Ever
wondered if you were harming your child with psychostimulants?
Ritalin is a powerful stimulant that is classified as a Schedule II
narcotic. Added to the list of side
effects of Ritalin are irritability, headaches, anxiety, jitteryness,
and more.

This is a free-reprint article written
by:
Wayne McDonald

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Title:
Dangerous Side Effects of Ritalin: Is Your Child's Health At Risk?
Author:
Wayne McDonald
Word
Count: 554
URL:
http://www.adhd-natural-solutions.com
Copyright
© 2008 Holisticnetworkexchange.com All rights reserved.

================== ARTICLE START
==================


Ever
wondered if you were harming your child with psychostimulants?
Parents must be informed of the short term and long term Ritalin side
effects. Ritalin is a mild central nervous system stimulant. It is
the drug of choice for treating ADHD for hyperactive kids. Of the
many psychoactive drugs prescribed to children in the United States,
Ritalin is a powerful stimulant that is classified as a Schedule II
narcotic (classification for medical drugs with the highest abuse
potential and addiction profile).

The
most common symptoms of ADHD are impulsiveness, hyperactivity and
inattention. Now your child might not have all of these behavioral
problems. Some kids are primarily hyperactive. Others get sidetracked easily,
become bored or daydream.

Many
children take this stimulant with few side effects of Ritalin. Others
experience mild problems. Some children simply are unable to tolerate
stimulants. At this point another drug may be recommended - or a
safe, natural solution.

Common
Ritalin Side Effects

*
Reduced appetite - This can be problematic for the parent to come up
with a mealtime schedule that fits with the child's medication. While
on the medication your child may have a reduced appetite and at the
end of the cycle your child may have an increased appetite. This can
also cause a loss of weight or an increase in weight. Your child's
appetite may improve after several weeks or months.

*
Rebound – A common problem with short acting methylphenidate or
amphetamine. Children may experience irritability or depression for
an hour as the stimulant wears off. Sometimes this is worse than the
child’s behavior before the medication was started.

*
Difficulty sleeping – Doctors recommend to take a sleep history
before starting any stimulant medication. Problem maybe corrected
with reducing or increasing dosage. This side effect of Ritalin can
be compounded with the mealtime schedule.

Added
to the list of side effects of Ritalin are irritability, headaches,
anxiety, jitteryness or nervousness, stomach aches, dry mouth,
dizziness, blurry vision, drowsiness, anemia, anorexia, scalp hair
loss, blood glucose changes, increased blood pressure and pulse
change, psychosis or paranoia, seizures, and sudden death (rare).

I
was shocked to learn Ritalin is also used to treat narcolepsy (an
uncontrollable desire to sleep). It is no wonder that Ritalin has
been called “kiddy cocaine”. Ritalin can be
helpful in the short term in reducing ADHD symptoms but no physician
will claim that Ritalin cures ADHD.

Believe
me, you have your work cut-out. Parents must be aware of these
Ritalin side effects and should constantly monitor their child's
health and behavior. Drugs are not a quick fix for treating ADHD. Many of these
symptoms can be alleviated safely and effectively
with a combination of homeopathic treatment, dietary control,
behavioral therapy, and an overall healthy lifestyle.

The greatest thing about natural treatment is that it doesn’t cost much and it
is 100% safe. Prescription drugs on the other hand are expensive and have
dangerous side effects. A homeopathic remedy can be a highly effective
alternative treatment for ADHD in order to get rid of bothersome symptoms of
ADHD such as erratic behavior, lack of concentration, hyperactivity, and
twitching. Best of all, homeopathic remedies are non-addictive and have no side
effects whatsoever. It won’t take you long to see how much healthier and
happier your child can really be if you give homeopathy and lifestyle
improvement a try.

Copyright
© 2008 Holisticnetworkexchange.com All rights reserved.

Wayne McDonald is a health enthusiast who has been researching the best natural
remedies for various health conditions for many years. Find out more about some
of the most effective treatments for ADHD on his site at
http://www.adhd-natural-solutions.com