"I used to be addicted to opiates and painkillers, and my doctor has prescribed a stimulant medication for ADHD. Should I be worried?"
by
Larry Silver, M.D.
Be candid with the physician about your past drug dependency. Taken correctly, ADHD medications are not physiologically addicting. They do not alter your feelings or perceptions, so you need not be worried about feeling "high." Just be sure to stick to the dose and time prescribed. If you find that you frequently need higher doses, alert your physician. You should be watchful, but I do not expect that you will have a problem.