ADD lecture from a college student

[Guest guest]

Hey all, I'll post responses as well.

-Shelby

 

Ritalin (methylphenidate hydrochloride tablets, USP).

There are two types of web sites available when looking for information on

the working mechanism for Ritalin. One is the company site and those

endorsed by the company (Novartis). The other type is websites that discuss

the dangers associated with the drug. I was surprised to find that the

latter were the only sites that actually discussed how Ritalin works. The

fact that there are ongoing studies to determine exactly what Ritalin does

to the brain is not what scares me. It's the fact that these studies are

being done after millions of prescriptions for children have been filled.

Does that seem backward to anyone else?

 

Anyway, Ritalin is a dopamine amplifier. It has also recently been linked to

serotonin increases as well, but this is a recent discovery and further

research is needed. Dopamine is a chemical that " transports " messages from

one area of the brain to another. By boosting dopamine levels, scientists

believe that the symptoms associated with ADD and ADHD are mitigated.

(http://psychcentral.com/library/adhd_ritalin.htm)

This is just my opinion, but if a scientist states " They hope to learn more

about how Ritalin stimulates greater attention to detail, and how it reduces

levels of physical activity in the young children for whom it is most often

prescribed. " About a drug I'm thinking about giving my child, I'm going to

wait until they know exactly what it is going to do to my child.

 

The following side effects have been linked to Ritalin and are taken from

the following web page

(http://www.prozactruth.com/ritalineffects.htm#adverseeffects)

Nervousness and insomnia are the most common adverse reactions reported with

methylphenidate but are usually controlled by reducing dosage and omitting

the drug in the afternoon or evening. Decreased appetite is also common but

usually transient.

Central and Peripheral Nervous System:

Dizziness, drowsiness, headache, and dyskinesia may occur. Isolated cases of

the following have been reported: hyperactivity, convulsions, muscle cramps,

choreo-athetoid movements, tics, or exacerbation of pre-existing tics,

Tourette's syndrome, and psychotic episodes including hallucinations which

subsided when methylphenidate was discontinued. Psychic dependence in

emotionally unstable persons has occurred rarely with chronic treatment.

Although a definite causal relationship has not been established, isolated

cases of transient depressed mood have been reported.

Symptoms of visual disturbances have been encountered in rare cases.

Difficulties with accommodation and blurring of vision have been reported.

Gastrointestinal:

Nausea and abdominal pain may occur at the start of treatment and may be

alleviated if taken with food.

Cardiovascular:

Palpitations, blood pressure and pulse changes (both up and down),

tachycardia, angina and cardiac arrhythmias.

Skin and/or Hypersensitivity:

Rash, pruritus, urticaria, fever, arthralgia, and alopecia. Isolated cases

of exfoliative dermatitis, erythema multiforme with histopathological

findings of necrotizing vasculitis, and thrombocytopenic purpura.

Hematologic:

Isolated cases of leukopenia, thrombocytopenia and anemia.

Other:

Weight loss during prolonged therapy.

In children, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, weight loss during prolonged

therapy, insomnia, and tachycardia may occur more frequently; however, any

of the other adverse reactions listed above may also occur. Minor

retardation of growth may also occur during prolonged therapy in children.

 

Got Milk?

--

 

 

Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 266.4.0 - Release 2/22/2005

[Guest guest]

herbal remedies , " Shelby Blakely "

<sblakely@b...> wrote:

> Ritalin (methylphenidate hydrochloride tablets, USP).

> There are two types of web sites available when looking for

>information on the working mechanism for Ritalin. One is the company

>site and those endorsed by the company (Novartis). The other type is

>websites that discuss the dangers associated with the drug.......

 

*******************

If the side effects listed in this post aren't enough to prove the

dangers of the drug, maybe this new article will. I just happened to

come across it this a.m. and thought I'd post it (hope that's OK?),

since it was already being discussed.

 

Jan

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/health/3056557

<snips>

In a small but potentially alarming new study, local scientists have

linked the most popular drug used to treat attention-deficit problems

with increased risks of cancer......

 

The study of 12 children on Ritalin found every one experienced a

significant increase in their level of chromosome abnormalities —

occurrences associated with increased risks of cancer and other

adverse health effects.

 

The study is just the latest to cast doubt on ADHD medication.

Earlier this month, Canadian regulators suspended sales of Adderall

amid reports of 20 deaths of patients, including 12 children, taking

the drug between 1999 and 2003. In the same time period, American

regulators logged seven sudden deaths of children taking Ritalin and

Concerta. A third ADHD drug, Strattera, can cause severe liver

injury......