subject: Addiction To Stimulants: Side Effects And Withdrawals [print this page] Ritalin is usually recommended by medical experts to cure children who are suffering from ADD and Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy. But as the drug is a stimulant, it can be abused by users. Ritalin becomes addictive when it is used for an extended period of time resulting in critical health issues.
Ritalin is a potent stimulant that induces a person's central nervous system to enhance its activity, to speed up dopamine and activate the brain stem. This medicine is usually taken orally; however, those who misuse the drug may crush it into powder so that they can snort it like cocaine or inject the medication like heroin. This drug addiction will lead to some health issues.
While there have been no studies conducted about the long-term effect of Ritalin on a person's brain when utilized safely and as prescribed by doctors, there have been studies about treatment for prescription drug abuse that works in the same way as Ritalin. Addiction to Ritalin can lead to the development of a psychological disorder like schizophrenia in the later part of an addict's life. Abusers of the medication may also go through hallucinations, nervousness and paranoia.
Ritalin abuse can cause long-term side effects such as malnutrition, heart murmurs, muscle seizures, headaches, fevers, hand-wringing and cardiac arrest. As a person's body will become dependent on the drug, it will be difficult for him to quit using it. With a long-term use of the medication, the small blood vessels of a person who injects Ritalin can be blocked. Ongoing intravenous use of the drug can expose an addict to different blood-borne diseases like hepatitis B and C.
Withdrawals from Ritalin include psychological and physiological symptoms that may be experienced by clients as they suddenly discontinue taking the medicine, following their extented use. As a person develops tolerance and dependence on the medication over time, he will need to satisfy his mental and physiological need for Ritalin or he will begin to have withdrawal symptoms. A Ritalin withdrawal is likely to cause a high degree of discomfort and distress which may motivate the addict to take the drug again to relieve the symptoms A Ritalin abuser who decides to withdraw from the drug should go through the process in a supportive setting where medical professionals monitor the procedure.
Reliable inpatient treatment programs can give proper detoxification that eases withdrawal symptoms. Drug addiction treatment clinics will also assist patients to have necessary therapy and counseling to deal with the dependency and addiction problem. Treating Ritalin addiction can be possible when the sufferer recognizes his problem.
