20 Things You Should Have To Ask About ADHD Medication Ritalin Before Purchasing It
ADHD Medication - Ritalin
Ritalin is a stimulant medicine that is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It improves brain communication, which can reduce ADHD.
ADHD medications can cause side effects such as a diminished appetite and trouble sleeping. Most of these side effects are mild and will go away by themselves or with time.
Dosage
Ritalin boosts levels of norepinephrine, dopamine, and other neurotransmitters in the brain. These neurotransmitters are responsible for regulating motivation and cognition. It is a psychostimulant which has been used since decades. It is considered safe when taken in the recommended dosages under the guidance of your doctor.
However, there are reports of misuse of this drug and reports of addiction even at the therapeutic dosage level. Therefore, doctors must assess each patient for danger and monitor their symptoms throughout treatment. It is also important to educate the patient and their family members about the dangers and the necessity of proper disposal of any unused medication. Utilizing a locked medicine cabinet is ideal, as this keeps children from gaining access and consuming doses that are not used. It is also a good idea to advise patients not to share the medication with anyone.
This medication may cause suicidal thoughts or actions, especially in people who are depressed, bipolar or have an history of mental illness. Consult your doctor immediately if you experience any of these symptoms. This medication can also raise your blood pressure, which could result in heart attacks or strokes. If you feel chest pain, a rapid heartbeat or excessive sweating call your doctor immediately. Also, inform your doctor if you have a family history of heart disease or sudden death or if you've ever had any type of stroke or bleeding problem. This medication can cause numbness and discomfort in your toes or fingers. It can also make it hard to sleep.
It is not known if the brand-name version of this medicine is more efficient than the generic version. However many doctors prefer the brand-name version due its proven safety and effectiveness. It is also important to note that this medication can be misused and should never be given to someone who does not suffer from ADHD or Narcolepsy.
Some people claim that this medication is more effective than others. However, this is only anecdotal evidence and has not yet been scientifically verified. Some parents have reported that their children react differently to generic methylphenidate versus name-brand, but this may not be the case for all children.
Side effects
When you are first starting medication to treat ADHD it takes a bit of time to find the proper dose. A healthcare professional will observe your or your child's bodily reactions and adjust until they find the most effective medication. These medicines are powerful and may cause adverse effects, ranging from irritability to sleep disorders to serious cardiovascular events.
Ritalin is a central nervous system stimulant that contains methylphenidate, the active ingredient. It works by increasing 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 could cause serious heart problems, including strokes and sudden deaths for people with certain medical conditions. This includes heart rhythm disturbances, high blood pressure and the possibility of cardiac arrest and cardiovascular disease.
Similar to other stimulant drugs, Ritalin can cause a decreased appetite and weight loss. It may also raise your your child's pulse rate and blood pressure little. If you suffer from heart problems or a pre-existing health condition, your doctor will closely monitor your blood pressure.
Other side effects include changes to mood, including depression and anxiety. These side effects can also affect the behavior of children, which is particularly difficult for children who are still young. In some instances, it can cause tics, or TouretteaEURtm(tm), which are repeated sounds or movements such as eye blinking and throat clearing. It can also slow the growth in teenagers and children. This is usually temporary and does not alter their height at the end of the day.
There are many kinds of this medication which are available by prescription only. 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 use a formula that acts in a short time and lasts for about three to six hours, while others use it for a longer time and require a higher dose.
This medication could interact with other medications, like antidepressants and monoamine oxidase (MAOI) inhibitors. It may also increase your your child's risk of developing a potentially fatal side effect, called angle closure glaucoma.
Interactions
Many medications interact with other drugs or substances. This can alter their effects. Certain interactions could be harmful, even deadly. It is important to inform your doctor about all other medicines you or your child is taking, including prescription drugs and supplements and vitamins. Ritalin may interact with certain antidepressants, specifically those that contain monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
MAOIs increase the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. This can cause serious side effects, such as suicidal thoughts, actions, seizures, and hallucinations. Ritalin is not recommended for individuals with issues with circulation like Raynaud's phenomenon or high blood pressure. It can also cause the onset of Tourette syndrome or tics in those who have these conditions.
Certain fMRI studies have revealed that an acute dose of methylphenidate for medication responders during stop and time discrimination tasks enhanced activation in the right inferior frontal cortex (IFC) medial prefrontal cortex (MPC) anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the striatum. These changes were accompanied with normalization of the underactivation in the same regions under placebo and off medication conditions.
These results support that methylphenidate improves performance in the tasks of stopping and timing discrimination by increasing extracellular norepinephrine and dopamine. medications for adhd and behavioral data suggest the mechanism is more complicated than the increased levels of dopamine and norepinephrine. Psychostimulants, in particular, appear to inhibit the reuptake of dopamine in certain areas, such as the striatum, but not in others, such as 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 some patients the combination did not work as well as the single drug. There is no one-stop treatment for ADHD and the majority of people don't require medications to manage the disorder. Skills training and behavior therapy can help many people learn more effective strategies to cope with the disorder.
Some people anecdotally report that the name-brand Ritalin is more effective than the generic form, but this has not been proven by clinical trials. The two medications are chemically identical, and they are likely to have the same effect on most people.
Overdose
Methylphenidate, more commonly known as Ritalin, is a stimulant for the central nervous system that can help improve concentration, focus and mood when taken as prescribed. It also works in treating ADD/ADHD, narcolepsy and ADD. Overdose is possible with any substance that alters brain function. This can result in stroke, heart attack, coma, and other serious medical problems. Being aware of the symptoms of a Ritalin overdose is crucial to stopping these symptoms and taking step to seek medical attention.
A Ritalin overdose can be caused by a variety of reasons. For instance, a person may accidentally take too much because they forget to re-dose their medication. They may also consume other substances that can interfere with the drug and enhance its effects or they could be using it recreationally and not know how to dose it properly. In addition, long-term usage of Ritalin can lead to tolerance and psychological dependence which can lead to addiction. Therefore people with a history of abusing stimulants or other drugs should use Ritalin under the supervision of a medical professional.
Anyone suffering from a Ritalin overdose should call 911 immediately. First responders should know the dose, when it was taken and if they've consumed any other drugs or substances. The emergency response team will be able to better determine the best treatment for the patient. Typically, they pump the stomach, a procedure known as gastric lavage, to remove any excess drug from the body before it is taken into the bloodstream.
medications for adhd can trigger seizures. People who experience these symptoms should therefore be closely monitored by medical experts. Fluids and antiseizure medication can be used to treat seizures. Activated charcoal is also given to the patient in order to stop the drug from entering their body. The hospital staff can cool the patient with fans or mists chilled water if they are feeling hot.
If you're given Ritalin, make sure to 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. Instead, mix the unneeded medication with cat litter or coffee grounds and dispose of it.