Ritalin the effects on a young child with Autisim

There is a lot of misinformation about Ritalin in the media and on the Internet.

The main physical risk is weight loss and delayed growth so regular monitoring is important. If weight drops there are useful food supplements.

On a mental side, dosing needs to be careful. Your family needs to be able to identify his signs and symptoms of anxiety. If it worsens his anxiety it's not right for him. Other minor issues we've found is dry mouth and a bit of constipation managed easily by adding in a small dose of ground linseed at breakfast.

I'm from a family with two ADHDers and one ASD. Both the adult ADHDers have found the use of ritalin reduces their anxiety, rather than increasing it. Both can focus and manage a more complex range of tasks. If offered we will seriously consider using ritalin for our ASD teen, because she's got lots of features of the inattentive ADHD diagnosis.

The most important thing is to be observant of the effect of ANY treatment offered be it medication or therapy. It is about risks vs. benefits.

Medication should not be the only treatment. I've known a few ADHDers who acknowledge that they've had huge benefit from CBT that has altered their non medicated behaviour as well.

There is a lot of misinformation about Ritalin in the media and on the Internet.

The main physical risk is weight loss and delayed growth so regular monitoring is important. If weight drops there are useful food supplements.

On a mental side, dosing needs to be careful. Your family needs to be able to identify his signs and symptoms of anxiety. If it worsens his anxiety it's not right for him. Other minor issues we've found is dry mouth and a bit of constipation managed easily by adding in a small dose of ground linseed at breakfast.

I'm from a family with two ADHDers and one ASD. Both the adult ADHDers have found the use of ritalin reduces their anxiety, rather than increasing it. Both can focus and manage a more complex range of tasks. If offered we will seriously consider using ritalin for our ASD teen, because she's got lots of features of the inattentive ADHD diagnosis.

The most important thing is to be observant of the effect of ANY treatment offered be it medication or therapy. It is about risks vs. benefits.

Medication should not be the only treatment. I've known a few ADHDers who acknowledge that they've had huge benefit from CBT that has altered their non medicated behaviour as well.