ADHD Medication - Ritalin
Ritalin is a stimulant medicine used to treat attention-deficit disorder (ADHD). It improves the way the parts of the brain communicate, which reduces ADHD symptoms.
ADHD medications can have negative side effects like decreased appetite and difficulty sleeping. However, the majority of these are minor and will go away on their own or over time.
Dosage
Ritalin increases the levels of norepinephrine and dopamine in your brain, which are important neurotransmitters responsible for controlling motivation as well as action and cognition. It is a psychostimulant which has been used for a long time and is considered safe in recommended dosages when administered under the supervision of a physician.
However there have been instances of addiction and abuse when the drug is taken at therapeutic doses. Doctors must evaluate the risk for each patient and monitor their symptoms throughout the treatment. It is also important to educate patients and their families about the risk of harm and the necessity of proper disposal of any unneeded medication. It is best to utilize a locked medicine container which will prevent children from taking unneeded medication. It is also an excellent idea to inform patients not to share the medication with anyone.
This medication can trigger suicidal thoughts or feelings particularly in people who suffer from bipolar disorder or depression or have a mental illness history. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should consult your doctor immediately. This medication may also cause an increase in blood pressure, which could lead to strokes or heart issues. Call your doctor right away if you have an elevated heart rate, chest pain, or sweating. Inform your doctor if there is an ancestor with a history of heart disease, sudden death or any time you've had a stroke or bleeding problems. This medication can cause numbness or discomfort in your toes or fingers. It can also make sleeping difficult.
It is not known whether the brand-name version is more effective than its generic counterpart. Many doctors still prefer the brand name medication due to its security and effectiveness. This medication can be abused and should not be prescribed to anyone who isn't suffering from ADHD or Narcolepsy.
Some people have reported that this medication works better than others, but this is purely anecdotal and has not been proven scientifically. Some parents have reported that their children react differently to generic methylphenidate as opposed to brand name, however this may not be the case for all children.
Side effects
When you begin medication to treat ADHD it takes a bit of time to find the proper dose. A healthcare provider will monitor the body reactions of your child or yourself and make adjustments to determine the most effective medication. These medications are potent and can cause side effects, ranging from irritability to sleep disorders to serious cardiovascular events.
Ritalin is a drug that contains the active ingredient methylphenidate. It is a stimulant for the central nervous system. It works by increasing the levels of neurotransmitters dopamine as well as norepinephrine, which are chemicals that aid in control and attention. It also increases concentration and reduces restlessness as well as hyperactivity. Ritalin can trigger serious heart issues, including strokes and sudden deaths in patients who suffer from certain medical conditions. This includes heart rhythm disturbances and high blood pressure, as well as an underlying cardiac arrest or cardiovascular disease.
Ritalin like other stimulant drugs, can cause weight loss and a reduction in appetite. It can also increase your your child's pulse rate and blood pressure little. This could be a concern when you have a prior heart condition or other heart issues as a result, so your doctor will be on check on your heart rate and blood pressure.
Other side effects include changes in mood, like depression and anxiety. These side effects can also affect children's behavior, which can be particularly challenging for children who are young. In certain instances, it may cause tics or TouretteaEURtm(tm) which are repeated sounds or movements like eye blinking and throat clearing. It can also slow growth in teenagers and children. This is usually temporary and does not alter their height in the future.
There are several types of this medication, that are available on prescription only. It could be a tablet swallowed, chewed or dissolved in a capsule open and sprinkled onto food items or a liquid. Some people use a short-acting formula that lasts from three to six hours, while others take it long-term and need a higher dose.
This medication may interact with other drugs like monoamine oxide inhibitors (MAOIs) and antidepressants. It can also increase your or your child's chance of suffering from a potentially fatal side effect, such as angle closure glaucoma.
Interactions
Many medications can interact with other drugs or substances. This can change their effects. Certain interactions can be harmful or even fatal. It is important to inform your doctor about all other medicines you or your child taking, including prescription drugs as well as supplements and vitamins. Ritalin may interact with certain antidepressants. This is especially true for those that contain monoamine oxide (MAOI) inhibitors.
MAOIs increase the levels of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain. This can lead to serious side effects, such as suicidal thoughts and behaviors, seizures, or hallucinations. Ritalin is not recommended for those with issues with circulation such as Raynaud's syndrome or high pressure. It may also cause more symptoms in people with Tourette syndrome and tics.
Some fMRI research has found that a high dose of methylphenidate given to medication responders during stop-and-time discrimination tasks boosted the activity of the right inferior frontal cortex (IFC), medial cingulate cortex (MCC), anterior cingulate (ACC) and striatum. These changes were accompanied with normalization of the underactivation in the same areas during placebo and off medication conditions.
These results show that methylphenidate can improve performance in the tasks of stopping and timing discrimination by increasing extracellular norepinephrine and dopamine. However, additional research on fMRI and behavior suggest that the mechanism is more complex than the increase in dopamine and norepinephrine. Psychostimulants, in particular, seem to hinder dopamine reuptake in certain areas such as the striatum, but not in other regions like the frontal lobes.
In one study, a mix between stimulants and nonstimulants reduced symptoms of ADHD in children who had moderate to severe cases. However, in a few patients, the combination did not work as well as the single drug. The majority of people don't require medication to cope with ADHD. Many people can develop better coping skills through behavior therapy and skill training.
Clinical trials haven't proved that the brand name Ritalin is superior to the generic version. Both drugs are chemically the same, so they should both have the same effects on most people.
Overdose
Methylphenidate (also known as Ritalin) is a stimulant of the central nervous system. It can boost mood, focus and concentration when taken as prescribed. It is also effective in treating narcolepsy, ADD/ADHD and ADD. Overdose is a possibility with any substance that alters brain function. This could lead to heart attack, stroke or coma, as well as other serious medical problems. Being aware of the signs of a Ritalin overdose is vital to stopping these symptoms and taking steps to seek medical assistance.
A Ritalin overdose can result from a variety of causes. For instance, a person may have a mishap and take too much medication due to the fact that they don't remember to re-dose their medication. medication for adhd adults may interact with the drug to increase its effects, or they could be using it for recreational purposes, without knowing how to dose it. Additionally, long-term use of Ritalin could lead to dependence and tolerance that could lead to addiction. As a result those with an history of abuse of stimulants or other drugs should only take Ritalin under the supervision of a medical professional.
Contact 911 immediately if you are experiencing an overdose of Ritalin. First responders should know the dose, the time it was taken and if they've consumed any other drugs or substances. The emergency response team will then be able to better determine how to treat the patient. They usually pump the stomach (a procedure referred to as gastriclavage) to eliminate any excess drug from the body before they are absorbed in the bloodstream.
Ritalin can trigger seizures, so anyone suffering from these symptoms should be carefully monitored by medical professionals. They can be treated with fluids and medications to prevent seizures. Activated charcoal is also administered to the patient in order to stop the drug from entering their body. If they are feeling hot, the medical staff can cool them down with fans and mists of water to prevent hyperthermia.
If you are prescribed Ritalin ensure that you store it in a safe area where children cannot get it. Ask your pharmacist whether they have a return-to-prescription program. Do not keep any expired or unused medicine. Instead, mix the unused medication with coffee grounds or cat litter and dispose of it.