The Truth About ADHD Meds: A Psychiatrist's Unfiltered Take

Dr. Cody discusses ADHD Focus issues and potential treatments
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Cody Rall, M.D., is a United States Navy trained Psychiatrist who specializes in neurotechnology wearables. He is a co-founder of Stanford Brainstorm, the world’s first academic laboratory dedicated to transforming brain health through entrepreneurship.
Dr. Rall also served as a board member of the psychiatry innovation lab, an annual national competition at the American Psychiatric Association that works as an incubator for groups developing technological solutions to problems in mental health care. He is the founder of Techforpsych, a media and relations company that covers advancements in technology related to neuroscience.
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Episode Timestamp Notes:
The Problem with ADHD: 0:00-1:56
How ADHD Works: 1:56-4:53
Different ADHD Treatments: 4:53-8:02
The most effective ADHD Treatment: 8:02-11:20
Things you Can Do at Home: 11:20-12:51
What Treatment is Best for You?: 12:51-13:47
Edited with Gling AI: bit.ly/46bGeYv

[@amandamate9117]

As someone with ADHD in their 30s, I've found a routine that helps manage my symptoms without medications. I don't currently use ADHD meds, and I can work without them. My daily practices include: - 1-2 big doses of black tea (likely beneficial due to L-theanine) - 2 big scoops of protein powder with high-fat yogurt in the morning (provides clarity and reduces brain fog, possibly due to amino acids supporting neurotransmitters) - Mindfulness meditation with neurofeedback using a MUSE 2 headband (30 min daily) - Intermittent fasting (may restore metabolic flexibility) - Daily multivitamin/multimineral pill with small doses of ashwagandha and rhodiola (around 50mg each) I also incorporate regular strength training and aerobic exercise like walking/cycling into my weekly regimen.

[@CodyRallMD]

Thank you for sharing your routine Amanda!

[@brian423]

Speaking of organization and planning, the world's best system for that is probably David Allen's Getting Things Done (GTD). That's the one I would recommend to anyone with or without ADHD.

[@justapersonalacc]

I tried work books, therapy, healthy eating, excessive exercise… Being on Vyvance changed my life after 25 years of not being medicated. Like most things, ADHD is a spectrum and if yours is severe and has coexisting disorders (like ocd/addiction) - do not be ashamed if a work book doesn’t work for you. Also, it is amazing that people can manage without medication. I tried to do it but unfortunately that’s not the case for everyone. ❤️

[@israelisraily1308]

There's so much fear regarding ADHD medication. It's such a common thing to see people having a goal to go off of medication even if I will decrease their overall life quality.

[@robertharrington5200]

Excellent explanation of ADHD and protocols for treatment. I was diagnosed by Edward Hollowell over 30 years ago and until 5 months ago (when I had a heart attack) was on concerta (ritalin). I credit a fairly smooth withdrawal in the fact that over many years I've developed and teach mindfulness meditation. Thank you for your excellent content.

[@CodyRallMD]

Thank you Robert! Glad to hear meditation has helped with your symptoms

[@annakissed3226]

​@@CodyRallMDI concur meditation use my muse has been a solid help, over the yeaes. As of course have you. I not sure if I met a muse before or after meeting your channel. But if I could only have say 5 KZbin channels, I suspect two if them would be you & Andrew Huberman.

[@CC-jr5vk]

You doing ok after the heart attacks? Yeah that is a challenge with the meds. I always have that concern taking them. I did meditation still do way before using them. Another big concern is stimulants like preworkouts. I saw more people in the ER where I did 12 lead EKG’s for supplements due to palpitations and fast heart rate. The longtern use of ADHD stimulants does have more risk factors related to them. I think for most of us with ADHD is a combo of things and ideally if you can go without meds it's always the best option. I do think meds like have their place if the meditation, CBT, exercise, and sleep aren't working. I think many people forget about meds like Intuniv that lower B/P and can help some with focus. I believe Propranolol is another one used for off label use at times.

[@CC-jr5vk]

Dr Cody any discounts for Neurable Headphones? You’ve mentioned them a lot. Do you think they would help with ADHD?

[@CodyRallMD]

Not yet, I should be getting them for review by the end of April@@CC-jr5vk

[@bilelrais5413]

Awesome video. Would be great if you can create a similar video for Insomnia which seems to follow similar patterns in terms of treatment options

[@Eflodur]

Some theck powered brain measurements and micro dosing psychedelics would be interesting!

[@ClaireandNanami]

Interesting video. You should do one on anxiety and also one on deppression.

[@andrewgordon5451]

Please review and comment on David Allen's GTD (Getting Things Done) system. His first book came out in 2001, and has gained a world-wide "cult-ish" following since then. It seems like the authors of your book on this video have either intentionally or unintentionally summarized and rehashed his main concepts. Not saying anything negative about that, just saying that someone that needs a deep-dive and mastery into this area would get more from the complete GTD methodology and ecosystem.

[@am12976]

I've watched many of your videos & really appreciate your scientific view on neurotech. Still torn between Sensai, Mendi & FocusCalm for overall cognitive enhancement (not taking price into consideration). I know that you've made a comparison between the latter 2; but a comparison including Sensai would be very useful. Also, I'm very eager to know of your thoughts on VNS devices like Apollo, Pulsetto, TouchPoints, Hapbee, Sapphire, VeRelief, Truvaga, Sensate, Nurosym & Neuvana...

[@CodyRallMD]

Thanks for watching! I would recommend Mendi as a starter and Sensai for more versatility if you are willing to pay the higher price for it.

[@am12976]

@@CodyRallMD Thanks. What're your thoughts on brain games? Do you think they're effective? If so, which one do you prefer?

[@CC-jr5vk]

@@am12976I agree! I have ADHD and found a combo of psychotherapy, focus groups like Inflow using Pomadoro, medication, meditation using (Muse, Mendi, Therabody, Sens.AI). Mind games help me especially with memory techniques using Memory Palaces. I found those are the most powerful for memory. Look at the Memory Athletes. I think we need more scans and technology studying them. Also, everyone is forgetting exercise! Research shows exercise is important to brain health. I agree with Dr Amen on HIIT training helps us out.

[@clyde2801]

Have you tried Vital Neuro headset yet?

[@CodyRallMD]

No, not yet. Have you seen any positive reviews?

[@annakissed3226]

Have you looked at the use of sports massage & the various forms of Chiropractic as means of stress management, thus requiring less medication. . I find that adhd medications have a quantity of cope or "spoons" associated with them. The more or less cope that is required each day the more or less Ritalin is required. I take short acting medication so I can titrate my dosage throughout a day,. Titration of a drug over months is not titration that's a route to addiction. To often I have had nurses insist that I take pain medication whether I need it or not. Thus not assisting in my bodies pain managment but instead replacing it.

[@annakissed3226]

Hi Cody. Not actually watched the KZbin yet. If I had not got CFS I might have been a colleague of yours i.e military Psychiatrist as I am very interested in treating trauma. And I have followed your channel for years looking for tools other than medication. So I was very sceptical about adhd meds, but I have very intense adhd and they have proved successful to a certain extent. But what I have also found is diet also make huge differences for me and for others. In my case it was a high protein, low fat & zero carb diet but for others a raw, vegan diet does seem to be effective. The key issue here is the damage being caused for these last 150 years that also effects the expression of our genetics through lack of Vitamin D. And that is poor quality carbohydrate. So for me my aim is to use medications till I have changed my diet & self management through meditation etc but hopefully I stop using psychoactive medication

[@annakissed3226]

An area of study that hasn't been looked at. Is that the brain doesn't distinguish between psychological & physiological trauma. That EMDR may be working because it helps with both physiological & psychological trauma simultaneously. My interest in trauma my come from being a Boston Globe spotlight kid. But I strongly suspect my CFS is an off shoot of that environment. But it also means I can see the effect of muscle relaxant medications on ADHD medications. And in my case just like with other medications such as opiates they have performance enhancing effects. I need to use less opiates with methocarbamol and that is also true with Ritalin. This is just one observation. Methocarbamol is used off label prescription only in the US & UK but in the rear of the commonwealth, Europe, Asia etc it's availble over the counter. And if you have ADHD you could discuss with your doctor using Methocarbamol as well. But if you do buy it make sure it is the coated not uncoated version. But please use caution.

[@victorvanweelden4902]

Please do a follow up about autism

[@SuperAmazingAnt]

First education could more active type for kids, crazy kind of think you just sit them down so much when they are young and have alot of energy. And the school prob is moldy or something. I mean you can calculate pickin up board and stones. Back in the days kids prob helped to build the house with small chores and older people helpet to build own house for young one when they were teens. You could teach even complex physics in this manner. For adults i think small dose of medicine could be beneficial for all to stabilize to neurons and microtubules, usually people take too high dosage little bit like with coffee though.

[@SuperAmazingAnt]

Adhd usually have diffrent fibre types and they need more pressure =movement/blood flow through wholebody. I would be pretty sceptical about meditation or atleast meditation with movement like thai chi or something would prob.be more beneficial anyways.

[@CC-jr5vk]

Don't forget yoga was created to go deeper in a person’s meditation practice. Movement does increase blood flow. Just my take.

[@annakissed3226]

You describe adhd medication as instantly working. That isn't true in my case, they have an effect over half an hour or more, in a similar way to pain medication. The only "drug" I know that has a instant hit of dopermine etc is Sugar - with something like a Trebour Extra Strong Mint being about a minute. They are very useful but in my case very, very addictive. I repeatedly get readdicted and then have to fight for at least a week to stop the addiction