ADHD medications and swimming

[Anonymous]

Have any of your female swimmers with ADHD taken medication? If so, has it affected their swimming in a negative way? I’m especially interested in pubescent females. TY!

[Anonymous]

My daughter started taking adhd meds at age 9, two years ago. She rapidly become a much better swimmer because of increased ability to focus on the coaches instruction and remember what she’s supposed to work on during practice sets.

The meds took her from what looked like aloof and messing around to coachable and cognizant.

[Anonymous]

If the amphetamine class of drug then they will actually have more energy and tire less. So, there is that.

[Anonymous]

Amphetamines are a super-drug for swimming. Your daughter will drop like 5 seconds in a 50.

[Anonymous]

DS is so much better at focusing when he swims medicated! He's been on the meds for a year now and had one AM practice where he isn't medicated, but he says he's learned to focus better and would prefer to save the meds for school.

Added bonus: he doesn't miss his races anymore because he can keep track of when he needs to get behind the blocks!

[Anonymous]

The reverse can also be true: DS with ADHD is just more centered when he is on a predictable swim schedule and working out regularly, and that has positive effects in other areas, too.

[Anonymous]

Many ADHD kids "self-medicated" with exercise because it helps them focus and the endorphins focus the brain.

[Anonymous]

Interesting discussion on impact on ADHD medication and growth. https://chadd.org/adhd-weekly/could-your-childs-meds-affect-his-height-likely-not/

I think the general concept that taller kids have less mental health issues like schizophrenia or ADHD, could account for their better performance in the pool.

https://www.jaacap.org/article/S0890-8567(23)00185-5/fulltext