What are some pro's and con's of ritalin (methylphenidate) for adhd in a child?

Well studied/no cure: Stimulants for adhd are the best-studied medicines in all of child mental health. They produce prompt relief of key symptoms in 65-85 of patients with relatively few side effects and high safety. They often help patients, families, and teachers cope with the most disturbing symptoms. But, they do not change the course of illness, are not sompletely safe, & may deter other needed interventions.

Works but short time: Ritalin has a long history of effectiveness for add/adhd, but the problem is it's duration of action is short, and often to have benefit for a long part of the day you have to take ti 2-3 times. There are longer acting forms of Ritalin (methylphenidate) from several manufacturers. Your provider can help guide you to one that should work, if not one try another.

The cons: Ritalin (methylphenidate) is a class ii controlled substance that is severely addictive. It has the same dependency profile as Cocaine and is used interchangeably with Cocaine in medical research. According to the manufacturer some of the side effects are: hallucinations, agitation, irritability, increased blood pressure, tics, growth retardation, heart arrhthmias, violent behaviors, paranoid delusions & psychosis.

Ritalin (methylphenidate): On the positive side, it seems to work well to improve attention span, distractability, impulsivity & overall daily functioning as long as monitored closely by a specialist & in conjunction with behavior therapy & family work.