It is a stimulant. Methylphenidate affects the way a patient s brain responds to impulses. The purpose is to help the brain be more selective in the way it filters and responds to various stimuli. A person with ADHD feels like they are bombarded with stimuli and are unable to filter them and deal with them one by one. The responses to all of these impulses are impulsive and reflexive and beyond the patient s control.
Boys are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls are.
Ritalin helps enable the patient to focus on one thing at a time. Instead of being overwhelmed by everything happening at once. The person is enabled to filter out the distractions and focus on whatever task they have undertaken. The short-term effects of Ritalin are increased attentiveness and energy, a feeling of well being, faster heartbeat and breathing, high blood pressure, perspiration, dilated pupils and dry mouth. The user may be more talkative, restless and excited.