Is Ritalin Too Risky for Kids With ADHD?

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Im worried about giving my eight year old Ritalin LA 20 mg ???

Joanne 4:36AM May 29, 2012

In the mid 90's When I was a kid, I was prescribed with Ritalin because I apparently had ADHD. My parents had me take the stuff daily for years. During the time I was on the stuff, I noticed that in place of hyperactivity, I was angry, always getting into fights that I would start, to the point of endangering the other kids lives. Not a good combination when you have access to things that you could do a lot of damage with, like baseball bats or something. During the time I was taking ritalin, I was also being forced to play baseball, and I hate, and always have, hated sports. There was one time I remember I had gotten really angry during either a practice or game (I can't remember which) and picked up a bat with the intention of using it against one of my teamates. I haven't been in jail or the juvenile equivalent ever, so that means, fortunately, I did not hurt anyone. Unfortunately, I don't remember the entire exchange, just some bits and pieces. That's how it is with a lot of my past, I can't remember most of what I've done, even the places I've been, I only remember how angry I was, how depressed I got, and the suicidal ideation I had. One day I decided that I would no longer take Ritalin because I hated it, and that no one was going to force me to take it again. Sure enough, I stopped getting in fights, my depression lifted, and my thoughts of suicide vanished. To this day I have a memory full of holes that I can't explain for but the one thing that I think I owe credit for keeping me alive today is my quitting Ritalin.

Ky of OR 4:33PM July 06, 2011

And, herein lies the rub. No one else has documented proven data on how to help kids with ADHD

George M. of MD 9:45AM March 31, 2010

Ritalin, a drug works as a mild central nervous system stimulant. It stimulates central nervous system through its effects on working chemicals of brain and nerves. As one of the most useful pharmaceutical drugs, ritalin contributes to reduce the symptoms and severity of hyperactivity in prepubescent children especially.
http://www.ritalinworld.com

SIDJHON of WI 4:12AM March 10, 2010

I think we need to increase the doages of Adderall and Ritalin for all these kids who have ADHD.
This way, they wont grow up and procreate to become imbeciles like their parents who have no common sense and believe all these hillaryious myths.

Greg of IL 9:33AM December 01, 2009

THIS IS NOT A COMMENT BUT QUESTION. MY SON IS NOW 18 AN WE HAVE STRUGGLED WITH ADD/H SINCE DIAGNOSIS AT THE AGE OF FIVE. HE IS NO LONGER ON MEDICINE. IM LOOKING FOR WAYS TO HELP HIM AS HE NOW EMBARKS ON BECOMING AN ADULT. I KNOW HE STRUGGLES IN MANY AREAS. ARE THERE ANY BOOOKS ETC. THAT SOMEONE CAN SUGGEST. ANY INFORMATION WOULD BE VERY APPRECIATED. I CARRY SO MUCH GUILT NOT KNOWING HOW TO HELP HIM THE WWAY HE NEEDS TO BE HELPED.

MICHELLE of GA 4:41PM November 01, 2009

RE: Dave in CA. You are, of course, right. There are diagnostic tests that can show actual neurological variations in the way the brain functions in individuals with these disorders. The problem is they are not used to arrive at a diagnosis. Indeed, in this article, the FDA backed off on a mandatory 5 minute EKG, because the pediatricians "howled". Other than research, the tests you quoted are not used before these medications(which do alter chemical interactions in the brain)are prescribed. Perhaps if doctors got the same financial incentives from fitness centers, yoga instructors, martial arts studios, or mediation coaches that they get from the pharmaceutical companies we might find that the only people who are given these drugs are the ones who actually need them. The same can be said for anti-depressants, statins, and blood pressures meds. It's not that some people are not in dire need of these drugs. It's the fact that they have become not just the first option chosen, but the only option. As long as an "office visit" consists of a 10 minute rush to the next patient..with a break in between so the physician can check the status of his/her drug company stocks on the DOW, these abuses will continue.

Ann of TX 9:31AM August 25, 2009

I also have a 13 year old daughter with ADD that has struggled her whole life we ahve tried everything avoiding medication.
When she entered middle school we again took her to the therapist than the pediaticion and decided to try Concetra , before her first pill she alos had a EKG to cehck her heart.
This is the best thing we ever did she is on honor role , has made the school Volleyball and Softball team two years in a row. She could never of done this before the medication. Her self esteem is great and there are no more long nights at the table doing homework. Its amazing :)
I beleive every child is different however sometimes medication is the right choice....

mel of AZ 2:45PM June 19, 2009

My 12 yr. old daughter has Inattentive ADD and has visibly suffered with it since kindergarten. We have avoided the medication for all these years hoping we could "get by" without it. She cannot control her day dreaming and innability to focus. We have tried Biofeedback for years to no avail. Now that she is in Middle School, her ADD has been magnified due to the additional requirements of being organized and dealing with multiple teachers and assignments. She is VERY intelligent and scores in the top 98% in the school district yet she gets D's on the report card. She comes home crying and feeling "stupid". Her self-esteem is very low. She pleaded with me to take the medication and I conceded finally and she is on the lowest dose of Concerta. She is now doing great and can focus. She does'nt drift off to never never land constantly and her moood is more up-beat. She really likes the medication. She is happy for once. I don't have all the answers but this definitely has made a huge difference for my daughter and her quality of life.

Marianne of CA 12:14PM June 19, 2009

Hank of CA clearly doesnt know what he is talking about. I am a Profesor of Neuroscience at a one of the top ranking Universities for brain science. Study after study shows consistent and signifcant differences in brain function of people with ADHD. PET scans, fMRI, Neuropsychological testing, etc. all show for example, relative underactivity in frontal lobes of the brain. Papers published in top medical journals show decrease in dopamine transporters. Several gene variants have been shown to increase the risk. In fact the evidence is more consistent than many other brain conditions like schizophrenia or uncontroversial neurological conditions like migrane. There are hundresds of papers showing biological underpinnings for ADHD. Hank of CA, dont speak of things for which you clearly lack knowlege.
DF

Dave of CA 8:02AM June 17, 2009