With 4 to 5 million children in the US on Ritalin, it is understandable that this drug is commonly regarded as very safe and that many doctors do not think twice about prescribing it to children. This defies logic. The many dangerous Ritalin side effects place this medication in the same category as cocaine and opium, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency; its long-term effects are not known. Here are just some of the facts about side effects of Ritalin you should consider before you decide to use it to treat your child's ADHD.
Ritalin (methylphenidate) is a central nervous system stimulant. We simply do not know just how this medication ends up suppressing ADHD symptoms in children. No ADHD drug can cure this disorder, or even begin to address it causes, and Ritalin is no different-- all it does is suppress the symptoms.The correct dosing is based on trial and error: you start off with a low dosage, monitor the response and side effects of Ritalin, and gradually increase up to whatever dosage controls the symptoms best with the least amount of side effects.
Most common Ritalin side effects include sleep and eating disorders, skin rashes, nausea, headache, drowsiness, dizziness,stunted growth, abdominal pain. High blood pressure and heart-related symptoms can also result: palpitations, tachycardia, cardiac arrhythmia. According to some statistics, children who are on Ritalin are 20% more likely to end up in the emergency rooms complaining of heart trouble. Many parents also report that their children act "zombie-like" and "unlike themselves" on this medication.
And those are only the most common side effects. More serious side effects include leucopenia, anemia, depression, aggression, hallucinations, tics, dangerously high blood pressure (symptoms might be blurred vision, buzzing in ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, or severe headache). Of course, with any stimulant, there is also a risk of drug abuse and of developing a dependence over the long term-- both physical and psychological.
So what's the solution here? A diagnosis of ADHD in no way means that the child has to start taking dangerous mind altering drugs like Ritalin. There are many natural ways of addressing the causes of ADHD and coping with its symptoms without putting your child's health at risk. Behavior modification, diet, supplements, homeopathy can all be extremely effective in soothing the nerves and balancing the brain's biochemistry.
Homeopathic remedies, for instance, use highly diluted natural substances to help the body restore its balance and to counteract ADHD symptoms such as hyperactivity, lack of attention, and inability to concentrate. Best of all, they are extremely safe, are never addictive and won't cause any side effects.
Bottom line: take Ritalin side effects seriously. Long-term health and well being of your child is too high a price to pay for temporary symptom suppression, especially since alternatives to prescriptions drugs do exist. Natural treatments for ADHD can deliver long-lasting, powerful results. Do your research, so you can help your child live a happy, productive childhood, free from both the debilitating symptoms of ADHD and from dangerous side effects of Ritalin.
Svetlana Gibarac has been researching natural remedies for various health conditions for many years. She is a Certified Holistic Health Counselor and a member of the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. She contributes regularly to http://www.treatingadhdnaturally.com, a site discussing some of the most promising natural treatments for ADHD. If you are interested in finding out about alternatives to harsh medication, visit the site to learn more. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Svetlana_Gibarac |  |
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