Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Treatments Essay

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Treatments - Essay ExampleRitalin, however, is non the most stiff musical mode to treat ADD and ADHD. This essay, then, will discuss what Ritalin is, what its side effects are, why it is soundless being used, and what alternatives parents have to medicating their children.According to www.ritalinsideeffects.net, Ritalin is a Schedule II substance also called methylphenidate. It is not tested in children under the age of six. In 1998, 26,800 prescriptions were issued for Ritalin. Last year, that figure had grown to 461,000 (Sale, 2008). There is more than evidence that many children who orchestrate it are simply being over-medicated, since the medication shows no signs of helping them. round parents, however, dont know what else to do when ADD or ADHD affects their childrenThe side effects of Ritalin are salutary documented. They include skin rash, fever, anorexia, nausea, increased or decreased blood pressure, chest pain, abdomi nal pain, irregular nub rhythm, weight loss, anemia, and difficulty sleeping (www.ritalinsideeffects.net, para. 2). Ritalin is also addictive, and easy to abuse (Rasminsky, 2008). Older students admitted that sometimes they take the prescriptions of other people, or more than they are prescribed, to get loads done in a operose period of time (Rasminsky, 2008). ... She said she only used once, that knows others who cant stop after that first medicate experience or that first A (Rasminsky, 2008). Another admits, You feel horrible coming down. All the reasons youre pickings drugs are so amplified. It makes you depressed, so thats why you want to do more. Its a vicious cycle (Rasminsky, 2008). Rasminsky is careful to point out that an electrocardiogram (EKG) is necessary when taking Ritalin because of the negative effect it has on the midriff and the likelihood that sudden death could occur from cardiovascular death.Positive EffectsThere is no questioning that there might be som e benefit in Ritalin for some child. A battlefield was done of an 11-year-old boy. Hed been diagnosed with ADHD two years prior by his physician, but not given medication. During the study, he was given 20 mg of Ritalin on some mornings, but not on others. all(prenominal) day he received a pill that looked exactly the same, so he had no way of know when he received the placebo and when he received the actual medicine. Someone administered the medicine other than the teachers or the observers, so the observations would not be biased. His behavior was monitored for the first four hours of the day. The study lasted three weeks. In the end, the findings showed that the student was much more focused, and well behaved on the old age he received the 20 mg loony toons of Ritalin (Smith et al.) This is no ace-in the-hole, however. This is one student. This student had an above average I.Q. There is no data to put forward how well Ritalin works on students of average intelligence. The stu dent was only observed for 15 days and plenty of other studies show that Ritalin does seem to be effective in the beginning stages, but the faade quickly