How Do You Explain ADHD Medication Ritalin To A 5-Year-Old
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ADHD Medication - Ritalin
Ritalin is a stimulant medicine used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It improves brain communication, which decreases ADHD.
ADHD medications can cause negative side effects like reduced appetite and difficulty sleeping. However, the majority of these are mild and disappear by themselves or with time.
Dosage
Ritalin can increase the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in your brain, which are important 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 you take it in the prescribed dosages under the guidance of your doctor.
Nevertheless, there have been reports of addiction and abuse when the drug is used at therapeutic doses. Doctors must evaluate the risk for each patient and monitor symptoms throughout the treatment. It is important to inform patients and their family members of the dangers of not using medications and the need to properly dispose of them. Using a locked medication box is ideal, as this keeps children from gaining access and consuming doses that are not used. It is also a great idea to inform patients not to share their medication with anyone.
This medication can cause suicidal thoughts or feelings particularly in people who suffer from bipolar disorder, depression or have a mental health history. Consult your doctor immediately if you experience any of these symptoms. This medication can also cause an increase in blood pressure, which could lead to strokes or heart issues. Contact your doctor immediately when you experience a high heart rate, chest pain, or sweating. Tell your doctor if there is an ancestor with a history of heart disease, sudden death or having suffered bleeding or stroke issues. This medication can alter your blood circulation and cause numbness or pain in your toes and fingers. It can also make sleeping difficult.
It is not known if the brand-name version is more effective than its generic counterpart. Many doctors still prefer the brand-name medication because of its safety and effectiveness. It is important to remember that this medication can be misused and should not be administered to a person who is not suffering from ADHD or narcolepsy.
Some people have reported that this medication works better than others, but this is only anecdotal and has not been proven scientifically. Some parents have reported that their children respond differently to generic and name-brand methylphenidate. However, this isn't the case for all children.
Side effects
It takes time to find the appropriate dose when you start medication to treat ADHD. A healthcare provider will monitor the body reactions of your child or you and make adjustments to find the most effective treatment. These medicines are powerful and may cause adverse effects, ranging from irritability to sleep disorders to serious cardiovascular events.
Ritalin is a drug that contains the active ingredient methylphenidate, and is a stimulant for the central nervous system. It increases the levels of neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine. These are chemicals that help with control and attention. It also increases concentration and reduces restlessness and hyperactivity. Ritalin could cause serious heart issues, including stroke and sudden death in those with certain medical conditions, like heart rhythm disorders as well as high blood pressure and an underlying cardiovascular disease or cardiac arrest.
Like other stimulant medications Ritalin can cause a decrease in appetite and weight loss. It can also slightly increase the rate of your child's pulse and blood pressure. This could be a problem if you have a preexisting heart condition or have heart problems as a result, so your doctor will keep a close watch over your heart rate and blood pressure.
Other adverse effects include changes in mood, like anxiety and depression. They can also affect behavior which is particularly difficult for children who are just starting to take the medication. In some instances, it can cause tics or TouretteaEURtm(tm) which are repetitive sounds or movements like eye blinking and throat clearing. It can also slow down growth in children and adolescents. However it is usually temporary and does not affect their height at the end of the day.
There are several forms of this medication, that are available on prescription only. It could be a tablet that is swallowed, chewed on or dissolved or a capsule that is opened and sprinkled on food or a liquid. Some people choose to use the formula that has a short-acting effect and lasts between three and six hours. Others take it long-term and require an increased dose.
This medication may interact with other medications, like antidepressants and monoamine oxidase (MAOI) inhibitors. It could also increase your your child's chance of suffering from a potentially fatal side effect, such as angle closure glaucoma.
Interactions
Many medications are able to interact with other medications and substances, which could alter their effects. Certain interactions could be harmful, even deadly. Tell your doctor what other medications you or your child are taking, including supplements and vitamins as well as over-the-counter medications. Ritalin may interact with certain antidepressants, particularly those that contain monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
MAOIs increase the levels of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain. This could cause severe side effects, including suicidal thoughts or seizures, actions, or hallucinations. Ritalin is not recommended for people who suffer from circulatory issues, such as Raynaud’s phenomenon or high pressure. It can also worsen symptoms for those suffering from Tourette syndrome and tics.
Some fMRI studies have found that an acute dose of methylphenidate within medication responders during time discrimination and stop tasks enhanced activation in the right inferior frontal cortex (IFC) and medial prefrontal cortex (MPC) and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and the striatum 25. These changes were accompanied by a normalization of underactivation during placebo and off-medication conditions in the same regions.
These results show that methylphenidate enhances performance in tasks of stop and timing discrimination by increasing the extracellular norepinephrine as well as dopamine. Other fMRI and behavioral studies suggest that the mechanism is more complex than the increased levels of dopamine and norepinephrine. Psychostimulants, in particular, appear to inhibit the reuptake of dopamine in some regions, like the striatum, but not other areas, such as the frontal lobes.
In one study, a combination between stimulants and nonstimulants reduced symptoms of ADHD in children with moderate to severe cases. However, in some patients the combination did not perform as well as a single drug. The use of medications is not the sole treatment for ADHD and the majority of people do not require them to live with the disorder. Many people are able to develop more effective ways to cope with the disorder through therapy and training.
There are reports that brand-name Ritalin is more effective than the generic version, but this has not been confirmed get more info by clinical studies. The two drugs are chemically similar, which means they should have similar effects on the majority of people.
Overdose
Methylphenidate (also known as Ritalin) is a stimulant of the central nervous system. It can improve mood, focus, and concentration when taken as prescribed. It has also been shown to be effective in treating ADD/ADHD as well as the disorder known as narcolepsy. However, like all substances that alters the brain, if it is misused or taken in large amounts, overdoses can occur. This can result in stroke, heart attack and coma as well as other serious medical problems. It is important to be aware of the signs of an overdose on Ritalin in order to prevent these symptoms and seek medical care.
A Ritalin Overdose can be caused in a variety of ways. For instance, a person could overdose because they forget to take a dose re-supplement. They could also be taking other substances that could affect the drug and increase its effect or they could be using it recreationally and aren't aware of how to properly dose it. Furthermore, long-term use of Ritalin could lead to dependence and tolerance which can lead to addiction. Ritalin is not recommended by those who have an addiction history.
Call 911 immediately if are experiencing an overdose of Ritalin. They should be able to provide the emergency personnel with specific details regarding their dosage, when they took it, and what other drugs or substances they took. The emergency response team will be able to decide on the best way to treat the patient. They usually pump the stomach (a procedure called gastriclavage) to remove any excess drug from the body before they are absorbed in the bloodstream.
Ritalin may trigger seizures. Anyone who is experiencing these symptoms should be closely monitored by medical experts. Fluids and antiseizure medication are a way to treat seizures. Additionally, the patient may be given activated charcoal to block any further drug from circulating in the body. If they feel hot, the medical staff can cool them down by using fans and mists of water to prevent hyperthermia.
If you have been prescribed Ritalin put it in an area that is secure and where children cannot access it. You may also ask your pharmacist for a take-back program. Do not keep any expired or unneeded medication. Instead, mix the expired medication with cat litter or coffee grounds and dispose of it.