Probably through the chemicals dopamine and noradrenaline. These are stimulant chemicals found naturally in the brain. In people without ADHD, dopamine and noradrenaline are released relatively steadily. In ADHD it is thought they are released in bursts, giving rise to the impulsive behaviour, hyperactivity and difficulty paying attention. Ritalin (and Dexamphetamine) is thought to increase the levels of these chemicals in the brain. By giving drugs to provide a steady supply of these chemicals, the surges are ironed out. Many parents notice a dramatic improvement when medication is started – children calm down, are able to concentrate better at school and respond more appropriately to parents and teachers.

What about side effects of medication?

Loss of appetite, headaches, problems sleeping and stomach irritation are some of the common side effects, but these need to be balanced against the benefits of the drug. Bad side effects are most pronounced when the drugs are first started, and usually settle over time.

Some children are on Ritalin for a long time, but good doctors will try ‘drug holidays’, at least once a year, to assess their behaviour without the drug. You have to bear in mind that, psychiatric illnesses take ages to treat, and the equivalent of a week's course of antibiotics is about six months on psychiatric medication.

What if I don’t want my child to take medication?

Understandable, but there are benefits to using medication: if Ritalin helps your child perform better at school, and so get a better education, mix better with their peers and function more effectively in the family setting, then it’s doing some good. Around 70% of children will continue to suffer from the condition into adolescence and 10% will continue to have symptoms in adulthood.

Children with ADHD who aren’t treated generally don’t do well at school, because they have difficulty concentrating. They can’t maintain friendships, lose confidence and eventually make a downward drift in society. They commonly develop ever more complex and deep-seated behavioural disturbances and end up in young offenders institutes and/or abusing drugs – all this could potentially be avoided with careful treatment both in the form of drugs and education.

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ADHD