The Dangers Of Using Ritalin And Other Stimulant Medications For The Treatment Of ADD/ADHD

Report shows that usage of Ritalin in America is five times more than world usage. This is a staggering 90% of the world’s Ritalin. Peter Breggin, M.D provides further insights.
- Current statistics indicate that as many as 10% of the nation’s children have been diagnosed as having ADD/ADHD.
- Ritalin and other stimulants have been used for treatment of ADD/ADHD for as many as five million children.
- Hundreds of children every year receive, or take, doses of stimulant medications that are too high, resulting in overdose.
- Children aged six through nine are at the greatest risk for overdose.
The usage of Ritalin and other stimulants in treatment of ADD/ADHD can cause more than just side effects. There have been prove that these stimulants can lead to a more serious health problems such as damaging the functioning of the cardiovascular system, central nervous system, gastrointestinal system and this will in turn endanger the lives of these children who depend on them. Parents have been pressured by many to opt for these stimulants as treatment for ADD/ADHD but they have not been informed of the requirement of using this medication.
The hazardous effects are:
Cardiovascular System
Rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, abnormal heartbeat, and heart attack.
Central Nervous System
Altered mental status, hallucinations, convulsions, seizures, convulsions, depression, excitement, agitation, irritation, anxiety, nervousness, hostility, nervousness, compulsive behavior, tics, jerky movements, tourette’s, drowsiness, confusion, lack of sleep, unhappiness, depression, over-sensitivity, decreased social interest, zombie-like mannerisms, impaired mental abilities.
Gastrointestinal
Eating disorders, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, stomach ache, and cramps, dry mouth, constipation, growth problems, and endocrine and metabolic disorders.
Other
Blurred vision, headaches, dizziness, excessive sweating, incontinence, fever, joint pain, blood disorders, rash, conjunctivitis, hives, skin inflammation, and hair loss.
Withdrawal and Rebound
Worsening of symptoms, anxiety, depression, sleep problems, irritability, over-activity, and stimulant “crash”.
Effects of Ritalin is suspected to be more powerful than cocaine!
Although in pill form, Ritalin does not produce the immediate stimulant effects as cocaine, addicts that crush and inject Ritalin have found the “rush” to be just as pleasant. One European study found that, even though encapsulated Ritalin (pill form) didn’t produce an immediate rush, once metabolized, the drug occupies more dopamine receptors than cocaine does. In essence, Ritalin has more of an effect on brain receptors than cocaine.
An article published in the New York Times asks the questions “Is it appropriate, ethicists and pediatricians ask, to medicate children without a clear diagnosis in the hope that they will do better in school? Should the drug be given to adults who may complain that they are failing in their careers or are procrastinators? Are the ends worthy of the means?”
This concern have also been voiced out in the January 2005 issue of Pediatrics in which the large discrepancies between pediatricians’ practice patterns and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines for the assessment and treatment of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was bought forth. The article also stated that because the medical community didn’t come to a consensus on how to diagnose ADD/ADHD, they should not be making extensive decisions as to how to treat individuals who have been diagnosed with the disorder.
There are some necessary steps that can be taken to ensure that whenever symptoms are suspected to indicate ADD/ADHD thus providing stimulant medication as the form of treatment. This is obviously to safeguard oneself and loved ones so as to not contributing to the statistics of misdiagnosis of ADD/ADHD.
Here are the golden rules to follow if one suspected of ADD/ADHD.
- Don’t settle for one diagnosis of ADD/ADHD by a medical professional what’s more after just one observations.
- A through evaluation on the patient is needed in order to come to a final conclusion that the patient suffer from ADD/ADHD. Other possibilities should be tested upon the patient such as another disorder, nutritional imbalance, or food allergies and sensitivities. No medication should be given on a try and see basis.
- If the final conclusion points to ADD/ADHD then one should not just settle for medications involving stimulants. One should always go for other possible treatments first as the side effects are too risky especially when used for children.
- Never fall for the quick fix. Any fad diagnosis that causes society to turn immediately and without question to the latest popular solution that offers a quick fix – in this case, stimulant medications – should be suspect.
An educated individual is one who is best able to make intelligent decisions regarding his or her own medical treatment, or regarding the treatment of children.

Article Source: http://www.articleopus.com

As a leading practitioner in the field of treating attention deficit disorder, Jimmy Brownen has had man years of experience in the treatment of such disorders. For more information on adderall or vyvanse, please visit his site today.

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