If you give methylphenidate (kids, ADHD, period, morning)

[TKramar]

to a hyperactive person, what is the effect?

And does it differ from the effect a non-hyperactive person would get?

This is a rhetorical question--I'm just wondering how kids could be misdiagnosed for hyperactivity over a long period of time.

[photobuff42]

It should calm a hyperactive person and have no effect on a nonhyperactive person. That's what I've always been told.

[JustJulia]

Methylphenidate is the generic name for Ritalin. It's an "upper," hence the parts of the word "meth" and "phen."

This drug wakes up the part of the ADHD brain that feels foggy and distracted, similar to how millions of people rely on coffee in the morning to "clear their heads."

Non-hyperactive people will react to methylphenidate like they will speed or any type of upper: energetic, racy, jumpy, jittery, etc. This is why Ritalin is a Schedule 2 controlled substance in the U.S.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylphenidate