Ritalin’s Effect on Preschoolers

October 2006

After numerous reports indicated preschoolers were being prescribed psychiatric drugs such as Ritalin, the government started a long-term study to document the side effects of the drugs in children. The National Institute of Mental Health now claims the study indicated that doctors “proceed with caution” when prescribing preschoolers psychiatric drugs.

The study of 165 children produced the following results:

• 40% of the children developed side effects.
• 11% dropped out because of problems concerning irritability, weight loss, insomnia, and slowed growth.
• Preschoolers grew ½ inch less and gained 2 pounds less than children their age not on the drugs.

Previous reports indicate that 8% of U.S. children have attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and 3% of them are preschoolers. Research also showed 1 in 100 preschoolers are prescribed Ritalin. Ritalin is not approved for children under age 6, but doctors can prescribe it for off-label use.

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