It was initially first used in 1955 for a number of indications. Methylphenidate, synthesized in 1944 13 and patented in 1954, was first marketed by Ciba-Geigy Pharmaceutical Company as Ritalin. Patterns of abuse, including intranasal use, will also be discussed to help the primary care practitioner become more aware of some of the potential problems when monitoring and supervising the use of methylphenidate. This article will review the pharmacology of methylphenidate and look at its psychiatric side effects when abused. Abuse often entails the use of large doses, which may be taken intranasally or intravenously. 11, 12 Given this increasing number of patients receiving methylphenidate and the increased availability of methylphenidate, there is an increased potential for this medication to be abused. However, the entire therapeutic profile starts to change when it is abused.Īs ADHD is more accurately diagnosed and treated appropriately with stimulant medication, there will be a continued increase in the amount of methylphenidate prescribed and dispensed. 6, 9, 10 This stimulant medication is generally safe when used as prescribed it produces few serious adverse events when used orally in therapeutic doses. 8–10 When these side effects do occur in treatment, they usually can be managed effectively or diminish in severity with time to a tolerable level. 4–8 The most common side effects are insomnia, stomachache, headache, and anorexia.

3 Many children, adolescents, and adults with ADHD can benefit from the therapeutic effects of methylphenidate with minimum side effects. 1 However, its most impressive effect has been the reduction of symptoms seen in ADHD, a condition found in approximately 3% to 5% of the general population of school-age children, 2 occurring more frequently in boys. It has also been used to treat other disorders such as depression, narcolepsy, brain injury, cancer, pain, and cognitive disorders and to treat patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection. Methylphenidate is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant drug that has become the primary drug of choice in treating attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.

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