ADHD Medication - Ritalin
Ritalin is a stimulant medicine that is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It works by improving the way that parts of the brain communicate, which reduces ADHD symptoms.
ADHD medications can trigger negative side effects, including sleepiness and a lack of appetite. However, the majority of these are minor and will go away by themselves or over time.
Dosage
Ritalin boosts levels of dopamine, norepinephrine and other neurotransmitters within 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 you take it in the prescribed dosages under the supervision of your doctor.
However, there have been adhd and depression medication of addiction and abuse when the drug is taken at therapeutic doses. Therefore, doctors should examine each patient for danger and monitor their symptoms throughout treatment. It is crucial to inform patients and their relatives about the dangers of not using medications and the need to appropriately dispose of them. It is recommended to use a locked medicine container that will stop children from accidentally taking unused medication. It's also a great idea to remind patients not to give their medication to anyone.
This medication can cause suicidal thoughts or feelings especially for those who suffer from bipolar disorder, depression or have a mental illness history. Consult your doctor away if you have any of these symptoms. This medication may also increase your blood pressure, which could result in heart attacks or strokes. If you experience chest pain, a fast heartbeat, or excessive sweating, consult your physician immediately. Inform your doctor if you have is any family history of heart disease, sudden death or if you've ever had a stroke or bleeding problems. This medication could affect blood circulation and cause numbness or pain in your fingers or toes. It can also make it hard to sleep.
It isn't clear if the brand-name version of this medication is more efficient than the generic version. However many doctors prefer the brand-name version due to its proven safety and effectiveness. It is important to keep in mind that this medication can be misused and should not be given to someone who isn't suffering from ADHD or narcolepsy.
Some people believe that this medication is more effective than other. However this is only anecdotal evidence and is not yet scientifically proved. Some parents have said that their children react differently to generic versus name-brand methylphenidate, but this isn't necessarily the case for every child.
Side effects
It takes time to determine the correct dose when starting treatment for ADHD. A healthcare provider will monitor your child's or your own's bodily reactions and make adjustments until they find the most effective dosage. These medications are potent and may cause adverse effects, ranging from irritability to sleep disorders to serious cardiovascular events.
Ritalin is a central nervous system stimulant that has methylphenidate as the active ingredient. It is a stimulant that increases levels of neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine, chemical compounds that are associated with control and attention. It also improves your concentration and decreases restlessness and hyperactivity. Ritalin can cause serious heart issues, including stroke and sudden deaths in people with certain medical conditions. These include heart rhythm disturbances, high blood pressure and a history or heart attack and cardiovascular disease.
Ritalin like other stimulant medications 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. If you have heart issues or a pre-existing medical condition your doctor will closely monitor your blood pressure.
Other side effects include changes to mood, such as anxiety and depression. They can also affect the way you behave that can be particularly difficult for children who are taking the drug. In some instances, it may cause the development of tics or TouretteaEUR(tm)s syndrome, which are repetitive movements and sounds such as eye blinking or throat clearing. It can also slow down growth in children and adolescents. It is usually temporary and does not alter their height in the future.
There are a variety of kinds of this medication that are available on prescription only. The medication can be taken in the form of a tablet that is chewed, dissolved or swallowed. It may also be available in the form of a capsule, that is opened and sprinkled over liquid or food items. Some people choose to take a short-acting formula that lasts for about three to six hours, whereas others take it for a longer time and require more dosage.
This medication can interact with other drugs such as antidepressants or monoamine oxidase (MAOI) inhibitors. It could also increase your your child's risk of a potentially fatal side effect, such as angle closure glaucoma.
Interactions
Many medications are able to interact with other medications and substances, which could alter their effects. Certain interactions could be harmful, even deadly. Tell your doctor what other medications you or your child are taking, including vitamins and supplements and over-the-counter drugs. Ritalin may interact with certain antidepressants, especially those containing monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
MAOIs increase the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. This can cause serious side effects like suicidal thoughts, actions or hallucinations, seizures, or even seizures. Ritalin is not recommended for people with issues with circulation like Raynaud's phenomenon or high blood pressure. It may also cause more symptoms in people with Tourette syndrome and tics.
A few fMRI studies have revealed that an acute dose of methylphenidate administered to patients responding to medication during stop-and-time discrimination tasks increased the activity of the right inferior frontal cortex (IFC) medial cingulate cortex (MCC), anterior cingulate (ACC) and the striatum. These changes were also accompanied by normalization of the reduced activation in the same areas during the placebo and off-medicament conditions.
These results support that methylphenidate improves performance in tasks of stop and timing discrimination by increasing the extracellular norepinephrine as well as dopamine. Other fMRI and behavioral data suggest the mechanism is more complicated than an increase in dopamine and norepinephrine. Psychostimulants in particular seem to hinder dopamine reuptake in specific areas, such the striatum but not in other areas like the frontal lobes.
In one study, a combination of stimulants and non-stimulants helped reduce ADHD symptoms in children with moderate to severe cases. In some patients the combination did not perform as well as one medication. Medications are not the only treatment for ADHD, and most people don't require them to live with the disorder. Many people are able to develop better ways to cope through therapy and training.
Clinical trials have not confirmed that the brand name Ritalin is superior to the generic version. Both medications are chemically the same, which means they will both have the same effects on most people.
Overdose
Methylphenidate more commonly referred to as Ritalin is a central nervous system stimulant that improves focus, concentration and mood when taken as prescribed. It has also been shown to be effective in treating ADD/ADHD as well as narcolepsy. It is possible to overdose with any substance that alters brain function. This can result in stroke, heart attack or even coma. Recognizing the signs of a Ritalin overdose is crucial to preventing these symptoms and taking the appropriate action to seek medical treatment.
A Ritalin Overdose can happen in many ways. For instance, a person could have a mishap and take too much medication due to the fact that they don't remember to re-dose their medication. They might also consume other substances that can interfere with the drug and enhance its effects, or they might be using it recreationally and not know how to dose it properly. Additionally, long-term use of Ritalin can result in addiction and psychological dependence which can lead to addiction. Ritalin is not recommended by those with an history of addiction to drugs.
Call 911 immediately if are experiencing an overdose of Ritalin. First responders should know the dose, when it was taken and if they've consumed any other medications or substances. The emergency response team will be able to more accurately determine how to treat the patient. They typically pump the stomach (a procedure referred to as gastriclavage) to remove any excess drug from the body before they can be taken up by the bloodstream.
Ritalin can cause seizures. People who experience these symptoms should therefore be closely monitored by medical professionals. Fluids and antiseizure medication can be used to treat seizures. Activated charcoal is also given to the patient to prevent the drugs from entering the body. If they are feeling hot, the hospital staff can cool them down using fans and mists of water in order to prevent hyperthermia.
If you've been prescribed Ritalin keep it in a place that is secure and where children cannot access it. Ask your pharmacist whether they have a return program. Also, don't keep any expired or unused medication. Instead, mix the unused medication with cat litter or coffee grounds and throw it away.