Myth About Ad Hoc Use Of ADHD Meds

Clinicians sometimes suggest that stimulant medications for people with ADHD are only needed on days to be productive at work or school but several mental health advocates says this is really a myth and likely due to stigma and failure to appreciate the full daily impact of the condition.

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Mental health medication has long-held a stigma that’s prevented people from getting the adequate help that they need - from chatter about the heavy side effects to perceptions about being “weak” for needing antidepressants.

Some clinicians imply that people with a mild to severe ADHD diagnosis shouldn’t take their stimulant medication daily, either because they don’t “need” it on days they aren’t working or at school, or to avoid building up a tolerance.

“ADHD has often been overdiagnosed and overtreated - I don’t like to prescribe stimulants for just “brain fog" - but agree for patients with true ADHD it should be taken regularly,” says Paola Sandroni M.D. Ph.D at The Mayo Clinic. “[But] I’ve had patients who felt they did not need it during summer break from school.”

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As background, ADHD affects executive function and this impacts memory, emotional stability, organization and motivation. People with mood disorders coupled with ADHD face larger challenges. Use of stimulant medications to combat this can help neutralize emotional stability and mood.

Building up a tolerance to stimulant medication is also a myth because it would have to be an exceptionally high dosage for this to happen, an amount that would imply abuse of the medication.

Due to stigma, health insurers sometimes won’t cover more than 28 days of stimulant medication per month, not always equating to a daily dosage. It can be frustrating for a person who prefers to be focused every day. ADHD impacts vary heavily on the brain and stimulant medication taken daily can allow for more adequate function, several physicians have said.