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My nephew has been on ritalin for a few years now, i have always wondered if it really works?! He's still quite active, but i have always put it down to the fact the he is young and a boy. Getting upto mischief is the best part of growing up 
I skimmed through an article on Ritalin, i didnt get to read the whole article but the bit that i got to read mentioned that Ritalin is on the same grade as cocaine, and that the 'older' kids are faking the symptons to get the drug given to them.
My nephew is due to start at one of the best private schools in Gauteng, when they went for the interview, my sister had to tell them that he takes ritalin daily. They were not to keen on the idea, but it turns out that they will accept him as long as he doesnt not come off the ritalin. When we told him that he had been accepted, on the basis that he keeps on the ritalin, he turned around to my sister and told her its no problem as he knows he cant cope without it... my nephew is nine years old! how does he know that he cant cope with it???? :eek:
Do you think it really works?
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Quote:Originally posted by SpankyJax
My nephew has been on ritalin for a few years now ........
Do you think it really works?
Yes it does work Spanky .... both my sons were on it (on and off) through junior & high school .... and my sisters son has been on it for years .... also my 13 year old daughter had it for a short while in SA (when she was about 9 & 10 yrs old ).... none have shown any addiction .... all showed improved school results and the ability to focus better in class and achieve better (none of mine use it anymore) .... all drugs have their risks and I'm sure ritilin is no different ..... but if a child is really battling at school and loses out on a good education because of this .... it can affect their whole life .... so I say use it if there is a real need .... some adults even use it for severe concentration problems.
Quote:Originally posted by sunny
some adults even use it for severe concentration problems.
I wonder if it would help me? I have pretty bad concentration problems too.
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Quote:Originally posted by picanin
I wonder if it would help me? I have pretty bad concentration problems too.
No ... you beyond help pic  .... I'm sure it would help if you really needed it ..... you would have to have an assessment to see just how bad your concentration is .... I don't think it's dished out too readly in the UK .... I don't hear of kids being on it here like they were in SA .... there again ... I reckon a number of them here would be easier to deal with and would probably achieve a lot more if they were on it ....
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Mmm... Just typed a really long response... to suddenly have my computer perform "an illegal operation" (go figure) so here I sit again... (hope against hope... I remember it all)...
Difficult subject... would you believe me if I told you we spent a good month on this exact subject at college? There are so many aspects when dealing with Ritalin. Trying to teach a class of an average head count of 30 kids, is challenging enough. In some (note the word some) cases, learners in the class who suffer from ADD and ADHD offer even more distraction for other learners in their class.
On a professional note: Ritalin is one of the more favoured "stimulant drugs". When taken appropriately, stimulant medications can improve symptoms in up to 90% of children with ADHD. They help calm children who are hyperactive and help children who have trouble concentrating to focus. However, like other prescription medications, if stimulant medications are misused, abused or given to kids without ADHD, there may be serious health consequences. Then of course, there are the "side effects" and "addiction" aspects to consider. They DO NOT occur in all children, and it is usually as a result of misuse or when they are used incorrectly. Saying this, I have seen, on numerous occasions, how a child becomes psychologically dependent on the drug. Where he/she doesn't believe they have the capabilities to function in a classroom situation without ritalin.
On a personal note: I am never keen on prescription medicine - always try to find an alternative. There are tons of different "drugs" out there... check out these sites for more info, or simply type in "alternative treatment adhd" in your search engine.
http://www.retrainthebrain.com/
http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/ritalin.htm
http://www.holos-homeopathy.com/ADHD_information_1.htm
One more site to check out...
http://www.organicbebe.com/ADHD_natural_remedies.asp
Hope that helps.
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Quote:Originally posted by Court
Mmm... Just typed a really long response... to suddenly have my computer perform "an illegal operation" (go figure) so here I sit again... (hope against hope... I remember it all)...
Difficult subject... would you believe me if I told you we spent a good month on this exact subject at college? There are so many aspects when dealing with Ritalin. Trying to teach a class of an average head count of 30 kids, is challenging enough. In some (note the word some) cases, learners in the class who suffer from ADD and ADHD offer even more distraction for other learners in their class.
On a professional note: Ritalin is one of the more favoured "stimulant drugs". When taken appropriately, stimulant medications can improve symptoms in up to 90% of children with ADHD. They help calm children who are hyperactive and help children who have trouble concentrating to focus. However, like other prescription medications, if stimulant medications are misused, abused or given to kids without ADHD, there may be serious health consequences. Then of course, there are the "side effects" and "addiction" aspects to consider. They DO NOT occur in all children, and it is usually as a result of misuse or when they are used incorrectly. Saying this, I have seen, on numerous occasions, how a child becomes psychologically dependent on the drug. Where he/she doesn't believe they have the capabilities to function in a classroom situation without ritalin.
On a personal note: I am never keen on prescription medicine - always try to find an alternative. There are tons of different "drugs" out there... check out these sites for more info, or simply type in "alternative treatment adhd" in your search engine.
http://www.retrainthebrain.com/
http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/ritalin.htm
http://www.holos-homeopathy.com/ADHD_information_1.htm
One more site to check out...
http://www.organicbebe.com/ADHD_natural_remedies.asp
Hope that helps.
My 2p worth
Methylphenidate (generic name of Ritalin) has a parodixal effect when used in children with ADHD...instead of "stimulating" them centrally, it calms them ... however, a child needs to be classfied as being ADHD by a team of health care professionals before such drastic measures are taken. Quite often children are just very lively and "as busy as bees".....
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Quote:Originally posted by Joan
Methylphenidate (generic name of Ritalin) has a parodixal effect when used in children with ADHD...instead of "stimulating" them centrally, it calms them
have to agree with you... (not sure why it's refered to as a "stimulant" - that's just what it's called)... the child must be diagnosed first - never go for one opinion - get several before you start anyform of prescription drug. Like Joan said... children that are "busy as bees" can be diagnosed incorrectly!
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Quote:Originally posted by Court
have to agree with you... (not sure why it's refered to as a "stimulant" - that's just what it's called)... the child must be diagnosed first - never go for one opinion - get several before you start anyform of prescription drug. Like Joan said... children that are "busy as bees" can be diagnosed incorrectly!
Court, methylphenidate is classified as a central nervous stimulatant, but in children with ADHD, it has the opposite effect, that is why I mentioned the paradox.... but then, most children react differently to medicines than adults, one will often find that an antihistamine that is supposed to cause drowsiness in an adult, will stimulate a child.
I do think that Ritalin is over used, if it does assist the child as sunny said in her posting, then it is a different matter, but so many teachers nowdays demand that children should be put on Ritalin. I find it quite shocking and try to conivince the parents to get a more informed opinion before giving their children Ritalin.
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Quote:Originally posted by Joan
My 2p worth
Methylphenidate (generic name of Ritalin) has a parodixal effect when used in children with ADHD...instead of "stimulating" them centrally, it calms them ... however, a child needs to be classfied as being ADHD by a team of health care professionals before such drastic measures are taken. Quite often children are just very lively and "as busy as bees".....
Hi Joan, the understanding I was given by the pediatrician who used to give talks to the parents with kids on Ritilin, is that it is in fact a stimulant for their brains .... in that a certain part of the childs brain is sluggish/lazy and tends to drift off .... preventing the child from focusing on the subject at hand .... resulting in the child becoming bored and restless and easily distracted ..... ritilin stimulates that part of the brain to 'focus' on the lesson or information being given to the child .... which also results in the child be able to sit still and learn without interrupting other children ..... I remember my son once starting off on a dose too high and when I collected him from school .... he was not happy .... he said to me all day in class .... he had felt like he wanted to get up and just run and run .... thats how he described it ..... the dose was reduced for a while and had the desired effect as he settled on it.
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Couple more things .... Ritilin is not an easy drug to get hold of to my knowledge anyway. It's usually classed as a schedule 7 drug and I must admit I have never had a teacher suggest to me that any of my children be put on it. What has been suggested is, when my kids were having difficulties in class .... that I get them assessed by a Pediatrician .... and each time it was the prediatrician that said we can try Ritilin if I would like. I was never able to get repeat scripts and had to phone the specialist 'every' month to ask for a new script. I also had to take the kids in for regular checks where they were weighed .... had their reflexes tested ... any new symptoms discussed (if any) and considered (basically their health and progress was monitored closely) and latest report checked by the doc to see if they were in fact benefiting from the drug.
A child that acts in a hyperactive way .... does not usually produce good results in class .... hyperactivity usually goes hand in hand with ADD .... though one of my kids had only ADD not the full ADHD .... the other one had ADHD ..... the problem is quite rife in my family especially with hyperactivity .... so I've read a lot about it .... the first doctor to treat my first son was in fact a GP who had a great interest in kids with this because he had been a sufferer himself and knew how difficult it can be for these kids .... he also put my children onto what he called the 'Stoneage' diet .... pretty self explanatory and I applied that also to the best of my ability during school times .... I've no doubt diet is well tied up with the problem .... but diet alone will not sort it out .... it takes both usually (because it is almost impossible to do the diet 100%)
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