Ritalin Essay

Since the production of Ritalin (brand name for Methylphenidate Hydrochloride) during the mid-1940s, it has been enhanced and formulated to treat various disorders such as fatigue and depression but it was not until the 1960s when it was discovered to be effective in treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). It has also since been used to treat Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). (Unknown, Ritalin, 2013)

ADHD is a neurobehavioral disorder caused by chemical imbalances in the brain resulting in an inability to focus; a short attention span; hyperactivity; impulsive behaviour and restlessness. However, this may be managed with the help of Ritalin. (Nordqvist, What is ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)? 2013)
In spite of Ritalin’s usefulness in managing ADHD and ADD, there is much speculation surrounding the safety of the drug. Ritalin has been said to cause anxiety and depression later on in life, while in other cases it alleviates the symptoms of these illnesses.
By understanding the chemistry of Ritalin, one can suggest a possible answer to this medical dilemma. In brief, Ritalin is a stimulant which targets the brain stem arousal system and the cortex of the brain by hindering the reabsorption of dopamine (a neurotransmitter/chemical given off by nerve cells to send signals to other nerve cells) into the presynaptic neuron. This occurs when Ritalin fixes onto the dopamine and thus increases the concentration of dopamine at the synapse (a minute gap between the joining of two neurons) and allows one to focus for longer.
Depression is a mental condition characterized by feelings of sadness, despair, inadequacy and lethargy/apathy towards life. Anxiety is a feeling of worry, usually towards a perceive...

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...n the results of the questionnaire.

In order to come to a conclusion, a general trend was obtained from the questionnaire results and then combined with sources written by reputable professors and medical doctors.

The research was deliberately conducted this way (that is, gathering mixed research) in order to broaden the spectrum of knowledge and gather as much data from numerous studies and the questionnaire. Multiple sources were consulted so as to obtain a holistic answer to the research question (Does Ritalin causes anxiety and depression in the long run?). All these studies were performed on laboratory rats and the primary research gives one the opportunity to survey humans as there was no access to studies regarding this topic being done on humans. A questionnaire was the most practical and time efficient way of assessing Ritalin’s side effects.