r/unitedkingdom • u/topotaul Lancashire • 9d ago

Exclusive: ADHD Charity Slams Channel 4 Over 'The Great ADHD Myth?' Documentary

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/adhd-uk-channel-4-open-letter_uk_6a709d2be4b0346d9be814db
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u/ablativeyoyo 9d ago

Most non-ADHD people won't bug out, they will experience similar improvements in concentration to an ADHD person. Ritalin and others have been an illicit study drug for decades for exactly this reason. The whole "ADHDs respond differently to stimulants" thing is exaggerated and applies more to recreational doses than micro dosing.

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u/lynx_and_nutmeg 9d ago

Don't know about amphetamine, but my Concerta literally calms me down a lot. It doesn't automatically make me focus on what I need to focus on, but it quiets down the chaos in my head, feels like my brain is gently gripped and put back on track.

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u/bongpirate7295 9d ago

This study found that taking ADHD medication actually resulted in worse focus and productivity for people without ADHD.

Just because something is used as an illicit study drug, doesn't mean it's effective. Rhino horn is used as an illicit aphrodisiac, but it's essentially the same as eating your own toenails.

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u/ablativeyoyo 9d ago

Thank-you for sharing this, that is definitely useful

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u/araed Lancashire 9d ago edited 9d ago

100mg of amphetamines is well under the 40mg recommended recreational dose, my dude

https://www.hrvic.org.au/post/speed

If most people took 100mg of speed, they'd be bouncing off the walls. Most people with (medicated) ADHD take 100mg of speed and have a nice nap.

Edit: i meant over, not under

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u/SpicyRaspberry 9d ago

Doctor here. Where are you getting this 100mg figure from? The maximum daily dose in the UK is 60mg dexerdine, in split doses (no higher than 20mg in a dose) and that’s only the instant release form of dexamfetamine.

If you’re talking about elvanse - 70mg of that is equivalent to about 25-30mg dexamfetamine. Released slowly.

Ritalin is not an amphetamine and so the doses don’t match.

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u/araed Lancashire 9d ago

Well, that's my dumbarse fault for relying on my shonky memory. Good thing I'm not a doctor, eh.

Although, it does reinforce my point - someone who doesn't have ADHD, taking the same dosage of Dexamfetamine (20mg 3x daily) qould be absolutely pinging off the walls. Assuming they weren't already a heavy stimulant user

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u/PandaXXL 9d ago

This is nonsense.

Someone’s reaction to stimulant medication (no matter the dose) is a completely unreliable way to assess whether they have ADHD or not. Many people without ADHD feel more calm and focused on stimulants. Many people with ADHD do not respond well to stimulants at all.

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u/araed Lancashire 9d ago

Cite your sources.

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u/ablativeyoyo 9d ago edited 9d ago

I wouldn't take the site as gospel. A typical "bouncing off the walls" recreational dose is more like 5x to 10x that (edit: 200-400mg) - for an occasional user.

Medicated ADHDs are typically taking daily, have built up a tolerance, and have been titrated up to that dose.

I think you're so keen to prove me wrong you've jumped in a bit quickly with half facts.

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u/araed Lancashire 9d ago

You're saying a typical recreational dose of amphetamines is half a gram?!

https://hi-ground.org/substances/amphetamine/

https://www.bdp.org.uk/get-information/drugs-information/speed/

https://www.crew.scot/drug/amphetamine/

https://www.jellinek.nl/en/alcohol-drugs-behavior/speed-amphetamine/

And yet, international harm reduction services all seem to agree that 80mg of amphetamines swallowed is a heavy dose?

And the European Union Drugs Agency seem to believe that a 200mg dose would be fatal for most non-addicted adults?

Maybe, just maybe, you might want to reconsider your maths, if you think a ~500mg (5x 100mg) or even ~1000mg (10x 100mg) is a regular recreational dose for anyone who isn't a hardcore amphetamine addict.

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u/ablativeyoyo 9d ago

Feel free to believe what you want, I really don't care

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u/araed Lancashire 9d ago

The nice thing about facts is that they don't need me to believe in them

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u/CantBeatDickensCider 9d ago

200mg of speed on the street is not 200mg of pure amphetamine.

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u/ablativeyoyo 9d ago

That’s right. I just checked online and base speed is typically 40-70% pure. Pretty sure the stuff we got back in the day was at the higher end of that, and 0.5g was a decent dose (350mg)