Ritalin® is used for the treatment of hyperkinetic disorders and so-called attention deficit, hyperactivity disorder, AD(H)S in children from the age of 6 and for the continuation of therapy in adolescents. Ritalin® can also be used in cases of compulsive sleep disorders, so-called narcolepsy. The following circumstances/diagnoses speak against the use of Ritalin
- Hypersensitivity (allergy) to methylphenidate (active ingredient of Ritalin) or another component of Ritalin
- Anxiety disorder
- Anorexia (side effect of Ritalin: loss of appetite)
- Gilles de la Tourette’s syndrome (sudden twitching, especially in the face, neck and shoulder area)
- Schizophrenic disease
- Moderate to severe hypertension
- Arterial occlusive disease
- Cardiac arrhythmias
- Acute stage of stroke
- Hyperthyroidism
- Increase of intraocular pressure (glaucoma, glaucoma)
- Pheochromocytoma
- Enlarged prostate with residual urine
- At or within 2 weeks after taking MAO inhibitors
- Pregnancy
- Past drug addiction
- Past drug/alcohol abuse
The treating physician prescribes the dose of Ritalin® that is individually suitable for the patient.
The therapy is started with a low dosage and then increased in small steps at intervals of one week. As with other drugs, the dose is kept as low as possible to minimize side effects. Within one hour of taking the drug, the effect will be felt if there is a sufficient dosage. The Ritalin tablet is taken with about half a glass of water with or before a meal.
Duration of action of Ritalin
It usually takes about half an hour after ingestion until the Ritalin begins to take effect. The maximum effect is reached after about two hours. Then the Ritalin is eliminated from the bloodstream with a half-life of about two to three hours.
This means that four to five hours after ingestion the blood concentration is still about half of the maximum value. Accordingly, a relevant duration of action of approximately four to six hours can be assumed. The treatment should not be given for an unlimited period of time.
Approximately every 12 months, the drug should be discontinued on a trial basis under medical supervision to see if a therapy can be continued without Ritalin®. If too high a dose of Ritalin® has been taken, it may occur. Also can occur. If there is an overdose, it is absolutely necessary to have a medical check-up of the patient in order to avoid serious consequential damages.
- Accelerated heartbeat
- Cardiac arrhythmia and
- Too high blood pressure
- Headaches
- Confusion
- Tremble
- Nausea and
- Vomiting
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