So how dangerous is Ritalin / Methylphenidate?

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First of all, I don't have ADHD/ADD or anything similar. I'm diagnosed with AS and suffered from chronic depression. I tried loads of different AD's and neuroleptics in the past without any success at all. Things like Efexor, Escitalopram (Lexapro, Cipralex, Sipralexa), Risperdal, Zyprexa,... come to mind.

Anyways, after being off meds for a while, since they never worked for me, I was prescribed Tramadol to threat the pain caused by kidney stones. (Hurts a lot, believe me! ) I noticed that Tramadol made me feel really good, unlike anything I tried in the past. It was the first time in years I didn't feel depressed, like a new world opened up. After the treatment for kidney stones was completed I continued using the remaining Tramadol I had left. The only downside to it was the fact that it caused nausea, but to be honest, I was desperate and gladly replaced my depressing feeling with this.

When I told my doctor about it he thought it was likely Ritalin could help me and that it usually doesn't cause nausea like Tramadol. I have to say, the six months I have been taking it were great. I haven't had the slightest feeling of depression since I started using Ritalin. The best way to describe what it does for me is probably some sort of 'robot like' feeling. I stop worrying about the things that bothered me while depressed. When there is a task to be done I focus on the work itself, the emotions that used to go together with it are gone and I really like this a lot. It also boosts my self confidence which is very nice when going outside and meeting other people. It makes my life great and worth living.

I have been taking 18mg Concerta + 10mg Ritalin twice a day for about six months now. Recently I started to notice side effects like increased heart rate, 100-110 isn't uncommon in rest. Also, heart rhythm abnormalities, once in a while my heart seems to skip a beat when I'm on Ritalin. Sometimes when trying to fall asleep it feels like I'm falling into a 'black hole', like I'm losing consciousness. The last thing really scares me because I think I might suffer from heart failure and die if I keep up with it.

I tried looking for more information on Google but everyone seems to say something different about it. I don't know what or who to believe. Was there any scientific, unbiased research done about the long term effects? Anyone with similar experiences?

That stuff can kill you. Thats why I will never take that stuff.
Edit:And I am talking about the Ritalin.

Well, if "that stuff will kill you" -- a lot of people would be dead right now, because a lot of people are on Ritalin. That's an overstatement, to say the least.

You probably have noticed in your research that there is some kind of factor in Ritalin that can cause a racing heart. I would imagine (although I don't know for sure) that Ritalin would be problematic if you have any heart conditions, in that it might exacerbate these conditions. You should ask your doctor about this -- have your heart tested just to relieve your mind about things. It never hurts to be sure about these things.

My son has tried Ritalin, Metadate, Concerta, Strattera, Adderall. One of these (can't remember which) seemed to make his heart race, so we stopped that med. He is currently on Metadate, which doesn't seem to do this to him.

Just talk with your doctor and get checked out. It would be worth the time to have yourself checked out so that you can rest easy about the issue.

I know Ritalin and other stimulants have helped a lot of people, so don't take this to mean that I think Ritalin is evil. I'm just saying that my experience on Ritalin was really bad.

I was diagnosed with ADD, but that was back in the day when EVERYONE was getting diagnosed with ADD and going straight to Ritalin. I don't believe that I have ADD, so Ritalin was probably the WRONG choice of medication for me (I currently don't take any meds).

At first, it was amazing. For a long time I felt like I was walking through a fog, and for the first time I felt like all the cobwebs had been cleared out of my head. What eventually happened after about two years is I built a tolerance for it and I ended up feeling worse than I did before I started. My Doc upped my dosage a couple of times, which made things only temporarily better--and then only a slight difference. I was MUCH more depressed. I just felt angry all the time. And then I got to a point where all I wanted to do was hurt people.

I know exactly what you mean by that "robot" feeling because that's how I felt every time I took a hit. Like I said, it was great for several weeks. But after the good feelings wore off, I didn't feel like "me" anymore. The things I tend to focus on didn't come quite as easy. I'm a composer, so sitting down at the piano and improvising or composing became impossible. It totally killed the creative side of me.

So I haven't taken Ritalin since I sneaked some from a friend when I was in college. I don't remember why I took it then, but I remember that I was really disappointed!

I haven't taken prescription stimulants since. I made it through grad school with no drugs at all (although the occasional bottle of Jack Daniel's helped on those weekend "study" sessions *wink*).

Now that I'm teaching piano and working with small children, I've had to learn how to work with little people with small attention spans. For the most part I take it very easy and relaxed. But if I have a child who is a little more scattered, I'll drink copious amounts of coffee to be sure I don't cut those kids any slack. I also find that "5-hour Energy" shots help, which are really nothing more than a cup of coffee and vitamin B. I still supplement with coffee and crash whenever I finally get off work. Work for me is teaching off and on throughout the day, composing in the breaks, teaching adults in the evenings, going to band rehearsals, church choir rehearsals, playing gigs when I get them, and counting my blessings when I actually do get to see my family. A caffeine crash is no fun. But I feel a lot better than I did tolerating Ritalin and crashing off that!

Concerta=Ritalin

Both contain Methylphenidate as the active ingredient. They both have extended release versions.

The long term effects are unknown. it may help but not always. All independent reviews have shown that their is no long term benefits, and they wear off. How long it takes to wear off depend on the person.

In the short term, it might have an abrupt and major improvement to moderate improvement.

My son takes Focalin, which i believe derived from Ritalin, with no side effects. Of course, everyone is different. It does say that it shouldn't be taken if you have a heart condition and a test should be performed before taken. Since my son is pretty healthy, he has not had any side effects. I just dread the day when we get to the max mg and have to switch to something else. I don't really trust them, but he has done well on them. It doesn't make him feel weird in any way and has helped show that he does know his subjects in class.

IDK where I saw 4 million.Maybe it was something else?

http://www.ritalindeath.com/Ritalin-Death.htm

This is my opinion with personal reasons. If you are only ADD or ADHD, I cant guarantee any accuracy but Aspies might wanna consider what i have to say.

First il offer my whys short and sweet for the info needers.... then il move on to my emo crap.

Adderall to me is less socially awkward when taken normally. ADDERALL HAS LITTLE EFFECT OB MY APPETITE while likely curbing it just enough to where I no longer abuse my heart by taking advantage of my luxurious metabolism. To most, adderall sabotages your appetite the worst... Im an anomaly. It was ritalin that dried my throat so badly I couldnt even manage one cracker if my life depended on it. And it seems it always kicked in right as mom and dad pulled into the diner. I wonder if that was planned. I guess I was being nave. I have AS, though so It may be just me, but Adderall has less impact on my mood and seems to stabilize and rationalize rather than make me cranky depressed, alternating with worrried. Bad news with adderall is if you screw up and abuse it (please dont), it will LINGER in you longer than the cranberries. Im talking long time china time. You can kiss your next 2 days of sleep goodbye and enjoy heart arrhythmias while your at it just hope nothing goes wrong til then but the good news is if you look at the numbers of HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE DIED.... Caffeine is more dangerous to OD on and I kid you not. theres some what 50 people in the USA the past 20 YEARS? I bet more people choked on black licorice in the USA since 1989 than that. Yea Adderall, I prefer the initial levoamphetamine therapy it ignites, the dex is preferred by most. but I find the pure dexedrine would make me too paranoid, I say this because if I do ever get anxiety, its during the later stages of my last adderall dose when its been 4 or 5 hours since i took it. while the initial kick in is relaxing. Id think if you had any sleep apnea by chance where you wake up in the morning or falling asleep unable to breath for a hot minute now and then, Id steer you towards adderall.

Ritalin to me is the proverbial permanent duct tape around your mouth. When I had to take it, and I did, or theyd come and find me... I would shut me up and I I couldnt make any friends from 1991 til 2000. LONG TIME? yeah. Thank god Im compassionate, wise an loving or i coulda been some angry weirdo. Well im already a weirdo im just not angry anymore I see from a high perspective of "****" happens. Ritalin was more vasoconstrictive and if you're taking that for long time china time, its gonna put some strain on your heart and in my opinion, more than amphetamines (adderall) would. As a Kid, Ritalin amplified my almost nightly undiagnosed sleep apnea because it would raise you so high by day but clear with a quickness out of your system so i sank into sleep TOO good. Central Sleep Apnea. But theres a LOT of people who swear by ritalin, some people are just too sensitive to amphetamines. To my for some reason, my body can hardly tell the difference between an adderall, and a good n plenty.


Note to parents and children from me to you with my story: I am an aspergers man aged 25. diagnosed not until I was 15 in 2000. Prior to that I spend ten years on TOO MUCH ritalin and the school system and doctors just wanted to shut me the heck up so they always bumped it up. I remember happiness before they crammed it down my throat in doses of some 20mg per day when i was 5, all the way to 70mg per day when i was 14 and it was extremely vasoconstrictive and my hands and feet were always cold. It made me not hyper, but it took away my ability to socialize PERIOD. When i was really little before age 6, I know there isnt much to remember but what I do remember was popularity and being loved by everyone well those days came to an abrupt hault once the adults had their way with me. I dont blame anyone in person, not my mom nor my dad nor the school board... As anything in life its more complex than that. But I will have my say. Im gettin to be a celebrity and I will advice with kindness... World... Please dont give your children those pills UNTIL THEYRE OLD ENOUGH TO TELL YOU IF IT MAKES THEM FEEL BAD. Talk to your kids every day and ask them if there was anything that annoyed or bothered them, familiarize yourself with all the side effects possible and take notice of any social behavor changes AKA did his or her peers stop coming over? It could be a red flag. I was on it from such a young age that even as i grew i was so accustomed to the routine i never put 2 and 2 together.. Besides it was the 90s. There was no luxurious fat full of info internet nor was there any social saavy. We just had mom dad, jesus and those yellow pills. Hey at least I had a good loving home. SO HAD I NOT had Asperger's the ritalin may have gone over better with my social development... Id say at 25 im still 4 years or so behind but im almost there now. But my early days when I first broke free of the chains AKA my late teens up to even a few years ago... were really hard and painful. ANYWAY im 25 today, its been an interesting decade and I take Adderall as directed by my doctor. For me personally this stuff hits all the notes of my voids in just the right spot. Smooth, only side effect and downside is the stuff lingers in your system forever and this can proove to keep me up. When I began adderall I quit coffee and cigaretts BY DEFAULT. you may get paranoia and insomnia but watch out of they offer benzos to correct it. They might not go into detail about it but benzos can hurt you badly if you suddenly stop taking them. I learned REAL early in the game to respect those. OR you can evade that alltogether and opt for benadryl to calm in the evening...

So Ritalin I believe is higher risk for HARMING A CHILD.
Many people say the amphetamines are everybit as constricting as methylphenidate but w adderall my feet stay toasty warm even during peak plasma concentration after my dose. Ritalin? better stock up on those little ski glove warmer pads to attach to your feet. I love those ski glove warmer pads. Helped me cheat through a drug test to gain employment at Home Depot 6 years ago. I Wasnt going to let mary jane get in my way. And she didnt! Dont leave the sports outlet without them.

Safer than Tylenol. But not absolutely safe, and doesn't work for everyone who takes it.

It's a great deal safer than most psych medications, including the common antidepressants and antipsychotics.

If you take Ritalin, you are increasing your risk of death so slightly that you are still several times more likely to be struck by lightning, or killed by a shark. You are about equally likely to die by spontaneous human combustion.

That's how low the risks are. They're risks most can live with, if Ritalin works for them, in exchange for a life in which they accomplish at least some of what they set out to do.

I had had troubles ever since I was a child. I now know that it was most likely AS, but I had never heard of AS. My parents are pretty much staunchly against psychotropic medication...and the mental health care industry and the pharmaceutical industry and conventional medicine in general.
School authorities thought there was something wrong with me, but nobody could place what it was...(ADD unheard of in my school system in the 80's)...I had never heard of ADD till I found out about it on my own as a teenager.


I tried to seek treatment for what I thought was my lifelong ADD when I was in my late 20's.
I had health insurance for the first time in my life, so I wanted to finally address the phantom that had caused me so much anguish and frustration for my entire life.


I like Adderall...it helps me concentrate. I don't miss any sleep. I have not noticed it making me more social...but it makes certain things seem a lot less frustrating. It does not make my life perfect, but it helps me manage a little bit better. I take very small doses of the regular..not the XR.

Around 2006 or so, I was prescribed 30mg of the XR and it pretty much drove me crazy..

Before that, I was prescribed a small dose of Ritalin and it made me sleepy and irritable...So, on the coaxing of my nurse-friend who helped me talk to the doctor, I was switched to 30 mg of Adderall XR...and at first it seemed really great...but eventually I sorta "lost" it....arguably, I had been my wits end before the ADD meds...I was...and the meds sorta clarified/solidified the things that I thought were the root of so much anguish...so I ended up running away from home, and my partner and my health insurance and the meds...and wound up my addlepated adult-child self....15 year-old in in the body of a 30-year-old attempting to live in another state..where I couldn't make friends, couldn't find a job....I wonder if it is right for me to at least partially blame the Adderall for ending up there..



I am sorry to ramble, and i have spent a very long time writing this post..so I will leave it at that.

When my son needed to go on medication to help deal with his mood disorder symptoms, the doctor recommended this book. It's focused on kids, but it's really excellent, and would be a good source of information. Straight Talk about Psychiatric Medication for Kids, by Timothy Wilens, M.D.

I have no experience with Ritalin, but it's got a lot of unwarranted bad press. If a medication doesn't work, or has bad side effects, then use something else. When people come on the internet and say, "There was nothing wrong with my child, until the doctor prescribed huge quantities of Ritalin, and now my kid is a zombie...." well, it's their own fault for not communicating with the doctor properly and figuring out that maybe the dosage is too high, or it's not a good medication for that particular kid. According to my edition of the book, Ritalin is relatively safe, when used correctly and responsibly. Any medication will be dangerous in certain circumstances.

I have to take adderall.

I have heard bad things about Ritalin

Ritalin simply does not work for everyone who tries it. Others have found other stimulants like caffeine or Dexedrine or Adderall, for them, work better than Ritalin. In some cases, meds simply don't work for users and the right choice is to be med-free. That's my understanding.

None of the meds are cures at all. At best, the right med can temporarily reduce symptoms for a number of hours.

Ritalin strongly increased my blood pressure and gave me an irregular cardiac rythm. i never realised untill i stopped using it; i feel a lot healthier now; i wont touch that stuff again.

the increased sensory issues it gave me were a reason to pause using it, and the aforementioned health benefits prompted me to not start again.

and yes, it can indeed kill, it has 'sudden death' printed right on the possible side-effects