Ritalin (Methylphenidate) side effects in children

Methylphenidate, or Ritalin which is the brand name of the drug, is a psychostimulant drug which is used to treat a multitude of medical and psychological disorders and syndromes. It is often prescribed for treatment of ADHD symptoms, and is also used to treat depression, lethargy, obesity and narcolepsy.

It is a Schedule II drug, meaning it presents a high risk of abuse because it is so addictive. Since people use this drug to treat disorders such as ADHD it is not only chemically addictive, but also becomes addictive since patients who stop using Ritalin will behave differently from what they are used to. That means many people who take Ritalin will gain the sense that they need it to live their lives in a normal fashion.

Since ADHD is normally discovered in an early age, many parents question what this drug does, since they administer it to their children despite the massive controversy which surrounds the drug.

The effects of Ritalin are almost identical to cocaine and amphetamines. This is the effect which is desired when treating ADHD, but the benefits also comes with great risks. Because of its similarities to cocaine and amphetamines, Ritalin is highly addictive. No matter what one might gain from taking a drug, the medical rule is to avoid addiction at all times, since that will bring more problems down the road.

Another factor is that since the diagnosis of ADHD is diverse and subjective – there is, in fact, no way of diagnosing ADHD with 100% certainty – the patient runs the risk of being administered the drug without actually needing it. A child simply acting out because of emotional problems risk becoming addicted to a drug which does not heal any of their problems, while presenting a whole new set of risks.

Side effects

If we take a look at the other risks involved with Ritalin, the official side effects include the following problems:

• Abdominal pain
• Appetite loss
• Anxiety
• Blood pressure and pulse changes (both up and down)
• Irregular heartbeat
• Sweating
• Dizziness
• Sadness, anxiety and irritability
• Euphoria
• Headaches
• Hypersensitivity (including skin rash and fever)
• Fatigue
• Sexual drive increased or decreased
• Nausea
• Pupil dilation
• Psychosis
• Short-term weight loss
• Stunted growth
• Dry mouth

All these side effects have been observed in patients who have taken Ritalin regularly for a longer period of time. The higher the dose, the higher the risks are of experiencing these side effects of Ritalin, especially in children.

Substance abuse

While many subscription drugs can be abused, the abuse rate of Ritalin is quite popular because of its high availability and known similarity to cocaine and amphetamines. When this knowledge is spread among teenagers, some of which are taking Ritalin to treat their ADHD, the risk of abuse increases far more than with other prescription drugs which are less available among teenagers.

In 2004, the US Poison Center recorded over 8000 Ritalin overdoses. Most of these overdoses were due to drug abuse and suicide attempts. Although Ritalin is prescribed in 1/100th of the lethal dose, its high availability is once again a factor. In recent years, selling their prescribed Ritalin has become a way for teenagers to make money.

Alternatives

While most people who are diagnosed with ADHD go on medication (most commonly Ritalin or Adderall), after studying their side effects and experiencing them first hand, many people want to find alternative treatments. The general distrust for pharmaceutical companies also adds to the search for alternatives. Apart from the dietary options available, some natural remedies are available, which have also been reported as working well. Some of the most popular alternative treatments are BrightSpark and Focus formula, available at NativeRemedies. These remedies provide a natural way for the child to calm down and focus, and because of their natural substances they are free from side effects.