How To Explain ADHD Medication Ritalin To A 5-Year-Old
Wiki Article
ADHD Medication - Ritalin
Ritalin is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It improves brain communication, which decreases ADHD.
ADHD medications can cause side effects, such as suppressed appetite and trouble sleeping. However, most of these are minor and will go away on their own or over time.
Dosage
Ritalin increases the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in your brain, which are vital neurotransmitters that are responsible for regulating motivation as well as action and cognition. It is a psychostimulant and has been used since decades. It is considered safe when taken in the recommended dosages under the supervision of your physician.
However there are reports of misuse of this drug and reports of addiction even at therapeutic doses. Doctors must evaluate the risk for each patient and monitor symptoms throughout the treatment. It is important to inform patients as well as their family members about the dangers of taking medications that are not used and the need to properly get rid of them. Utilizing a locked medicine cabinet is a good idea, since it will stop children from accessing and accidentally taking unused doses. It's also a good idea to inform patients not to give their medication to anyone.
This medication can trigger suicidal feelings or thoughts, especially for those who suffer from bipolar disorder or depression or have a mental health history. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately. This medication may also raise your blood pressure, which could cause stroke or heart problems. If you experience chest pain, a fast heartbeat or excessive sweating contact your doctor immediately. Inform your doctor if there is a family history of heart disease, sudden death, or having suffered bleeding or stroke issues. This medication may 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 medication is more efficient than the generic version. However, many doctors prefer to use the brand-name version due its history of safety and effectiveness. It is important to note that this medication can be misused and should not be administered to anyone who isn't suffering from ADHD or Narcolepsy.
Some people have reported that this medication is more effective than other medications, but this is purely anecdotal and has not been proven scientifically. Some parents have reported that their children respond differently to generic and name-brand methylphenidate, but this is not necessarily true for every child.
Side effects
When starting medications to treat ADHD it takes some time to determine the appropriate 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 cause side effects, ranging from irritability to sleep issues to serious cardiovascular events.
Ritalin is a central nervous system stimulant that has methylphenidate, the active ingredient. It works by increasing levels of neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and dopamine, chemical compounds that are associated with control and attention. It also increases concentration and reduces restlessness as well as hyperactivity. Ritalin could cause serious heart issues, including stroke and sudden death in people with certain medical conditions, including heart rhythm disorders, high blood pressure and a history of cardiovascular disease or cardiac arrest.
Ritalin as with other stimulant medications, can cause weight loss and a reduction in appetite. It may also raise the blood pressure and pulse rate slightly. This could be a problem in the event of a preexisting heart condition or heart problems as a result, so your doctor will keep close check on your blood pressure and heart rate.
Other side effects include changes in mood, such as depression and anxiety. They can also impact behavior which is particularly difficult for children who are just starting to take the medication. In some cases it can 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 down growth in adolescents and children. This is usually temporary, and does not affect their final height.
There are several kinds of this medication that are available with a prescription only. It could be a tablet that is swallowed, chewed or dissolved or a capsule that is opened and sprinkled on food or a liquid. Some people choose to use an ingredient that acts quickly and lasts between three and six hours. Some people take it for a longer time which requires a higher dose.
This medication may interact with other drugs like monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and antidepressants. It can also increase your your child's risk of a potentially fatal side effect, called angle closure glaucoma.
Interactions
Many medications can interact with other drugs or substances. This can change the effects of their actions. Certain interactions could be harmful and even life-threatening. Discuss with your doctor the other medications you and your child is taking, such as check here vitamins and supplements and over-the-counter drugs. Ritalin is known to interact with antidepressants, specifically those that contain monoamine oxide inhibitors (MAOIs).
MAOIs increase norepinephrine and dopamine levels in the brain. This can lead to serious side effects, including suicidal thoughts or actions, seizures, and hallucinations. Ritalin is not recommended for individuals who suffer from circulatory issues, such as Raynaud’s phenomenon or high pressure. It can also cause the onset of Tourette syndrome or tics for those with 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 striatum. These changes were accompanied with normalization of the underactivation in the same areas during placebo and off medication conditions.
These results support that methylphenidate enhances performance in stop and timing discrimination tasks by increasing the extracellular norepinephrine as well as dopamine. However, additional fMRI and behavioral data suggest that the mechanism is more complicated than the increase in dopamine and norepinephrine. Particularly, psychostimulants are believed to block the reuptake of dopamine in some regions, like the striatum, but not other areas, such as the frontal lobes.
In one study, a mix between stimulants and nonstimulants reduced symptoms of ADHD in children who had moderate to severe cases. However, in certain patients, the combination did not perform as well as a single drug. The use of medications is not the sole treatment for ADHD, and most people do not need medication to manage the condition. Many people can develop better coping skills through therapy for behavior and training.
Some people anecdotally report that name-brand Ritalin is more effective than the generic version however this hasn't been confirmed by clinical trials. Both medications are chemically the same, which means they will both have similar effects on the majority of people.
Overdose
Methylphenidate (also called Ritalin) is a stimulant for the central nervous system. It can enhance mood, focus and concentration when prescribed. It has also been proven effective in treating ADD/ADHD and narcolepsy. Overdose is a possibility with any substance that alters brain function. This can result in stroke, heart attack and coma as well as other serious medical issues. It is essential to recognize the symptoms of an overdose on Ritalin in order to prevent these symptoms and seek medical treatment.
A Ritalin overdose can be caused by a number of causes. For example, someone may overdose due to the fact that they don't remember to re-dose their medication. They might also consume other substances that can affect the drug and increase its effect or they could be using it for recreational purposes and not know how to dose it properly. Furthermore, long-term use of Ritalin can lead to dependence and tolerance that could lead to addiction. Ritalin should only be used by those with a history of drug abuse.
Patients suffering from a Ritalin overdose should dial 911 immediately. They must be able to provide the emergency personnel with specific details regarding their dosage, when they used it, and the other drugs or substances they consumed. The emergency response team will then be able to more accurately determine how to treat the patient. Typically, they pump the stomach, a procedure called gastric lavage, to eliminate any excess drugs from the body before it can be taken into the bloodstream.
Ritalin may trigger seizures, and anyone who is who is experiencing these symptoms should be carefully monitored by a medical professional. They can be treated with fluids and anti-seizure medications. Activated charcoal may also be given to the patient in order to stop the drug from entering their body. If they are feeling hot, the medical staff can cool them down using fans and mists of water to avoid hyperthermia.
If you've been prescribed Ritalin keep it in a place where children can't reach it. Ask your pharmacist whether they have a return program. Don't keep expired or unused medicine. Instead, mix the unused medication with cat litter or coffee grounds and throw it away.