Problems Associated w/ Ritalin

A detailed Summary of Problems Associated w/ Ritalin

I chose to research the adverse effects that are associated with methylphenidate, also known as Ritalin, when it is used on children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The author of my article shows proof that Ritalin can cause bad reactions with children through studies, as well as his own experiences as a psychiatric doctor.

The first point comes from a study done at a Canadian clinic. Ninety-eight children who were diagnosed with ADHD were placed on stimulants, most of which were Ritalin. Over nine percent of these children who were given Ritalin started to develop psychotic symptoms. Also, according to the two doctors administering the test, as soon as the children were taken off the medication, the symptoms stopped. Obviously, if over nine percent of the children who were on Ritalin developed psychotic symptoms, that is a rate much too high to be considered safe.

The second part of this article comes from the author's own experiences. He points out that many of the children he would consult were already taking three to five drugs, some only approved for adults. Soon after, the children would develop depression, delusions, hallucinations, paranoid fears, and other reactions due to the stimulant

In the second source that I found, it basically disagrees with my article because it does not mention anything about adverse side effects to taking Ritalin. This article deals with a study on how Ritalin works in the brain. It states simply that if the way it is administered is controlled, and the amount administered is controlled, then it can provide patients with very good results. I think that the authors of not only these two particular articles, but for many others concerning Ritalin as well, can take either side they want to a certain extent because it is a controversial drug that not all that much is known about.

I would have to say that my article is valid because it is written by a psychiatrist who has a medical degree in his field. In addition, he seems to be very well known because I found numerous articles written by him in my searches. However, I do see bias in the article I chose because some of the things that he points out simply are his view on this particular subject. For example, when he says "Instead of removing the child from the stimulants, these doctors mistakenly prescribed additional drugs ... that caused severe adverse effects, including psychoses and tardive dyskinesia.", this may not necessarily be true. It is once again his personal view on th

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Approximate Word count = 864
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Miscellaneous

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Problems Associated w/ Ritalin

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