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Fact Sheet* & Links |
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Is a medication prescribed for individuals (usually children) who have an abnormally high level of activity or Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 3 to 5 percent of the general population has the disorder, which is characterized by agitated behavior and an inability to focus on tasks. It is occasionally prescribed for treating narcolepsy.
Recent research (1) at Brookhaven National Laboratory may begin to explain how methylphenidate helps people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The researchers used positron emission tomography (PET - a noninvasive brain scan) to confirm that administering normal therapeutic doses to healthy, adult men increased their dopamine levels. The researchers speculate that it amplifies the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter, thereby improving attention and focus in individuals who have dopamine signals that are weak, such as individuals with A.D.H.D.
Because of its stimulant properties, however, in recent years there have been reports of abuse of methylphenidate by people for whom it is not a medication. Some individuals abuse it for its stimulant effects: appetite suppression, wakefulness, increased focus/attentiveness, and euphoria. When abused, the tablets are either taken orally or crushed and snorted. Some abusers dissolve the tablets in water and inject the mixture - complications can arise from this because insoluble fillers in the tablets can block small blood vessels.
At their June 2000 meeting, members of NIDA's Community Epidemiology Work Group (CEWG)* shared the following information.
Because stimulant medicines do have potential for abuse, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has placed stringent, Schedule II controls on their manufacture, distribution, and prescription. For example, DEA requires special licenses for these activities, and prescription refills are not allowed. States may impose further regulations, such as limiting the number of dosage units per prescription.
Alternative Treatments
Concerned parents, afraid of giving their young children such dangerous medications are seeking alternatives to help reduce or eliminate them. The internet is full of companies, many of whom have formulated their own products, to capture a part of this ever growing market. The pharmaceutical companies have even joined this fray, with the introduction of their non stimulant formulation, Strattera. After all, they have the bankroll to finance the FDA approval. Become an informed Consumer. If you are considering an alternative, ask how long the company has been selling the product, read the testimonials, ask if it has been clinically tested, is it patented, what other conditions does it impact favorably. e.g. Alcohol abuse in the family of an ADHD'er, has been proven to be an indicator and possible precursor of the disease. Stress, depression, anxiety is also co-morbid with Attention Deficit Disorder. In other words, if someone cooked up something just to sell it for adhd, it's probably not going to work. ADHDrelief, in the form of an alternative to drugs is viable, you will just have to search for the one that works for you.
Confirming the Hazards of Stimulant Drug Treatment
ADHD-pdr.com Prescription Drug Reference for ADHD medications
Ritalin Monograph http://www.mentalhealth.com/drug/p30-r03.html
http://www.ritalindeath.com The Matthew Smith Story.
ADHDrelief.com One child's success with an alternative.
More Ritalin Class Action Suits Filed September, 2000
NIMH ADHD Stimulants 'MTA' Study Fails to Meet Scientific Standards
ICSPP Statement to the NIH Consensus Conference on ADHD and Stimulant Treatment
Columnist Criticizes Use of Psychiatric Drugs for Children
Consensus Conference on Diagnosis and Treatment of ADHD
Table Showing Ritalin and Other Stimulant Adverse Drug Reactions
Press Release on Ritalin Hazards
New York Times, Letter to the Editor "Whose Attention Disorder Does Ritalin Treat?"
NIH Consensus Conference Asks the Wrong Questions
Drug Enforcement Administration Press Release on Ritalin
"The Ritalin Racket" Student News Coverage of Abuse
* This fact sheet highlights information from the June 2000 meeting of NIDA's Community Epidemiology Work Group (CEWG). CEWG members meet twice yearly to share emerging trends in drug abuse for 21 major U.S. metropolitan areas. CEWG reports are on NIDA's website at www.drugabuse.gov.
1 Nora Volkow, et al., Therapeutic Doses of Oral Methylphenidate Significantly Increase Extracellular Dopamine in the Human Brain, The Journal of Neuroscience, 2001, 21:RC121:1-5.
