Word: ritalin
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...pleased by the new law. But in case she had forgotten what she was up against, she was reminded at last Thursday's signing. A researcher lobbying for funding to test his new ADHD treatment technique was also there--as well as a representative from Novartis, the maker of Ritalin...
...treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has broadened significantly, ranging from vintage antidepressants known as tricyclics to various drugs for high blood pressure. Both groups seek to restore the balance of brain chemicals that appears to have gone awry in those with ADHD. Doctors generally start with stimulants like Ritalin; if these fail, as happens in about one-fifth of all patients, they move on to other drugs. Here's how each category works...
While it seems counterintuitive to give a stimulant to a hyperactive child, those with ADHD actually need to rev up activity in the part of their brain responsible for functions like organization and concentration. Methylphenidates (Ritalin, Concerta, Metadate) and amphetamines (Adderall) will do that by bathing the brain's nerve cells in certain chemicals--dopamine, norepinephrine or serotonin--that promote nerve activity...
...Ritalin, the first of the methylphenidates to be approved, works for three to four hours and requires two to three doses a day. The newest generation of drugs in this class does better: Novartis, Ritalin's maker, is waiting to hear whether the FDA will approve its new version, Ritalin LA, which has double the current drug's effective time. Concerta, available since last summer, is effective for 12 hours; Metadate, approved in 1999, lasts about eight hours. A Concerta capsule acts as a minipump, gradually pushing methylphenidate out through tiny, laser-drilled holes in its coating. With Metadate, about...
...coming months, pharmaceutical companies will be releasing even more variations on the Ritalin theme. Novartis has received the FDA's preliminary approval to market another, more refined form of methylphenidate that requires a smaller dosage than the current formulation. Unlike Ritalin LA, however, this drug is not a long-acting medication but addresses the concerns some parents have about giving too much medication to their young children. Eli Lilly, on the other hand, is taking a cue from the blood-pressure medications with a new product called Atomoxetine that boosts norepinephrine. The drug is still being tested, but results...