Ritalin
Republican Dan Burton (Ind) Blasts CHADD
-- A Leading Public Support Group for ADD
There has been sugnificant evidence about the relationship between
CHADD and pharmaceutical companies (Ciba-Geigy, the makers of
Ritalin. This was originall broought to light in a documentary:
ADD: A Dubious Diagnosis. The Merrow Report. The following article
reviews how one member of congress is exposing this conflict of
interest to Congress. Read
the complete article now.
Ritalin: This Children's Drug Is More Potent Than Cocaine
The children's drug Ritalin has a more potent effect on the brain than cocaine, a study has found. Using brain imaging, scientists have found that, in pill form, Ritalin - taken by thousands of British children and four million in the United States - occupies more of the neural transporters responsible for the "high" experienced by addicts than smoked or injected cocaine. The research may alarm parents whose children have been prescribed Ritalin as a solution to Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder...
Ritalin Treatment During Pre- and Periadolescence Affects Responses to Emotional Stimuli at Adulthood
Methylphenidate (MPH) is a psychomotor stimulant medication widely used for the treatment of attention -deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Given the extent of prescribed use of MPH, and because MPH interacts with the same brain pathways activated by drugs of abuse, most research has focused on assessing MPH's potential to alter an individual's risk for adult drug addiction.
Chronic exposure to MPH during development leads to decreased sensitivity to rewarding stimuli while resulting in enhanced responsivity to aversive situations. These results highlight the need for further research to better understand the effects of stimulants on the developing nervous system, and the potential enduring effects resulting from early-life drug exposure.
Biological Psychiatry
Preteen Ritalin May Increase Depression
Ritalin use in preteen children may lead to depression later in life, studies of rats suggest. It's an open question whether what passes for depression in lab rats has anything to do with depression in humans. But early use of Ritalin and other stimulant drugs seems to permanently alter animals' brains. That raises concerns that the same thing might be happening in children who take these drugs for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
The findings come from a research team led by William A. Carlezon Jr., PhD, director of the behavioral genetics laboratory at McLean Hospital and associate professor at Harvard Medical School. The study appears in the Dec. 15 issue of Biological Psychiatry.
"Rats exposed to Ritalin as juveniles showed large increases in learned-helplessness behavior during adulthood, suggesting a tendency toward depression," Carlezon says in a news release. "These rats also showed abnormally high levels of activity in familiar environments. [This] might reflect basic alterations in the way rats pay attention to their surroundings."
Ritalin, Cocaine, and the Brain
Ritalin and cocaine have different effects on humans. But their effects on the brain are very similar. When given to preteen rats, both drugs cause long-term changes in behavior.
One of the changes seems good. Early exposure to Ritalin makes rats less responsive to the rewarding effects of cocaine. But that's not all good. It might mean that the drug short-circuits the brain's reward system. That would make it difficult to experience pleasure -- a "hallmark symptom of depression," Carlezon and colleagues note.
The other change seems all bad. Early exposure to Ritalin increases rats' depressive-like responses in a stress test. "These experiments suggest that preadolescent exposure to [Ritalin] in rats causes numerous complex behavioral adaptations, each of which endures into adulthood," Carlezon and colleagues conclude. "This work highlights the importance of a more thorough understanding of the enduring neurobiological effects of juvenile exposure to psychotropic drugs."
Ritalin Alters Future Emotional Sensitivity
The rampant abuse of ritalin for children is now
a cause of concern for future behavioral patterns in children.
In a study titled, Methylphenidate Treatment During Pre- and Periadolescence
Alters Behavioral Responses to Emotional Stimuli at Adulthood.
MPH-treated animals were significantly less responsive to natural
rewards such as sucrose, novelty-induced activity, and sex when
compared to vehicle-treated controls. On the other hand, MPH-treated
animals were significantly more sensitive to stressful situations,
showed increased anxiety-like behaviors and enhanced plasma levels
of corticosterone.
Biological Psychiatry authors concluded: Chronic exposure to MPH
during development leads to decreased sensitivity to rewarding
stimuli while resulting in enhanced responsivity to aversive situations.
These results highlight the need for further research to better
understand the effects of stimulants on the developing nervous
system, and the potential enduring effects resulting from early-life
drug exposure.
Ritalin Facts:
Taken from "Talking Back to Ritalin" by Peter Breggin, M.D.
"In 1990, 900,000 American kids were on Ritalin. Today some estimate
the total number of children on Ritalin has increased to 4 - 5
million or more per year."
The International Narcotics Control Board (1995) deplores that
"10 to 12 percent of all boys between the ages 6 and 14 in the
United States have been diagnosed as having ADD and are being
treated with methylphenidate (Ritalin)."
"The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (1995a&b) has warned
about a record six fold increase in Ritalin production between
1990 & 1995."
"America now uses 90% of the world's Ritalin - more than five
times the rest of the world combined."
"Emergency room visits by children ages 10-14 involving Ritalin
intoxication have now reached the same level as those for cocaine
which indicates escalating abuse of this highly addictive drug."
"80% of children on Ritalin are boys."
Peter R. Breggin, M.D., author of "Talking Back to Prozac", co-author
of "The War Against Children of Color" has published "Talking
Back to Ritalin: What doctors aren't telling you about stimulants
for children". Every parent who has a child who has been diagnosed
with ADD/ADHD should read this book before being pressured into
drugging their children by teachers, family members or physicians.
Some Kids Share Ritalin With Classmates
Ritalin abuse is on the rise, with many youngsters selling or
giving away their prescribed medication to classmates, according
to a 1998 survey of 13,549 students in grades 7, 9, 10 and 12
in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland
and Labrador. The students were asked about their medical and
non-medical use of stimulants including Ritalin, Benzedrine, Dexedrine,
Cylert, diet pills, "speed," "uppers," "bennies" and "pep pills."
Results showed that "Of the 5.3% of students who reported
medical use of stimulants in the 12 months before the survey,
14.7% reported having given away some of their medication, 7.3%
having sold some of their medication, 4.3% having experienced
theft and 3.0% having been forced to give up some of their medication.
Non-medical stimulant use by students who did not have a prescription
for stimulants was significantly related to increased numbers
of students who gave or sold some of their prescribed stimulants,
at both the school class and individual student levels."
Medical
and nonmedical stimulant use among adolescents: from sanctioned
to unsanctioned use CMAJ 2001 (Oct 16);
165 (8): 1039-1044 Poulin C
RITALIN OVERDOSES GROWING IN FREQUENCY A growing number
of youngsters taking the drug Ritalin® (methylphenidate) experience
overdose, researchers report. The study looked at the frequency
of Ritalin overdose cases reported to a regional poison control
center in Detroit. Children ages 6 to 9 years were at the greatest
risk of overdose, compared with other age groups. Over a two-year
period, 289 cases were reported. Of these, 31% developed symptoms.
Most common adverse effects included chycardia, agitation and
lethargy. Most cases were due to parents or caregivers unintentionally
giving patients excessive amounts of the drug.
White SR, Yadao CM Characterization
of methylphenidate exposures reported to a regional poison control
center Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2000 (Dec);
154 (12): 1199-1203
RITALIN FRAUD! CLASS ACTION SUIT FILED AGAINST MAKERS OF RITALIN
The law firm of Waters & Kraus has announced the filing in
Texas of a class action lawsuit entitled Hernandez, Plaintiff,
Individually and on Behalf of all Others Similarly Situated v.
Ciba Geigy Corporation, U.S.A., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation,
Children and Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
(CHADD), and the American Psychiatric Association.
The suit states allegations based on fraud and conspiracy. From
approximately 1955 through 1995, the exclusive or primary manufacturer
and supplier of Ritalin in this country was defendant Ciba/Novartis
planned, conspired, and colluded to create, develop and promote
the diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in a highly successful effort
to increase the market for its product Ritalin. In addition to
its actions and involvement with the creation of the ADD and ADHD
diagnosis, Ciba/Novartis took steps to promote and dramatically
increase the sales of Ritalin by way of the following:
1. Actively promoting and supporting the concept
that a significant percentage of children suffer from a "disease"
which required narcotic treatment/therapy;
2. Actively promoting Ritalin as the "drug of choice"
to treat children diagnosed with ADD and ADHD:
3. Actively supporting groups such as Defendant
CHADD, both financially and with other means, so that such organizations
would promote and support (as a supposed neutral party) the ever-increasing
implementation of ADD/ADHD diagnoses as well as directly increasing
Ritalin sales;
4. Distributing misleading sales and promotional
literature to parents, schools and other interested persons in
a successful effort to further increase the number of diagnoses
and the number of persons prescribed Ritalin."
The suit further alleges that defendant CHADD (Children and Adults
with Attention Hyperactivity Disorder) has been a recipient of
financial donations and contributions from Defendants Ciba/Novartis
for many years. CHADD received $748,000 from Ciba/Novartis in
the period 1991 to 1994 alone. During the periods when CHADD received
funding from Ciba/Novartis, CHADD deliberately made efforts to
increase the sales of Ritalin, and to increase the supply of methylphenidate
(the generic name for Ritalin) available in the United States,
and to reduce or eliminate laws and restrictions concerning the
use of Ritalin and methylphenidate in the U.S.A., all to the financial
benefit of Ciba/Novartis. Ciba/Novartis made such financial contributions
with the purpose of advertising and promoting sales of Ritalin
- an internationally controlled substance.
Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1019 U.N.T.S. 175 (1971).
CHADD's activities nationwide have led to significant increase
on the amount of Ritalin taken by school children and have directly
resulted in enormous profits to Ciba/Novartis.
It is not generally known or understood by the public that use
of Ritalin will preclude a child from ever joining the United
States military because Ritalin is classified as a Class II controlled
substance, along with morphine and other amphetamines. Additionally,
parents, the school districts and other interested parties
are generally unaware that use of Ritalin can cause a significant
number of health problems and risks, including but not limited
to the following:
Cardiovascular
Rapid heart beat (palpitations, tachycardia)
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Unusual heart rhythm (arrythmia)
Heart attack (cardiac arrest)
Central Nervous System
Altered mental status (psychosis)
Hallucinations
Depression or excitement
Convulsions / seizures
(excessive brain stimulation)
Drowsiness
Confusion or "dopey" feeling
Lack of sleep (insomnia)
Agitation, irritation,
Anxiety, nervousness
Hostility
Unhappiness (Dysphoria)
Impaired mental abilities
(cognitive impairment on tests)
Jerky movements, Tics, Tourette's syndrome
Nervous habits
(such as picking at skin or pulling hair)
Compulsive behavior
Depression/over-sensitivity
Decreased social interest
Zombie-like behavior
Gastrointestinal
Eating disorders (anorexia)
Nausea / Vomiting
Stomach ache / cramps
Dry mouth
Constipation
Endocrine/Metabolic
Growth problems (pituitary dysfunction)
Weight loss
Other
Blurred vision
Headache
Dizziness
Rash/conjunctivitis/hives
Hair loss
Inflammation of the skin (dermatitis)
Blood disorders (anorexia, leukoplacia)
Involuntary discharge of urine (enuresis)
Fever
Joint pain
Unusual sweating
Withdrawal and Rebound
Worsening of ADHD-like symptoms
Depression
Sleep problems (insomnia)
Evening crash
Over-activity and irritability
Websites/ Articles of Interest:
The ADD/ADHD
Page @ Chiro.Org
Chiropractic
and Spinal Research on ADD/ADHD
Assorted
Reasearch on ADD
Assorted
Research on Ritalin
Fight for Kids. com
Psychiatric Drug Facts ~
Peter Breggin, M.D.
SANTA: Stimulants
Are Not The Answer
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder ~ (Exposing the Fraud of ADD and ADHD)
Death From Ritalin The
Truth Behind ADHD
Methylphenidate and
ADHD
ADHD
Not a Cookie Cutter Problem
Mothering
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