(855) 4-ESSAYS

Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

Ritalin

            Ritalin is a mild central nervous system stimulant that triggers the brain stem .
             arousal system and the cerebral cortex. It increases the norepinephrine and the dopamine .
             at the central nervous system synapses. Ritalin blocks the reuptake of dopamine. It is .
             similar chemically and pharmacologically to the amphetamines. The generic name for .
             Ritalin is methylphenidate. It is currently used for the treatment of Attention Deficit .
             Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, narcolepsy, with mild depression in .
             the elderly and cancer patients, and to increase the action of antidepressant medication in .
             treatment resistant depression. Recently, Ritalin has been used experimentally with stroke .
             patients (Wright, 1997).
             A normal dose of methylphenidate is between fifteen and thirty milligrams per .
             day in divided doses. The drug takes effect in half an hour to one hour; it's effects last .
             four to six hours with the regular tablets and up to eight hours with the extended release .
             tablets. On-going research is confirming if the slow release or the original Ritalin is better .
             at controlling symptoms. Ritalin must be taken on a very precise schedule to receive .
             maximum benefits. Metabolism occurs in the liver and excretion occurs in the kidneys. .
             Almost ninety-five percent of a dose can be recovered as metabolites in the urine within .
             ninety hours. Noven Pharmaceuticals is developing a transdermal patch that releases a .
             therapeutic dose of methylphenidate for up to twenty- four hours. Ritalin is not .
             recommended for use during pregnancy; it is unknown if it passes through breast milk .
             (Wright, 1997).
             The benefits of Ritalin are it controls distractibility, increases social skills, .
             emotional state and behavior, allows the clients to concentrate, organize their thoughts, .
             increases motor control, and allows them to pay attention. Ritalin has been used since the .
             1950's to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; approximately ninety percent of .


Essays Related to Ritalin

1. ritalin

... . This leads to experimentation with the drug until the right dosage is discovered through close observation. This seems to become quite a problem with little ones. Long-term effects of Ritalin consist of stunted growth, psychotic episodes, depression and suicide attempts that have resulted when children have been on this drug for and extended period of time or when they were ... tremors, muscle twitching, fevers, irregular heartbeats and respirations, anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, formication, sweating, hyperpryexia, tachycardia, palpitations, hypertension, mydriasis, and dryness or...

  • Word Count: 1474
  • Approx Pages: 6

2. Overprescribing Ritalin

... behavior. He became dependent on it. His dependency is not very unusual as Dr. Breggin explains, "the Drug Enforcement Administration, and all other drug enforcement agencies worldwide, classify methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamine (Dexedrine and Adderall) in the same Schedule II category as methamphetamines, cocaine, and the most potent opiates and barbiturates. Schedule II includes only these drugs with the very ... highest potential for drug addiction and abuse" (par. 10). It addiction is clearly shown in this individual. Taking Ritalin at a young age can also lead to further dr...

  • Word Count: 2542
  • Approx Pages: 10
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Ritalin

... the streets. Dr. Peter Breggin believes stimulant drugs are "gateway" drugs. Researchers at the University of California - Berkeley have been tracking ADHD youths into adulthood and have noticed a connection between Ritalin and later use of cocaine, tobacco and other stimulant drugs. Although these results are not yet official, it is still something that needs to be taken into consideration by consumers ... . Ritalin could also make consumers more sensitive to cocaine, should they choose to use it. If abused, the drug is potentially addictive; it can cause a loss of appetite, leading to ...

  • Word Count: 726
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

4. The overprescription of ritalin

... we must be over prescribing the treatments for the disorder. The main treatment for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is Methylphenidate, most commonly known as Ritalin. Even if we put aside all the arguments of the side effects and the morality of the drug, the simple fact would remain that ... of early substance use and abuse. Substance Use Disorder is particularly associated with early usage. By constantly giving our already substance addiction susceptible children Ritalin at ages as early as 3 to deal with their disorder we are only setting them up for trouble with dependency ...

  • Word Count: 1599
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

5. Ritalin

... his house. Mathew Smith was only 14 years old when he died, and if you do the math, since he had been taking Ritalin for 10 years, he was 4 years old when first prescribed this medicine. Medical Examiner Ljubisa Dragovic concluded that Mathew had a heart attack ... side effects include insomnia, nausea, nervousness, drowsiness, headache, to unusual behavior and confusion. It can make the patient suicidal, violent, and is highly addictive. Ritalin can cause irregular or fast heartbeat, chest pains, very high blood pressure, blurred vision, getting very flushed, unusual bleeding and bruisi...

  • Word Count: 687
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Ritalin

... term effects. This makes for a very dangerous combination and is why this medication is greatly disapproved by many people and groups of society. Also since Ritalin is a Methylphetamine (closely related to the amphetamine family, known mostly as cocaine and speed), it has a high rate of abuse. This drug is ... they need this in order to be "alive" and full of life. The other way this drug is abused is very different. Students are using Ritalin as a study aid. They take a pill (either orally, or by crushing it and snorting-much like cocaine, or they dissolve it in water ... usually othe...

  • Word Count: 959
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Pro's And Con's Of Ritalin

... to know what dosage is correct for each child. This leads to experimentation with the drug until the right dosage is discovered through close observation. An overdose of Ritalin has severe consequences. It may cause loss of appetite leading to malnutrition, tremors, muscle twitching, fevers, irregular heartbeats and respirations, anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, formication, sweating ... , hyperpryexia, tachycardia, palpitations, hypertension, mydriasis, and dryness or mucous membranes. Ritalin has many side effects. It can cause a variety of symptoms including nervousness, insomnia, l...

  • Word Count: 643
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

8. ADD

... ADHD stimulant medications in onset of action: it starts to achieve benefit in 20 - 30 minutes after administration, and is most effective during the upward "slope' and peak serum levels. Ritalin's effect is brief: Most people experience 2-3 hours of benefit, but after 3 hours, benefits drop off rapidly. Some individuals, especially children, may obtain 4 or even 5 hours of positive effect (Clark ... ADHD stimulant medications in onset of action: it starts to achieve benefit in 20 - 30 minutes after administration, and is most effective during the upward "slope' and peak serum levels. R...

  • Word Count: 12292
  • Approx Pages: 49
  • Has Bibliography

9. The Differences Between ADD And ADHD

... callosum's control over how signals reach the thinking part of the brain. Many medications are used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and related problems. Among them are Ritalin, Dexedrine, Cylert, Adderall, Wellbutrin, clondine, Tenex, antidepressants, and atypical antipsychotics. The current era of medical remediation for children who exhibit symptoms of attention deficits and ... similar amphetamines rarely occurred. In the 1960's, researchers in various parts of the country learned that similar but more refined stimulant drugs such as Dexedrine (dextroamphetamine) ...

  • Word Count: 1801
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

Got a writing question? Ask our professional writer!
Submit My Question