dangers of Ritalin coming to light

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Five stars for you!!!

Troll
I ask you…..Whatever happened to “Just say No to drugs”
May I assume that Adderal is in the same family as Ritalin as far as this entry is concerned?
Finally what I have felt all along, may finally be found to be true. Please keep us up to date!
Thanks,
Mom

Praise the Lord. I am so thankful that you have written this informative post. I have all along felt that these drugs are very dangerous. I can only pray that other parents of ADD/ADHD kids will read this and have their eyes opened.

Stimulant DRUGS are just that DRUGS. Our children do not need to be on them. Would we allow our children to snort cocaine in our homes?

Let me ask you ; when is a child’s problems so severe,that “Ritalin can be a godsend”? Who should decide that the child problems warrant Ritalin,you? His parents? His Physican? or better yet,his teachers?
Do you actually believe that Ritalin is so much a chemical restraint,that allows total compliance by the ADHD child? You would be bitterly disappointed.It doesn’t. I can dig up enough statisctics pointing to the evils of drug abuse,alcoholism,being directly corelated with children who have not been medicated or treated with medication,but how productive would that be? Fact is ,our kids WILL be at higher risk,we WILL need to take carefule note of this,and provide support when needed,before it happens,not after it happens. Depending on what side of the fence you live on, this problem,drug abuse,will not go away,just because the parents feel medication isn’t right for their child. no ritalin = no drug abuse? not likely,unfortunately.

There has been much speculation in the news in the past few years of the number of school shootings. Close to 100% of the shooters have been described as “depressed and bullied” in the weeks prior to their shootings. I do not condone violence to resolve this sort of problem, but it is very interesting to me that the kids who do these shootings are described as depressed and bullied. Kids will react to bullying by becoming depressed and perhaps suicidal, or by lashing out at their tormentors. They do not see any other options.

There is also information that most all of these kids have been or were currently taking Ritalin, Luvox, Prozac, or other drugs for ADHD or related educational difficulties.

At about the time that Ritalin was found to decrease ADHD symptoms in children, another doctor named Feingold found that a significant percentage of these children were helped by the removal of certain foods and additives from their diets, namely artificial colors, flavors, and certain naturally occurring substances called salicylates. But because a change in diet to remove items containing these chemicals many times requires a family lifestyle change and more work for today’s busy parents, many parents have chosen the “quick fix” of a pill to cover their problems, rather than solve them through removal of the offending chemicals which are affecting their children’s brains. Additionally, the pharmaceutical industry has a larger, more powerful, and better financed lobbying organization than a single doctor who simply advocates not feeding your child certain chemical compounds which may be affecting him or her. Anyone who is interested can get more information at www.feingold.org.

For teachers interested in the potential connection between Ritalin and school shootings, just read any of the commentaries on that subject, or search in your favorite search engine.

For teachers interested in concerns over Ritalin as a help for ADHD children, here are some links for your information

Education Reporter — Colorado School Board Passes Resolution Warning About Ritalin

http://www.eagleforum.org/educate/1999/dec99/ritalin.html

Patti Johnson represents the Second Congressional District on the Colorado State Board of Education – Too Much Ritalin

http://i2i.org/SuptDocs/OpEdArcv/1999/Ritalin.htm

DEA Report, Mr. Gene R. Haislip, Deputy Assistant Administrator – Ritalin usage far exceeds any professional estimates of actual need.

http://www.add-adhd.org/ritalin.html

Idaho State Bill to require disclosure to parents/patients of Ritalin’s addictive nature

http://www3.state.id.us/oasis/2000/H0680.html

National Institute of Health [NIH] Study — Foods and additives are common causes of the attention deficit hyperactive disorder in children.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=8179235&form=6&db=m&Dopt=r

NIH Infofax — Ritalin abuse

http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofax/ritalin.html

Ritalin Data Sheet with list of adverse side effects and contraindications

http://www.mentalhealth.com/drug/p30-r03.html

Several points I would like to make about this posting.
1: my 2 kids take ritalin

2: Neither is a zombie

3: neither is disruptive or any other negative stereotype

4.my kids were diagnosed at a military hospital by military developmental pediatricians.I was unfamiliar with ADHD at the time and at no time was this suggested by a teacher. Obviously we know about the current status of ritalin users being barred from enlisting. However,as we learn more about ADHD this should eventually be phased out. I would say the military is full of undiagnosed adult ADDers(lots of workaholics and they don’t get overtime)

5: The military dr’s don’t get extra pay for their diagnoses and the military pharmacy goes between buying brand name and generic methylphenidate and we know they aren’t receiving bonuses for buying brand name meds.

6:The only symptom that one of my kids shows is a hard time getting to sleep which is a symptom of ADD. His father has this problem as does his grandmother,neither of whom takes ritalin. It may be genetic.

7: There are also studies that state many current criminals serving time in prison are undiagnosed ADDers and that the ADHD is the reason for their diificulties not that they took ritalin. I think most people can find a study or statistic to support what they already believe is true.

8: I believe it is also fair to say that many kids who drop out of school who are ADHD and have taken meds during school were also subjected to schools and teachers who either thought ritalin should be a magic pill and they didn’t have to do anything special to help these kids succeed or the school admins and teachers didn’t believe ADHD even exists.Thus continued school failure lowers self esteem and contributes to depression and lack of self confidence to stand up for yourself.

9: Which leads me to my final point.I agree that the school shootings are horrible, I cry every time I see news about them. It saddens me to see all the wasted life, but I think there are many factors that are involved in why these kids are unable to see a way out of their situations other than ultimate violence.I do not see ritalin as a main factor however, because not all adders take ritalin.What I do see as a common thread is kids being mistreated and tortured by their schoolmates and no one helping out by telling someone who could help. The mistreatment does not occur in a vacuum. Parents need to talk to their kids about all the aspects of the problem, a)they can come to their parents for help anytime for any reason b) that teasing hurts and is not just temporary, many adults remember the teasing they dealt with and it still hurts and c) that just standing by and allowing the teasing to go on without trying to stop it or by not telling an adult is just as bad as being a perpetrator. Our kids should know that just like when we talk about child abuse , they should tell, tell,tell until they find someone who will help.

And now… I step off of my soapbox.

Thanks for listening.

… well, actually, now that the “Just say no to drugs” concept has been out there for a while, there’s a fair amount of follow-up research that says it didn’t and doesn’t really work. It works well for the adults who Feel The Need To Do Something. That’s not my opinion, that’s the results of studies that have convinced the folks behind programs liek DARE to re-work them.

Drugs are not to be taken lightly. Not taking them, also, is not to be oversimplified. Is Ritalin overprescribed? Yes. Is it underprescribed? Yes. Some people who would benefit immensely from it aren’t given that opportunity. Some people do see ADD in every kid who is either active or noncompliant or distractible for any of a number of reasons. Is the answer simple? Sorry, no.

And Socks is right. Kids who have been prescribed Ritalin are often *less* likely to explore illegal drugs later. Whether this is because they don’t feel a need to self-medicate to achieve the balance they’re lacking, or whether they are simply more savvy about how sensitive our bodies are and are therefore reluctant to toss strange things in, I don’t know. But, again, there are studies to back that up.

And socks is right that it ain’t magic, either.

Have you looked as intensely into the effects of, say, aspartame on the body? Do a quick search on it.

These are valid comments. My husband got on the aspartane band wagon two years ago. It is HORRIBLE stuff, as is MSG (in so many of our foods)………..these are neurotoxins.

Article in Orange County Register several months ago explored that issue of non-treated ADHD youngsters being far more atrisk for drug/alcohol abuse. I’ve been there, done it and seen it. I come from an ADHD family, we have ADHD from one side of our family bigtime. Many of these persons developed alcholism and have had multiple adjustment problems, difficulty holding down jobs and the like. From my perspective as an educator, now that relatives have gotten the diagnosis, I can look back 2 generations or 3 and pick out the family members who suffered from this condition long before it had the name ADHD. Dysfunctionality is very common in such families and the children who grow up in such homes often suffer, whether or not they inherit the condition. These are devastating, often lifelong problems for people. I would not ever go on record denying people who can truly benefit from ritalin access.

I agree with Anitya, Sue, and Socks. I come from a family of dysfunctional adults who chose to self medicate for generations with alcohol and speed. I have seen some land in prison, seen the emotional and physical toll the self-medication did to at least 3 generations of children and families, the damage done with alcoholism has been tremendous alone.

Those that didn’t chose alcohol or speed as self-medication have found help through legally prescribed medication. I have loved ones who take meds for ADHD, another takes meds for depression, anxiety and others were schizophrenic. The meds have helped them to lead productive lives, without meds they struggled and felt worthless but chose not to do illegal drugs or alcohol. Meds aren’t the answer for everyone, and yes I think ADHD is over diagnosed.. The positive signs I have seen with people who have been legally prescribed medication for either bi-polar, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety and ADHD, has made me a firm believer in medication. Denying someone medication when they need it, is not right either.

The brain is truly fascinating as the neurotransmitters in the brain are chemically controlled. It is wonderful that researchers have found ways to help those with chemical imbalances in their brain to lead productive and fruitful lives..

By the same token, would you allow a diabetic child not to take insulin? Insulin is a drug, too, and given via shots! (I already know the answer to that question, AND the rebuttal I’m going to get in response.)

ADHD is not a life-threatening disease as diabetes is, but it IS a condition that really hurts one’s ability to function in the world. A child (or adult) who can’t sit still, who can’t pay attention and concentrate, and who can’t control his impulses is at great risk of failing miserably in school and in life. If you expect him to try to function on his own and he just can’t do it, what alternative besides medication do you have, except to treat the problem as willful defiance, and to scold, spank, and/or ground the child every time his ADHD rears its ugly head? (Which will happen quite frequently, I might add—especially in school.)

It’s interesting to note that there are those who believe that ADHD doesn’t exist and that strict discipline is all they need to make them behave. On an education NG I frequent, at one time, there was a poster who said just that. She kept saying that there is no such thing as ADHD, just lazy, undisciplined kids who simply need to be whipped. Suffice it to say I do NOT agree with that poster!!!

ADHD is a very real condition, caused by a glitch in the brain, and punishing the child who has it will not cure the disorder or teach him to cope with it. He needs a way to be helped to sit still and pay attention when the need arises, and just spanking him, standing him in the corner, or sending him to his room won’t do it. In many cases, medication is needed to control the neurological problem that gives rise to ADHD. When proper medication is given, the child is able to function for the first time. And studies have shown that it does not lead to drug abuse later, either.

Yours truly,
Kathy G.

My experience on Ritalin.
I was put on Ritalin in 3rd grade in 1972 because my teacher said I “day dreamed” and wiggled in my chair. They called me “hyperactive” at that time. I spent 7 years on it untill in High School, I said I wasn’t taking it anymore and quit. Here are some of my reflections…

I grew up a military brat. My father was stationed in VA. Beach at the time. I remember my “day dreaming” as they so called it. Had they done more research into my overall health they would have discovered I had/have tactile defensiveness since infancy. I could hold mashed potatos in my mouth for a very long time. Everytime I swallowed, they choked me. Fruit pulp gags me. I hated having hair cuts and it always took several people to hold me down in order to cut my hair or toe nails. Had they looked any further, they would discovered I could hear the lights. It sounded like little machine guns. Had they looked even deeper they would have discovered, that I could see the lights flicker. Had they asked about my gastro-intestinal system. They would have discovered that I never had a “normal” bowell movement. It was all diarhea. Had they asked about my play habits - they would have discovered that I only set up games to play but never really understood how to play them. I loved to play with plastic animals and always set them them up in a nice little scene. Or the same thing with the Fischer Price people. I never played with these things only set them up. I absolutely loved to bounce on a pogo stick. I would do that for hours or swing in a swing…

Does any of this sound familiar?

Had they had tested me in any sort of way, they would have discovered that I am moderately dyslexic also along with Asperger’s. What a combo!

No, they didn’t do any of the above. I remember talking to my mother a few times when I was older. I told her that probably to other people the ritalin appeared to work. I didn’t wiggle in my chair anymore. I still daydreamed. It was a shutdown process for me. I was overwhelmed in a classroom. I never did that at home. But at school, all the ritalin did was kept me from wiggling in the chair. I wiggled to fight the shutdown! I knew I wasn’t susposed to shutdown and I fought it. After the ritalin, I just didn’t care if I shut down or not.

Did it work? Was it effective? Not to me. I just didn’t care.

Such a controversial thread! And how very different opinions can be. Perhaps rather than reacting immediately in a knee-jerk fashion to what we may read into the intent of the original poster (after all, this person did sign as troll…) we would be better served to look at what was posted, and offer rebuttals accordingly. It is interesting to note how quickly some will rush to defend the widespread overuse of Ritalin by citing the percentage of users who are helped while ignoring the percentage who are harmed. Why should cookie cutter medication be any more acceptable than cookie cutter educational approaches?

Is Ritalin usage on the rise? Well most certainly so, the FDA tracts these things, and reports Ritalin prescription are up 500% since the beginning of the 90’s. This alone should give pause for reflection, if nothing else. Does this mean ADHD is also up 500%? Well, no according to the figures kept by the DOE, ADHD is not up anywhere close to that number. In fact, with the exception of autism, none of the diverse categories has risen at this pace over the same decade, not ADD/ADHD, nor the more generic categories of specific learning disabilities, serious emotional disturbance, or developmental delay. Indeed, according to the DOE’s published reports, ALL children served under IDEA/Section 504 have remained pretty steady over the decade of the 90’s, at roughly 12% of the total student population, with the one category of autism showing significant gains.

So on one hand, we have the use of amphetamine to treat attention deficit climbing steadily while the target population for this medication has not. The DEA (note, not the media, but the Federal Agency who is responsible for tracking such things as drug usage trends) says there are now 8 million children on Ritalin. Considering that ADD/ADHD is thought by those experts who have the greatest experience with it to affect 4% of school aged children, and considering that according to the Statistical Abstract of the US there are 275 million Americans, of which 25.7% are under 18, that gives us an expected target population of 2.8 million children with ADD/ADHD. Now either the people who diagnosis ADD/ADHD are seriously undercounting these children, or the people prescribing Ritalin are over prescribing this drug.

I do not think anyone reasonable would deny that there are those children who by all appearances are indeed helped to achieve a better existence thru the use of medication like Ritalin. However, the same reasonable person would also agree that to prescribe a psychotropic drug with highly addictive properties like Ritalin to children who do not have ADD/ADHD is reckless at best and dangerously malpracticant at worst. For there to be 8 million children on Ritalin (which places it at approaching 12% of the under 18 group) is both disturbing and telling at the same time.

It is not uncommon for a doctor to prescribe Ritalin for children as young as 4 based upon a 15 minute interview with the child’s parents, without ever closely examining the child in question, or checking for any contraindicators or searching for those other conditions which may mask as ADD to casual observation, but which may be determined with closer investigation. One example of this is CAPD, another example is Asperger’s, neither of which will benefit from being medicated with Ritalin. It is also not uncommon for doctors not to have a set protocol to follow, but to use blind trial and error in prescribing psychotropics. When the child obviously reacts poorly to one, instead of stopping and searching for underlying medical reasons for the behavior, the doctor will often either up the dosage of the wrong medication, or jump to a different one which also is untested in this.

It is often bandied that Ritalin has had adequate testing, that it is one of the most heavily tested drugs on the market. This is a fallacy that is commonly tossed out by the “pro” camp. Ritalin has never been properly tested with the preteen population (although a few trials are being conducted now), and yet children as young as 4 are being put on it. Ritalin also has not been properly studied for long terms effects upon chronic users (few studies have gone beyond 1 year in follow up, and none beyond 3 years). Drugs like Ritalin physically alter the neural net, building lifetime dependency, and very often lose their kick after a while, leading to stronger prescription such as Adderall and Dexedrine.

Another frequent ploy is the use of slanderous discrediting of those vocal opponents to universal application of Ritalin. Many people will repeat these lines, Breggin being a favorite target. One the one hand, Breggin is most definitely a zealot, and is extreme in his position of zero medication. On the other hand, his opinion is help in high regard by the courts, where his testimony has been instrumental in successful court cases (Liss vs. Doeff, May 26, 2000 (Risperdal) appeal pending, Accardo vs. Cenac March 14, 1997 (Prolixin Decanoate) survived appeal). In addition, he is also called to provide expert testimony in the upcoming class action suit Nguyen & Farber vs. Smithkline Beecham (Paxil), and in the class action suit against Novartis (formerly Ciba Geigy), the manufacturer of Ritalin, CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), a parents’ organization that is partially funded by drug companies, and the American Psychiatric Association. Breggin has also been called upon to testify before Congress upon the danger of the rampant use of Ritalin to control children. Not to bad for a crank, wouldn’t you agree?

Re: dangers of Ritalin coming to light
Author: Mom
Date: 03-26-01 12:29

Dad,
You bring up many very valid points. I know first hand that it can be over prescribed.
Let me first say that I believe that there are many severe cases where Ritalin is needed by children.Let me also say that medication is only one of the many approaches that need to be taken with children who have trouble being successful in school.
I would like everyone to know that I have son who was diagnosed with ADD when he was 8.From the advice of his 3rd grade teacher whos son also had ADD, we took him to several Peditricians in our area, as well as a psychiatrist.(We did’nt want to rush to any conclusions and get a second opinion) He of course was diagnosed and prescribed Ritalin.
Only because of my second guessing of giving drugs to my child, did I decide to investigate further.At my request I had his hearing and eyesight evaluated by specialists on seperate occasions, only to find out that he had a substantial hearing loss, as well as needed a “pretty strong script for a first time set of glasses”.

I asked the doctors, How can a child be diagnosed ADD prior to finding out if he could not see or hear?The response was “What do you want me to do,Sue them if you feel violated.” (This came from a physician whos specialty is ADD and has been studying ADD for twenty+ years.)
I asked the hearing doctor ” Isn’t there a standard hearing test that pediatricians have to use to test hearing? No, “There are several different tests that pediatricians may use and it is left up to the individual doctor.”
The psychiatrists diagnose by what they hear the parents saying, so in a sense, the parents play a big part in securing the Ritalin prescription.When all the while the parents are just not educated as to how many other things could be done to help your child first, like insist that the school do an evaluation.Insist that a specialist test your childs hearing and eyesight, instead of the school and your pediatrician.
Only because a parent told me that if I insist that the school evaluates my son regardless of the waiting list and the cost,that they have to do it, was he found to have a learning disibility as well.
It is just my opinion but it looks like there needs to standards, strict guidlines, and universal testing that must be followed by all, before a child is diagnosed ADD. Our goal should be not to let a child be diagnosed unless thorough testing is done by all and it is certain that the child needs the med.
Nobody to this day is certain that my child really has ADD. Or is he having problems because he could not see and hear for most of his elementary years? Or is he just suffering now due to the schooling that was missed.I still to this day am not sure if I should give my son his medication or not.
Just wanted everyone to know.
Love
Mom

Sorry, Kathy — the jury is still out on your “glitch” in the brain. Argument exists that this is still an opinion, not a fact.

While Ritalin is a godsend to many children, I maintain that this is “IN THE ABSENCE OF OTHER, MORE APPROPRIATE THERAPIES”.

I’m sorry, but this drug is being pushed in the schools — by teachers via pediatricians. It is being WAY over-used.

I think, being the granddaughter of one of the early persons to benefit from insulin, that this is an inappropriate comparison.

No-one is dying from ADHD.

If Ritalin were used as a last resort, instead of a plan of initial response, I might have more respect for its use.

(posted with all respect for other opinions, in agreement or otherwise!)

I quite agree that ADHD should not be prescribed following a five-minute interview. That is inappropriate and irresponsible. There are procedures and guidelines to follow, to bring about a proper, valid diagnosis. To do otherwise is to risk misdiagnosing children who are simply being active. Activity and energy are the hallmarks of childhood, and should not be drugged away.

My response in my earlier post is not to anyone who advocates making sure that it is ADHD and not simply normal childhood energy or some other disorder; I quite agree with them on the necessity of making sure of the diagnosis before prescribing anything. My response is to the people who apparently believe that there’s no such thing as ADHD, just spoiled, misbehaving kids. It’s such people who are the most apt to call for the abolition of Ritalin and any other medication, as they don’t believe that a neurological condition exists in the first place. Others do believe that it does, but are convinced that strict discipline is all that is needed to curb it. While I don’t believe in giving it to any child simply because he’s filled with energy, neither do I advocate withholding it from children who do have ADHD, because they’re the ones who can and do benefit from its judicial use combined with behavior modification. (I quite agree that a child who has Aspergers or other forms of autism, or a child who has a hearing disorder, needs to be diagnosed appropriately and given the appropriate education and remediation! My heart goes out to the posters who had such negative experiences due to having been misdiagnosed. That is not good.)

Yours truly,
Kathy G.

A little something I want to add. ADHD is not the only condition that has been misdiagnosed in the past, and still is. Other conditions have been, too. For example, how many deaf children have been misdiagnosed as being mentally retarded, because no one thought to check their hearing? Yet no one suggests that mental retardation is nonexistent and should not be treated, because some have been misdiagnosed as having it. Yet, so often, some say that ADHD should not be treated since some are misdiagnosed as having it! That could cause a lot of trouble for children and adults who do have the disorder.

Yours truly,
Kathy G.

So many great responses! Whenever I see posts that accuse parents of “drugging” their kids, I start looking for the real “agenda” in the post. Most of the time, the writers attempt to convey concern for parents and children, but when one strips away all the rhetoric (and there is usually plenty of it) the effort is really to deter parents from seeking professional help for their children. The goal is to make parents fell inadequate, and to convince them that doctors, drug companies and teachers are all against them and their children. I’m wondering if some parents on this board have been contacted with e-mail from individuals offering to “help” them with unproven “treatments.” It would be a service to other readers to hear about such contacts. JJ