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Side Effects of Long-Term Ritalin Use

People with attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) take Ritalin as part of their treatment. In some cases, Ritalin makes a day-and-night difference in the behavior of those who take it. These people often use Ritalin for years. The side effects of long-term Ritalin use develop quietly through those years.

  1. Size

    • If a child uses Ritalin for a long time, he probably won't be as tall as his counterparts. Though studies of the phenomenon don't address Ritalin specifically, growth suppression occurs in children when there is long-term use of stimulants. Ritalin is a stimulant.

    Time Frame

    • Research studies of the safety of Ritalin for long-term use, and you'll end up with minimal data for children. Most doctors agree that the data is thin when it comes to the study on the effect of Ritalin on children. Keeping this in mind, most professionals recommend that children under the age of 6 do not receive the medication.

    Significance

    • Beware of heart damage from long-term use of Ritalin. There were 186 deaths in children between 1990 and 2000 from the long-term use of Ritalin. Often, the heart beats more frequently because the arteries and veins constrict from the constant use of the amphetamine (Ritalin), and this leads to heart failure at an early age. Not until they perform an autopsy do doctors find that the child has an enlarged heart. See the Resources area for one parent's story about a child's death.

    Effects

    • Worry about drug addiction if you use Ritalin over a long period. Ritalin (methylphenidate) is a drug that is listed by the DEA, right along with cocaine. It's one of the 10 most abused prescription drugs. A survey by the DEA showed that, of all of the adolescents researchers found in rehab centers, between 30 and 50 percent were there due to Ritalin abuse (either injected or snorted). Over 5 million children presently take Ritalin, and the number continues to grow. This means that 1 out of 8 children takes the drug or something similar. Since 1991, the use of Ritalin has quintupled; so has emergency-room treatment for children between the ages of 10 and 17 that is tied to Ritalin abuse.

    Warning

    • Increases in dosage are characteristic of people taking Ritalin. Depression and irritability normally occur when short-acting methylphenidate wears off; most doctors suggest that you space the doses closer together. This often masks symptoms of depression, which manifest themselves dramatically (and include the withdrawal depression that hits when the medication is no longer used.) The results of depression sometimes lead to a disastrous end.

    Considerations

    • Check your blood pressure frequently if you take Ritalin. While most people don't show an increase in blood pressure, it is one possible side effect of the drug when used long-term. In some cases, Ritalin can increase blood pressure significantly. There are also some cases in which only small rises occur. Considering that this phenomenon varies so widely, have your blood pressure checked regularly.

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