As a pediatrician who treats a lot more ADD than I want to, I would urge mom
to get a second opinion.  Ritalin is a tool to help manage attention span.
For children who must stay in school and learn and behave, it is a fast/easy
way to keep them on track.  For adults (as well as all children) with ADD,
the mainstay of therapy should be managing attentional problems by choosing
a suitable career, modifying behavior patterns, and counseling.  I would
only use Ritalin in adults who were at risk of criminal problems, traffic
accidents, or unable to hold a job.  Anyone diagnosed with ADD should have
full psychometric (extensive IQ type test) testing, psychology/psychiatric
exam, and medical exam before diagnosis.  This goes double for adults.
There are far to many "Ritalin mills" out there who quickly diagnose people
based solely on the DSM-IV criteria and a questionaire.  Has this mother
been evaluated for post-partum depression or other psychiatric illness? So I
urge a second opinion, or at least a thorough soul-searching of what this
diagnosis and treatment is supposed to accomplish.

Ritalin is purely an amphetamine.  I am unsure of its excretion in human
milk, but I would not suggest it to a breastfeeding mother on principle.


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dianne Kemp [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Thursday, December 17, 1998 10:35 AM
> Subject: Ritalin
>
>
> Have we talked about Ritalin before?
> I have a 27 year old mom with a 3 month old (14 lb.) esclusively breastfed
> son.  Mom was just diagnosed with ADD and physician wants to put her
> on Ritalin.  Told her she has to wait until she stops BF ("but you should
> hurry because you will feel MUCH better when you get on the Ritalin").
> Thanks for any help
> Dianne Kemp
> Port Huron. Michigan
> PS  I looked Ritalin up in Tom's book but the physician is asking for more
> documentation!
>