Therapeutic placebo enhancement of commonly-used medications

A kit for use in reducing the normal dosage of a pharmaceutical taken from the group consisting essentially of methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine and salts thereof given to a patient for treating a disorder without reducing its effectiveness comprising:

• a container;
• at least a first unit having a reduced dosage of said pharmaceutical;
• at least a second unit having a placebo;
• said first and second units received in said container;
• said first and second units adapted to be substantially contemporaneously taken by the patient.

A method for reducing the normal dosage of a pharmaceutical taken from the group consisting essentially of methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine and salt thereof given to a patient for the treatment of a disorder without substantially reducing its effectiveness comprising the steps of:

• administering substantially the normal dosage unit of a pharmaceutical during a first predetermined time period;
• administering a placebo substantially contemporaneously with the administration of said normal dosage unit during said first predetermined time period;
• administering a reduced dosage unit of pharmaceutical during a second predetermined time period;
• administering a placebo unit substantially contemporaneously with the administration of said reduced dosage during said second predetermined time period;
• said second predetermined time period being subsequent to said first predetermined time period.