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168 Comments
- NikoKun, on 10/10/2007, -6/+36hmm maybe that explains why i'm 5'4 and my brother is 6'7... O_o;
Ritalin is real bad news... for one it didn't help much... and it has horrible side effects especially long term. Plus they diagnose kids as having this problem far too often... and Ritalin is prescribed too easily... but that's the Pharma's fault... they're the ones that push to have drugs prescribed more often. =/
Oddly enough there's a video on youtube about a Dr and child specialist that suggests Medical Marijuana in the form of a small cookie once a day would be a better treatment for ADD than Ritalin is... lol If that's true... wow. - allaboutdatiki, on 10/10/2007, -2/+24I'm shorter? Huh? Lets go ride bikes!
- fjc8, on 10/10/2007, -0/+19Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta & friends) causes decreased appetite which is a given cause listed in a linked article. (As an adult I don't mind this side effect; it saves money.)
On the other hand, many of America's most prescribed drugs, antidepressants, can cause weight gain. - pillcounterd, on 10/10/2007, -5/+17I agree. ADD is over diagnosed. Most parents just don't want to deal with the kid and have the Doc just giving them something to clam down. I wouldn't mind looking over this paper, bb88.
- crgnetworks, on 10/10/2007, -1/+13Hum, im 6'2 190 pounds and was on Ritalin for 5 years from 1st to 5th grade, I'm now 20. Thank god I got on Ritalin, I don't want to be any taller!
- Al3x, on 10/10/2007, -3/+14I take all sorts of ADD/ADHD stuff because I'm ADHD...and I'm wondering if the stunted growth of these kids is from a lower appetite...they just don't eat as much as they should when growing. I take "drug holidays" as they're called where I don't take it for about a month...or do like 3 weeks on, 1 week off. I would like to see more evidence and their methods of determining exactly HOW these meds stunt their growth. Or do they just notice a pattern of smaller ADD/ADHD people...
- expertninja, on 10/10/2007, -5/+16I took Ritalin from the time I was in 2nd grade til I was 17. Though it didn't stunt my growth (6'3"), it did cause a cardiac arrhythmia that put me in the hospital because of severe heart rate spikes and drops. My heart rate continued to spike to 160-220 for 10 seconds or so at a time for the next week straight. I'd never give my children a mind altering drug at such a young age unless it was a life threatening reason, especially since there are many alternatives to Ritalin such as brain wave therapy that are permanent, though they are not as easy as dosing little kids.
- imikedaman, on 10/10/2007, -0/+10I have ADHD, and I spent the past week reading like 30 various papers on differential geometry, Gauss maps, spatial hashing techniques, collision detection, linear complementarity problems, 2D and 3D geometry, and a hell of a lot more. I also used to program to up to 15 hours a day for weeks on end, only taking breaks to go over to a friend's place for an hour or two or to do daily tasks like eat/shower/etc.
I also barely got through college since I couldn't get myself to pay attention no matter how hard I tried. After several years of being known as the smart kid with bad grades, I ended up going to a psychologist and she diagnosed me with ADHD.
I'm definitely not lazy, but I have ADHD. I think the common misconception comes from all the jackasses who try to use ADHD as an excuse for them being a miserable failure. - praisethelard, on 06/06/2008, -2/+12Tag, you're...ooh butterfly!
- inactive, on 10/10/2007, -10/+191 inch shorter... in the pants.
- inactive, on 10/10/2007, -6/+14I call BS on this one. I spent my entire childhood on Ritalin and many other drugs. I'm as tall as my parents and weigh in at a muscular 175 pounds.
As for the drugs helping...no, they only made me get in more trouble. ADD and ADHD is a load of crap from my standpoint.
Some kids are just wound tighter. Some people are fat, some skinny, some smart, some stupid. Labeling a kid just to use it as an excuse for a lack of discipline and self control is just plain old lame. As I look back on it, my parents took the easy way instead of just disciplining me. Took me many, many years to get my head straight. - johnnynack, on 10/10/2007, -0/+7very good point alex.. i take the concerta which is the extended release methyphenidate and i notice a huge difference in my eating patterns when taking vs not taking it
- christpr, on 10/10/2007, -1/+8Ritalin is a fairly safe drugs if not abused.
I agree that giving these drugs to children probably isn't a good idea but they're very helpful to a lot of people.
Most doctors don't realize that you have to be very careful with dose/type of meds. If someone really has ADD they may not be helped by 40mg of Ritalin but their lives may be improved greatly with half the dose of a similar drug like Dexedrine
It's all about Doctors communicating with their patients and making sure that the dose and medication are correct, if they just throw them on XXmg of Ritilan it won't necessary work and the side effects can be horrible.
ADD is a very real disorder but i believe it is over-prescribed in children. - Aldhelm, on 10/10/2007, -1/+8Before the quacks start to congregate. Let me make this clear. There is no REAL ALTERNATIVE to stimulants. They are the best for kids with ADHD. All of these "natural" crap that people try to sell or diets never work. The only other alternative to stimulants are techniques that avoid the problem instead of fixing it.
Just to make it clear. I'm 6'2 in an area where most people are 5'9. - dlethe, on 10/10/2007, -2/+9As an adult with ADD, I can assure you that the condition is real, and I was a skeptic until shortly after I began taking the medication. I have never been more productive at work in my life. What you fail to consider is that ADD/ADHD is a chemical imbalance in the brain and the drugs serve to repair that problem. As you have no first-hand experience with ADD you have a responsibility to NOT make uninformed medical opinions about things you clearly have no first-hand experience with.
- dlethe, on 10/10/2007, -2/+9As an adult with ADHD, I assure you that this condition exists. I've been taking Concerta for a few years now and It has made an overwhelming improvement in my quality of life. Concerta absolutely, positively helps me concentrate, and it also relaxes me. Yes it is speed, but for people who have brains wired such as mine, it has the opposite effect. If you haven't walked in my shoes, or have first-hand experience with a condition as an adult, then you haven't earned the right to be a skeptic. Conversely, if you've been diagnosed with such a problem, and your physical prescribed something that didn't work, then get a second opinion. All of the drugs work differently on people, and not all drugs work on everybody. (No I don't work for a pharm either, just an engineer who benefits from proper medication).
- reeder, on 10/10/2007, -9/+15And you received your medical degree from...?
- drbroccoli, on 10/10/2007, -0/+6It's appetite suppression. Ritalin doesn't make you shorter, it's the fact that you don't feel hungry on it. I never feel hungry when I'm on it, but my mom makes me drink these protein drinks and stuff. She practically force feeds me. As a result I'm 5'11" and weigh 160. Not super tall, but not short.
- TheFinaleofSeem, on 10/10/2007, -1/+7And some bounce off the walls uncontrollably. I know a guy who really did need that Ritalin. Without it, he was insanely hyper and couldn't concentrate on anything. He tried going without and controlling himself, but it just didn't work. ADD/ADHD is plenty overdiagnosed, but there are some out there who really do have it and really do need those meds.
- tgunner, on 10/10/2007, -7/+13This happened to my cousin. He was on various drugs for years, and now at age 14, has the same appearance as a 9 year old; his personality at about that age as well. I am 17, and can actually grab his feet, pull up, and hold him up in the air upside-down. His parents now have him doing hormone treatments so he isn't so small compared to his peers.
- TheFinaleofSeem, on 10/10/2007, -0/+6Just an anecdote, but I know a guy who had ADHD like you wouldn't believe. He's been on Ritalin/similar meds for years, and they have really helped him. The guy is about 6'5. He's tall as hell. Yeah, anecdotal, but I don't think I've met anyone on Ritalin who was abnormally short.
- ScottMaximus1, on 10/10/2007, -2/+8Where's your medical degree from?
- dosequis, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5I took it when I was younger. I'm not pulling for the drug or anything, I don't believe it helped me, but I'm 6'2". I suppose I could be 6'3", but I'm okay at the height I'm at.
- fjc8, on 10/10/2007, -3/+8Based on the article's information, it sounds more like it would explain why you're 5'4" and not 5'5".
- lickmygiggle, on 10/10/2007, -5/+10In a country where obesity is described as an epidemic, why are we worried that some kids are 4-5 pounds lighter than other kids?
- computergod, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5It is basically speed, but telling us to "try a water or fruit fast" is just insulting. We hear that crap all the time. It's the kind of worthless advice that has kept some of us from trying something that actually works.
- Piyh, on 10/10/2007, -5/+10Am I the only one without mental problems here?
- Bajeda, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5I actually think that could be a big part of it. The researchers may not be familiar with the drugs themselves (i.e. they haven't taken it, which makes a huge difference in how you understand something compared to just reading data on it) so they may not have accounted for the reduced hunger Ritalin and other ADHD meds bring. Less eating would mean less growth.
- tdowling, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5expertninja, how do you know that you weren't supposed to be 6'5"? And that sucks about the arrhithmia, but how do you know that the Ritalin caused it?
- omgJOHN, on 10/10/2007, -1/+6The hell? I was on Ritalin as a kid, and most people would agree I'm a friggen' giant. *****, if it really stunted my growth, how big would I be now?
- computergod, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4Yup, that's it right there. I have an Rx for d-amphetamine and I not only do I not feel hungry, but I feel full. I usually have to force myself to eat on it, it does not come naturally at all.
I've tried Ritalin and it is the same thing. - maehem, on 10/10/2007, -2/+6Awww crap! Now they say something thirty four years after I've taken it and barely able to see over the steering wheel of my car. My little brother STILL beats me up.
- Antz0rz, on 10/10/2007, -1/+5Its not the drug itself. It causes a decrease in appetite while pretty much speeding up your metabolism. Which means, weight loss, not as much food/ malnutrition.
- inactive, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4Troll, and possible Scientologist spotted. If someone is going through major depression, antidepressants can pull them out of it long enough for them to get their feet on the ground and begin other methods of treatment. Believe me, I hate drug companies and antidepressants as much as the next Travolta, but some people need medication.
- Bajeda, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4Slimfast's are great for when you are on stimulants but need nutrition. 'Powershakes' made with various fruits and juices are also good, as liquids are easy to get down so if you get as many nutrients in liquid form as possible you should get what you need.
- TellarHK, on 10/10/2007, -1/+5As an adult with ADD, having been a diagnosed (but untreated) child with ADD from 13 until I was 24 (and no longer a child) I have to disagree with you here. There's a major, major difference in those people with true ADD who are and aren't medicated. When you get to the age of adulthood, if the ADD persists (like it has for me and my half-brother) it does allow you to be a bit more creative, but at the same time stops you from being able to focus on taking that creativity and put it to use.
I've been two years without a prescription, and it completely and utterly screws up my life. I have a hard time focusing on work even when I'm in a position I like, with duties I enjoy, and a lot of potential to get some really amazing things done. Fortunately, I just got my new 20mg prescription today to start taking it tomorrow. I honestly can say this will help -my- life improve, far beyond what I could accomplish any other way. - inactive, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4I hope you guys know that BMI is a load of *****.
- NikoKun, on 10/10/2007, -2/+5lol, hey even 5'5 would be something... XD
- lemonstardust, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3This seems quite odd to me as I have been on Ritalin for 10 years now (currently 16 y.o.) and I am the tallest person in my family at 6 feet. My weight is also normal.
- postal21, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4an inch isnt ***** science. *****.
- rhino_rampant, on 10/10/2007, -2/+5I'VE BEEN ON RITALIN SINCE I WAS 5! I'M NOW 23, I'VE SWITCHED TO CONCERTA, A HEALTHY 200LB *6'5"* MALE, AND I CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO TURN OFF CAPS LOCK!!!11 A/S/L?
- pillcounterd, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3From the Wikipedia: "Methylphenidate is a mild central nervous system (CNS) stimulant. It is claimed to have a 'calming' effect on humans who have ADHD, reducing impulsive behavior, and facilitates concentration on work and other tasks. Adults who have ADHD often claim that methylphenidate increases their ability to focus on tasks and organize their lives."
- sunshinemonster, on 10/10/2007, -3/+6Maybe parents should just beat their kids like in the good ole' days? Seriously though, is 1 inch and 4 pounds really something to be concerned about?
- tensionrev, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3I tried to substitute strattera for ritalin for a bit. My liver enzyme levels skyrocketed so high they wanted to admit me for acute nephritis (liver disease). My levels returned to normal when I went back to ritalin. Plus the damned stuff didn't even work.
- christpr, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Yeah just read a post talking about going on a fruit diet to get rid of 'the toxins'
OH NOEZ THE TOXINZ!!!11 - swankboy, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3"Whether these kids eventually grow to normal size remains a question. Kids entered the study in 1999 at ages 7 to 9. The current report is a snapshot taken three years later. The 10-year results -- when the kids are at their adult height -- won't be in for two more years.
"The big question now is whether there is any effect on these kids' ultimate height," Swanson says. "We don't know if by the time they are 18 they will regain the height." - psykiv, on 10/10/2007, -6/+9
Tip to parents out there: You want to stop 99% of your kid's "mental problems"? Don't be so ***** ridiculously over-protective and paranoid. They're not going to get shot in a driveby shooting or be ran over by some idiot driver if they go across the street to their friend's house. They're not going to break their legs playing sports with the neighborhood kids. They're not going to get kidnapped, raped, and murdered if they walk to school alone two blocks away. Their friend of a different nationality is not out to kill them or recruit them for some weird ethnic cleansing scheme. I could go on and on. Yes, it does happen, but you probably have a better chance of being killed by lightning, seriously. - christpr, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3just because it has the word amphetamine doesn't make it 'bad'
- TheFinaleofSeem, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4Utter and total *****. I've known some people who really do have ADHD and ADD. The medications help them concentrate like nothing else. One guy was so insanely unmanageable off his meds. He was bouncing off the walls, couldn't listen to anything, and couldn't concentrate on anything. He tried, but could not. Ritalin and similar meds helped him actually pass school. That's not just overimaginative, that's being unable to keep your mind on any one thing for long. Yes, ADD/ADHD are overdiagnosed and lazy asshat parents want a magic pill for the perfect kid, but don't think for a second that there aren't people who actually need those meds.
- nwoantibody, on 10/10/2007, -5/+8huge deal
/nosarcasm -
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