gettingmylifeback

Here are some links that cite the study: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110220193013.htm http://amphetamines.org/adhd/drugsbrain.html http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/boomer-health/articles/2011/02/20/can-prescription-amphetamine-use-raise-parkinsons-risk And here is someone else who was taking the drug and reportedly developed PD symptoms: http://www.addforums.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-79853.html Aside from the logical connection one can make between dopamine production and the onset of neurological disease, this study is pretty compelling...especially because it lasted nearly 40 years. If you google it, you'll probably find a lot more info. There are concerns being raised about connections to Alzheimer's and Restless Leg Syndrome, as well as a number of other neurological conditions. The verdict still is inconclusive, but I suspect one of the reasons more studies of this nature haven't emerged is because the drug industry has such a stranglehold on the medical community. That, and studies like this take so much time...I bet we will be hearing more about this in the coming decades. I just know that I don't want to be on any drug that causes motor symptoms such as the ones I have been describing short term, because it's not a stretch for me to think that given time, the results could be far more devastating. It's interesting that you experienced some hints of similar symptoms. It seems from reading these forums they are far more common than doctors would have us believe.

Hello all. I want to say that first of all, I joined because I felt I had to contribute to this discussion in particular. I am 32 years old, and I took adderall as prescribed for nearly four years. During that time, my father was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. Does this mean I am genetically predisposed to Parkinson's? Possibly yes, possibly no. What I do know for sure is that, even before my father was diagnosed, I noticed a strange tremor in my left hand. At first, it was only happening during the crash phase. Then, it started to occur every time I took the medication. Over time, it became worse, and eventually my left eyelid began to twitch nearly continuously. As time went on, the tremor got worse, until finally it had evolved into a resting tremor, which is associated specifically and only with PD. I have been off the drug for nearly three months, and still experience this tremor when I am sleep deprived or in times of stress. Now, it can be stopped if I steady my hand, but before it would not go away no matter what I did. The twitch in my eyelid has only lessened, and has not gone away. I have since found out that there is a great amount of research that connects long-term Adderall use to Parkinson's disease. Knowing that I have always been perfectly healthy prior to Adderall and that while I was on the drug, I developed this persistent eyelid twitch and this resting tremor in my hand is something I find profoundly disturbing, to put it mildly. Now, if you talk to most doctors and pharmacists, they are likely going to say that what I am telling you is not plausible, but google Parkinson's and Adderall and you won't have to go far to find that there is a real cause for concern here. Considering PD is caused by a lack of dopamine production in the brain, it makes perfect sense to me that overstimulating the cells that produce dopamine is bound to be a problem long-term. There are a host of other neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's, that are caused by similar damage to the brain. Obviously I am not a medical professional. I can only speak to my experience. But I think the bottom line is that we just do not know enough about this drug's long term effects, nor do the people who are prescribing it. When I think about how much medical school research and education is funded by drug companies, it's not hard for me to imagine why. This is just my two cents, but I thought you might like to hear what I've experienced. At the very least, I have a very annoying problem that as of yet, has not resolved itself. And I suspect there are a host of other possibilities out there, depending on the individual.