Novartis to Stop Designating “Ritalin” As Antidepressant

Tokyo, Sept. 21 (Jiji Press)–Novartis Pharma K.K. will drop the antidepressant efficacy of its “Ritalin” psychotropic agent due to the spread of its abuse, it was learned Friday.

Improper use of Ritalin is now recognized as a social problem and there are other antidepressant drugs in the market that are more effective, explained a spokesman of the Tokyo-based drug maker.

After obtaining agreement from the health ministry as well as from mental disease-related academies, the company will file an application with the ministry for the removal of the antidepressant efficacy of Ritalin, whose generic name is methylphenidate hydrochloride.

Once the ministry accepts the deletion, Ritalin, released in 1958, will officially be effective only for treating narcolepsy, a kind of sleeping disorder, and its prescription for depressed patients will not be covered by public health insurance.

Ritalin, which affects the central nerve system, has a strong potential for addiction. As excessive doses of Ritalin cause euphoria, delirium and loss of appetite, its abuse mainly by young people has become a problem.

According to Novartis, sales of Ritalin in Japan came to around 33.7 million tablets in 2006, about 1.2 times the sales in 2002. It is sold across the world, but its antidepressant efficacy is approved only in Japan.END

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