Summary and Conclusions
In our experience, Ritalin is effective m antagonizing the actions of barbiturates. The action does not appear to be a specific antagonism but rather an independent central nervous system stimulation which raises the level of alertness or wakefulness. In moderate doses it has little effect on the blood pressure, pulse, and respirations. In larger doses, it would appear to increase the blood pressure without affecting the pulse and respirations. In our one case of severe depression from barbiturate poisoning, it rapidly returned all three to normal.
The high incidence of euphoria, restlessness, mental agitation, and headache following its administration in moderate doses would seem to preclude its routine use for hastening recovery from barbiturate anaesthesia. However, in instances of severe depression from such drugs, Ritalin therapy appears to be safe and effective and its side-reactions become minor considerations.
Résumé
La Ritaline est efficace pour lutter contre ľaction des barbituriques. Ľaction ne semble pas consister en un antagonisme spécifique mais en une stimulation mdépendante du système nerveux central qui élève le niveau de la vigilance et du réveil. A doses réduites, elle a peu ďeffets sur la tension artérielle, le pouls et la respiration. A doses plus considérables, il semblerait qu’elle augmente la tension artérielle sans changer le pouls ni la respiration. Dans un cas de dépression grave par empoisonnement barbiturique, elle a ramené rapidement les trois à la normale.
Ľobservation fréquente ďeuphorie, ďagitation physique et mentale, de céphalée à la suite de son administration à doses réduites, plaiderait contre son usage routinier pour accélérer le réveil après ľanesthésie aux barbituriques. Toutefois, dans les cas de dépression grave par ces médicaments, le traitement à la Ritaline nous semble efficace, de toute sécurité, et ses effets secondaires deviennent négligeables.
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An abridgment of this paper was presented by the first author at the Canadian Anaesthetists’ Society Annual Meeting, Montebello, Quebec, June, 1958.
The Ritalin used in this series was kindly supplied by Ciba Pharmaceutical, Montreal.
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Percheson, P.B., Carroll, J.J. & Screech, G. Ritalin® (methylphenidate): clinical experiences. Canad. Anaesth. Soc. J. 6, 277–282 (1959). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03014251
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03014251