Drug Company Warns Parents About Abuse of Ritalin
The company that produces Ritalin, a drug commonly prescribed to treat attention-deficit disorder, has launched a national education campaign to combat abuse of the medication.
Recent news reports have highlighted abuse of Ritalin, a brand-name for the stimulant methylphenidate, by children for whom the drug has not been prescribed.
Ciba Pharmaceuticals, a division of the Tarrytown, N.Y.-based Ciba-Geigy Corp., is warning parents to read about ADD and Ritalin and alert their children to the possible symptoms of Ritalin abuse, such as anxiety, lack of appetite, and breathing difficulties.