Ritalin (methylphenidate) is a central nervous system stimulant used for ADHD and narcolepsy, but it is not an amphetamine based medication, unlike Adderall. While both increase dopamine and norepinephrine, Ritalin acts as a reuptake inhibitor rather than a stimulant that directly releases these neurotransmitters like amphetamines do.
If you don't see the difference between metaamphetamines and their deriatives vs methylphenidate, then you don't have any right to comment on the subject.
And no, it's not a "drug". Calling it such is guilt-tripping those that want to/do use MPH it and there's already a ton of that in the lives of people with ADHD.
A parent hearing somebody call MPH a "drug" = "There's no way in hell I'm giving my kid DRUGS!!11". For kids with ADHD (and for people with ADHD in general), medication is massive a life changer ( and saver too ) - from often nightmare to livable/decent.
You don't have any right to take that away from them.
Oh, and by the way: wherever you are is not the center of the world.
In the EU, barely anyone recognizes the names "Ritalin", "Adderall" etc. - methylphenidate is a lot more common.
I was prescribed Ritalin when i was 6 years old, and was considered one of the short kid my entire childhood (and suffered the consequences).
I decided to stop taking meds when I was 17, and in a few years became the tallest of my friend group.
I'm older now, and occasionally have periods where I take what I consider "better" meds like Vyvanse, but there ain't no way i'm letting my kids take ANYTHING until they are much much older and can decide for themselves.
Could the BMI thing be simply explained by the treated children expending less kinetic energy? In other words, they are less hyperactive, so it seems logical that they might actually be prone to some weight gain.
Methylphenidate is also prescribed for ADHD-PI (inattentive). My son took this medication and for him it served as an appetite suppressant. He's also 6'5" now as an adult. So individual experiences will vary.
I take methylphenidate, actually. I experienced the appetite suppressing effect, but I would say that after ~3 to 5 months on the drug that basically went away. There's still a noticeable benefit for attention, but otherwise I eat just about as much as ever. But yeah, different experiences for different folks.
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[ 2.5 ms ] story [ 30.6 ms ] threadAdderall saved my life. YMMV
Concerns that stimulant meds taken as children reduced adult height have been around for three decades.
To my mind, the bigger take away here is that ADHD meds don't significantly impact adult height.
I was prescribed Ritalin when i was 6 years old, and was considered one of the short kid my entire childhood (and suffered the consequences).
I decided to stop taking meds when I was 17, and in a few years became the tallest of my friend group.
I'm older now, and occasionally have periods where I take what I consider "better" meds like Vyvanse, but there ain't no way i'm letting my kids take ANYTHING until they are much much older and can decide for themselves.