Ritalin Side Effects and Your Children

ritalin side effects
Ritalin is the trade name for a prescription drug, methylphenidate, that is prescribed to children suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It comes in a pill form with dosages ranging from 5 mg, 10mg, and 20 mg tablets. In order to control the symptoms of ADHD, the stimulant Ritalin is administered to children that are diagnosed with this neurological disorder. Generally, when a child is initially prescribed Ritalin, they must first learn what dose works best for them. This may come with a lot of trial and error in attempting to discover the proper dosage that will improve the symptoms of ADHD. However, parents or children do not have to wait hours or days to see the effects of Ritalin as with some other anti-depressants. Ritalin begins to work almost immediately (about 20-30 minutes after the pill is ingested). Researchers have determined that titration, or the trial and error process, has two purposes and those are to find the lowest possible dose that gives the best results and also to lessen the side effects associated with Ritalin.

Unfortunately, there have been several studies that have demonstrated some undesirable side effects of Ritalin; these have both short term and long term consequences. In low doses, this anti-depressant raises blood pressure and lowers the heart rate of children who are prescribed the drug. As with many other drugs that are administered in pill form, abdominal distress is oftentimes an unwanted side effect. However, this can be lessened if Ritalin is taken with food.

Regarding food and appetite, some children have complained of a decreased appetite while the drug is working in the system but after about four hours or less, when Ritalin has worn off, the intensity of the hunger is quite remarkable. Uneven sleep patterns have been found in children who take Ritalin too early in the day. In order to circumvent a child having difficulty sleeping, many pediatricians advise that the last dose should not be given after 5:00 pm. This serves two purposes: appetite suppression will have worn off by dinner time and the prevention of insomnia.

"Rebounding" is a term health practitioners use to describe the dramatic effects of the wearing off of Ritalin. In most cases the symptomatic behavior of ADHD worsens once the drug has worn off. Many parents have cited an increase of 'hyper' behavior in the evenings when Ritalin wears off.

If a child consumes higher doses of Ritalin (more than 20 mg) this can lead to heart palpitations, feelings of nervousness within the child, tremors (shakes), and/or headaches. These feelings of discomfort are common side effects of Ritalin when more than 20 mg is ingested. This is why doctors want to try to limit the dosage to the lowest possible amount to curtail these side effects.

Although uncommon with children under the age of twelve, feelings of euphoria are a possible side effect if taken in large doses; because of this many doctors and pediatricians fear that this drug has the potential to be abused. It has been noted that teenagers and adults chiefly experience euphoric feelings when Ritalin is taken in large quantities. It is also important to note that even though the likelihood of abuse is present, Ritalin does not produce either an addiction or even a tolerance because it does not accumulate in the bloodstream.

Taking these Ritalin side effects into consideration, each parent must determine if the benefits will outweigh any negative consequence of taking Ritalin. This can be accomplished through constant monitoring of the child's progress to determine if there is any decline in health or mental well-being while being treated with this medication.