Where Will ADHD Medication Ritalin Be One Year From In The Near Future?
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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 side effects, such as suppressed appetite and trouble sleeping. Most of these side effects are minor and will fade on their o own or with time.
Dosage
Ritalin can increase levels of norepinephrine, dopamine and other neurotransmitters within the brain. These neurotransmitters are responsible for regulating motivation and cognition. It is a psychostimulant and has been used for a long time. It is considered to be safe when you take it in the prescribed dosages under the guidance of your doctor.
However there are reports of the abuse of this drug as well as reports of addiction even at therapeutic doses. Physicians must determine the risk of 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 necessity of proper disposal of any unneeded medication. Utilizing a locked medicine cabinet is ideal since it will stop children from accessing and accidentally taking unused doses. It is also a good idea to advise patients not to share the medication with anyone.
This medication can trigger suicidal thoughts, or actions particularly in those who are bipolar, depressed or have a history of mental illness. If you notice any of these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately. This medication can cause an increase in blood pressure which could lead to strokes or heart problems. Get your doctor's attention immediately in case you are experiencing an elevated heart rate, chest pain, or sweating. Inform your doctor if you have is an ancestor with a history of heart disease, sudden death or if you've ever had a stroke or bleeding problems. This medication may alter your blood circulation, causing numbness or pain in your toes and fingers. It can also make sleeping difficult.
It is not clear whether the brand-name version of this medicine is more efficient than the generic version. However, many doctors prefer to use the brand-name version due to its proven safety and effectiveness. This medication is susceptible to abuse, and should not be given to anyone who is not suffering from ADHD or Narcolepsy.
Some people report that this medication works better than others, but this is just anecdotal evidence and hasn't been proven scientifically. Some parents have said that their children react differently to generic versus name-brand methylphenidate. However, this isn't necessarily the case for all children.
Side effects
When you are first starting medication to treat ADHD, it takes some time to find the proper dose. A doctor will be able to monitor the body reactions of your child or yourself and make adjustments to find the most effective medication. These medicines are extremely effective and can cause side effects, from irritability and sleep disorders to serious cardiovascular events.
Ritalin is a central nervous system stimulant that contains methylphenidate, the active ingredient. It is a stimulant that increases levels of neurotransmitters norepinephrine as well as dopamine, which are chemicals that control and attention. It also improves concentration and decreases restlessness and hyperactivity. Ritalin can trigger serious heart problems, including stroke and sudden deaths in people with certain medical conditions. These include heart rhythm disturbances and high blood pressure and the possibility of cardiac arrest and cardiovascular disease.
Like other stimulant medications Ritalin can cause a decrease in appetite and weight loss. It can also increase your or your child's pulse rate and blood pressure little. If you have heart problems or a pre-existing condition your doctor will closely monitor your blood pressure.
Other adverse effects include anxiety and depression. They can also affect behavior which is particularly difficult for children who are taking the medication. In some cases, it may 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 slow growth in adolescents and children. This is usually temporary, and doesn't affect their final height.
This medication is available in several forms, but only by prescription. It could be a tablet that's swallowed, chewed or dissolving or a capsule that is opened and sprinkled on food items or a liquid. Some people choose to use a formula that is short-acting and lasts between three and six hours. Some people take it for a longer time, which requires a higher dosage.
This medication can interact with other medications like monoamine oxide inhibitors (MAOIs) and antidepressants. It could also increase your or your child's chance of suffering from a potentially fatal side effect, called angle closure glaucoma.
Interactions
Many medications interact with other drugs or substances. This can alter the effects. Some interactions can be dangerous and even life-threatening. You should inform your doctor about all the other medications you or your child are taking, including prescription medications and supplements and vitamins. Ritalin may interact with certain antidepressants. This is particularly the case for those with monoamine oxide (MAOI) inhibitors.
MAOIs increase dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the brain. This can cause serious side effects such as suicidal thoughts and actions, seizures, or hallucinations. Ritalin should not be used by those who suffer from circulatory problems like Raynaud's syndrome or high blood pressure. It can also cause the onset of Tourette syndrome or tics for those who have these conditions.
Certain fMRI studies have shown that a high dose of methylphenidate given to responders 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 accompanied with normalization of the reduced activation in the same regions under non-medicament and placebo conditions.
These results support the notion that methylphenidate exerts its effect on behavior through the increase of 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 increased dopamine and norepinephrine. In particular, psychostimulants appear here to block the reuptake of dopamine in specific regions, like the striatum, but not in other areas, like the frontal lobes.
In one study, a mix of stimulants and non-stimulants decreased symptoms of ADHD in children with moderate to severe cases. However, in some patients, the combination did not perform as well as the single drug. Most people don't need medication to manage ADHD. Skills training and behavior therapy can help many people learn more effective strategies for coping.
Clinical trials haven't proven that the name-brand Ritalin is superior to the generic version. Both medications are chemically identical, so they should 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 taken as prescribed. It has also been shown to be effective in treating ADD/ADHD as well as the disorder known as narcolepsy. Overdose is a possibility with any substance that alters brain function. This can result in stroke, heart attack or coma, as well as other serious medical issues. Being aware of signs of an Ritalin overdose is critical for the prevention of these symptoms and taking the appropriate action to seek medical treatment.
A Ritalin overdose can be caused by a variety of causes. Someone may accidentally take too many pills because they forgot to refill their prescription. They might also consume other substances that could affect the drug and increase its effect, or they might be taking it for recreational purposes and not know 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 an history of using stimulants or other drugs should use Ritalin under the supervision of a physician.
Patients suffering from a Ritalin overdose should call 911 immediately. They should be able to provide the emergency personnel with details about the dosage, the time they were taking it, as well as any other drugs or substances they consumed. The emergency response team will determine what they should do to help the patient. Typically, they will pump the stomach, a procedure called gastric lavage, to eliminate any excess drug from the body before it is absorbed into the bloodstream.
Ritalin can cause seizures, so anyone who is experiencing these symptoms should be monitored by a medical professional. They can be treated with fluids and anti-seizure medication. Activated charcoal is also given to the patient in order to stop the drugs from entering their body. The hospital staff can cool the patient down with fans or mists of chilled water if they are feeling hot.
If you have been prescribed Ritalin put it in an area where children can't reach it. You can also inquire with your pharmacist about a drug take-back program. Don't keep expired or unneeded medication. Mix the medicine you don't need with cat litter or ground coffee and dispose of it.