RITALIN ® (METHYLPHENIDATE): CLINICAL EXPERIENCES1-2

METHYLPHENIDATE is a white, water-soluble crystalline compound. It is a piperi-dine derivative which can be administered orally, subcutaneously, intramuscularly or intravenously and is marketed under the name of "Ritalin " by Ciba Pharma-ceuticals. It is a behaviour-alteirmg drug which is often included in the classification of tranquillizer or ataractic compounds (9). In contradistinction to the tranquillizers, however, its mam pharmacologic action is stimulation of the mesencephalic reticular formations and accentuation of the arousal or alerting mechanism (8) This psychic stimulation of Ritalin has interested many investigators and it has been uthzed to counteract barbiturate depression (1), "(5), (6), (7), barbiturate (7) and non-barbiturate (3) poisoning and chlorpromazine (1), (4) and rau-wolfia (2), (4) lethargy in psychiatric patients. Gale (6) measured the effect of Ritalin on the recovery time of 272 patients who had a utdrme dilatation and curettage performed under light pentothal and nitrous oxide anaesthesia. He reported that the optimum dose appeared to b