The Biggest Problem With ADHD Medication Ritalin And How You Can Resolve It
ADHD Medication - Ritalin
Ritalin is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It improves the way the parts of the brain communicate, which can reduce ADHD symptoms.
ADHD medications can trigger negative side effects, including reduced appetite and difficulty sleeping. However, most of these are mild and will go away on their own or with time.
Dosage
Ritalin boosts the levels of norepinephrine and dopamine in your brain, which are vital neurotransmitters responsible for controlling motivation actions, cognition, and motivation. It is a psychostimulant and has been used for decades. It is considered safe when used in the dosages recommended under the guidance of your physician.
However there are reports of the abuse of this drug as well as reports of addiction even at the therapeutic dosage level. medication for adults with add must evaluate the risk for each patient and monitor the symptoms throughout treatment. It is also crucial to educate the patient and their family members about the risk of harm and the need for proper disposal of any unneeded medication. Utilizing a locked medicine cabinet is a good idea, since it keeps children from gaining access and taking doses that are not needed. It's also a good idea to inform patients not to give their medication to anyone.
This medication could trigger suicidal thoughts or actions particularly in those who are depressed, bipolar, or have an history of mental illness. Talk with your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms. This medication can also cause an increase in blood pressure which can lead to stroke or heart issues. Get your doctor's attention immediately if you have an increased heart rate, chest pain, or sweating. Tell your doctor if there is a family history of heart disease, sudden death or if you've ever had bleeding or stroke issues. This medication can cause numbness and pain in your feet or fingers. It can also make it hard to sleep.
It is not clear whether the brand-name version of this medicine is more effective than the generic version. Many doctors still prefer the brand-name medication due to its safety and effectiveness. It is also important to keep in mind that this medication can be abused and should never be administered to a person who is not suffering from ADHD or narcolepsy.
Some individuals have reported that this medication is more effective than others, but this is only anecdotal and hasn't been proven scientifically. Parents have reported that their children react differently to generic methylphenidate versus brand name, however this may not be the case for all children.
Side effects
It takes time to determine the right dose when beginning medication to treat ADHD. A healthcare professional will observe the body reactions of your child or yourself and make adjustments to find the most effective medication. These medicines are powerful and may cause adverse effects, from irritability and sleep problems to severe cardiovascular events.
Ritalin has the active ingredient methylphenidate. It is a stimulant for the central nervous system. It is a stimulant that increases levels of neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and dopamine, chemicals associated control and attention. It also increases your concentration and decreases anxiety and restlessness. Ritalin can cause serious heart problems including strokes and sudden deaths for those who suffer from certain medical conditions. These include heart rhythm disturbances and high blood pressure and a history or heart attack and cardiovascular disease.
Ritalin like other stimulant medications, can cause weight loss and a reduction in appetite. It may also raise your your child's blood pressure and pulse rate little. This can be a problem in the event of a preexisting heart condition or heart problems as a result, so your doctor will be on check on your blood pressure and heart rate.
Other adverse effects include changes in mood, such as anxiety and depression. These side effects can also affect children's behavior, which is particularly challenging for children who are young. In some cases it can cause symptoms such as tics or TouretteaEUR(tm)s syndrome, which are repetitive movements and sounds, such as eye blinking or throat clearing. It can also cause a slowing of growth in children and teenagers. This is usually temporary and doesn't alter their height in the future.
There are several types of this medication, that are available with a prescription only. It could be a tablet that's swallowed, chewed on or dissolved or a capsule that is opened and sprinkled on food or in a liquid. Some people make use of the formula that has a short-acting effect and lasts between three and six hours. Some people take it for a longer time, which requires a higher dosage.
This medication may interact with other drugs like monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and antidepressants. It can also increase your your child's risk of developing a potentially fatal side effect, such as angle closure glaucoma.
Interactions
Many medications have the potential to interact with other medications or substances, which may alter their effects. Certain interactions could be harmful and even life-threatening. Discuss with your doctor the other medications you or your child are taking, including vitamins and supplements and over-the-counter medications. Ritalin can interact with other antidepressants. This is particularly 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 like suicidal thoughts and behaviors, seizures, or hallucinations. Ritalin is not recommended for those who suffer from circulatory issues, such as Raynaud’s phenomenon or high pressure. It can also aggravate symptoms for those suffering from Tourette syndrome and tics.
A few fMRI studies have revealed that a high dose of methylphenidate given to responders to medication during stop-and time discrimination tasks increased activation of the right inferior frontal cortex (IFC) medial cingulate cortex, anterior cingulate (ACC) and the striatum. These changes were accompanied with normalization of the subactivation in the same areas during non-medicament and placebo conditions.
These results suggest that methylphenidate can improve performance in tasks of stop and timing discrimination by increasing the extracellular norepinephrine as well as dopamine. Other fMRI and behavioral studies suggest the mechanism is more complex than the increased levels of dopamine and norepinephrine. Psychostimulants, specifically, are believed to block dopamine reuptake process in certain regions, such the striatum but not in other regions like the frontal lobes.
In one study, a mix of stimulants and non-stimulants decreased ADHD symptoms in children with moderate to severe cases. However, in a few patients the combination didn't work as well as the single drug. The use of medications is not the sole treatment for ADHD and the majority of people do not need medications to manage the disorder. Many people can learn better ways to cope through behavior therapy and skill training.
Clinical trials haven't proved that the brand name Ritalin is superior to the generic version. The two drugs are chemically similar, which means they are likely to have similar effects on the majority of people.
Overdose
Methylphenidate (also called Ritalin) is a central nerve system stimulant. It can improve mood, focus, and concentration when prescribed. It is also effective in treating narcolepsy, ADD/ADHD and ADD. Overdose is possible with any substance that alters brain function. This can result in stroke, heart attack, coma, and other serious medical issues. Being aware of the signs of an Ritalin overdose is vital to stopping these symptoms and taking the appropriate action to seek medical treatment.
A Ritalin overdose can result from a variety of reasons. For example, someone may have a mishap and take too much medication due to the fact that they don't remember to take a dose re-supplement. They may also consume other substances that could affect the drug and increase its effect or they may be using it for recreational purposes and not know how to properly dose it. Long-term Ritalin use can also result in tolerance and a psychological dependence that can lead to addiction. As a result those with an history of abuse of stimulants or other drugs should use Ritalin under the supervision of a medical professional.
Call 911 immediately if you are experiencing an overdose of Ritalin. They should be able to give the emergency responders specific details regarding the dosage, the time they used it, and the other medications or substances they consumed. The emergency response team will then better determine what to do to treat the patient. Typically, they will pump the stomach, which is known as gastric lavage, which is used to remove any excess substance from the body prior to it can be absorbed into the bloodstream.
Ritalin can cause seizures, so anyone experiencing these symptoms should be carefully monitored by a medical professional. Antiseizure and fluids are a way to treat them. In addition, the person may be given activated charcoal to prevent any more of the drug from circulating in the body. The hospital staff may cool the patient with fans or mists chilled water if they are feeling hot.
If you are prescribed Ritalin ensure that you store it in a safe area where children cannot get it. You may also ask your pharmacist about a take-back program. Don't keep expired or unused medication. Instead, mix the expired medication with cat litter or coffee grounds and dispose of it.