What You Need to Know About Ritalin

Chapter One: What Is Ritalin? Millions of American children and adults begin each day by swallowing a central nervous system stimulant called Ritalin. In the past twenty years, the little blue or yellow pill has become the drug of choice in treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the most frequently diagnosed behavioral disorder in children and one of the fastest-growing diagnoses of adults in the United States. Experts estimate that as many as 12.5 million Americans suffer from various degrees of this condition, characterized by three primary symptoms of inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Ritalin is often the cornerstone of a successful treatment program; as many as 90 percent of children diagnosed with ADHD will be prescribed Ritalin in the course of their treatment. Because of Ritalin's effectiveness, use of the drug is at an all-time high. Prescriptions increased 450 percent from 1991 to 1995, climbing from a nationwide consumption of 4,000 pounds to 18,000 pounds annually, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). What is Ritalin, Exactly? Ritalin, the brand name for the drug methylphenidate, is a short-acting stimulant medication manufactured by Novartis (formerly Ciba-Geigy Pharmaceuticals). It's dispensed in 5, 10, and 20 milligram tablets that usually begin to work within a half hour after ingestion. Effectiveness typically begins to dwindle within four hours, as the drug clears from the body, making it necessary to take second and sometimes third doses during the day. Because more than one dose is generally required each day, Ritalin is often dispensed in school. The educational community has been grappling with this issue and attempting to provide solutions to the problems that Ritalin dispensing can present. Leaving a child's medication program in the hands of a teacher or school secretary, for example, may be unsettling to the parents. You can find out more about how to deal with these situations in Chapter 7. Sustained-release (SR) Ritalin can provide a viable alternative to the school dilemma. This longer-acting form of the pill--which has helped to increase Ritalin's popularity--delivers 10 milligrams immediately and another 10 milligrams about four hours later. Although the SR form is more practical, many children and adults find it's not quite as effective as the short-acting pill. Most major health insurance companies recognize ADHD as a valid psychological diagnosis and offer some form of reimbursement for Ritalin. The pills themselves are relatively inexpensive, costing from 25 to 50 cents each, depending on where they are dispensed. There is a generic form of Ritalin called methylphenidate hydrochloride, which is less expensive than the brand-name drug. Some people report a noticeable difference in the way the generic and brand name drugs affect them--after taking the brand-name drug, for example, the equivalent generic may seem less effective. This is probably because differences in their potencies may be discernible. As Dr. Ruth Robin of the Attention Deficit Center in Southfield, Michigan, explains, "Generic drugs only have to be 75 percent as effective [as brand names]. If you start with generic, stay with generic." To discourage abuse of Ritalin, the DEA has designated it as a "Schedule II controlled substance." This means it's subject to rigid yearly manufacturing quotas. As a consequence, supply, particularly in the past several years, hasn't always kept up with the growing demand. Because of federal restrictions on controlled drugs, pShaya, James is the author of 'What You Need to Know About Ritalin', published 1999 under ISBN 9780553762495 and ISBN 0553762494.