Overview of Methylphenidate Use and Abuse

Methlyphenidate, also known as Ritalin or Concerta, is a stimulant medication used to treat ADHD, depression, narcolepsy and a variety of other medical and mental health conditions.
Many people abuse the drug to boost performance, get high or lose weight.
Abuse of the drug can lead to a number of side effectssuch as anxiety, irritability, depression, shortness of breath, chest pain, high blood pressure and vomiting.
Over the long term, people who abuse the drug may experience depression, insomnia, muscle aches, body temperature fluctuations and trouble with work or school.
Methylphenidate is prescribed to about 2.4 million teenagers a year.

What Is Methlyphenidate?

Methlyphenidate, also known as Ritalin or Concerta (brand names for the drug), is a stimulant medication that is prescribed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy.

If taken according to prescription, the drug causes a gradual increase in dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays a role in movement, attention and the pleasure/reward region of the brain. It also leads to a reduction of impulsive behavior, which helps individuals with ADHD remain focused and attentive.

The misuse of methylphenidate can result in a more rapid increase of dopamine activity. It can lead to a feeling of euphoria, which can cause someone to develop an addiction.

It is important to follow your doctor’s instructions very carefullyC when taking Ritalin to avoid misuse, potential tolerance and subsequent dependence.

Street Names

Diet Coke.
Poor Man’s Cocaine.
Kiddie Coke.
Rids.

Skittles.
Smarties.
Vitamin R.
R-ball.

Recovery Options and Paying for Treatment

Methylphenidate abuse can escalate to an addiction that can take over your life. If this has happened to you or someone you love, you have several options for getting treatment and putting your life back on track.

Outpatient recovery centers enable you to live at home and visit a rehab center during the week. Types of outpatient include intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization and therapy and counseling.
Inpatient or residential recovery centers provide a more intense level of care than outpatient. You live at the rehabilitation facility for the course of your treatment and engage in group and individual therapy to work through your addiction and develop coping skills. These programs often begin with a detoxification process.
12-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous help you recover through a process of admitting your helplessness over your addiction and working through the 12-step program.

Finding the Right Program

The methylphendiate rehab program that’s the best fit for you will depend on several factors, including:

Whether you have insurance and what it will cover.
How long you want to spend in treatment.
What kind of treatment (inpatient vs. outpatient) you feel more comfortable with.
Where you want to go for rehab (stay close to home or travel).
What kind of features you want in a program.

To find out more about insurance coverage, call one of the numbers below. You can also look into ways to finance your treatment.

To find out more about rehab options your insurance will cover, call to speak with a trained treatment support representative.
To find rehab centers that cater to people without insurance, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s toll-free helpline.

How Is It Used?

A person may take several pills at once to get high. People may also misuse it to enhance energy, focus, performance and weight loss because it can suppress appetite.^{1, 2} Many high school and college students misuse it for its stimulating effects. The pills are often crushed and snorted. Some people also mix it with water and inject it directly into a vein.¹ Injecting or snorting methylphenidate greatly increases the risk of addiction. Serious health consequences such as blocked blood vessels can also occur if the powder does not completely dissolve before it is injected into the body.

Methlyphenidate Effects

If taken orally

If a single methylphenidate pill is taken, its stimulant effects will be experienced about 1 to 2 hours later. Intentional misuse—by consuming several pills at once, or altering the intended route of administration—can hasten the onset of effects.³

If immediate-release pills are consumed, the effects will persist for 4 to 6 hours, or 3 to 9 hours for sustained-release pills. Sustained release formulations are sometimes crushed by those abusing the drug to bypass the time-release safeguard.

If injected or snorted

When methylphenidate is injected or snorted, the feeling of getting high can begin within 1 to 3 minutes, although it takes about 8 to 15 minutes for peak levels to affect brain activity.⁴

Methylphenidate can cause sudden death in adults and children alike, especially those with pre-existing cardiac issues including myocardial defects, valvular disease or arrhythmias. Inform your doctor of any health conditions you have and ask about any risks associated with taking the medication.

Short-Term Effects

Methylphenidate use may cause the following short-term effects:

Euphoria.
Increased energy.

Increased focus.
Diminished appetite.

Side Effects

A methylphenidate addiction may be accompanied by the following side effects: ¹

Increased body temperature.
Vomiting.
Diarrhea.
Dehydration.
Skin abscesses.
Skin color changes in fingers or toes. ⁸
Numbing or tingling in hands or feet.
Shortness of breath.
Blurred vision.

Fainting.
High blood pressure.
A rapid or irregular heartbeat.
Chest pain.
Decreased sexual desire.
Priapism or painful, persistent erection.
Motor or verbal tics.
Anxiety.
Irritability.
Sleep disturbances.

Dizziness.
Restlessness.
Depression.
Aggression.
Memory problems.
Confusion.
Delirium.
Psychosis.
Paranoia.
Hallucinations.

Long-Term Effects

When methylphenidate is abused for extended periods, long-term effects may develop. Some of the following side effects may persist even after the drug is stopped: ^{5, 6}

Body temperature instability.
Depression.
Weight changes (e.g., excessive weight loss).
Insomnia.
Twitching.

Muscle aches.
Impaired judgment.
School or work absenteeism.
Financial troubles due to drug-seeking behavior.
Marital, familial and personal relationship problems.

How Addictive Is Methylphenidate?

Misusing methylphenidate can quickly lead to an addiction—sometimes as rapidly as 1 week after the first dose—due to the drug’s influence on the pleasure/reward system of the brain and because continued use helps stave off serious withdrawal symptoms that may develop when the drug is abruptly discontinued.⁸

In addition, individuals who are prescribed this medication may begin to use it as a substitute for cocaine or crack because it has similar effects.⁷ Snorting or injecting large doses of this drug creates a sudden burst of energy due to the rapid increase of dopamine. The feeling of quickly getting high may cause individuals to want more and more of the drug, which leads to an addiction.

People who take methylphenidate to stay awake or to boost performance also become more motivated to continue taking this drug to preserve or prolong these effects.

A history of substance abuse (e.g., alcohol) increases the risk of developing a methylphenidate addiction as well.^{1, 6}

Signs and Symptoms of Addiction

You or someone you love may be addicted to methylphenidate if you exhibit at least 2 of the following signs, symptoms or behaviors within a 12-month period:⁸

Taking more methylphenidate than intended or over a longer period of time.
Persistent failure to quit or cut down on drug use.
Spending an excessive amount of time obtaining methylphenidate, using it and recovering from it.
Strong cravings to use the drug.
Repeated use despite negative consequences at work, school or home.
Repeated use despite social and interpersonal problems worsened by methylphenidate abuse.
Abandoning pleasurable activities and hobbies for methylphenidate use.
Repeated use in physically dangerous situations such as driving or operating machinery.
Continued methylphenidate use regardless of a physical or psychological problem caused or aggravated by drug use.
Tolerance.
- Needing more of the drug to get the same desired effect.
- Experiencing fewer effects when taking the same amount of the drug.
Withdrawal.
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms specific to methylphenidate.
- Taking methylphenidate to avoid or relieve symptoms.

American Addiction Centers has helped thousands recover from addiction and we can help you or your loved one too. Check your insurance to find out instantly if your insurance provider may be able to cover all or part of the cost of rehab and associated therapies. You can also sign up 24/7 text support for addiction questions at your convenience.

Withdrawal Symptoms

According to the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition,” the withdrawal symptoms from methylphenidate include:

Dysphoria (restlessness or unease).
Fatigue.
Increased appetite.

Slow thoughts and movements.
Insomnia.
Vivid, horrible dreams. ⁸

How Many People Abuse Methylphenidate?

Approximately 1.6 million people aged 12 or older were current nonmedical users of stimulants in 2014, including methylphenidate.

The percentage of the population aged 12 or older in 2014 who were current nonmedical users of stimulants was higher
than the percentages for most years between 2005 and 2012.

Overdose Symptoms

Stimulant abuse can lead to dangerously high body temperature, blood pressure and heartbeat.^{6, 7} All of these symptoms may result in hallucinations and paranoia or even brain and heart damage.

In particular, if the heart begins to beat too fast, blood flow may be reduced, preventing it from receiving enough oxygen. In addition, the potential exists to develop sudden cardiac arrest. Additional organs in the body may become permanently damaged even if the person is resuscitated. ⁷

If you observe or experience any of the following symptoms, call 911 or visit an emergency room immediately.

Combining With Other Drugs

Combining methylphenidate with alcohol is especially dangerous because it leads to the conversion of the drug into an even more toxic substance.^{1, 6} Further, taking a stimulant with a depressant such as alcohol makes it harder for people to realize how intoxicated they are. This may cause alcohol poisoning or an accidental overdose.⁶

Teen Methylphenidate Abuse

Methylphenidate is prescribed to about 2.4 million teenagers a year. This greatly increases the chances that teens will begin to abuse and become addicted to this drug.

Most teenagers who are prescribed this drug have ADHD. But if they begin to experiment with different doses or methods of taking it (e.g., snorting, injection), it can precipitate a compulsive cycle of misuse and addiction.

Side Effects for Teens

Fever.
Headaches.
Tremors.
Muscle twitching.
Staying awake late at night.
Sudden loss of appetite and weight loss.
Impaired judgment.
Skipping class or school.

A drop in grades.
Paranoia.
Psychotic behavior.
Violent behavior.
Extreme agitation.
Hyper-sexuality.
Seizure/convulsions.
Organ damage.

Find Treatment for Addiction

To get help with methylphenidate abuse, call to speak with a treatment support specialist about recovery options.

Methlyphenidate Addiction and Recovery Facts