The Ritalin wars continue

Serotonin and the therapeutic effects of ritalin.

Gainetdinov et al. (1) reported that in dopamine transporter (DAT) knockout (KO) mice, which have elevated dopamine (DA) tone and are hyperactive, both psychostimulants and drugs that increase serotonin concentration in the brain decreased locomotor activity. They therefore suggested that the calming effects of psychostimulants in the DAT-KO mice are due to their ability to increase serotonin c...

Ritalin (methylphenidate): clinical experiences.

METHYLPHENIDATE is a white, water-soluble crystalline compound. It is a piperidine derivative which can be administered orally, subcutaneously, intramuscularly or intravenously and is marketed under the name of "Ritalin" by Ciba Pharmaceuticals. It is a behaviour-alteirmg drug which is often included in the classification of tranquillizer or ataractic compounds (9). In contradistinction to the ...

The TMD controversies continue.

A lthough we should be weary of entrenched positions on temporomandibu-lar disorders (TMD), the recent exchange of opinion papers 1,2 in the CDA Journal merits additional comment that may serve the profession. What to believe? Who to believe? It is, after all, a matter of beliefs. Belief in science and/or experience, modified by our professional education and knowledge , and by the scepticism —...

The New Wars Debate:

The statin wars.

1 The Lancet. The statin wars: why AstraZeneca must retreat. Lancet 2003; 362: 1341. 2 Uretsky BG, Thygesen K, Armstrong PW, et al. Acute coronary findings at autopsy in heart failure patients with sudden death: results from the assessment of treatment with lisinopril and survival (ATLAS) trial. Circulation 2000; 102: 611–16. 3 Krum H, McMurray JJV. Statins and chronic heart failure: do we need...