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At high doses, prescription amphetamines, used to treat ADHD could increase a person’s risk of psychosis. Image credit: visualspace/Getty Images.
A stimulant is a drug that stimulates the central nervous system, increasing arousal, attention and endurance. Stimulants are used in psychiatry to treat attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder. Because the medications can be addictive, patients with a history of drug abuse are typically monitored closely or treated with a non-stimulant.
The National Institute of Mental Health recommends stimulants for the treatment of ADHD, and states that, "under medical supervision, stimulant medications are considered safe". [59] A 2007 drug class review found no evidence of any differences in efficacy or side effects in the stimulants commonly prescribed. [60]
Some physicians may prescribe a stimulant to treat the side effects of another psychiatric medication or to enhance it. This is sometimes called a “prescribing cascade," Moore said.
Stimulant psychosis is a mental disorder characterized by psychotic symptoms (such as hallucinations, paranoid ideation, delusions, disorganized thinking, grossly disorganized behaviour). It involves and typically occurs following an overdose or several day binge on psychostimulants , [ 1 ] although it can occur in the course of stimulant ...
Its effects generally begin within two hours and last for up to 14 hours. [15] Common side effects of lisdexamfetamine include loss of appetite, anxiety, diarrhea, trouble sleeping, irritability, and nausea. [15] Rare but serious side effects include mania, sudden cardiac death in those with underlying heart problems, and psychosis. [15]
A systematic review of cardiovascular effects of prescription stimulants found no association in children, but found a correlation between prescription stimulant use and ischemic heart attacks. [17] A review over a four-year period found that there were few negative effects of stimulant treatment, but stressed the need for longer-term studies. [18]
Doctors may prescribe non-stimulants including atomoxetine when a person has bothersome side effects from stimulants; when a stimulant was not effective; in combination with a stimulant to increase effectiveness; [31] [32] when the cost of stimulants is prohibitive; or when there is concern about the abuse potential of stimulants in a patient ...