Transcript of “Rita, a Stimulating Gal”
Music
Methylphenidate is a stimulant that’s used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy.
And it was first synthesized in the 1940s by an Italian chemist named Leandro Panizzone.
And like many researchers of his era, he first tried the drug on himself.
But he didn’t notice much of an effect, so he offered some to his wife Marguerite, or Rita for short.
And she tried some of this drug before playing a game of tennis, and sure enough, Rita, who had low blood pressure, found herself running faster and swinging harder and hitting the ball with better focus.
And because she was so pleased with this drug’s effect, her husband named the drug in her honor, which is why today methylphenidate is more commonly called Ritalin.
How about that?
How about that?
Margarita.
It’s not called Margarita.
No.
No, well, that’s a different drug, different effect.
Oh, that’s very interesting.
Yeah.
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