ADHD Child Care

As of today, Ritalin is among the most common drugs used to treat ADHD patients. Every year doctors prescribed thousands of Ritalin to hundreds of young children.

Ritalin has proven its worth through it’s effectiveness in treating ADHD. However, in some mild ADHD cases, Ritalin is not that beneficial when you compared it to the side effect that the child might suffer from taking Ritalin. With that said, each ADHD child will experience different side effects after taking Ritalin, which in some rare cases can be harmful.

Treating ADHD with Ritalin can cause a slow growth in your child. A study conducted by University of California showed that children who took Ritalin continuously for 3 years were on average bout 1-2 inches shorter, and weighed 4-5 pounds lighter than their contemporaries.

Continuous use of Ritalin for ADHD for a few years might lead to addiction and abuse, usually without realizing it. Ritalin is also categorized as amphetamine and amphetamine carries with them a very high likelihood of addiction. Studies show that children who are addicted to Ritalin have a very high risk of committing crimes.

There are a number of common and obvious side effects of Ritalin, such as constant headaches, stomachaches, lost of appetite, easily being irritated, depression, increasing blood pressure, difficulties while sleeping and nervousness. When the side effects become serious, they can be much worse than ADHD itself and thus making Ritalin ineffective in treating ADHD.

Ritalin is a proven way to treat ADHD throughout the years, but if you not comfortable with your children taking Ritalin, or worried that they might get addicted to it, you can try other alternatives such as natural remedies. Remember, before you decide to take Ritalin as a ADHD treatment for your child, consult a few doctors and get different opinions before making your decision.