Ritalin, Adderall and Focus Factor
 Ritalin: America's most popular prescription treatment for ADD/ADHD
Ritalin is a brand name of the drug most commonly prescribed to
treat ADD/ADHD. Ritalin's active ingredient is Methylphenidate (MPH),
which is a powerful prescription stimulant similar to amphetamine. MPH
is sold under several other brand names, but "Ritalin" has become the
name it's most commonly called.
Brand-name Ritalin is mainly produced in the United States. Generic
MPH - copies of Ritalin - is produced in many countries. But it's in
the United States that Ritalin and other forms of MPH are most commonly
prescribed. In European and other countries, Ritalin is not prescribed
nearly as often.
A great deal of controversy has arisen over Ritalin: the entire
concept of giving amphetamine-like stimulants to children seems
perverse to many, and was bound to raise eyebrows. Adding to the
Ritalin controversy is the fact that scientists aren't even sure
exactly how it works. Why a stimulant should have a calming effect on
children suffering from ADD/ADHD is largely a mystery.
Adderall: the main prescription competition to Ritalin
Adderall is a mixture of amphetamines, used to treat ADD/ADHD and
other conditions. Adderall's main claimed benefit is that by combining
a mixture of "salts" (amphetamines), its effects are smoother or softer
than those of Ritalin. There is little clinical evidence to support
this claimed benefit, however.
Adderall is only available by prescription - which is not
surprising, since the potential for abuse with any amphetamine is high.
As with the case of Ritalin, it is not fully understood how Adderall
- a powerful stimulant - can successfully treat ADD/ADHD. Also like
Ritalin, there is considerable controversy regarding the prescribing of
powerful stimulants to children.
As mentioned above, the prescribing of stimulants to children - in
the forms of Ritalin, Adderall and similar drugs - is largely an
American phenomenon.
Focus Factor: an aggressively marketed multivitamin
Focus Factor is a mixture of vitamins, Omega 3 fish oils and other
common compounds. The marketers of Focus Factor make some very
impressive claims, but an internet search turns up a long series of
customer complaints, mainly regarding their marketing practices
(promising free bottles, then repeatedly charging credit cards for
"reorders".)
From an examination of the ingredients in Focus Factor, it does not
appear there is any danger in taking this supplement. But whether it
actually improves brain function and memory is doubtful. It's little
more than an expensive multivitamin.
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