Ritalin Abuse

The most common way to treat ADHD is with stimulants or anti-depressants. "These medications stimulate the child's "brake pedal" whereas without treatment the child is all "gas pedal" (Taylor 63)." The most common drugs prescribed for this disorder are Dexedrine, Ritalin and Cylert. They are effective for a four to five hour time period while the sustained-released tablets are effective for seven to eight hour time periods. The drugs stimulate the central nervous system similar to amphetamines. It activates the brain stem arousal system and the cortex (Bailey 2).

Adderall has emerged as the leading prescription medication to treat ADHD. Approved by the FDA in 1996, Adderall prescriptions have grown in leaps and bounds, overtaking the once popular medication Ritalin as the leader in treating ADHD. The number of prescriptions given for the drug has skyrocketed in recent years, going from 200,000 in 2001, to 4.3 million in 2002, to 6.4 million in 2003. The profit margins for Shire have reflected such growth. According to manufacturers, Adderall brought in sales of $475.5 million in 2003, a 49% increase from its 2002 earning and a number that looks to continue to rise. The success of Adderall motivated Shire to extend their patent on its production until the year 2018. It also produced the birth of a new, more improved form of Adderall. Adderall XR has the same desired effects of its early counterpart, but is unique in that it contains two types of drug beads designed to give double-pulsed delivery of amphetamines, intensifying the effect and sustaining it over longer periods. While more and more doctors and parents are turning to Adderall and Adderall XR as an effective treatment for ADHD, the drug has found a comfortable niche among the college subculture.

Ritalin, similar to Adderall, prevents norepinephrine and epinephrine from being absorbed, keeping the neurotransmitters active in the brain. Although very similar to Adderall, Ritalin does not have the potential of increasing the levels of the neurotransmitters, making the dopamine transporters

There are two groups of stimulants: methylphenidate-based medications, which include Ritalin, Concerta, and Metadate, and dextroamphetamine-based medications, which include Adderall, Vyvanse, and Dexedrine (Boorady 2). The two most popular of these groups, Ritalin and Adderall, have these similar side effects: loss of appetite, insomnia, dizziness, nervousness, and prone to raising blood pressure (Ogbru 1). Both of these medications are also similar in short-acting and long-acting formulations, but, according to Susan York Morris, Ritalin is highly preferred over Adderall because it reaches its performance peak much more quickly, and prevents cells from reabsorbing norepinephrines, a precursor of adrenaline (Marcovitch 476), and dopamine, a precursor of norepinephrines that conveys inhibitory in the neurological system (Marcovitch 197), keeping them active in the brain.. (Morris 2). As a child, my parents began the process of testing different medications to treat my ADHD, and they began with Ritalin because it received the majority of positive results. Unfortunately, after random spurts of aggression, irritability, and unrest, they had to try a different medication. Next, they tested Adderall, but the same results occurred, but at greater rates than the

Most Americans have heard of Ritalin and Adderall, either being used to calm hyperactive children or used illegally across every college campus for the purpose of studying. These are two completely different circumstances, which may be confusing to some. The reason that these two different groups of people get two vastly different results from the same drug is that these belong to the drug class of central nervous system (CNS) stimulants. CNS stimulants increase alertness mentally and physically, but do the opposite for those with hyperactivity disorders. This is because these drugs release dopamine levels in the brain. Dopamine is a chemical in the brain that is related with motivation (Healthline Editorial Team).

According to the FDA website, Methylphenidate (Ritalin) is available in extended-release oral suspension or capsule: Ritalin XR or LA( do not crush, chew or break), sustained release: Ritalin SR, immediate release tablet: Ritalin IR ( chewable and soluble form), transdermal system ( Daytrana)

Ritalin is currently prescribed to approximately six million people in the US. Of those six million, 75% of these are children, with boys receiving Ritalin about four times more often than girls. Ritalin is a drug that stimulates the central nervous system. It interacts with chemicals in the brain and nerves that give way to hyperactivity and impulse control. Not only is Ritalin used to treat ADD and ADHD, it is also used to treat a sleeping disorder called Narcolepsy, which is an uncontrollable desire to sleep, but there is another drug that given just as Ritalin, and it is called Adderall. Adderall is almost the exact same as Ritalin except it actually enters the cell and helps it produce more dopamine.

Many drugs have been developed to treat ADD and ADHD. One of these drugs is Methylphenidate otherwise known as Ritalin. It is one of the most commonly prescribed drugs for treatment of ADD and ADHD. Use of Ritalin is up 700 percent since 1990 (ABC News). Other drugs also used in treatment of ADD and ADHD include Zoloft, Praxil, and Cylert. Ritalin is a drug that is used to restore neurotransmitters in those that lack or have malfunctioning nerve impulses in the

Ritalin is a prescription drug used primarily in the treatment of behavioural problems in children such as Attention deficit disorder (ADD) and Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (National Drug Intelligence Centre 2006). It is estimated that 11 percent of Australians between the ages of 6 to 17 are affected by ADD or ADHD and the amount of Ritalin being prescribed has doubled in the last 10 years ( Schriever 2012).

The medication covered in this article is called Ritalin, by brand name, and Methylphenidate or Methylphenidylacetate hydrochloride are the generic names. Ritalin can be habit-forming and with over-extended use a tolerance is built up, requiring more of the drug to be taken in order to feel the same effects. A person using this medication can develop severe depression just from suddenly stopping this drug after their overuse of it. To get off of this medication, it requires gradual dosage lowering and monitoring by a physician to lessen negative withdrawal effects, (MedlinePlus, 2016).

Ritalin is another example of a prescription ADHD stimulant that is misused frequently with a high mortality rate from overdose. Ritalin, which is more prevalent with high school age students, is primarily misused for weight loss and a feeling being high. The majority of children misusing prescription drugs such a Ritalin are under the impression that it is safer then illegal street drugs (CCHR, 2013). Ritalin is the most common stimulant drug prescribed to children with ADHD, but is also prescribed for other disorders, such as cancer, brain injury and pain management (Morton & Stockton, 2000). According to Morton & Stockton (2000) the effects of Ritalin are similar to the feeling of using cocaine, which may be one of the reasons that the ADHD drug is misused. According to research done by Musser et al. (1998) most school aged children using Ritalin did not think that Ritalin or any other prescription medication for ADHD could be abused. This ignorance may be part of the overwhelming reason that drugs such as Ritalin are becoming more widely

To add to that, the research that has been conducted on the disorder has led to a variety of effective treatments. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (2014) the most widely used medication is a stimulant. There is a wide variety of stimulants available for ADHD subjects. Although, with these stimulants come side effects including sleep problems, decreased appetite, anxiety and other diverse uncommon side effects (NIMH, 2014). Stimulants tend to calm children with ADHD. However, these medications can be detrimental to the patient in many ways. Certain medications have been subject to abuse, including Adderall and Ritalin. These medications are in some cases abused by patients who are over diagnosed. Since these patients do not have the disorder they can feel the side effects and use the drug to achieve a certain kind of high. When using these drugs for non-medical purposes they can seem to replicate the effects of cocaine

The next big drug close to Ritalin is Adderall. In the New York Times article “Workers seeking productivity in a pill are abusing ADHD Drugs” by Alan Schwartz talk more about people out there working in the work force instead of college students and exams. This drug does not affect one certain group of people, it affects everyone. Most people do take Adderall to improve their work performance. (Schwartz) These drugs can have effects on you like anxiety, addiction, and hallucinations when taken in high doses. This making it harder for people to work. (Schwartz) These people are given drugs by their doctors, friends, and dealers. But most people say these drugs that they take are not from them to get high but for them to get hired. Some industries have banned the use of these stimulants. (Schwartz) It's

2. Sub Point: Methylphenidate is the next type of drug, marketed under the name Ritalin.

Those children that are diagnosed with ADHD are usually prescribed psycho-stimulant medications, such as ‘methylphenidate’, otherwise known as ‘Ritalin’, as the primary method of treatment. (Chandler, 2010).