Ritalin:Pros and Cons

Use of Ritalin for AD/HD Use of Ritalin (methylphenidate), the drug choice for treating attention deficit/hyperactive disorder (ADHD), has significantly risen since 1990. Up to six percent of all school age American boys are now believed to take Ritalin for symptoms of ADHD. Sufficient data on safety and efficacy of long-term use of Ritalin in children are not yet available, however suppression of growth (i.e., weight loss, height) has been reported with the …

…should be fully informed of the potential side effects of Ritalin on young children, and made aware of their other options before resorting to use of an addictive stimulant. They should also be encouraged to try other options before resorting to drugs. Families as well as school administrators and teachers should be educated about the role diet and nutrition can play in causing behavioral problems, so-called learning disabilities and other symptoms commonly branded as ADHD.