ADHD Medication - Ritalin

Ritalin is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It works by improving the way parts of the brain communicate, thereby reducing ADHD symptoms.

ADHD medications can cause negative side effects like decreased appetite and difficulty sleeping. However, most of these are mild and disappear by themselves or over time.

Dosage

Ritalin boosts 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 decades and is considered to be safe in recommended dosages when taken under the guidance of a physician.

However there are reports of misuse of this drug and reports of addiction even at therapeutic doses. Therefore, physicians need to assess each patient for risk and observe these symptoms throughout treatment. It is essential to inform patients as well as their family members of the dangers of unused medications and the need to appropriately dispose of them. Using a locked medication box is a good idea, since it will stop children from accessing and consuming doses that are not used. It is also a great idea to inform patients not to share their medication with anyone.

This medication may cause suicidal thoughts or actions, especially in people who are bipolar, depressed, or have a history of mental illness. Talk with your doctor right immediately if you experience any of these symptoms. This medication may also increase your blood pressure, which could result in heart attacks or strokes. Get your doctor's attention immediately if you have a high heart rate, chest pain, or sweating. Inform your doctor if you have is an ancestor with a history of heart disease, sudden death, or any time you've had an accident or suffered from bleeding issues. This medication may cause numbness and discomfort in your toes or fingers. It can also make sleeping difficult.

It is not known whether the brand-name version of the product is more efficient than its generic counterpart. Many doctors still prefer the brand-name version due to its safety and effectiveness. This medication is susceptible to abuse and should not be prescribed 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 report that their children react differently to generic methylphenidate versus name-brand, but this may not be true for all children.

Side effects

When starting medications to treat ADHD it takes a bit of time to determine the appropriate dosage. A healthcare provider will monitor your child's or your own's bodily reactions and adjust until they discover the most effective dosage. These powerful medicines can cause side effects ranging from irritability, sleep problems and severe cardiovascular events.

Ritalin has the active ingredient methylphenidate and is an stimulant to the central nervous system. It is a stimulant that increases levels of neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine, chemical compounds that are associated with control and attention. It also increases concentration and decreases restlessness and hyperactivity. Ritalin may cause serious heart problems, such as stroke and sudden death, in those with certain medical conditions, such as heart rhythm disturbances high blood pressure, a history of cardiovascular disease or cardiac arrest.

Like other stimulant medications Ritalin can cause a decreased appetite and weight loss. It can also increase your or your child's blood pressure and pulse rate little. This can be a problem when you have a prior heart condition or have heart problems and your doctor will keep a close watch over your heart rate and blood pressure.

Other side effects include changes to mood, including depression and anxiety. These effects can affect children's behavior, which is especially difficult for those who are still young. In some instances it can trigger the development of tics or TouretteaEUR(tm)s syndrome, which is repetitive movements and sounds such as eye blinking or clearing the throat. It can also slow the growth for children and teens. It is usually temporary and does not alter their height at the end of the day.

The medication is available in a variety of forms, but only on prescription. It can be a tablet that's swallowed, chewed or dissolved, a capsule that is opened and sprinkled on food or a liquid adhd medication. Some people use a formula that is short-acting and lasts between three and six hours. Some people take it for a longer time and require more dosage.

This medication may interact with certain other drugs like monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and antidepressants. It can also increase your your child's risk of a potentially fatal side effect, called angle closure glaucoma.

Interactions

Many medications can interact with other drugs or substances. This can change the effects of their actions. Some interactions can be dangerous or even fatal. Tell your doctor what other medications you and your child take, including vitamins and supplements and over-the-counter drugs. Ritalin can interact with other antidepressants. This is especially the case for those with monoamine oxidase (MAOI) inhibitors.

MAOIs boost dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the brain. This can lead to serious side effects, such as suicidal ideas or seizures, actions, and hallucinations. Ritalin is not recommended by those who suffer from circulatory issues such as Raynaud's phenomenon or high blood pressure. It can also aggravate symptoms for those suffering from Tourette syndrome and tics.

Certain fMRI studies have shown that an acute dose of 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, anterior cingulate (ACC) and striatum. These changes were accompanied by normalization of underactivation in non-medication and placebo conditions in the same regions.

These results suggest that methylphenidate improves performance in the tasks of stopping and timing discrimination by increasing the extracellular norepinephrine as well as dopamine. However, other studies of fMRI and behavioral evidence suggest that the mechanism is more complex than increased dopamine and norepinephrine. Psychostimulants in particular are believed to block dopamine reuptake in certain areas, such the striatum but not in other areas like the frontal lobes.

In one study, a mix of stimulants and non prescription adhd medication-stimulants decreased adhd medication Ritalin symptoms in children with moderate to severe cases. However, in certain patients the combination did not work as well as the single drug. The use of medications is not the sole treatment for ADHD, and most people don't require them to live with the condition. Skills training and behavior therapy can assist many people in learning more effective strategies to cope with the disorder.

A few people have reported that the name-brand Ritalin is more effective than the generic form, but this has not been confirmed by clinical trials. Both medications are chemically the identical, and therefore should both have similar effects on the majority of people.

Overdose

Methylphenidate, more commonly known as Ritalin is a stimulant of the central nervous system that can improve focus, concentration and mood when taken as prescribed. It has also been proven effective in treating ADD/ADHD and narcolepsy. But, as with any drug that alters the brain, if misused or taken in large doses, overdoses can occur. This could lead to heart attack, stroke, or coma. It is essential to be aware of the symptoms of an overdose on Ritalin to avoid these symptoms and seek medical treatment.

A Ritalin Overdose can happen in various ways. One could accidentally consume too many pills since they forgot to redose their medication. They may also consume other substances that can a doctor prescribe adhd medication interfere with the drug and increase its effect or they may be using it for recreational purposes and not know how to dose it correctly. Additionally, long-term use of Ritalin could lead to tolerance and psychological dependence that could lead to addiction. Ritalin is not recommended by those with an addiction history.

Contact 911 immediately if you are experiencing an overdose of Ritalin. They should be able provide the emergency personnel with details about the dosage, the time they took it, and what other medications or substances they consumed. The emergency response team will determine the best course of action to do to treat the patient. Typically, they will pump the stomach, a procedure called gastric lavage, to remove any excess drugs from the body before it is absorbed into the bloodstream.

Ritalin can trigger seizures. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should be closely monitored by medical professionals. They can be treated by taking fluids and medications to prevent seizures. Activated charcoal is also administered to the patient in order to stop the drugs from entering their body. The hospital staff can cool the patient with fans or mists cool water if they feel hot.

If you are prescribed Ritalin ensure that you keep it in a secure place where children are not able to reach it. Ask your pharmacist whether they have a return-to-prescription program. Do not keep any expired or unneeded medication. Mix the medicine you don't need with ground coffee or cat litter and dispose of it.