It can be misused, which comes with the risk of serious side effects. Ritalin should only be used with medical supervision. Your doctor will likely see you every few months to make sure the medication is working as it should. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that affects pleasure, movement, and attention span. Norepinephrine is a stimulant. The levels of these chemicals increase slowly, so your doctor will start you on the lowest possible dose and increase it in small increments, if necessary.
Ritalin may make it easier for you to concentrate, be less fidgety, and gain control of your actions. You may also find it easier to listen and focus at your job or in school. Some people taking Ritalin experience blurred vision or other changes to eyesight.
Other potential side effects include:. This is often done during the summer months. This can encourage growth, and also allows them to see how your child does without taking it. Ritalin, like other central nervous system stimulants, may be habit-forming. If you take a large dose, the quick rise in dopamine can produce a temporary feeling of euphoria.
Taking Ritalin in high doses or for a long time can be habit-forming. If you stop taking it abruptly, you may experience withdrawal. Symptoms of withdrawal include sleep problems, fatigue, and depression. Ritalin can cause circulation problems. Your fingers and toes may feel cold and painful, and your skin may turn blue or red.
If you take Ritalin and experience circulatory problems, tell your doctor. Stimulants can also raise your body temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate.
You may feel jittery and irritable. Stimulants should be taken with caution if you have pre-existing blood pressure or heart problems.
Ritalin may increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. If you are sick vomit less than 30 minutes after taking methylphenidate, take the same dose again. If you are sick more than 30 minutes after taking your medicine, do not take another dose. Wait until the next dose is due. Take the next dose as usual. If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine.
The amount of methylphenidate that can lead to an overdose varies from person to person. Get someone else to drive you or call for an ambulance.
Take the methylphenidate packet, or the leaflet inside it, plus any remaining medicine with you. Go to Like all medicines, methylphenidate can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. These common side effects may happen in more than 1 in people. Keep taking the medicine, but tell your doctor if they bother you or do not go away:.
Serious side effects are uncommon and happen in less than 1 in people. Methylphenidate can cause a small increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Your doctor will usually measure your blood pressure and pulse every 6 months. It's extremely rare to have an allergic reaction anaphylaxis to methylphenidate but if this happens to you, stop taking the medicine and:.
These are not all the side effects of methylphenidate. For a full list, see the leaflet inside the medicines packet. Methylphenidate is not usually recommended in pregnancy. However, you may need to continue taking it during your pregnancy to remain well. Your doctor will be able to explain the benefits and the risks of taking methylphenidate.
However, this medicine passes into breast milk so your doctor or health visitor will need to monitor your baby. They will check for any signs of side effects, such as your baby being irritable or having problems sleeping. Taking high doses of methylphenidate may also affect your milk supply when your breastfeeding,.
Taking methylphenidate with these medicines can cause a sudden increase in your blood pressure. This could be dangerous.
MAOIs include:. If you are taking any of the following medicines, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking methylphenidate:. Some cough and cold medicines can also affect your blood pressure. Speak to your pharmacist or doctor if you are buying any cough and cold medicines. There might be a problem taking some herbal remedies and supplements alongside methylphenidate, especially ones that cause sleepiness or a dry mouth, or make it difficult to pee.
It's not known exactly how methylphenidate works. It's thought to boost the levels of chemicals called dopamine and noradrenaline in your brain. This can increase activity in the parts of the brain that control attention and behaviour. When you first take methylphenidate, you will start on a low dose. Your doctor will usually increase this gradually until they find the dose that works best for you.
This means it might take a few weeks before you see any benefits. When you have found the right dose, methylphenidate should start to work within 30 to 60 minutes of taking it. You may need to take methylphenidate for several months or even years.
You will not usually need to take it for the rest of your life. That way, you can check how you are getting on with it and whether you still need it. Your doctor may recommend stopping methylphenidate for a while, or reducing the dose. It's not really known how safe it is to take methylphenidate for a long time. However, if methylphenidate is not taken properly, you can become physically dependent on it.
This means you're more likely to get withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking it suddenly. Always follow the instructions carefully, and do not stop taking your medicine suddenly. Talk to your doctor first. Addiction problems usually only happen if you take methylphenidate more often than prescribed, or at a higher dose than recommended.
Only stop taking methylphenidate if your doctor tells you to. If you suddenly stop taking it, you may get withdrawal symptoms, such as depression.
Talk to your doctor if you want to stop taking methylphenidate. This is to help you avoid any extra side effects.
Try not to drink alcohol while taking methylphenidate. This is because alcohol can increase the effects of methylphenidate and make you more likely to get side effects.
Methylphenidate will not affect any type of contraception. This includes the combined pill and emergency contraception. However, if using methylphenidate makes you sick, or have severe diarrhoea for more than 24 hours, your contraceptive pills may not protect you from pregnancy. Males should call or their local emergency service if they have an erection that lasts more than 4 hours or becomes painful. This can be a sign of a serious problem that needs immediate treatment.
If a person has numbness in the fingers or toes or changes in skin sensitivity or skin color, they should call or contact their local emergency service. Chest pain, changes in heartbeat, or breathing difficulties can also be dangerous, and a person should call or their local emergency service immediately. Ritalin methylphenidate is a stimulant medication for the treatment of ADHD and narcolepsy.
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