Ritalin is a stimulant used to treat hyperactivity in children. It's chemical name is methylphenidate. It comes in the form of Prescription tablets intended for oral use, which produce mild stimulant effects when taken as directed and at usual prescription doses.

For medicinal purposes, Ritalin is used in the treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) which is also known as Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), and in the treatment of narcolepsy, which is a sleeping disease.

Ritalin is a central nervous system stimulant, similar to amphetamines. It is believed that it works by activating the brain stem arousal system and cortex. It works on the neurotransmitter dopamine, and in that respect, resembles the stimulant characteristics of cocaine. When taken in accordance with usual prescription instructions, it would be classified as having mild to moderate stimulant properties, but when snorted or injected it has a powerful stimulant effect. It can result in serious health risks when crushed and then snorted like cocaine, or injected like heroin.

Even when taken according to the prescription directions, there is a risk of developing dependence and tolerance to it. The adverse effects include nervousness and insomnia, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, palpitatons, headaches, changes in heart rate and blood pressure, skin rashes and itching, abdominal pain, weight loss, and digestive problems, toxic psychosis, psychotic episodes, drug dependence syndrome and severe depression upon withdrawal.

High doses are even more dangerous, and as well as the above, include fevers, convulsions, and headaches (may be severe), irregular heartbeat and respirations, which may be profound and life threatening, anxiety, restlessness, paranoia, hallucinations, and delusions, excessive repetition of movements and meaningless tasks and formicaton (sensation of ants or worms crawling over the skin).

While death due to non-medical use of Ritalin is not common, it has been known to occur.

Certain "inert" ingredients added to the dose tablets. These are safe when taken by mouth however, they can cause serious problems when injected or snorted.

There are numerous reports in medical journals about permanent and irreversible lung tissue damage related to the injection of crushed Ritalin tablets. When snorted, the salts used in Ritalin tablets turn into hydrochloric acid when they come into contact with moisture. While this is not a problem in the stomach, in the nasal passages the acid can "burn" the delicate nasal tissues, resulting in open sores, nose bleeds, and possibly in deterioration of the nasal cartilage.

 

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