Martin Johnston writes in the New Zealand Herald about changing guidelines for the use of Ritalin (and other copies of the drug), which will see its discontinued use amongst ADHD-diagnosed people who suffer from circulatory or a range of psychiatric conditions.
Patients taking the drug will also need to have their blood pressure checked every 6 months.
The move comes amid mounting ocncerns in Europe over the side effects of the drug and its active component, methylphenidate.
An excerpt: (read in full here)
“The ministry’s Medsafe unit yesterday advised all doctors and other medicine prescribers that the approved uses of methylphenidate will shortly be changed in line with changes in Europe to specifically not use any version of the drug in people with:
“*Circulatory disorders of the heart or brain,
“or
“*Any of a range of psychiatric disorders, including anorexia, psychotic symptoms and severe depression.”