Medication vs. no Medications that is the question???

There are several different forms of medications for the treatment of ADD. After weighing the facts it really comes down do if you want to put up with the side affects. Yes taking the medications makes it allot easier to function at work and school but it does not come with out risk. The most common medication is Ritalin. This is the medication that I was on from the beginning until it was just to much so I stopped in high school. The main problem with trying to go it alone with out medication is your professors and your employers have to be extremely patient. It is sad to say that this is not always the case. Some side affects from most ADD medications are as follows Dizziness; headache; loss of appetite; nausea; nervousness; stomach pain; trouble sleeping. One more uncommon side affect is depression. This is a problem that I faced once I discontinued my medications. The loss of appetite is probably the most common side affect. The one thing that the drug company does not inform the users of the medications is the impending crash that comes at the end of the day. Most individuals take the medication by 8am and by 6 or 7pm there is a huge crash in you energy. This problem is similar to being stuck between a rock and a hard place. When making the decision you are faced with have large problems with focusing and other symptoms or take the medication and face the side affects from the medication. This is a difficult decision for an adult but an even more difficult decision for parents to decide for their children. Yes more children are being diagnosed then in previous years but there has been a direct link between ADD/ADHD and to much TV and video game use. With the majority of American children spending their days in front of a TV or playing video games there will be an increase in ADD/ADHD and childhood obesity.