ADHD Medication - Ritalin
Ritalin is a medication used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It improves brain communication, which decreases ADHD.
ADHD medications can have negative side effects like reduced appetite and difficulty sleeping. However, the majority 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 vital neurotransmitters responsible for controlling motivation actions, cognition, and motivation. It is a psychostimulant and has been used since decades. It is considered safe when taken in the recommended dosages under the supervision of your doctor.
Nevertheless there have been instances of addiction and abuse when the drug is taken at therapeutic doses. Therefore, physicians need to examine each patient for risk and observe these symptoms throughout treatment. It is also essential to educate patients and their families on this risk of harm and the need for proper disposal of any unused medication. It is best to use a locked medicine container, which prevents children from taking unneeded medication. It is also a good idea to advise patients not to share their medication with anyone.
This medication can cause suicidal thoughts or feelings, particularly in people who suffer from bipolar disorder, depression or have a mental health history. Talk with your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms. This medication may also increase your blood pressure, which can cause heart or stroke. Get your doctor's attention immediately when you experience 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 suffered from any kind of bleeding or stroke. This medication can cause numbness or pain in your toes or fingers. It can also make sleep difficult.
It is not clear whether the brand-name version of this medicine is more effective than the generic version. However, many doctors prefer the brand-name version because of its safety record and effectiveness. The medication is a risk for abuse, and should not be given to anyone who is not suffering from ADHD or Narcolepsy.
Some people believe that this medication is more effective than others. However, this is only anecdotal evidence and is not yet scientifically verified. Some parents have said that their children react differently to name-brand versus generic methylphenidate, but this isn't the case for all children.
Side effects
When you are first starting medication to treat ADHD, it takes some time to find the right dose. A healthcare professional will observe your child's or your own's bodily reactions and adjust until they can find the most effective dosage. These powerful medicines can cause adverse effects that range from sleep issues, irritability and serious cardiovascular events.
Ritalin is a nerve system stimulant that has methylphenidate, the active ingredient. It is a stimulant that increases levels of neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and dopamine, chemicals associated control and attention. It also increases your 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. These include heart rhythm disturbances and high blood pressure and an underlying cardiac arrest and cardiovascular disease.
Ritalin, like other stimulant medications, can cause weight loss and a reduction in appetite. It may also increase the speed of your child's pulse as well as blood pressure. This can be a problem in the event of a preexisting heart condition or heart problems as a result, so your doctor will keep close check on your blood pressure and heart rate.
Other side effects include changes to mood, including anxiety and depression. These effects can affect children's behavior, which can be particularly difficult for children who are still young. In some instances it can trigger symptoms such as tics or TouretteaEUR(tm)s syndrome, which is repetitive movements and sounds such as eye blinking or clearing the throat. It can also cause a slowing of growth for children and teens. This is usually temporary and doesn't affect their final height.
The medication is available in several forms, but only with a prescription. It can be a tablet that is swallowed, chewed or dissolving or a capsule that is open and sprinkled onto food or a liquid. Some people make use of a formula that is short-acting and lasts between three and six hours. Others prefer it to be long-term, which requires a higher dosage.
This medication can interact with other medications like antidepressants and monoamine oxide (MAOI) inhibitors. This medication can also increase the risk of glaucoma caused by angle closure, a potentially deadly adverse effect.
Interactions
Many medications have the potential to interact with other medications and substances, which can alter their effects. Certain interactions could be harmful or even fatal. Tell your doctor what other medications you and your child take, including supplements and vitamins, as well as prescription drugs. Ritalin can interact with other antidepressants. This is particularly true for those that contain monoamine oxidase (MAOI) inhibitors.
MAOIs increase norepinephrine and dopamine levels in the brain. This can cause serious side effects, including suicidal thoughts, actions, seizures, and hallucinations. Ritalin is not recommended for individuals with circulatory problems, such as Raynaud’s phenomenon or high pressure. It may also aggravate symptoms of Tourette syndrome or tics in those who suffer from these conditions.
Certain fMRI studies have revealed that an acute dose of methylphenidate within medication responders during stop and time discrimination tasks increased activation of the right inferior frontal cortex (IFC) and medial prefrontal cortex (MPC) anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and the striatum. These changes were accompanied by normalization of the subactivation in the same regions during the placebo and off-medicament conditions.
These results show 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 data suggest the mechanism is more complex than an increase in dopamine and norepinephrine. Particularly, psychostimulants are believed to inhibit the reuptake of dopamine in specific areas, like the striatum, but not in other areas, like the frontal lobes.
In one study, a mixture of stimulants and non-stimulants decreased ADHD symptoms in children with moderate to severe cases. However, in adult add medication did not work as well as the single drug. Most people don't require medication to manage ADHD. Training in skills and behavior therapy can help a lot of people develop more effective strategies to cope with the disorder.
Clinical trials haven't proven that the name-brand Ritalin is superior to the generic version. The two drugs are chemically similar, which means they are likely to have the same effect on most people.
Overdose
Methylphenidate (also called Ritalin) is a central nerve system stimulant. It can enhance mood, focus and concentration when prescribed. It has also been shown to be to be effective in treating ADD/ADHD and narcolepsy. However, like any substance that alters the brain, if misused or used in large doses, overdoses can occur. This can lead to heart attack, stroke, or even coma. It is essential to identify the signs of an overdose on Ritalin in order to prevent these symptoms and seek medical attention.
A Ritalin Overdose can occur in a variety of ways. For instance, a person could have a mishap and take too much medication because they do not remember to re-dose their medication. They might also consume other substances that may affect the drug and increase its effect, or they might be using it recreationally and aren't aware of how to dose it properly. In addition, long-term usage of Ritalin can lead to dependence and tolerance which can lead to addiction. Therefore people with an history of using stimulants or other drugs should only take Ritalin under the supervision of a physician.
Call 911 immediately if you are experiencing an overdose of Ritalin. First responders should know the dose, when it was taken, and if they have consumed any other medications or substances. The emergency response team can then better determine what to do to treat the person. They usually pump the stomach (a procedure known as gastriclavage) to eliminate any excess drugs from the body before they can be absorption into the bloodstream.
Ritalin may trigger seizures. Anyone who is experiencing these symptoms should therefore be closely monitored by medical professionals. They are treated with fluids and medications to prevent seizures. Activated charcoal can also be administered to the patient in order to prevent the drug from circulating into their body. The hospital staff can cool the patient by using fans or mists of cooled water if they feel hot.
If you've been prescribed Ritalin put it in a location where children can't reach it. You can also inquire with your pharmacist about a take-back program. adult add medication keep expired or unneeded medication. Instead, mix the unused medication with coffee grounds or cat litter and throw it away.