The 9 Things Your Parents Teach You About ADHD Medication Ritalin
Wiki Article
ADHD Medication - Ritalin
Ritalin is a stimulant drug used to treat attention-deficit disorder (ADHD). It improves the way parts of the brain communicate, thereby reducing ADHD symptoms.
ADHD medication can have adverse effects, such as diminished appetite and trouble sleeping. However, most of these are mild and disappear on their own or with time.
Dosage
Ritalin can increase the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in your brain, which are important neurotransmitters that are responsible for regulating motivation, action, and cognition. It is a psychostimulant which has been used for many years and is believed to be safe when doses are prescribed and administered under the supervision by a physician.
Nevertheless, there have been reports of abuse and addiction even when the drug is taken in therapeutic doses. Doctors must evaluate the risk for each patient and monitor symptoms throughout the treatment. It is crucial to inform patients as well as their family members of the dangers of taking medications that are not used and the need to appropriately dispose of them. Utilizing a locked medicine cabinet is ideal since it keeps children from gaining access and consuming doses that are not used. It's also a good idea to remind patients not to give their medication to anyone.
This medication could trigger suicidal thoughts, or actions especially in those who are bipolar, depressed or have an history of mental illness. Consult your doctor away if you have any of these symptoms. This medication may also raise your blood pressure, which could cause stroke or heart problems. Call your doctor right away in case you are experiencing a high heart rate, chest pain, or sweating. Also tell your doctor if there is a family history of heart disease or sudden death, or if you have ever had any type of bleeding or stroke. 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 is more efficient than the generic version. Many doctors still prefer the brand-name medication because of its safety and effectiveness. It is important to keep in mind that this medication could be abused and should never be administered to anyone who does not suffer from ADHD or Narcolepsy.
Some people have reported that this medication is more effective than others, however this is only anecdotal and hasn't been proven scientifically. Some parents have reported that their children react differently to generic methylphenidate than the brand name, but this might not be true for all children.
Side effects
When starting medications to treat ADHD it takes some time to determine the appropriate dose. A healthcare provider will monitor your child's body reactions and make adjustments until they find the most effective dosage. These powerful medications can trigger adverse effects that range from sleep issues, irritability and serious cardiovascular events.
Ritalin has the active ingredient methylphenidate. It is an stimulant to the central nervous system. It works by increasing levels of neurotransmitters dopamine as well as norepinephrine, which are chemicals that aid in control and attention. It also improves concentration and reduces restlessness and hyperactivity. Ritalin could cause serious heart problems 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 a history or cardiac arrest or cardiovascular disease.
Ritalin, like other stimulant medications, can cause weight loss and a decrease in appetite. It can also slightly increase the speed of your child's pulse as well as blood pressure. This can be a problem 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, such as anxiety and depression. These side effects can also affect children's behavior, which can be especially difficult for those who are young. In certain instances, it may cause symptoms such as tics or TouretteaEUR(tm)s syndrome, which is repetitive actions and sounds like eye blinking or throat clearing. It can also slow growth in children and teenagers. However this is usually only temporary and does not affect their height at the end of the day.
There are a variety of forms of this medication, that are available with a prescription only. It can be a tablet that's swallowed, chewed or dissolving, a capsule that is open and sprinkled onto food or in a liquid. Some people choose to take an instant-acting formulation that lasts between three and six hours, whereas others take it long-term and require an increased dose.
This medication can interact with other medications, such as antidepressants and monoamine oxidase (MAOI) inhibitors. It may also increase your your child's risk of developing a potentially fatal side effect, angle closure glaucoma.
Interactions
Many medications can interact with other drugs or substances. This can change the effects. Certain interactions could be harmful, even deadly. Inform your doctor about any other medications you or your child is taking, such as vitamins and supplements and over-the-counter medications. Ritalin may interact with certain antidepressants. This is especially relevant for those that contain monoamine oxide (MAOI) inhibitors.
MAOIs increase the levels of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain. This could cause serious side effects, such as suicidal thoughts, actions or hallucinations, seizures, or even seizures. Ritalin is not recommended for individuals with circulatory problems like Raynaud's phenomenon or high blood pressure. It can also worsen symptoms in people with Tourette syndrome and tics.
Some fMRI research has found that an acute dose methylphenidate given to responders to medication 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 reduced activation in the same regions under non-medicament and placebo conditions.
These results support the hypothesis that methylphenidate exerts its behavioral effect by increasing extracellular dopamine and norepinephrine, both of which enhance performance in stop and time discrimination tasks. However, additional research on fMRI and behavior suggest that the mechanism is more complicated than the increase in dopamine and norepinephrine. Psychostimulants, in particular, appear to inhibit the dopamine reuptake in specific areas like the striatum, but not in other regions, such the frontal lobes.
In one study, a combination between stimulants and nonstimulants reduced symptoms of ADHD in children with moderate to severe cases. In some patients however, the combination did not work like a single medication. The use of medications is not the sole treatment for ADHD, and most people don't require medication to manage the disorder. Many people can develop more effective ways to cope with the disorder through therapy and training.
There are reports that brand-name Ritalin is more effective than the generic version however this hasn't been proven by clinical trials. Both drugs are chemically the identical, and therefore should both have similar effects on the majority of people.
Overdose
Methylphenidate more commonly referred to as Ritalin is a stimulant of the central nervous system that improves concentration, focus and mood when used according to the prescription. It is also effective in treating narcolepsy, ADD/ADHD and ADD. Overdose is a here possibility with any substance that alters brain function. This can result in heart attack, stroke or coma, as well as other serious medical issues. It is essential to recognize the signs of an overdose Ritalin to avoid these symptoms and seek medical attention.
A Ritalin overdose can be caused by a variety of reasons. One could accidentally take too many pills due to the fact that they did not remember to redose their medication. They could also be taking other substances that may affect the drug and increase its effects or they could be taking it for recreational purposes and aren't aware of how to dose it properly. Furthermore, long-term use of Ritalin could lead to dependence and tolerance that can cause addiction. In the end people with a history of abusing stimulants or other drugs should use Ritalin under the supervision of a physician.
Call 911 immediately if you are experiencing an overdose of Ritalin. They should be able provide the emergency personnel with specific details regarding the dosage, the time they used it, and the other drugs or substances they consumed. The emergency response team will determine what they should do to treat the person. Typically, they will pump the stomach, a process known as gastric lavage, to remove any excess drugs from the body before it can be taken into the bloodstream.
Ritalin can trigger seizures, and anyone who is who is experiencing these symptoms should be monitored by medical professionals. Fluids and antiseizure medication are a way to treat them. Activated charcoal may also be given to the patient in order to prevent the drug from circulating into the body. If they feel hot, the hospital staff can cool them down with fans and mists of water in order to prevent hyperthermia.
If you have been prescribed Ritalin put it in a place in a place where children aren't able to reach it. You may also ask your pharmacist about a take-back program. Don't keep expired or unneeded medication. Mix the unused medicine with cat litter or ground coffee and throw it out.