In 2014, almost a million drugs alleviating the effects of ADHD were prescribed. Halve that and you’ll get the total number given out in 1994.

Of the many prescriptions, Ritalin is one of the most common, especially for children.

It greatly enhances focus and production, making it an effective choice for youngsters whose attention flits about faster than a strike of lightning. And while studies on long-term use continue, so far there are many benefits stemming from the drug.

But Ritalin also comes with a darker side, one that has led to serious and sometimes life-threatening consequences, and one which all parents should consider.

What Is Ritalin?

Ritalin, also known as methylphenidate, alters the chemicals in the brain. By increasing the amount of dopamine going to the organ, the brain’s functions increase.

As a result, it has been abused by professionals seeking extreme concentration, athletes who desire higher productivity and students who would benefit from heightened focus for school.

The Negative Repercussions

While Ritalin can be a valuable medication for children and adults with extreme cases of ADHD, it can also be dangerous.

“The guidelines are clear that drugs should be dispensed as a last resort,” Tony Lloyd, the CEO of the ADHD Foundation, told The Guardian. “But that is clearly not what is happening.”

In fact, there has been a growing concern over physicians overprescribing such medication, something that—as further long-term studies are released—could easily lead to a malpractice nightmare.

“Medical malpractice is a serious offense,” states a lawyer with Newsome Melton law firm. “Patients are putting their trust in physicians, and that trust should not be taken advantage of.”

It’s also why parents sometimes must take research into their own hands.

Addiction

One of the worst effects of Ritalin is its abuse potential, which experienced a surge in the nineties. In 1994, there were more high school seniors abusing the drug than seniors who were being prescribed it.

Highly accessible and with effects desired by almost anyone, it quickly became a gateway drug.

Today, addiction centers offer services to alleviate dependence.

Heart Problems

The drug also puts a strain on children’s hearts. According to a study published in The British Medical Journal, children taking methylphenidate were more likely to suffer from heart attacks or arrhythmias shortly after starting the medication.

Studies are still controversial on direct links and statistical significance, but researchers discovered that children taking the drug were 61% times more likely to experience a heart arrhythmia in the first two months of medication than during times when they were not using the drug.

Experts remind parents, however, that the risk of experiencing a heart issue is minute.

Growth

Ritalin can also directly impact growth, stunting it by as much as three-quarters of an inch if Ritalin is taken for a year.

In addition, it will also reduce weight. One US study found that children who were on Ritalin for three years were an inch shorter and about 4.4 pounds lighter than their peers.

Suicidal Thoughts

Mood swings, anxiety and suicidal thoughts are also potential side effects, causing the European Medicines Agency to require all patients using Ritalin to be monitored for psychiatric symptoms.

Particularly, past cases of suicide have been linked to increased dosage, sometimes at the hand of the very doctors attempting to help their patients. Anthony Cole was one such case; after his prescription was increased in 2008, the fifteen-year-old committed suicide. He had been on Ritalin for nine years.

If there is a past history of anxiety or depression, professionals warn, it is important that physicians know.

Weighty Decisions

For parents with children who have ADHD, the decision to use any medication can be difficult.

For now, most experts agree that Ritalin and other, similar medications can be beneficial for short-term uses, but parents should be wary of extended dependence.

Instead, behavioral therapy and parenting programs may be the best approach before resorting to any medication. However, success stories of children doing poorly in school until they are prescribed such medication abound.

While there are many advantages to these stimulants, the dark side should not be so lightly ignored.