Okay, we’re assuming, number one, that you have done a good job diagnosing ADD or ADHD, and that ADHD is the primary diagnosis, far out-shadowing any comorbid problems that may also be present. And number two, we are assuming that you, the patient, and the parents (if the patient is under age) have all agreed that now is the time for a medication trial.

Six short years ago, an influential study came out in Archives of General Psychiatry that was widely interpreted as showing that therapy adds little of value to the treatment of ADHD (Arch Gen Psychiatry 1999; 56:1073-1086).

The Official TCR ADHD Medication Comparison Chart

On February 9, 2005, Health Canada (HC) announced that it was suspending sales of Adderall XR in Canada because of concerns that it might lead to sudden death and stroke. The FDA, however, has begged to differ.

Dr. Diller, you’re a rare bird in the ADHD world in that you are skeptical of our reliance on stimulants for treating this condition, and yet you have an unusually good grasp and appreciation of how and when to use them. What is your background?

Amphetamine was first synthesized in Germany in 1887. It became popular as a recreational drug in the US in the 1930s. While cocaine was declared illegal in 1914, amphetamines were widely available, and were often used by college students and truck drivers.