From: James Rogers (jamesr@best.com)
Date: Wed Dec 08 1999 - 19:27:47 MST
> Harvey Newstrom wrote:
>
>I don't understand why this list is full of "hypotheses" that are propagated
>without the most basic fact checking. Why not just look up the composition
>of Ritalin to see if its identity is identical to amphetamine?
Ritalin is not amphetamine, and I don't think anyone was asking if it was.
However, Ritalin *is* an amphetamine-like drug and is in the same small
class of drugs as amphetamines. It shares all the effects and
side-effects of amphetamines, which incidentally were also used to treat
ADD-like symptoms several years back. Problems with amphetamines, such as
addiction, weight-loss, psychotic episodes, etc. are also known
side-effects of Ritalin and are fully documented by the manufacturer and
FDA.
While some of the more severe side-effects (such as psychotic
episodes and violent behavior) only affect a small percentage of people on
the drug, the shear number of boys on it these days is going to create a
large pool of boys in absolute numbers who will experience these
side-effects.
-James Rogers
jamesr@best.com
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