I recently asked this question to DAN and Joel Dovenbarger kindly replied. I'm reprinting this for info purposes only and did not ask permission. I however feel this is a general enough answer and I don't want to mess it up by trying to paraphrase his response.
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In general there are no human trails regarding the use of any of the ADHD medications while scuba diving.
This is not an uncommon question and DAN gets many inquiries concerning Adult ADHD and diving.
What we know is the physiology of diving and that of the medications. So the question is do they get along well together. Both medication and nitrogen have a known effect on the central nervous system. Nitrogen at high partial pressure tends to sedative or depressing effect on higher brain functions. Amphetamines and related compounds have a global stimulation effect on the brain that helps you focus but can also upset your time and space orientation. Can these two sets of side effects interact?
While no one can say for sure, there is very little to suggest that at shallow depths up to 40 or 50 feet of seawater there would be an interaction at all. Beyond 50 or 60 feet there could be a problem and the problem will vary from diver to diver and from day to day within the same diver. Factors such as level of hydration, amount of sleep and rest one gets, alcohol involvement, temperature and perhaps your level of stress may affect individual susceptibility.
Both nitrogen and amphetamines have the ability to disable or lessen different brain functions. Nitrogen at depth has a known, but difficult to measure effect on CNS function while in the water. So how deep can you dive and what can you expect to happen?
The answer is it may be different every day you dive, again, there are no studies. What effects might you experience? To date the most common side effect of any CNS medication and diving is largely anxiety and panic in an otherwise competent and able diver. Anxiety in diving relates to having an unexplained dread, something is about to happen or you feel out of control of your actions while underwater. Easily leads to panic, the next step in the chain of events. No one can predict in who or when this would happen. There are hundreds if not thousands of divers on some type of CNS medication and diving.
No one can give you the risk of occurrence to you personally. If you are going to dive start slow and conservative before getting too creative with your dive plan. Again, shallow dives, virtually no effect. Dive conservatively, make healthy choices about your activities and dont do anything would endanger your dive buddy. Some dive resorts will not allow you to dive if you are on medications and dont have a release from your personal physician. DAN can not give anyone a release to dive or prohibit them from diving so calling DAN from the islands will not help much. Resorts want a release of liability.
I hope this is helpful and informative, I did not read the Scuba Diving article. Thank you again for your membership.
Sincerely,
Joel Dovenbarger BSN
Medical Services
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In general there are no human trails regarding the use of any of the ADHD medications while scuba diving.
This is not an uncommon question and DAN gets many inquiries concerning Adult ADHD and diving.
What we know is the physiology of diving and that of the medications. So the question is do they get along well together. Both medication and nitrogen have a known effect on the central nervous system. Nitrogen at high partial pressure tends to sedative or depressing effect on higher brain functions. Amphetamines and related compounds have a global stimulation effect on the brain that helps you focus but can also upset your time and space orientation. Can these two sets of side effects interact?
While no one can say for sure, there is very little to suggest that at shallow depths up to 40 or 50 feet of seawater there would be an interaction at all. Beyond 50 or 60 feet there could be a problem and the problem will vary from diver to diver and from day to day within the same diver. Factors such as level of hydration, amount of sleep and rest one gets, alcohol involvement, temperature and perhaps your level of stress may affect individual susceptibility.
Both nitrogen and amphetamines have the ability to disable or lessen different brain functions. Nitrogen at depth has a known, but difficult to measure effect on CNS function while in the water. So how deep can you dive and what can you expect to happen?
The answer is it may be different every day you dive, again, there are no studies. What effects might you experience? To date the most common side effect of any CNS medication and diving is largely anxiety and panic in an otherwise competent and able diver. Anxiety in diving relates to having an unexplained dread, something is about to happen or you feel out of control of your actions while underwater. Easily leads to panic, the next step in the chain of events. No one can predict in who or when this would happen. There are hundreds if not thousands of divers on some type of CNS medication and diving.
No one can give you the risk of occurrence to you personally. If you are going to dive start slow and conservative before getting too creative with your dive plan. Again, shallow dives, virtually no effect. Dive conservatively, make healthy choices about your activities and dont do anything would endanger your dive buddy. Some dive resorts will not allow you to dive if you are on medications and dont have a release from your personal physician. DAN can not give anyone a release to dive or prohibit them from diving so calling DAN from the islands will not help much. Resorts want a release of liability.
I hope this is helpful and informative, I did not read the Scuba Diving article. Thank you again for your membership.
Sincerely,
Joel Dovenbarger BSN
Medical Services
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