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Long-Term Neurological and Vascular Effects of Ritalin in Adults

Methylphenidate, or Ritalin, a popular stimulant medication used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), may have some disturbing long-term effects on the brain and vascular system. In 2001, scientists at the University of Buffalo found functional changes in the brain, similar to those seen with cocaine, that persisted long after treatment. Ritalin has been shown to increase the risk of heart attack and stroke in some patients, though it has also been shown to have some positive vascular effects for those suffering from migraine, according to the Mayo Clinic.

  1. Side Effects

    • According to "The Physicians Desk Reference," Ritalin's side effects include: nervousness, insomnia, hypersensitivity, fever, arthralgia, peeling skin, anorexia, palpitations, dizziness, angina, blood pressure and pulse changes, nausea, headache, dyskinesia and abdominal pain. Necrotizing vasculitis, the death of blood vessels, is an occasional side effect that can result in heart failure and stroke. Changes to the brain that persist after treatment are currently being studied.

    Ritalin and the Brain

    • Researchers at Harvard Medical School conducted a study on Ritalin and executive function. The findings were mixed but showed a marked improvement in coordination and in the retention of recently acquired memories in healthy volunteers of all ages. However, researchers at the University of Buffalo found long-term lasting changes in brain-cell function in studies with young rats.

    Ritalin and the Heart

    • In 2006, the "New York Times" published an article about the risk of stimulants like Ritalin on the heart. While there have been some cardiac deaths attributable to the medication, it is a statistically small number; but a lack of sufficient research on the long-term effects of such a widely-prescribed medication is cause for concern. In May 2006, Canada's health ministry warned individuals suffering from hypertension, heart disease, arteriosclerosis or hyperthyroidism against taking Ritalin and other stimulant medications.

    Positive Outcomes

    • Ritalin's efficacy has been observed since 1955 in children and adults suffering from ADHD and related conditions. In 2008, Japanese researchers reported in "The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry" that patients with "vascular depression," as often occurs after a stroke, responded well to treatment with Ritalin.

    Warnings/Precautions

    • Since 1999, there have been 51 deaths among adults and children taking drugs for ADHD. The Food and Drug Administration has put a "black box" warning on all ADHD drugs in the U.S., which is the most serious warning for controlled substances that have FDA approval.

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