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.
If my kid is not learning as well as the kid sitting next to him, and I find after thorough diagnoses and trial of the drug, that Ritalin will help him learn as much as that kid sitting next to him...why not level the playing field!
Why should my kid have to flounder and suffer during those important learning years, causing a lack of a good base education, then watch him go on to flounder in later years because of that, when Ritalin could prevent that?
They can't tell me it is only bad parenting or lack of parenting, I have seen that it isn't the case. I have seen at home moms who dedicate their lives to their children, ban the TV and never buy computer games have kids with ADD. Now I am sure there are kids out there who do suffer from bad parenting...but to say all kids with ADD have bad parents is just plain stupid. You'd have to say all bad parents have kids with ADD and we all know that's not true, either.
If my kid can learn more and retain/gain more of his education with Ritalin, why would I not give him every chance at success I can? I have seen success with kids who took Ritalin and who are now successful unmedicated, unaddicted adults.
Check out most anti-ritalin sites, follow the little links at the end of the pages and they will almost always lead you to some goof with a secret formula vitamin snake oil that claims it will cure ADD. Of all the women I knew when my kids were in elementary who tried those snake oils, not one of them worked - Ritalin did.
Central Auditory Processing Disorders or there is Visual Processing Disorders. Basically it comes from childhood illnesses. The most common being chronic ear infections and allergies especially sinus allergies. It's believed a substancial portion of the sensory system {Inner Ear } is damaged by these illnesses or conditions. This site offers a good explaniation and description.
The treatment is treat the medical condition doing the damage {allergy, ear infection, ect} and some class room modifications. In more severe cases it can get complicated as motor skills and coordination are effected as well.
It is a great tool, it has up to 24 alarms, that can be set to go off randomly or at fixed times, it vibrates silently in the kids pocket. When it vibrates they ask themselves if they are paying attention to the teacher and doing the classwork they are supposed to be doing. It "wakes" them out of daydreams. They can self-monitor themselves, and can also set additional alarms for reminders for those who are also forgetful. I would recommend this to parents who have daydreamers or forgetful kids. Also a great tool for diabetic kids, to help remind them about blood checks/insulin times.
* Is your child easily distracted or unusually bothered by loud or sudden noises?
* Are noisy environments upsetting?
* Does behavior and performance improve in quieter settings?
* Does your child have difficulty following directions, whether simple or complicated ones?
* Does your child have reading, spelling, writing or other speech-language difficulties?
* Is abstract information difficult to interpret?
* Are verbal (word) math problems difficult?
* Is your child disorganized and forgetful?
* Are conversations hard for your child to follow?
There oughtta be a similar device to remind teachers to stop boring kids so they would rather learn than be somewhere else.
Roflmao!!!!! Hear! Hear! I'll second that motion!
Didn't one of the monsters behind the Columbine shootings want to join the military, but wasn't allowed due to him taking Ritalin?
Rx Nation- are our children being medicated to death?
This subject was widely discussed on talk radio after Columbine- but the mainstream press won't touch it.
The bell has rung. We have a winner.
Reply #32. I wondered how long it would take for some "parent" to chant the mystical incantation "I love my son as much or more than any other parent, but if it weren't for Ritalin ...."
Unfortunately there is no pharmacological concoction ready yet for the curse of victimhood.
Yet it can be cured. Try a more courageous attitude.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.