Does Milk Affect Ritalin?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, can be characterized by learning disabilities, depression and obsessive-compulsive behavior as well as difficulty concentrating and hyperactivity. For about 70 percent of children diagnosed with ADHD, doctors prescribe methylphenidate, more commonly known by the brand name Ritalin. While researchers don't yet know exactly how milk interacts with Ritalin, people who can't digest milk sugar are not good candidates for the drug.

ADHD

ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed childhood behavioral problem in the United States and has been since the 1970s. Since the 1990s, Ritalin prescriptions have increased significantly, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest. In many cases, children take the pills with food or milk without apparent ill effect. Because many drugs may be transmitted through breast milk, nursing mothers on Ritalin need to follow doctor's orders to ensure that their child is safe from absorbing Ritalin. Since the 1970s, Dr. Benjamin Feingold of the Feingold Association of the United States has advocated a change in diet and removal of food dyes, preservatives and food allergens to promote better behaviors and health and preclude the use of drugs like Ritalin.

Ritalin

Ritalin is a powerful narcotic drug and central nervous system stimulant that is contraindicated if you have glucose-galactose malabsorption, a genetic inability to digest glucose, lactose or other compounds from carbohydrates. Glucose and galactose are the simple sugars that make up lactose, the sugar in milk. Novartis, the producer of Ritalin and Ritalin LA, notes that a high-fat breakfast can produce a lag time in the efficacy of the drug for adults. Ritalin can cause seizures, uneven heartbeats, nausea and skin rashes; an overdose may be fatal. As with any narcotic, this pill may be habit-forming.

Dietary Alternatives

According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, some children diagnosed with ADHD in actuality have food allergies and are reacting to preservatives, dyes and other additives to their foods. In these cases, milk and other foods are causing gastric distress and triggering behavioral issues, the center suggests. Try to discover if milk is affecting your child’s behavior by eliminating it from the diet and recording what occurs.

Further Study Needed

Feingold finds that testing for food tolerances is preferable to resorting to a narcotic for a child. More study needs to be done to pinpoint the effect that milk has on Ritalin use and if those who are lactose intolerant have the same contraindications as those with glucose-galactose malabsorption. Not all behavioral problems are caused by ADHD or require Ritalin. Work with your doctor to eliminate other potential causes of hyperactivity, such as allergies, food sensitivities and sleep disorders, before putting your child on a strong narcotic medication.