What Does Ritalin Do?

Video Transcript

"This is Lois Adams, president and CEO of Freedom Pharmacy and Wellness Centers in Orlando, Florida. Today's segment is what does Ritalin do? Ritalin is the generic, or the branded name for methylphenidate. It's habit forming and it requires a written prescription and an original signature on the prescription for us to fill it. It's used in the treatment for ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. There are many children and adults that they find have it. It's used in narcolepsy which is a sleep disorder that causes daytime sleepiness and sudden attacks of sleep. People can be sitting right in their chair and just fall dead asleep right on you. Similar drugs are Strattera, Eldoral and Dexedrine. It comes in various kinds of doses and extended release and long acting and the dosing depends actually on the kind of problem that we're trying to treat. It should be taken about 35 to 40 minutes after eating as the last dose because it does cause people to stay awake. There are some problems with Ritalin and Ritalin does work be stimulating the central nervous system and that helps patients who are have ADHD, it helps them to focus and of course those patients with narcolepsy, it helps wake them up. There's really a big controversy these days as whether children should or teenagers should or should not be taking Ritalin. It can cause sudden death in children and teenagers who have a heart defect or serious heart problems. It should not be used to treat depression or excessive tiredness which is not caused by narcolepsy. People who are taking Ritalin should not eat grapefruit while taking the drug because it will take a, make a difference in the kind of metabolism that the drug has. Patients need a low salt and high calcium diet. This is our segment on what does Ritalin do."