Whether Ritalin is Overprescribed or Not :: Argumentative Ritalin Prescription Drugs Essays

Whether methylphenidate is Overprescribed or Not Is methylphenidate the Answer to AD (H) D?The tousled brown hair that weaves so mischievously around his head may hint at the direction he tones inside. He is seven-years-old and has already had to repeat a grade. He has an resourcefulness that puts opposites to shame, but nothing seems to hold his attention for more than five minutes. He was recently diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or what we call AD (H) D.This view is all too familiar for individuals who discover that they, too, have this learning roughness as they progress from elementary school to college. And in todays society we wishing a quick fix to remedy our problems. Therefore doctors are prescribing the medicate, Ritalin, to run into AD (H) D. Although Ritalin is a widely utilisationd medicate to rig AD (H) D, there are other safer alternatives to combat this worldwide disorder.Ritalin, wish many other drugs, has several side effects-som e of which are severe. Ritalin is in a class of drugs called Methylphetamines. These types of drugs (also called Central Nervous System or systema nervosum centrale stimulants) affect our central nervous system that controls everything from thought process to general breathing. Ritalins major side effects influences the cardiovascular system (palpitation, tachycardia, and increased pedigree pressure), the central nervous system (psychosis, dizziness, headache, insomnia, tic syndromes, attacks of Gilles de la Tourette), gastrointestinal (anorexia, nausea), endocrine/metabolous system (weight loss, growth suppression). Also, Ritalin is a fairly new drug (introduced in the early eighties). It hasnt been around long enough to study the long-term effects.Since Ritalin is a Methylphetamine (closely related to the amphetamine family, such as cocaine), it has a high rate of abuse. In light of methylphenidates abuse liability, it is important to melodic line the tremendous increase in av ailability of this substance and the expanded population (adolescents and adults) receiving prescriptions for the treatment of AD (H) D. For example, the production quota for methylphenidate has increased from 1,361 kg in 1985 to 10,410 kg in 1995 with the primary increases occurring in the last five years. This drug is abused in two ways. One way is for recreational purposes. The abusers use the drug as a form of speed to pick themselves up. They feel that they need this in order to be alive and full of life. The other way this drug is abused is very different. Students are using Ritalin as a study aid.