james michael howard

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A Possible Explanation of Growth Suppression caused by Stimulants for ADHD"

Copyright 2004, James Michael Howard, Fayetteville, Arkansas

"National Institute of Mental Health Multimodal Treatment Study of ADHD
Follow-up: Changes in Effectiveness and Growth After the End of Treatment"
(PEDIATRICS Vol. 113 No. 4 April 2004, pp. 762-769)

"Conclusion. In the MTA follow-up, exploratory naturalistic analyses suggest
that consistent use of stimulant medication was associated with maintenance of
effectiveness but continued mild growth suppression."


I suggest there may be an explanation for the slight growth suppression induced
by ritalin. It is my hypothesis that all / most neuroactive drugs exert their
effects by activating specific brain regions which respond by stimulating, and
then absorbing, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). The increased absorption of DHEA
then activates that specific brain part. A number of drugs of abuse have been
connected with DHEA production. Subordinately, I suggest this stimulatory
effect is reduced with time, therefore, requiring more drugs for the stimulation
of DHEA. This is addiction and may also explain why the effects of these
stimulants for ADHD were "lessened somewhat over time." Ritalin stimulates DHEA
production and "may play a role in the therapeutic effects of methylphenidate."
(Neuropsychobiology 2003; 48: 111-5).

My principal hypothesis is that DHEA was selected by evolution because it may
optimize replication and transcription of DNA. Therefore, all tissues rely on
DHEA. Furthermore, it is my hypothesis that testosterone evolved to direct the
use of DHEA, that is, tissues affected by testosterone exhibit increased growth
as a result of increased use of DHEA. Additionally, it is my hypothesis that
cortisol, the other major adrenal steroid, evolved to antagonize the effects of
DHEA. (I think this is the basis of the "fight or flight" mechanism.) A study
was done of "a group of disruptive children" aged 7 through 14 years which
reported direct connections with testosterone and cortisol. "RESULTS: Results
indicated significant positive relationships between testosterone and
staff-rated aggression and between cortisol and parent-rated internalizing
behavior. A significant negative relationship was found between cortisol and
staff-rated inattention/overactivity. No interactions between testosterone and
cortisol were found. These results were maintained regardless of age, racial
background, height, weight, diagnosis, or medication status. CONCLUSIONS:
Results suggest moderate relationships between testosterone and observed
aggression, and between cortisol and emotional behaviors, in a group of
disruptive children. Cortisol did not moderate the testosterone-aggression
relationship in this population." (J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 1994; 33:
1174-84).

When ritalin increases DHEA, two phenomena may occur. An increased DHEA to
cortisol ratio occurs which increases the positive effects of DHEA on the
child's ability to control impulses, that is, increased DHEA reduces disruptive
behaviors. Increased DHEA may work with testosterone to accelerate the onset of
puberty, thereby, reducing height, and reducing weight gain by increasing the
"anti-obesity" effect of DHEA. This may explain ADHD and the slight growth
suppression induced by stimulants used to treat ADHD.

James Michael Howard
www.anthropogeny.com