Sign in

or Register now

ADHDCentral.com

See all of our health sites at www.HealthCentral.com
Sunday, October, 25, 2009

Brain Effects Of Ritalin

ADHD med cause cocaine-like brain changes: study

February 03, 2009
Researchers say healthy mice injected with the ADHD drug Ritalin show changes in the reward centers of the brain that mimic those seen in cocaine addiction. The study, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, was prompted by reports that more than 7 million healthy Americans have used Ritalin and other stimulant drugs to get high or to give them an edge in academic performance. But experts point out that this study applies to Ritalin's effect on a healthy brain, and is only relevant to pe... Read more »

Expert & Community Posts

1443
News Story: Pediatric Ritalin may Affect Young Brains
By Eileen Bailey , Health Expert

...Medical College in New York City studied the developing brains of rats while on Ritalin. This... Read more »

1191_8872
Secondary Insomnia and the Drugs Used To Treat It
By Michael Rack, MD , Health Expert

...promoting agent that acts on a central portion of the brain called the hypothalamus to reduce... Read more »

11_8009
Chemo Brain: It's NOT All in your Head
By Beth Brophy , Health Expert

...your treatment, ranging from weight gain to chemo brain, as trivial. Their attitude often may be... Read more »

1443
The Many Faces of ADHD: Kaori
By Eileen Bailey , Health Expert

...also have ADHD. In addition, Kaori indicated that Ritalin is no longer available. Last year,... Read more »

1443
Myth: Stimulant Medications Are Over Prescribed
By Eileen Bailey , Health Expert

...existed. In the past it has been known as "Minimal Brain Dysfunction" and "Hyperkinetic Disorder... Read more »

Health Guide

Concerta, Daytrana, Metadate CD, Methylin, Ritalin, Ritalin SR, Ritalin LA
...ADHD is not fully understood, it is thought to work directly on norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain.   Before taking stimulant medication, you should tell your doctor about any and all of... Read more »
Understanding ADHD Medication
...generally accepted that it is hereditary in families. It is also accepted that neurotransmitters in the brain are involved.  The largest impact seems to come from dopamine and norepinephrine. ... Read more »
Daytrana
...ADHD is not fully understood, it is thought to work directly on norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain.  Side Effects:  Although the following is not a complete list, below the most common... Read more »
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Treatment
...most studies suggest the impact is not significant and that children catch up later on.Effect on the BrainSome evidence suggests that medication may enhance growth of brain white matter -- which... Read more »
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Medications
...Amphetamine-dextroamphetamine (Adderall) and dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine, Dextrostat) work by blocking the reabsorption of the brain chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine. Side effects can... Read more »

Related News

Doctors begin study of alcohol and ADHD drugs like Concerta
October 02, 2008

The role that alcohol plays in the way attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drugs like Ritalin and Concerta work is the subject of a new... Read summary »

Brain Stimulation for Parkinson's
January 12, 2009

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Deep brain stimulation can improve the quality of life for Parkinson's patients, but there are some risks. Deep brain... Read summary »

Magnetic Field in Brain May Reveal Autism
December 04, 2008

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Slight magnetic signals from brain activity may indicate difficulty processing language and sound in children with autism.... Read summary »

Demanding Job, Less Memory Decline
October 30, 2008

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Think hard and it may protect your brain from Alzheimer's disease. A new study finds those with more education and more... Read summary »

Hormone Therapy Linked to Brain Shrinkage but Not Stroke
January 20, 2009

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Two new studies offer insight into the side effects of hormone therapy. Researchers discovered taking estrogen may cause the... Read summary »