Using the Internet for drug research. | ADHD Information

If you don't think meds do anything and it is all food related, WHY are you on the med board pastmember/BREN?

I apologize if this is irrelevant or if it's already been said....I just skimmed through the first post.

Regarding the internet and drug research...The net can be a great source of information, if used correctly.

Going to the drugs' websites and looking at the patient prescribing info is reliable. There are also a number of medical journals available online--these, too, are reputable sources. The FDA website also contains some useful info.

 The internet is great for drug research; the key is choosing reliable sources. (Also, check the date of the information b/c information/research is often changed, even over the period of a year or a few months).

I've used worstpills.org for some. It explains some of the chemical make up, and advises against new drugs as well as similar, older drugs.

But I agree that the internet can be great, you just have to be able to judge what is legit or not.  (And people tend to complain more that give complimenets on how things work, so personal pages are around for every drug.)

I listen to my doctor, but I always do my own research as well.  I question too much, LoL, but I still take my concerns back to him.
Science does not say that at all. Current neurological research is ongoing regarding links to dopamine. Imaging techniques have shown that an ADD brain works differently than a non-ADD brain. The causual link is still under discussion, but the physical evidence for ADD as an organic disorder is very strong and continues to get refined as more information becomes available.

I thank various deities that science is not dependent on your narrow view of what is correct.

"Some say"? There's some dietary components that have been researched and proven to be effective. There are also some dietary components that have been thoroughly debunked.


Fallen38651.5026157407Science says add and adhd no proof. There are machines out that looks at the movements in the Brain. I dislike it cause to me that is the same as looking at Visual disabilities which would not give the real picture. A person with Visual disability would flunk it. Some say foods don't cause behavior issues. I disagree cause tell us why our sons behavior is different on junk then on healthy foods. It bears repeating.

Please dont use the internet for drug research if you're a person who thinks that if something is printed then it must be true.

The majority of drug sites on the web have ulterior motives. If you look at the small print (either on the site itself or via ARIN/Netsol) you'll notice that most are owned by various groups or companies that have a vested interest in one particular point of view. In the majority of cases the sites themselves will not expose this information.

Case in point, Scientology is very big on official sounding groups that are supposed to help people learn about neurological drugs but merely echo the "Church/Company" line, wrapping it in pseudoscientific terms and using distorted research to defend their position.

The best thing you can do is put down some money on a book and read it cover to cover. Then talk to your doctor, and maybe another doctor. Ask lots of questions. This is about your, or your kids, health after all. Would you ask Joe Internet for medical advice?

If you simply must use the Internet (Because you have ADD and want info NOW NOW NOW) use your ADD ability to see things from all sides and instead of looking at ritalindeath.com for balanced information look towards sites that arent proposing some sort of pro/anti drug agenda. Things like 'Ritalin KILLS!!' or 'Hey, Ritalin is magical!' probably indicate some sort of bias and shouldnt be taken so literally.

Any info that you do find from somewhere other than the major information sites (about.com is usually a useful starting point if you're not an internet whiz) triple check it, there's a great deal of stupid science on the web - either malicious such as those examples above, or just from perpetuation of junk science that has often been debunked in the real world many times yet has become immortalized online. Example: Asparthame is poison! if you read the internet there's a great deal of supporting evidence of this position. Unless you go to page two or three of the Google search and find the huge stack of government reports, independent research, medical expert opinions that thoroughly debunk both the Asparthame issue and the origins of the myth itself.

In conclusion: Read a book, talk to doctor. Ignore ANYONE that provides a totally black and white perspective with no room for your own opinion/thought.
I agree that the internet is not the most reliable source of information. You might try medscape.com. It is a site for medical professionals with the latest articles and studies being performed. I'm not sure if it available for public access. If you can't get in, pm me and I'll give you my log on information.[QUOTE=sdw227]Hey didn't say that bug...now now!  Just pointed out junk food results in behavior changes.  Me for instance, coffee and sugar definately get me going.  Helps my Strattera go down great![/QUOTE]

Yeah, I read that as foods can impact behavior, which is true.  I have a bunch of items I'm  "not supposed to eat."  LoL

Sugar makes a lot of people hyper, makes some of us calm.  Same for caffiene.  And this is getting off-topic, but I think there are a lot more issues these days because of the environmental impacts.  The foods we eat are loaded with carbs, kids and adults don't get anywhere near the excercise we need, and many of us sit all day at boring desk jobs (or for kids, they are crammed into overcrowded classrooms, without the attention and challenges they need).

I am NOT saying that ADD or other issues don't exist, I have ADD myself.  But I think we are seeing a lot more problems because of the things I just mentioned.

Blah, I'm going to make a post in Adult, LoL... I am way off topic, sorry!

Can't say I ever blame being in a classroom for the 6 to 7 hours they are there.  After all - even accounting for a long 9 hour sleep and maybe an hour on the bus - that's 7 hours the kids could be in the playground, sports, bicycling with parents, etc.  The school does pin everybody in one spot for most of it (there is mandatory phys.ed though), but then it's up to parents to give the kids things that can keep them healthy! 

The school is not the babysitter, not the parental team.  We all too often blame the outside for the kids - but in the end the parents have the kids for the other 17 hours.

TVs have off switches, pills have instructions.  We are the ones who say what goes so let's all keep that in mind!

Believe me being an insane genius pays bupkus - nothing.  Man - I'll never be able to afford enough enriched uranium to process into a plutonium implosion ball! Takes all the fun of living away!!Hey didn't say that bug...now now!  Just pointed out junk food results in behavior changes.  Me for instance, coffee and sugar definately get me going.  Helps my Strattera go down great!

I think that everyone has to take a course in Googling 101.  If we all were more capable of figuring out the search results - there would be less people falling into the traps of the ritalin(put insult here).orgs

I'll try and make a short but concise course here.  All can help me fill it in if you see I either omitted or made errors.  Come on and help yourself anti-med reality/balanced, curus and the whole lot of you! you can join in too if you're not too busy browbeating a poor parent into keeping a child ADDled!!!

Googling 101 - A quick-and-dirty guide to getting the most from Google - the search engine (not google - the eye movement - I'll cover that one later in non-ADHD topics)

I choose google here because of 2 reasons: it's the most popular engine on the planet right now and it's also the largest database of web pages.  Also, it's extremely fast as they have thousands of computers cross-linking pages all the time.

First - how Google works (it's simplified - if too much let me know but we can't have 20 pages on how the boolean logic works keep that in mind ok?)

Google is a large conglomeration of very fast computers on an extremely fast network system (they upgrade to state-of-the-art almost monthly now). 

They get their info for the search results in one of two ways.  Now this is the important stuff - like how a guy on the street does three-card monte - after you know how you may not want to play the game the same way.

One way is the global search.  The supercomputers at Google gather every webpage from every Internet Service Provider (ISP) they are able to access around the globe.  They pull it in - and chop it into words and phrases which are put into a large database.  They calculate how many times the words are used, how they are put together, and most importantly how many people have seen these words on this page at any given time.  When you search for a word/phrase - the first ones are the most often seen by the most people online.

Secondly - now this is why the caution with any search engine is essential - Google also is a paid service for people to get words and phrases seen.  Mostly it's for consumer products, but almost anyone can buy the privelege from them - even us.

Google offers the service to the public to have certain words/phrases moved up the search list to the front - even if not seen by as many people as often!.  What this means is when you search, along with the most seen, people and companies have  had their own version of these words/phrases moved up to the first pages just by paying money for the right to.  So when you type in - for example- "Cadillac" - the first page contains paid listings for the Cadillac company, cadillac repair companies - even cadillac enthusiasts.  It costs a fair amount of money to post - so more companies than enthusiasts get seen for sure.

In our topics - when someone googles "Ritalin" - the first page(s) are paid for by the pharmaceutical companies, the "special interest" groups (scientology, family anti-med groups, ADHD support groups, etc.), and the like.  THEN - after the paid customers, you'll find the listings in order of how often seen and how many saw.

This is the reason you must be careful to remember that the first few pages will be skewed both FOR and AGAINST the meds.  Same with all searches - for example a "cadillac's are dangerous" group - if they paid for the right - could be right up next to cadillac's home page if they paid what Google asks for the privelege.

You can see this also when proper names of people, and of the meds are used.  If you use just one word - that's why the same sites come up over and over.  Logically - if you just type "Ritalin" in - you'd think that an engine search would vary over time - depending on sites seen and how many saw.  But - always the same few on the first page.  Keep that in mind next search!

That's why it's a good idea to always use multiple words/phrases, sometimes in quotes, to search for.  The more words used together - the less likely someone paid for that combination.

Spelling counts!

We here don't count spelling against people - but Google does! If you mispell a word - Google will bring up often deceptive advertising and propaganda - many times disturbing - for the following reason.  Advertisers and SIGs know we spell terribly! They know that you are likely to mess up and miss a letter or spell phonetically - and they have exploited that very well.

Example: Ever type in "Britney Spears"? - oh admit it already! Well, if you put a mispell in "Britnay Spears" - there are porn sites that have paid for every mispell imaginable - to catch people looking for info.  Same with meds - check next time and mispell intentionally and see what happens!

I've left a lot out - but wanted to keep this short(er).  Feel free to add, comment and amend this.  I just wanted to start a primer for the folks so you feel more confident. 

Oh- a background - I used to teach information systems and other computer related items.  I have an Assoc. Degree in Computer Information Systems Technology - and have been in the computer related fields (many) for over 20 years.  Just so you know I'm not blowing smoke up your collective fannies.

 

I agree with all the additives and preservatives in todays pre packaged foods.  I switched to preparing all my meals myself...unless I'm in a restaurant.  No more prepacked items.  Cook the veggies, grill that steak...boil the rice, etc.  The additives and preservatives are causing cancers and the likes.  Who knows what effect they are having on our brains.

The same for excersise.  We don't get anywhere near enough.

   yeah, i gotta agree about the exercise bit.

i was some Swiss kids the other day (month, few lots of months ago) and
these 13/14/15 year old boys were RUNNING up this huge steep, fresh
powder slope (which didn't have a lift on it) and flying down over three
different lips which meant they could throw themselves in the air and
somersault and all.

i tell you - walking up there once would have had me DONE for the day. i
am not particularly unfit either (not fit but normal) and these guys had SO
much energy that i suddenly had such a wave of pity for all those inner
city kids who get into trouble for tearing up seats on tube trains and all
--- because i realised they probably have the same level of energy and
NOWHERE to put it.

the english school system is fricked BIG TIME. every London school that
had playing fields has sold them off to make money off the huge property
boom and now these kids have at most a half-basketball size bit of
asphalt as their outside space. it's ridiculous --- and nowhere to go but
run up and down tube trains, tearing up the seats....

i mean, i know they could also tear up and down the park instead of the
tube train --- but i just had such a wave of sympathy for them. all that
repressed energy and nowhere to burn it off. it would be enough to drive
anyone nuts and angry wouldn't it???

it's all so HARD. we are all supposed just to be these intellectual, sit-still
types and we just aren't. and there are so few resources or options for
those who aren't - really. nothing is set up for those that aren't that -
except meds to make them like that. it's just TOO sad.

and you know what i think is even sadder ---

perhaps all these kids who are pushed into being the 'intellectual sit at a desk 9 - 5 instead of the mountaineer, designer, insane genius' they might have been because that is what is deemed currently acceptable and desirable and of course there'll be no jobs left in those fields cos everyone is going for them....

so the few who remained true to their natural selves will have the pick of the market. 

who knows??

its all so crazy - i blame the pervasive and pernicious influence of the media.  dictating what is or what isn't acceptable on such a narrow level.  fools.  narrow-minded fools that's all, they know not what they do.

nah in fact i take that all back.  cos what does ADD do except stop you becoming who you want to be...

so lucky kids, they WILL be the mountaineers, crazy genii and the rest.  hooray.  lucky them.


chjones38653.8512847222