The long term side effects of ritalin arent known? What planet is this guy from? I would say country but I know that one. Ritalin has been in use for at least 40 years I believe if not longer. We know the long term side effects.
That doesn't seem to be correct, Janet. Typing in "long-term effects of Ritalin unknown" into google came up with many sites. Wikipedia, presumably reasonably neutral, has the following to say:
[h=3]Long-term effects[/h] The effects of long-term methylphenidate treatment on the developing brains of children with ADHD is the subject of study and debate.[SUP]
[57][/SUP][SUP]
[58][/SUP] Although the safety profile of short-term methylphenidate therapy in clinical trials has been well established, repeated use of psychostimulants such as methylphenidate is less clear. There are no well defined withdrawal schedules for discontinuing long-term use of stimulants.[SUP]
[59][/SUP] There is limited data that suggests there are benefits to long-term treatment in correctly diagnosed children with ADHD, with overall modest risks.[SUP]
[60][/SUP] Short-term clinical trials lasting a few weeks show an incidence of psychosis of about 0.1%.[SUP]
[61][/SUP] A small study of just under 100 children that assessed long-term outcome of stimulant use found that 6% of children became psychotic after months or years of stimulant therapy. Typically, psychosis would abate soon after stopping stimulant therapy. As the study size was small, larger studies have been recommended.[SUP]
[62][/SUP] The long-term effects on mental health disorders in later life of chronic use of methylphenidate is unknown.[SUP]
[63][/SUP] Concerns have been raised that long-term therapy might cause
drug dependence,
paranoia,
schizophrenia and behavioral sensitisation, similar to other stimulants.[SUP]
[64][/SUP] Psychotic symptoms from methylphenidate can include
hearing voices,
visual hallucinations, urges to harm oneself, severe
anxiety,
euphoria,
grandiosity,
paranoid delusions,
confusion, increased
aggression and
irritability.
Methylphenidate psychosis is unpredictable in whom it will occur. Family history of mental illness does not predict the incidence of stimulant toxicosis in children with ADHD. High rates of childhood stimulant use is found in patients with a diagnosis of
schizophrenia and
bipolar disorder independent of ADHD. Individuals with a diagnosis of bipolar or schizophrenia who were prescribed stimulants during childhood typically have a significantly earlier onset of the psychotic disorder and suffer a more severe clinical course of psychotic disorder.[SUP]
[65][/SUP][SUP]
[66][/SUP][SUP]
[67][/SUP] Knowledge of the effects of chronic use of methylphenidate is poorly understood with regard to persisting behavioral and neuroadaptational effects.[SUP]
[68][/SUP]
Tolerance and behavioural sensitisation may occur with long-term use of methylphenidate.[SUP]
[69][/SUP] There is also
cross tolerance with other
stimulants such as
amphetamines and
cocaine.[SUP]
[70][/SUP] Stimulant
withdrawal or
rebound reactions can occur and should be minimised in intensity, e.g. via a gradual tapering off of medication over a period of weeks or months.[SUP]
[71][/SUP][SUP]
[72][/SUP][SUP]
[73][/SUP] A very small study of abrupt withdrawal of stimulants did suggest that withdrawal reactions are not typical. Nonetheless, withdrawal reactions may still occur in susceptible individuals.[SUP]
[74][/SUP] The
withdrawal or
rebound symptoms of methylphenidate can include
psychosis,
depression,
irritability and a temporary worsening of the original ADHD symptoms. Methylphenidate, due to its very short
elimination half life, may be more prone to
rebound effects than
d-amphetamine.[SUP]
[17][/SUP][SUP]
[75][/SUP][SUP]
[76][/SUP] Up to a third of children with ADHD experience a
rebound effect when methylphenidate dose wears off.[SUP]
[77][/SUP]