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Ever wonder if you were harming
your child with psychostimulants? Parents must be informed of
the short term and long term Ritalin side effects.
Ritalin is a mild central nervous system stimulant. It is the
drug of choice for treating ADHD for hyperactive kids. Of the
many psychoactive drugs prescribed to children in the United
States, Ritalin is a powerful stimulant that is classified as
a Schedule II narcotic (classification for medical drugs with
the highest abuse potential and addiction profile).
The most common symptoms of ADHD
are impulsiveness, hyperactivity and inattention. Now your child
might not have all of these behavioral problems. Some kids are
primarily hyperactive. Others get sidetracked easily, become
bored or daydream. Many children take this stimulant with few
side effects of Ritalin.
Others experience mild problems. Some children simply are unable
to tolerate stimulants. At this point another drug may be recommended
- or a safe, natural solution.
Common Ritalin Side Effects
* Reduced appetite
- This can be problematic for the parent to come up with a mealtime
schedule that fits with the child's medication. While on the
medication your child may have a reduced appetite and at the
end of the cycle your child may have an increased appetite. This
can also cause a loss of weight or an increase in weight. Your
child's appetite may improve after several weeks or months.
* Rebound
A common problem with short acting methylphenidate or amphetamine.
Children may experience irritability or depression for an hour
as the stimulant wears off. Sometimes this is worse than the
child's behavior before the medication was started.
* Difficulty sleeping
Doctors recommend to take a sleep history before starting
any stimulant medication. Problem maybe corrected with reducing
or increasing dosage. This side effect of Ritalin can be compounded
with the mealtime schedule.
Added to the list of side effects
of Ritalin are irritability, headaches, anxiety, jitteryness
or nervousness, stomach aches, dry mouth, dizziness, blurry vision,
drowsiness, anemia, anorexia, scalp hair loss, blood glucose
changes, increased blood pressure and pulse change, psychosis
or paranoia, seizures, and sudden death (rare).
I was shocked to learn Ritalin is
also used to treat narcolepsy (an uncontrollable desire to sleep).
It is no wonder that Ritalin has been called "kiddy cocaine".
Ritalin can be helpful in the short term in reducing ADHD symptoms
but no physician will claim that Ritalin cures ADHD.
Believe me, you have your work cut-out.
Parents must be aware of these Ritalin side effects
and should constantly monitor their child's health and behavior.
Drugs are not a quick fix for treating ADHD. Many of these symptoms
can be alleviated safely and effectively with a combination of
homeopathic treatment, dietary control, behavioral therapy, and
an overall healthy lifestyle.
The greatest thing about natural
treatment is that it doesn't cost much and it is 100% safe. Prescription
drugs on the other hand are expensive and have dangerous side
effects. A homeopathic remedy can be a highly effective alternative
treatment for ADHD in order to get rid of bothersome symptoms
of ADHD such as erratic behavior, lack of concentration, hyperactivity,
and twitching. Best of all, homeopathic remedies are non-addictive
and have no side effects whatsoever. It won't take you long to
see how much healthier and happier your child can really be if
you give homeopathy and lifestyle improvement a try.
Wayne McDonald is a health enthusiast
who has been researching natural remedies for various health
conditions for many years. Find out more about some of the most
effective treatments for ADHD on his site at http://www.herbalremediestlc.com/adhd-natural-solutions
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