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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – College students, particularly in professional schools, have for decades sought out that extra boost — sometimes in the form of over-the-counter medications and diet pills — to help them cram for tests or other important assignments. The widespread misuse by college students and athletes of prescription drugs such as Adderal — commonly prescribed to treat ADHD, not academic or athletic performance concerns — has become a growing concern because of the potentially addictive and life-threatening consequences. “Adderal seems to be the popular choice among both groups,” said Douglas McKeag, M.D., director of the Indiana University Center for Sports Medicine at the IU School of Medicine. “These amphetamine-based medications are effective in the treatment of ADHD and related disorders. However, as one might expect, they carry significant side effects for both groups.”
* Background: This, year the use of ADHD medications by college athletes is banned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association unless student-athletes can provide documentation of an evaluation and treatment plan for the disorder. The NCAA’s action was adopted for performance and health concerns and because of an increase in the use of ADHD drugs by its athletes. McKeag said sometimes families seek ADHD diagnoses for their kids to give them an edge academically or athletically. In addition to being a stimulant, ADHD medications such as Adderal and Concerta can improve focus. McKeag said he suspects college students obtain the medication from friends who might have a prescription.
Side effects for students and student-athletes include possible addiction. The stimulants can cause a disturbance in body temperature regulation, which can make athletes more susceptible to heat stroke and other heat disorders. McKeag said students and athletes with a history of heart problems especially should think twice about misusing the drugs — the medications can cause cardiac arrhythmias, which can contribute to sudden death. If athletes are over-stimulated by the drugs, their performance could actually suffer because of a loss of motor control. “Obviously, these are not innocuous drugs,” McKeag said. “Taking them, even episodically, is a serious matter for both student and athlete.”
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