above is so, so unfounded and hurtful. Why is it that ADHD brings about these types of reactions? I have never heard of anybody saying things like this with other neural disorders… Sure, I have heard and read the typical “must be the mom’s fault” for the onset of a disorder, but this typically comes from lack of knowledge. With ADHD it is different, even the reality of the disorder is questioned. I don’t get it. Is it because of the drugs used to support the children? Is it because people cannot understand what ADHD is? Anyone have a clue?
I agree with Joel. Children are restless, impulsive and distracted. The thing is, that the schools make the kids sit quietly and behave to their expectations, without looking at child development. AD/HD is a ligitmate disorder, however, I feel that it is over diagnosed and is run by the phymasutical company so they can make a profit. There are so many different reasons for children to act that way and different solutions without meds. Parents need to help their children