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Natural Health News Articles
| Posted: 7th August 2004 |
| Methylphenidate (Ritalin) |
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Methylphenidate (C14H19NO2), or MPH, is an amphetamine-like prescription stimulant commonly used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children and adults. It is also one of the primary drugs used to treat the daytime drowsiness symptoms of narcolepsy. Novartis Pharmaceuticals markets methylphenidate under the brand name Ritalin®.
Indicated for:
attention deficit disorder
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
narcolepsy
Effects
Methylphenidate is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant. It has a "calming" effect on many children who have ADHD, reducing impulsive behavior and the tendency to "act out", and helps them concentrate on schoolwork and other tasks. Adults who have ADHD often find that MPH increases their ability to focus on tasks and organize their lives.
In the United States, methylphenidate is classified as a Schedule II narcotic, the designation used for substances that have a recognized medical value but which have a high potential for abuse. Some people abuse MPH by crushing the tablets and snorting or smoking them, which produces a "high" similar to that of cocaine or amphetamine and can lead to addiction. When taken orally in prescribed doses, MPH is not addictive and does not produce a "high".
Criticism
Treating children with stimulant medication, and methylphenidate in particular, has become controversial as the number of children taking them has increased. Critics contend that MPH is extensively overprescribed in the United States, especially among children; that the drug is used primarily to control or sedate "problem" schoolchildren so that they will not disrupt class; that it transforms healthy children into "zombies", stifling their creativity and intellectual energy; and that it can lead children into dangerous drug addictions later in life.
Alternatives to harsh drug treatment include gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and evening primrose oil and DHA from fish oil supplements.
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