Someone has requested that I review some information concerning the drug Ritalin. This medication chemically, methylphenidate hydrochloride has received a great deal of deserved publicity in the past couple of years.
Ritalin is a very useful drug in the treatment and management of the conditions known as A.D.D., attention deficit disorder and A.D.H.D., attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. I have written about these conditions in previous columns but will repeat by saying these problems usually involve school-aged children.
These youngsters are noted to have short attention spans, increased physical activity levels, behavior problems, increased aggression and learning problems in school as a result.
Parents often are left at a loss to explain why their child won’t obey, won’t succeed and won’t “catch on” as quickly as their peers. In spite of increased parental support and attention, including discipline, kids who suffer this disorder just seem to struggle when asked to focus, control physical activity or concentrate on the task at hand.
Ritalin long has been used in managing these sorts of attention problems. The drug is actually a mild central nervous system stimulant. Just how it works to produce a more attentive and manageable child is not fully understood, but the action is one of chemical reaction within the brain. Theories include an effect on the rate of blood flow within various portions of the brain used in cognitive or thinking tasks. The result is a patient who is better able to tend to chores, assignments and tasks.
Impulsivity, emotional lability (instability), hyperactivity, degrees of distraction and the like are generally much improved. Performance levels and behavior expectations usually are met with more predictability and this provides for smoother family, scholastic and interpersonal or social relationships.
Just as with any other drug, however, Ritalin is not without possible adverse reactions. I like to tell my patients, “Any person can have almost any sort of reaction with any drug.”
Some of those associated with Ritalin include blurred vision, increased blood pressure, seizures in those who are prone to have them, possible problems with normal growth rates, potential tic disorders and even enhanced tension and anxiety for some. However, if properly dosed, followed and managed by one’s physician, these are indeed minimal and should not overshadow the great benefits for those in need of Ritalin.
