20 Questions You Should Always Ask About ADHD Medication Ritalin Before You Buy ADHD Medication Ritalin
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 negative side effects, including reduced appetite and difficulty sleeping. However, most of these are minor and will go away by themselves or with time.
Dosage
Ritalin can increase the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in your brain, which are important neurotransmitters responsible for controlling motivation, action, and cognition. It is a psychostimulant that has been used since decades. It is considered to be safe when you take it in the prescribed dosages under the supervision of your doctor.
However there are reports of misuse of this drug and reports of addiction even at the therapeutic dosage level. Therefore, doctors should assess each patient for risk and monitor these symptoms throughout treatment. It is essential to inform patients and their relatives about the dangers of unused medications and the need to properly dispose of them. A locked medicine box is a good idea, since it prevents children from accessing and accidentally taking unused doses. It's also a good idea to tell patients not to divulge their medication to anyone.
This medication may trigger suicidal feelings or thoughts, especially for those who suffer from bipolar disorder or depression or have a mental illness history. Talk with your doctor right now if you exhibit any of these symptoms. This medication can also raise your blood pressure, which can result in heart attacks or strokes. Call your doctor right away in case you are experiencing a high heart rate, chest pain, or sweating. Also, inform your doctor if there is a family history of heart disease or sudden death, or if you have previously suffered any type of stroke or bleeding problem. This medication can affect your blood circulation and cause the sensation of numbness or pain to your toes and fingers. It can also make sleep difficult.
It is not known whether the brand-name version of the product is more effective than its generic counterpart. However many doctors prefer the brand-name version because of its proven safety and effectiveness. It is important to keep in mind that this medication is a risk to abused and should never be administered to a person who does not suffer from ADHD or Narcolepsy.
Some people believe that this medication is more effective than other. However it is merely anecdotal evidence and is not yet scientifically proven. Some parents report that their children react differently to generic methylphenidate as opposed to 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 some time to find the right dosage. A doctor will be able to monitor the body reactions of your child or you and make adjustments in order to find the most effective treatment. These medicines are extremely effective and can have side consequences, ranging from irritability and sleep issues to serious cardiovascular events.
Ritalin is a central nerve system stimulant, which 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 improves concentration and decreases restlessness and hyperactivity. Ritalin could cause serious heart issues, including stroke and sudden death, for those suffering from certain medical conditions, like heart rhythm disorders, high blood pressure and an underlying cardiovascular disease or cardiac arrest.
Similar to other stimulant drugs, Ritalin can cause a decrease in appetite and weight loss. It can also slightly increase the rate of your child's pulse and blood pressure. If you suffer from heart problems or an existing health condition, your doctor will closely monitor your blood pressure.
Other adverse effects include changes in mood, including depression and anxiety. They can also affect the way you behave, which can be especially difficult for young children taking the medication. In some cases it can cause tics, or TouretteaEURtm(tm), which are repeated sounds or movements such as eye blinking and throat clearing. It can also slow down growth in adolescents and children. This is usually temporary, and does not affect their final height.
This medication is available in a variety of forms, but only with a prescription. It could be a tablet that is swallowed, chewed or dissolving or a capsule that is open and sprinkled onto food or in a liquid. Some people use a formula that acts in a short time and lasts from three to six hours, whereas others take it for a longer time and require an increased dosage.
This medication can interact with other medications such as antidepressants or monoamine oxidase (MAOI) inhibitors. It could also increase your your child's chance of suffering from a potentially fatal side effect, angle closure glaucoma.
Interactions
Many medications interact with other substances or drugs. This can alter the effects. adult adhd medication can be dangerous and even life-threatening. Inform your doctor about any other medications you and your child are taking, including supplements and vitamins as well as over-the-counter medications. Ritalin can 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 lead to serious side effects, including suicidal thoughts or actions, seizures, and hallucinations. Ritalin is not recommended by those with circulatory problems such as Raynaud's phenomenon or high blood pressure. It can also aggravate symptoms in those suffering from Tourette syndrome and tics.
Some fMRI research has found that an acute dose of methylphenidate given to medication responders during stop-and-time discrimination tasks increased activation of the right inferior frontal cortex (IFC), medial cingulate cortex (MCC), anterior cingulate (ACC), and striatum. These changes were accompanied by a normalization of underactivation in non-medication and placebo conditions in the same regions.
These results suggest that methylphenidate can improve performance in the tasks of stopping and timing discrimination by increasing extracellular norepinephrine and dopamine. Other fMRI and behavioral data suggest that the mechanism is more complex than an increase in dopamine and norepinephrine. Particularly, psychostimulants are believed to block the reuptake of dopamine in certain areas, like the striatum, but not other areas, like the frontal lobes.
In one study, a mix of stimulants and non-stimulants decreased symptoms of ADHD in children who had moderate to severe cases. In some cases the combination did not perform as effectively as a single medication. adhd and medication of medications is not the sole treatment for ADHD, and most people do not need them to live with the disorder. Behavior therapy and skills training can help many people learn more effective strategies to cope with the disorder.
A few people have reported that the name-brand Ritalin is more effective than the generic version, but this has not been confirmed by clinical studies. The two drugs are chemically identical, so they are likely to have similar effects on the majority of people.
Overdose
Methylphenidate (also called Ritalin) is a stimulant of the central nervous system. It can enhance mood, focus and concentration when taken as prescribed. It can also be effective in treating narcolepsy, ADD/ADHD and ADD. However, like all substances that alters the brain, if misused or used in large quantities, an overdose can occur. This can result in heart attack, stroke or coma, as well as other serious medical issues. Recognizing the signs of a Ritalin overdose is vital to the prevention of these symptoms and taking the necessary step to seek medical attention.
A Ritalin overdose can be caused by a number of causes. A person may take too many pills because they did not remember to redose their medication. Other substances can interact with the drug, causing its effects, or they may be using it recreationally and not know how to dose it. Additionally, long-term use of Ritalin can result in addiction and psychological dependence that can cause addiction. Ritalin should only be used 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 took. The emergency response team will then be able to more accurately decide on the best way to treat the patient. They usually perform a stomach pump (a procedure called gastriclavage) to remove any excess drugs from the body before they are absorption into the bloodstream.
Ritalin can cause seizures, and anyone who is suffering from these symptoms should be monitored by medical professionals. Antiseizure and fluids can be used to treat them. 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 have been prescribed Ritalin, store it in an area in a place where children aren't able to reach it. You can also inquire with your pharmacist about a take-back program. Do not keep any expired or unused medicine. Instead, mix the unused medication with cat litter or coffee grounds and dispose of it.