These are dangerous stimulants that are shockingly similar to readily abused street drugs.
Not surprising there are a range of effects, when it's fairly common to need to try 3 or 4 different drugs before finding one that works. For a minority, none work.
Perhaps it's not "misinformation" but an attempt to honestly report what I gleaned from the specialist, and what I and others have experienced.
If you aren't having those effects you are most likely taking close to a maintanence dose, to avoid the rebound effect that comes with physical dependence.
If a person has trouble sleeping due to self control issues, should they just patch it over with addictive drugs like benzodiazepenes? Or should they try to discipline themselves by adapting to their unique brain and body, for lasting change?
There have been lots of studies using PET scans that show some brain regions tend to be smaller in ADHD, and develop later. Or finding differences in brain chemistry (dopamine and norepinephrine). Even started to show the genetic variation that leads to some growing out of it, and others not. Seems like it's becoming one of the better understood neurological disorders.
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-03...
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/408381/a-neurological-bas...
Why should someone with a harder time focusing not improve their focus through actual lasting discipline?
Speed isn't the antichrist but it sure as hell isn't some great therapeutic fix for people with some minorly bad stats.
Two things.
First, the first 1-2 days of ADHD meds can have a dramatic effect that have you thinking "this can't be right". It's normal, expected, and goes away very quickly. You should be warned to expect it by the prescribing doctor. After 3 days or so you barely know you're taking them.
Second, the dosage and effect on a non-ADHD person is entirely different to that an ADHD person will get. That's presuming it's the right med for them[0]. You will have a stimulating, speed, effect. An ADHD person (well most) will get little to no stimulation, and a calming effect, and might sit down to do their homework, or even just sit still for a couple of hours - for the first time ever. Amphetamines don't do that to normal neurology, thus you can't compare.
The dosage is putting them closer to typical, but putting you far away from typical. If you were normal vision or long sighted and tried your friend's short sight prescription glasses you wouldn't wish their glasses were weaker, would you? Same principle.
It's also common for one or other parent to discover they have it too after they have tried their child's meds.
[0] Getting the right medication is a bit of a trial and error minefield, but should be a standard part of treatment. Not all doctors are as willing to switch medication or titrate dosage as they should be.