“Then there’s Ritalin, a medication to control attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.
There have been discrepancies in prescriptions across the country, suggesting possible over-prescription in some areas.
The drug is controversial, having been dubbed a “chemical cosh” by some, and it’s certainly not to be taken lightly as side-effects include depression, anxiety, agitation and sleeplessness.
The condition varies greatly between individuals and should be the absolute last resort after behavioural treatments, in my opinion”.
(Dr Miriam Stoppard, Daily Mirror, 30.03.2010.)
“ADHD kids often have low self-esteem as they’re used to getting into trouble and constantly being told off.
Say “Well done” when they do something right to give them a real boost.
Shouting will escalate situations and make behavioural problems worse.
It takes a lot of patience but children with ADHD respond best to sensitive handling and consistent guidance.
Parental attention can work better than drugs at improving behaviour.
Instead of seeing your child as difficult, see them as energetic.
One of my sons displayed several ADHD symptoms as a child – we chose to see him as creative and exciting but we understood we had to be more vigilant with him as he could be very impulsive”.
(Dr Miriam Stoppard, Daily Mirror, 18.07.2008)
Many doctors are now prescribing Concerta XL instead of Ritalin.
Concerta XL tablets contain the active ingredient Methylphenidate Hydrochloride, which is a type of medicine called a stimulant.
The manufacturer of Concerta XL, Janssen-Cilag, says, “We still don’t fully understand how stimulants work in children with ADHD, and they don’t work for everyone. If there has been no improvement in the child’s symptoms after one month of treatment with this medicine it should be stopped”.
Common side-effects of Concerta XL include:
Rise in blood pressure.
Skin reactions such as rash or itching.
Pain in joints (arthralgia).
Hair loss (alopecia).
Increased heart rate.
Irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias).
Depression.
Irritability.
Aggression.
Gut disturbances such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea.
Dry mouth.
Movement disorders (dyskinesias).
Emotional highs and lows.
Anxiety.
Abnormal behaviour.
The manufacturers of Concerta XL also say, “parents of children taking this medicine should be made aware of the symptoms of liver problems, and inform their doctor if they are experienced during treatment”.