Posted on 11/12/2001 5:15:21 PM PST by t-shirt
Ritalin May Change Brain Long-Term, Study Shows
Sunday November 11 2001
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The stimulant Ritalin (news - web sites), a drug used to help children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, may cause long-term changes in the brain, researchers reported Sunday.
The changes look similar to those seen with other stimulants such as amphetamine and cocaine, at least in rats, the team at the University of Buffalo found.
``Clinicians consider Ritalin to be short-acting,'' Joan Baizer, a professor of physiology and biophysics who led the study said in a statement.
``When the active dose has worked its way through the system, they consider it 'all gone.' Our research with gene expression in an animal model suggests that it has the potential for causing long-lasting changes in brain cell structure and function.''
But Baizer said that Ritalin, known generically as methylphenidate, probably is not addictive in the way drugs of abuse are if it is used properly.
``Children have been given Ritalin daily for many years, and it is extremely effective and beneficial, but it's not quite as simple as a short-acting drug,'' she said. ``We need to look at it more closely.''
High doses of amphetamine and cocaine have been found to switch on genes known as ``immediate early genes'' in brain cells. One of the genes, called c-fos, has been linked with addiction when it is activated in certain parts of the brain.
The researchers gave rat pups sweetened milk carrying methylphenidate in comparable doses and at similar times to what a child would get.
C-fos genes were activated in their brains in a pattern similar to that seen in cocaine and amphetamine use, the researchers told a meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in San Diego.
``These data do suggest that there are effects of Ritalin on cell function that outlast the short term and we should sort that out,'' Baizer said.
She said perhaps a gene chip -- a microarray -- could be used to see just which genes are turned on and off by methylphenidate.
These people can't help it. They've taken too many psych drugs and fried their brains.
You ARE the weakest link! Goodbye!!!!!
Bingo! It's all about control.
Good for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Whether or not Ritalin is the answer is another story.
I'm in full agreement with this statement. I happen to know a kid who *needs* Ritalin in order to function like a normal human being. I've been well acquainted with the entire process of before and after. But serious allergies run in the family - she's got some - and she's a very picky eater. It's much easier to fine-tune her Ritalin dose than to figure out the underlying cause. In my opinion, unless she's been diagnosed with a Ritalin deficiency, there has to be another answer. It's not a dietary supplement, after all.
He didn't need drugs, he just needed to adjust.
The fact that the school sought to "cure" his inattentiveness with drugs should be distressing to all parents. That and the fact that I understand schools receive a "kickback" for each child they have on the stuff.
No I do not. I endorse Ritalin use as a last resort not a first choice. I work for no one because I'm on disability. Why? Well it seems the ADHD they thought I had as a kid was instead sensory processing disorders. Very close in behavioral characteristics but thats where it stops. I took Ritalin about at age 7 or 1965 for less than a month. It didn't help me in fact it made me worse. So much for an endorsement huh?
What I have found out though is ADD ADHD in most cases is a common misdiagnoses of sensory processing disorders. I also understand that all it takes to trigger it is a Nitendo, cartoon, tv show, ghetto blaster, or strobe light. Mom and Pop rent or buy The Lion King an innocent enough cartoon for most kids. Except for those with C.A.P.D. The scene changes and screen flashes set off the ADHD type behavior. That is why this nation is in a Ritalin epidemic. The drugs didn't change BUT the triggering devices causing the symptoms that are misdiagnosed as ADD ADHD did. Simple enough? Medications? I recommend getting the root cause illness treated. For example. Ever hear the term "Snotty Nose Brat?" Yes and it's called that and for a good reason. Treat the sinus allergy to limit further sensory damage. Sinus allergies destroy over time the Inner Ear. Inner Ear dysfunction spells cognitive problems.
When I post in a Ritalin thread I post to limit it's usage and to educate others to a common missed problem because of the ADD ADHD misdiagnoses. Oh BTW if left untreated these disorders can lead to what is called Generalized Anxiety Disorders where everything seen and heard is misinterpited as dangers and the fight or flight survival response is triggered. Then you start using medications far more frequently.
He doesn't have to. It's the military's decision, not his. They're simply using the existence of a Ritalin prescription in a recruit as an indication that the guy's probably going to have a lot of trouble being a good soldier because of his ADD or whatever, so they 4F him and send him on his way. Just like if they saw a list of heavy chemotherapy drugs on his chart, they'd say, "Jeez, this kid's got cancer!" and never let him enlist until he was in remission.
As you and I have discussed before, there are certainly medical reasons behind a limited number of childhood psychiatric problems. These should be treated as medical problems, NOT psychiatric ones. And there is certainly no excuse to drug millions of kids with this stuff.
And for those that missed that... It's worth repeating...
"And there is certainly no excuse to drug millions of kids with this stuff."
I went on active duty in 1976 and got out in 1980. I went on disability in 1994. During my 4 years active duty the condition that caused my ADHD symptoms acted up. I was removed from "The Hole" or "Boiler Room" on a medical necessity. I was going deaf and staggering around. I wore my hearing protection so that wasn't the issue. The 100% humidity was though to my Inner Ear and allergies. The Chief Engineer wanted a Boiler Tech he ended up with a Machinist Mate working in Air Conditioning & Refrigeration instead. I could have never worked in The Hole. But In was recommended for re-enlistment. I got out instead. I would not have seen my 20 years active had I stayed in. Though at that time I didn't realize the cause or extent of my problem.
Sensory Processing disorders are mistaken for ADD ADHD in most cases. While they can co-exist with each other in some cases the C.A.P.D. is the most common between them. It's serious enough that in my state kids are tested for C.A.P.D. They made the amazing discovery that most of their supposed ADD ADHD's kids were indeed not. Like I said the problems came with the newer technologies started triggering sensory processing disorder kids. The technology of 1965 was giving me trouble as a kid. It isn't hard for me to understand the effects todays technology has on them as it effects me severly as an adult. It doesn't go away.
I was referring to a statement he made about Ritalin usage for underlying neurological problems, not any statements about military policy.
My understanding of DOD policy comes from a Cox News Service article in 1996 which states:
"A longstanding Department of Defense directive also instructs the military to reject those with a 'chronic history' of an academic skills defect -- including ADD -- after age 12. And people who took Ritalin as teenagers to treat ADD, an inhibitor of academic skills, are rejected from military service, even if they no longer take the medication."
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