Ritalin is a drug that has as its active ingredient methylphenidate hydrochloride, a central nervous system stimulant, indicated for the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adults, and narcolepsy.
This medication is an amphetamine, which works by stimulating mental activities and therefore has become popular among adults who wish to study or stay awake for longer, however, this use is not recommended and these effects are not proven. In addition, Methylphenidate can have dangerous side effects for those who use without indication, such as nervousness, increased pressure, palpitations, muscle spasms, hallucinations or chemical dependency, for example.
Ritalin can only be purchased with a prescription, being available free of charge by the SUS or in private pharmacies with a price ranging from 18 to 60 reais, depending on the dosage, quantity and place that sells the medicine.
What is it for
Ritalin has in its composition methylphenidate, which is a psychostimulant. This drug stimulates concentration and decreases drowsiness and is therefore indicated for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adults and also for the treatment of narcolepsy, which is characterized by the manifestation of daytime sleepiness symptoms, episodes of inappropriate sleep and sudden occurrence of loss of voluntary muscle tone.
Is Ritalin Good For Memory And Studies?
Ritalin is popular among students, who call this pill the famous Pill of Intelligence for stimulating memory and concentration during the period of study, however, it has never been proven that this remedy has such efficacy in healthy people.
In this way, the person may even spend the night waking up studying, but the attention will not necessarily be better and she may not remember the content the next day.
Therefore, Ritalin should not be used in any way to improve memory and concentration because it can cause serious adverse reactions. If you are a student and need a remedy to stay awake longer with more memory and concentration, see the safer options of remedies for memory.
How to take Ritalin
The dosage of the Ritalin drug depends on the problem that you want to treat:
1. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
The dosage should be individualized according to the needs and clinical response of each person and also depends on the age. Like this:
The recommended dose of Ritalin is as follows:
- Children 6 years and older: should be started at 5 mg once or twice daily with weekly increases of 5 to 10 mg. The total daily dose should be given in divided doses.
The dosage of Ritalin LA, which are modified release capsules, is as follows:
- Children aged 6 years or older: can be started with 10 or 20 mg, at the discretion of the physician, once a day in the morning.
- Adults: For persons not yet taking methylphenidate, the recommended starting dose of Ritalin LA is 20 mg once daily. People who are already treated with methylphenidate, treatment can be continued at the same daily dose.
In adults, the maximum daily dose of 80 mg should not be exceeded and in children, both with Ritalin and Ritalin LA, the recommended daily dose of 60 mg should not be exceeded.
2. Narcolepsy
Only Ritalin is approved for the treatment of narcolepsy in adults. The mean daily dose is 20 to 30 mg given as 2 to 3 divided doses.
Some people may need 40 to 60 mg daily, while for others 10 to 15 mg daily are sufficient. In people with difficulty sleeping, if the medication is administered at the end of the day, they should take the last dose before 18 hours. Do not exceed the maximum daily dose of 60 mg.
Possible side effects
The most common side effects that can be caused by treatment with Ritalin include nasopharyngitis, decreased appetite, abdominal discomfort, nausea, heartburn, nervousness, insomnia, fainting, headache, drowsiness, dizziness, changes in heartbeat, fever, allergic reactions and decreased appetite that can result in weight loss or growth retardation in children.
In addition, because it is an amphetamine, Methylphenidate can cause addiction if used improperly.
Who should not use
Ritalin is contraindicated in people who are hypersensitive to methylphenidate or any of the excipients, people suffering from anxiety, tension, agitation, hyperthyroidism, pre-existing cardiovascular disorders including severe hypertension, angina, occlusive arterial disease, heart failure, haemodynamically significant congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathies, myocardial infarction, potentially life-threatening arrhythmias, and disorders caused by ion channel dysfunction.
It should also not be used during treatment with monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or within 2 weeks of discontinuation due to the risk of hypertension, people with glaucoma, pheochromocytoma, diagnosis or family history of Tourette's syndrome, pregnant or infants.
