Uso do metilfenidato por crianças, adolescentes e adultos jovens e seus fatores relacionados: uma revisão integrativa.

Abstract

Methylphenidate, better known by the trade name Ritalin®, is a Central Nervous System stimulant drug. Its mechanism of action consists of the inhibition of dopamine and noradrenaline reuptake, being used in the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Narcolepsy. Despite being a controlled use drug, which has several side effects, whose prolonged use can lead the user to dependence and which can only be acquired with a doctor's prescription, the use of this substance without a medical prescription is increasing among healthy people, with the aim of enhance cognitive improvement, especially during periods of study and high stress, leading to indiscriminate use. In this context, the present work analyzed the use of methylphenidate by children, adolescents and young adults, and its related factors through an integrative literature review. Data collection was performed in PubMed, Regional Portal of the Virtual Health Library (BVS), academic google and SCIELO (Scientific Electronic Library On-line) databases during the period from February to May 2022, to identify potential studies on the topic in the last 10 years. 23 articles were included according to the selection criteria. A significant frequency of use of methylphenidate among children was found, most of them with dubious diagnosis, and also a high rate of use of this drug among adolescents and young adults. The use of methylphenidate was indicated for the treatment of ADHD, neuroenhancement and off-label use. The average prevalence of methylphenidate use in 21 articles was 26.2%, the prevalence of recent consumption for neuroenhancement included in this review was 43.4%, the prevalence of consumption for the treatment of ADHD was 17.3% , for off-label use it was 34.7% and unspecified cases 4.3%. These results lead us to a great concern with the subject, since most studies identified that individuals use the drug without medical indication and are able to buy it in pharmacies and drugstores without a prescription, a practice that is disapproved, since methylphenidate is a substance of the group of amphetamines classified as a psychotropic drug.