ADHD Drug Ritalin—Side Effects
The risks of these drugs are provided so the public can make informed, educated decisions. Ritalin is a stimulant drug, classified by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration as Schedule II, in the same class of highly addictive drugs as morphine, opium and cocaine. Ritalin is also known as Concerta, Concerta LP, Concerta Oros, Daytrana, Equasym, Equasym XL, Metadate, Metadate CD, Metadate ER, Methylin, Methylin ER, Methylphenidate, Ritalin LA, Ritalin SR.
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- Abnormal behavior
- Agitation
- Anxiety
- Blood pressure changes
- Brain hemorrhage
- Convulsions
- Death
- Depression
- Disturbed sleep
- Drug addiction/abuse
- Hallucinations
- Heart attack
- Heart problems
- Hostility
- Insomnia
- Mania/psychosis
- Stroke
- Suicidal thoughts
- Violence
- Weight changes
- Abnormal heart rate/rhythm
- Blood pressure changes
- Death
- Delinquency risk
- Drug abuse/addiction
- Emotional outbursts
- Hallucinations
- Heart problems
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Mania/psychosis
- Low academic performance
- Stunted growth
- Sudden death
- Suicide risk
- Violence
- Weight changes
Documented Side Effects of Ritalin (methylphenidate):
Source: Physicians Desk Reference and/or National Institutes of Health’s Medline Plus
Agitation/hostility
Blood pressure changes
Changes in vision or blurred vision
Depression
Hallucinations
Hives
Hypersensitivity
Insomnia
Involuntary tics/twitching
Irregular heartbeat
Loss of appetite
Mood changes
Muscle tightness
Nausea
Nervousness
Numbness
Restlessness
Seizures
Sexual dysfunction
Slow/difficult speech
Stomach pain
Uncontrollable movement of a body part
Weight loss
Adverse Reaction Reports Filed with the US FDA: There have been 7,208 adverse reactions reported to the US FDA in connection with Ritalin (methylphenidate).
The FDA estimates that less than 1% of all serious events are ever reported to it, so the actual number of side effects occurring are most certainly higher.
These include:
- 446 cases of suicidal ideation/behavior (completed suicides, suicide attempts and suicidal ideation)
- 296 cases of aggression
- 254 cases of insomnia
- 244 cases of depression
- 243 cases of abnormal behavior
- 203 cases of anxiety
- 183 cases of tics
- 167 cases of weight decreased
- 164 cases of hallucinations
- 150 cases of convulsion
- 147 cases of rapid heartbeat
- 128 cases of psychotic disorder/psychosis
- 101 cases of death/sudden death
- 68 cases of self-harm (self-injurious ideation/behavior)
- 59 cases of mania
- 58 cases of withdrawal symptoms
- 27 cases of homicide/homicidal ideation
- 12 cases of physical assault
- 10 cases of hostility
For more details, including numbers of side effects reported, click here >>
Ritalin Drug Warnings:
There have been 15 drug regulatory agency warnings from eight countries (United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Japan and Singapore). These include the following (note that some warnings cite more than one side effect, so the list below may not be equal to the total number of warnings):
9 warnings on Ritalin causing heart problems
5 warnings on Ritalin causing stroke
5 warnings on Ritalin causing mania/psychosis
5 warnings on Ritalin causing heart attacks
5 warnings on Ritalin causing death
3 warnings on Ritalin causing drug addiction/abuse
3 warnings on Ritalin causing agitation
2 warnings on Ritalin causing hallucinations
2 warnings on Ritalin causing depression
1 warning on Ritalin causing weight changes
1 warning on Ritalin causing suicidal thoughts
1 warning on Ritalin causing violence
1 warning on Ritalin causing hostility
1 warning on Ritalin causing disturbed sleep
1 warning on Ritalin causing convulsions
1 warning on Ritalin causing anxiety
1 warning on Ritalin causing brain hemorrhage
1 warning on Ritalin causing abnormal behavior
1 warning on Ritalin causing insomnia
1 warning on Ritalin causing blood pressure changes
Click here for full list of warnings >>
Ritalin Drug Studies:
There have been 16 studies in four countries (United States, Denmark, Australia and Italy). These include the following (note that some studies cite more than one side effect, so the list below may not be equal to the total number of studies):
4 studies on Ritalin causing addiction/drug abuse
2 studies on Ritalin causing death
2 studies on Ritalin causing heart problems
2 studies on Ritalin causing stunted growth
1 study on Ritalin causing violence
1 study on Ritalin causing suicide risk/attempts
1 study on Ritalin causing mania/psychosis
1 study on Ritalin withdrawal causing depression
1 study on Ritalin causing abnormal heart rate/rhythm
1 study on Ritalin causing blood pressure changes
1 study on Ritalin causing delinquency risk
1 study on Ritalin causing emotional outbursts
1 study on Ritalin causing hallucinations
1 study on Ritalin causing insomnia
1 study on Ritalin causing irritability
1 study on Ritalin causing low academic performance
1 study on Ritalin causing weight changes
Click here for full list of studies >>
Download The Side Effects of Common Psychiatric Drugs here >>
This brochure is a simple guide that documents the dangerous and deadly side effects of the drugs prescribed to millions of men, women and children diagnosed with bogus mental disorders. |
Please note: No one should attempt to get off of psychiatric drugs without doctor’s supervision. To help find medical practitioners in your area, click here
I wrote this poem originally in Swedish after several articles in Swedish newspapers on Concerta and Ritalin:
Now it happened again
Killed boyfriend with 30 stabs
Why?
Ritalin!
Teenager jumped off a bridge
Why?
Ritalin!
Girls raped by gang
Why?
Ritalin!
15 year old boy shot his sister
Why?
Ritalin!
And the list is much, much longer.
Yet Ritalin is recommended to kids.
When will it stop!?