What are the long term effects of taking Ritalin?

In the long term, Ritalin can cause musculoskeletal complications when misused or taken in too large of doses. Such cases can lead to muscle pain and weakness, as well as joint pain.

Can Ritalin cause nerve damage?

Investigators funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse have shown that the medication methylphenidate (Ritalin), which is commonly prescribed to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), can cause physical changes in neurons in reward regions of mouse brains—in some cases, these effects overlapped …

Does Ritalin cause memory problems?

The drug is meant to treat ADHD, and about 1.3 million U.S. teens have reportedly used the drug without a prescription in the last month. Rat studies have shown that young brains are very sensitive to methylphenidate and that even low doses can harm nerve activity in the brain as well as memory and complex learning …

Can Ritalin cause mental illness?

People who experience symptoms of psychotic or bipolar disorders while taking Ritalin should seek medical attention. Stimulant medications can cause psychotic symptoms, even in individuals without a history of mental disorders. Rarely, Ritalin can cause painful and prolonged erections in males.

Is Ritalin bad for kidneys?

Ritalin is an amphetamine and can cause high blood pressure. High blood pressure can damage kidney function. Ritalin by itself does not damage the kidney.

What does ritalin do to the brain?

Your perceived benefits of performing a demanding task are elevated, while the perceived costs are reduced. This effect is separate from any changes in actual ability. Ritalin works by increasing the amount of dopamine released in the striatum, a key region in the brain related to motivation, action and cognition.

Can Ritalin change your personality?

Due to Ritalin’s stimulant effects, when the abuse first begins and is being taken recreationally, the person may show personality changes like higher self-confidence, more talkative, and much more emotional. The changes are much more noticeable when the person was the complete opposite before taking the drug.

Can Ritalin make you delusional?

Nearly two-thirds of those prescribed stimulant medications had a psychotic side effect. These side effects included hallucinations, delusions, hearing voices, and/or perceptual disturbances, the researchers said.