ADHD and Ritalin

As Novak (2001) reported in her article, the overemphasis of the biomedical approach at the expense of other methods needs to be reconsidered for many reasons. First, Ritalin and other types of prescribed drugs are psychotropic drugs that are highly addictive in nature. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classifies these drugs within the same category as morphine and cocaine, which should be administered with caution (p. 62).

Second, by depending on the drugs, parents and education providers fail to realize that children with ADHD can improve via other strategies such as speech and language tutoring, or behavioral modification. Essentially, prescription drugs do not offer the sole solution for the diagnosis of ADHD. What is also significant, which is not stated in the ar

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erse self-effects. In Bloom's case, the antipsychotic, Zyprexa, that was supposed to be a mood stabilizer, increased the manic symptoms. Neurotinin, an anti-convulsant, made her vomit violently. Even though most people suffering from manic depression use lithium, it is not applicable to everyone who may experience side effects such as thyroid problems and weight gain. However, these side effects may be alleviated by combining lithium with other types of drugs. As Bloom (2002) put it succinctly: "Despite all the scientific advances in the field, knowing how much of what to prescribe to whom remains as much an art as a science" (p. F4). Second, Bloom (2002) emphasized the importance of initiating the process gradually in order to prevent the occurrence of adverse side-effects. When she was prescribed Tegretol, the psychiatrist increased her dosage from 200 milligrams to 1,600 milligrams within a three-week period. The drug caused her to be confused and disoriented. Just as importantly, Bloom (2002) noted that she had to withdrawal from Tegretol gradually (p. F4). Finally, Bloom (2002) explained that patients should also adopt a proactive approach in understanding their unique responses and experiences of manic depressio
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Approximate Word count = 2966
Approximate Pages = 12 (250 words per page)

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