Methylphenidate In Hyperactive Children Research Articles

Speed, Ecstasy, Ritalin: the science of amphetamines

This book is a mix of science, history and social commentary on the medical and illicit use of amphetamine and its derivatives, from the introduction of Benzedrine inhalers in 1932. As with many new drugs, amphetamine was widely regarded as a wonder drug, initially used as a decongestant and antidepressant, but by 1946 one US physician claimed he could list 39 indications for the drug. After a popular rise in the use of amphetamines as appetite suppressants, the chief uses today are for narcolepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), although in some countries, l-methamphetamine (deoxyephedrine) can be found in over-the-counter cold remedies. There are nine chapters; a brief introduction is followed by a chapter on the mechanism of action of amphetamines and their effects on mood, performance, sexual function and appetite. Chapter 3, Medical Uses of Amphetamines, examines the failed attempts at using amphetamines, including fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine, to treat obesity. The important distinction between low-dose oral amphetamine, and the rapid rise in brain levels, as craved by addicts, when methamphetamine is injected intravenously or smoked, is made to explain the seemingly paradoxical use of methylphenidate in hyperactive children. The chapters dealing with amphetamines as performance enhancers and their illicit use around the world give a fascinating insight into the lengths to which people will go to improve performance. Amphetamines have been widely used by the military and athletes to increase endurance and stamina. However, this can come at a price, as in the case of cyclist Tom Simpson, who died in the Tour de France in 1967, having taken amphetamine. That several well-known entertainers and film stars took amphetamine is hardly surprising, but more disturbing was the revelation that a US President and a British Prime Minister were regular users. Amphetamine-induced psychosis is considered in Chapter 6, while the evidence for amphetamine toxicity, including neurotoxicity and adverse behavioural effects, is discussed in Chapter 7. The next chapter is devoted to Ecstasy: its chemistry and history, mechanism of action and descriptions of its behavioural and adverse effects. The neurotoxicological effects of Ecstasy appear to be due to drug-induced hyperthermia, as reduction of body temperature has a protective effect. The conclusion that methylene-dioxy-methamphetamine induces Parkinson's disease had to be retracted when it was realized that the experiments had in fact been conducted with methamphetamine, not methylene-dioxy-methamphetamine, as had been the intention. The book concludes with a short chapter, The Future with Amphetamines. There seems no doubt that illicit use is not in decline, indeed, the popularity of methamphetamine (crystal meth, ice), which can be smoked, is on the increase. Modafinil may replace amphetamine for treatment of narcolepsy, but the Food and Drug Administration's recent rejection of the drug for ADHD means that amphetamines, prescribed and illicit, are likely to be available for some time to come. There is no Preface, but explanation of terms such as ‘double-blind’ and ‘placebo’ suggests that the book is aimed not only at professionals but also interested lay readers. Written in a factual style, without dogma, the book makes perfect additional reading for students in the appropriate disciplines, giving them an insight into the development and use of drugs that they are unlikely to appreciate from standard teaching texts.

Methylphenidate in Aggressive-Hyperactive Boys: I. Effects on Peer Aggression in Public School Settings

One of the least documented "known" effects of methylphenidate in hyperactive children is the suppression of peer aggression. In this study, 11 aggressive-hyperactive children received a low (0.3 mg/kg) and moderate (0.6 mg/kg) dose of methylphenidate and placebo for 2 weeks each under double-blind conditions. Children were observed in public school settings during classroom seatwork activities, lunch, and recess. Results showed that methylphenidate suppressed nonphysical aggression (p = 0.06) in the classroom, and a moderate dose decreased physical aggression (p less than 0.01) and verbal aggression (p = 0.07) on the playground. The effect on the rate of appropriate social interaction was variable. The majority of subjects exhibited either the same or higher levels of appropriate social interaction on the 0.6 mg/kg dose compared with placebo. In the classroom, both doses of methylphenidate also resulted in reduced levels of motor movement, off-task behavior, noncompliance, and disruptiveness. Teacher ratings of hyperactivity and conduct problem symptoms revealed drug effects, whereas parallel parent instruments did not.

Side effects of dextroamphetamine and methylphenidate in hyperactive children — A brief review

1. Four of the most commonly reported side effects of dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine ®) and methylphenidate (Ritalin ®), viz., anorexia, insomnia, stomach pains, and weight loss, were reviewed, with special attention to growth suppression accompanying weight loss. 2. The available evidence indicates that the effects of insomnia, anorexia, and stomach pains are transient and diminish as treatment continues and as medication is properly managed. 3. There is evidence for growth suppression accompanying weight loss, and possibly some suppression of stature, but these effects are not long-lasting and, from existing evidence, seem to have little effect on adult height or weight.

Visual evoked potential changes induced by methylphenidate in hyperactive children: Dose/response effects

Visual event related potentials (ERP) were recorded from 21 hyperactive children aged 7–13 years under two attention conditions at 4 levels of methylphenidate dose (placebo, low, medium and high). ERP measures were very sensitive to age (under or over 10 years) and attention condition, but less sensitive to drug dose. Thereappeared to be two classes of drug dose effect on ERP amplitude, those that changed monotonically with dose and those from which dose interacted with attention non-monotonically. Drug effect on ERP amplitude may also depend on age so that opposite effects may occur in young and old children. No latency measures showed a dose effect. It appears that methylphenidate can speed reaction times without shortening ERP latency. This suggests the drug acts more on response-related processes than on stimulus evaluation.

Clinical Effects of Imipramine and Methylphenidate in Hyperactive Children

(1975). Clinical Effects of Imipramine and Methylphenidate in Hyperactive Children. International Journal of Mental Health: Vol. 4, Recent Advances in Child Psychopharmacology, pp. 144-156.

An additional observation on methylphenidate in hyperactive children.

Back to table of contents Previous article Next article ArticleNo AccessAn Additional Observation on Methylphenidate in Hyperactive ChildrenLEON TECLEON TECSearch for more papers by this authorPublished Online:1 Apr 2006https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.127.10.1424-bAboutSectionsPDF/EPUB ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail "An Additional Observation on Methylphenidate in Hyperactive Children." American Journal of Psychiatry, 127(10), pp. 1424-b–1424 Access content To read the fulltext, please use one of the options below to sign in or purchase access. Personal login Institutional Login Sign in via OpenAthens Purchase Save for later Item saved, go to cart PPV Articles - American Journal of Psychiatry $35.00 Add to cart PPV Articles - American Journal of Psychiatry Checkout Please login/register if you wish to pair your device and check access availability. Not a subscriber? Subscribe Now / Learn More PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-5 library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development. Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.). FiguresReferencesCited byDetailsCited byAustralia and New Zealand Journal of Developmental Disabilities, Vol. 16, No. 4 Volume 127Issue 10 April 1971Pages 1424-b-1424 Metrics PDF download History Published online 1 April 2006 Published in print 1 April 1971