ADHD Medication - Ritalin
Ritalin is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It improves the way that parts of the brain communicate, which can reduce ADHD symptoms.
ADHD medications can cause adverse effects, such as reduced appetite and difficulty sleeping. However, most of these are mild and go away on their own or over time.
Dosage
Ritalin increases levels of norepinephrine, dopamine, and other neurotransmitters in the brain. These neurotransmitters are involved in regulating motivation and cognition. It is a psychostimulant and has been used for decades. It is considered safe when taken in the recommended dosages under the supervision of your physician.
Nevertheless there have been reports of addiction and abuse when the drug is administered in therapeutic doses. Doctors must evaluate the risk of each patient and monitor their symptoms throughout the treatment. It is also important to educate the patient and their family members on this risk of harm and the necessity of proper disposal of any leftover medication. Using a locked medication box is ideal, as this keeps children from gaining access and taking doses that are not needed. It is also recommended to instruct patients not to share the medication with anyone.
This medication can cause suicidal thoughts or feelings especially in those who suffer from bipolar disorder, depression or have a mental illness history. Consult your doctor immediately if you experience any of these symptoms. This medication can also raise your blood pressure, which could cause stroke or heart problems. If you feel chest pain, a rapid heartbeat or excessive sweating call your doctor immediately. Inform your doctor if you have a family history of heart disease or sudden death, or if you have ever had any type of stroke or bleeding problem. This medication can alter your blood circulation and cause discomfort or numbness in your toes or fingers. It can also make it difficult to sleep.
It is not known if the brand-name version of this medicine is more effective than the generic version. However, many doctors prefer to use the brand-name version because of its safety record and effectiveness. The medication is a risk for abuse and should not be administered to anyone who does not suffer from ADHD or Narcolepsy.
Some people have reported that this medication performs better than others, however this is purely anecdotal and has not been proven scientifically. Some parents report that their children react differently to generic methylphenidate versus 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 right dosage. A doctor will be able to monitor the body reactions of your child or you and make adjustments in order to find the most effective treatment. These powerful medicines can cause side effects ranging from sleep disorders, irritability and serious cardiovascular events.
Ritalin is a drug that contains the active ingredient methylphenidate, and is a central nervous system stimulant. It is a stimulant that increases levels of neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and dopamine, chemical compounds that are associated with control and attention. It also increases concentration and decreases restlessness and hyperactivity. Ritalin could cause serious heart problems, such as sudden death and stroke in those with certain medical conditions, such as heart rhythm disorders as well as high blood pressure and an underlying cardiovascular disease or cardiac arrest.
Ritalin, like other stimulant drugs, can cause weight loss and a decrease in appetite. It may also increase the speed of your child's pulse as well as blood pressure. This could be a concern if you have a preexisting heart condition or heart problems, so your doctor will keep close eye on your heart rate and blood pressure.
Other side effects include changes in mood, like depression and anxiety. They can also affect the way you behave, which can be especially difficult for children who are just starting to take the drug. In some instances, it can cause tics or TouretteaEURtm(tm), which are repetitive sounds or movements like eye blinking and throat clearing. It can also slow growth in children and teenagers. This is usually temporary, and does not affect their final height.
This medication is available in several forms, but only on prescription. The medication can be taken as a tablet, which can be chewed, dissolved, or swallowed. It can also come in the form of a capsule which is then opened and sprinkled over liquid or food items. Some people take a formula that acts in a short time and lasts between three and six hours, while others take it long-term and need an increased dosage.
This medication may interact with other medications, such as antidepressants and monoamine oxide (MAOI) inhibitors. It may also increase your your child's risk of a potentially fatal side effect, angle closure glaucoma.
Interactions
Many medications are able to interact with other drugs and substances, which could alter their effects. Certain interactions can be dangerous and even life-threatening. It is important to inform your doctor about all the other medications you or your child are taking, including prescription drugs as well as vitamins and supplements. Ritalin can interact with other antidepressants. This is especially the case for those with monoamine oxidase (MAOI) inhibitors.
MAOIs increase the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. This can cause severe side effects, including suicidal ideas or seizures, actions, and hallucinations. Ritalin should not be taken by people who have circulatory problems like Raynaud's syndrome or high blood pressure. It may also aggravate symptoms of Tourette syndrome or tics in people who suffer from these conditions.
Some fMRI research has found that a high dose of methylphenidate given to medication responders during stop-and-time discrimination tasks boosted activation of the right inferior frontal cortex (IFC) medial cingulate cortex, anterior cingulate (ACC), and the striatum. These changes were accompanied by normalization of the subactivation in the same regions under placebo and off medication conditions.
These results support the hypothesis that methylphenidate elicits its effect on behavior by increasing the amount of dopamine in the extracellular space and norepinephrine, both of which enhance performance in stop and time discrimination tasks. However, additional fMRI and behavioral data suggest that the mechanism is more complex than the increased levels of dopamine and norepinephrine. Psychostimulants, in particular, appear to inhibit the dopamine reuptake process in certain regions, such the striatum but not in other regions like the frontal lobes.
In one study, a combination of stimulants and non-stimulants decreased ADHD symptoms in children with moderate to severe cases. However, in some patients the combination did not perform as well as a single drug. Medications are not the only treatment for ADHD and the majority of people don't require medications to manage the disorder. Skills training and behavior therapy can assist many people in learning more effective strategies for coping.
Some people anecdotally report that brand-name Ritalin is more effective than the generic version, but this has not been confirmed by clinical studies. Both medications are chemically the same, so they should both have the same effects on most people.
Overdose
Methylphenidate more commonly referred to as Ritalin, is a stimulant for the central nervous system that can help improve concentration, focus, and mood when used as prescribed. It has also been shown to be effective in treating ADD/ADHD as well as narcolepsy. But, as with any drug that alters the brain, if misused or used in large quantities, an overdose can occur. This can lead to stroke, heart attack or coma, as well as other serious medical problems. It is essential to recognize the symptoms of an overdose on Ritalin in order to prevent these symptoms and seek medical care.
A Ritalin Overdose can occur in a variety of ways. One could accidentally consume too many pills since they did not remember to redose their medication. just click the next document may also consume other substances that may interfere with the drug and enhance its effects or they could be using it for recreational purposes and aren't aware of how to dose it correctly. Long-term Ritalin usage can cause tolerance and psychological dependency that can lead addiction. Therefore those with an history of using stimulants or other drugs should only use Ritalin under the supervision of a physician.
Anyone suffering from a Ritalin overdose should dial 911 immediately. They must be able to give the emergency responders details about their dosage, when they were taking it, as well as any other medications or substances they took. The emergency response team can then better determine what to do to help the patient. In general, they will pump the stomach, a process known as gastric lavage, which is used to eliminate any excess drugs from the body before it is taken into the bloodstream.
Ritalin can trigger seizures. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should be closely monitored by medical experts. Fluids and antiseizure medication can be used to treat them. Activated charcoal may also be administered to the patient in order to stop the drug from entering their body. If they feel hot, the staff at the hospital can cool them down with fans and mists of water to avoid hyperthermia.
If you're given Ritalin, make sure to store it in a secure area where children cannot get it. Ask your pharmacist whether they have a return-to-prescription program. Don't keep any expired or unused medicine. Instead, mix the expired medication with coffee grounds or cat litter and throw it away.