Ritalin

Ritalin, the brand name for the drug methylphenidate, is a stimulant which acts a dopamine reuptake inhibitor upon the central nervous system.http://www.mentalhealth.com/drug/p30-r03.html Ritalin is used in conjunction with behavioral modification therapy for the treatment of attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).http://www.justice.gov/ndic/pubs6/6444/index.htm Both conditions affect a person's ability to control impulses and remained focused.http://www.drugs.com/ritalin.html Use of Ritalin to treat these disorders can result in decreased impulsivity, increased attention span, and fewer instances of hyperactivity.http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-9475-Ritalin+Oral.aspx?drugid=9475&drugname=Ritalin+Oral

Ritalin is also sometimes prescribed for the treatment of narcolepsy, a condition in which the body has trouble regulating normal sleep cycles, causing sufferers to fall asleep for seconds, minutes, even longer during the day.http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/narcolepsy/narcolepsy.htm This drug may also be used to treat depression in some cases.http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-9475-Ritalin+Oral.aspx?drugid=9475&drugname=Ritalin+Oral

The most common side effects associated with Ritalin are the onset of insomnia and increased instances of anxiety. Most of these occurrences are eliminated or controlled by the reduction of the daily dose taken by the patient.http://www.rxlist.com/ritalin-drug.htm Additional, yet less frequent, side effects include: dermatitis, nausea, dizziness, hypertension, hypotension, arrhythmia, angina, and headaches.http://www.rxlist.com/ritalin-drug.htm

Ritalin is often not prescribed to people suffering from liver disease, as hepatic coma have been registered with patients having preexisting liver ailments.http://www.rxlist.com/ritalin-drug.htm As a category C medication, Ritalin's effects during pregnancy are unknown, but harm may occur to an unborn baby if this drug is taken during pregnancy.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000341

In a study conducted in 1999 by the Child Development Center at the University of California-Irvine, a height and weight analysis of children aged seven to nine who had been taking Ritalin and other behavioral modification medication was realized. The results of the study indicated that there may be a causal relationship between Ritalin use and growth suppression in children. These findings were replicated in a second study.http://www.adrugrecall.com/news/ritalin-stunt-growth.html

The studies, however, have not resulted in a conclusive determination by the medical community that Ritalin results in growth suppression. The National Institute of Health has made public statements attesting to Ritalin's safety in use with children.http://www.adrugrecall.com/news/ritalin-stunt-growth.html

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact a doctor before using the information presented here.