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Chemical name: Methylphenidate

Brand name: Ritalin
› Other brand names: Concerta, Methylin ER,
Methadate ER and CD

Street names:
› Vitamin R, Rids, Smarties, kibbles and bits, and R-ball

Stimulant
› CNS
› Changes natural substances in the brain
 Release and increase dopamine
Causes increased concentration,
alertness and focus. Also helps with
sleepiness
 Produces mental and behavioral effects
in children and some adults

 It
is a schedule II controlled substance
 High potential for abuse
› This substance has potential for abuse
› may lead to severe psychological and
physical dependence.
 Ritalin
or methylphenidate is known to
help control symptoms of children and
some adults with ADD and ADHD
› Difficulty focusing
› Controlling actions and remaining still or
quiet than other people of the same age
First synthesized in 1944 and known as MPH
 Trademark Named Ritalin in 1948

› Owned originally by CIBA
› now Novartis Corporation
195o it was improved and 1954 it started
being tested on humans
 First licensed by FDA in 1955
 1957 Ciba Pharmaceutical Company
began marketing MPH to treat chronic
fatigue, depression, and narcolepsy


1960 :
› try counteract symptoms of barbiturate over
dose
 Barbiturate- CNS depressant that causes relaxation
and sleepiness
› Focus became on the treatment of
hyperkinetic syndrome which later became
called ADHD
 Ritalin use to treat ADHD increased in the 1970s
and early 1980s

1991-1999 Ritalin sale increased 500
percent in the US

To treat ADD and ADHD (Attention
deficit Hyperactivity disorder)
› Help those who suffer from ADD and
ADHD focus

To treat Narcolepsy and some times
depression.
› Narcolepsy- daytime sleepiness and
sudden sleep attacks

Usually given a gradual dosage
throughout the day and needs to
be strictly followed
› Important to be accompanied with a
snack or a meal
Appetite Suppression
 Increased heart rate and blood pressure

 Feelings of being energized
› Wakefulness
› heightened alertness
Could be more outgoing than usual
(talkative and social)
 Could have opposite effect on people
with ADHD

› Calming effect
› Some may experience drowsiness

Behavioral Changes

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
Dependency (addiction)
Insomnia
Nervousness
Loss of appetite
› Could lead to anorexia


Growth suppression
Could also cause irregular heart beat and
breathing
› Heart palpations


Skin rash, fever, nausea, dizziness, headache,
and abdominal pain
Generalized Anxiety

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Restlessness
Tremor
Aggression
Hallucinations
Panic states
Twitches or spasms
(hyperreflexia)
Rapid heart beat
High blood pressure

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
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Symptoms of
Depression
Delusions
Dehydration
sweating
Vomiting
Could cause sudden
heart attack in
severe cases

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http://www.casapalmera.com/articles/sign
s-and-effects-of-the-methylphenidate-adrug-also-known-as-ritalin/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealt
h/PMH0000606/
http://www.pharma.us.novartis.com/produ
ct/pi/pdf/ritalin_ritalin-sr.pdf
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm
085729.htm
http://www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/drugs/rit
alin.asp
http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/schedul
es/index.html