#aFactADay2024
#1123: a paradoxical reaction is when a medicine has the exact opposite effect to usual. for example if an antibiotic is over-used, the number of bacteria paradoxically increases (aka the Eagle effect). the paradoxical effect is also perhaps more common with people with ADHD, particularly with stimulants: amphetamines, caffeine and so on have been reported to cause drowsiness. one of the first attempted treatments for ADHD was benzedrine, a potent energiser, which allegedly caused subdued and sensible behaviour in children with ADHD. for a period, they were used to diagnose ADHD because a paradoxical reaction would occur - but in actuality, paradoxical reactions have a range of causes (including genetic) and only a minority of those with ADHD had the paradoxical reaction.
the reason i say perchance is because recent research is disputing statistically that there is insignificant correlation between the paradoxical amphetamine responses and ADHD.
