Because Ritalin is a stimulant medication, it should not be taken with other stimulant drugs or substances such as methamphetamine and cocaine. Doing so can cause a severe overreaction of the central nervous system.
Do not chew, divide or crush or attempt to dissolve in water. Methylphenidate may impair your judgment or reaction skills and make driving or operating machinery difficult. Do not drive or operate machinery if methylphenidate affects you in this way. Avoid alcohol while you are taking methylphenidate.
It's fine to take paracetamol or ibuprofen with methylphenidate. Check with your pharmacist before using cough, cold and flu remedies. These types of medicines sometimes contain ingredients that may affect blood pressure, and could be unsuitable to use with methylphenidate.
Nervousness, trouble sleeping, loss of appetite, weight loss, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, or headache may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Drinks rich in ascorbic acid/vitamin C or citric acid (orange, grapefruit, and other drinks supplemented with vitamin C) may interfere with the absorption of Ritalin. Citric acid breaks down the medication before it has a chance to be absorbed by the body.
Many studies in the lab don't show that people without ADHD get any boost to their cognition when they take ADHD drugs, but real-life situations like exams and writing papers haven't fully been tested. But many studies do show that these kinds of meds make you think you did better than you actually did.
Methylphenidate HCl (Ritalin) is often prescribed for the treatment of hyperactivity and is usually administered orally 30 minutes to 1 hour before meals, based on an assumption that meals may interfere with the absorption or metabolism of the drug.
“If you stop on the weekends, you basically start over on Monday,” he says. A person's body adjusts to the medication over the course of the first few months and side effects can lessen or disappear after that time.
Ritalin Tablets: The average daily dose is 20 to 30 mg, given in 2 to 3 divided doses. Some patients may require 40 to 60 mg daily, while for others, 10 to 15 mg daily will be adequate.
To help prevent trouble with sleeping, take the last dose of the short-acting tablets before 6 PM, unless your doctor gives you a different time. If you are taking the chewable tablet, drink at least 8 ounces of water or other liquid when you chew the tablet. Take it preferably 30 to 45 minutes before meals.
You cannot drive while impaired by any drug, whether it is prescribed by a doctor or over-the-counter medication.
A high-protein diet.
Beans, cheese, eggs, meat, and nuts can be good sources of protein. Eat these kinds of foods in the morning and for after-school snacks. It may improve concentration and possibly make ADHD medications work longer.
Sometimes, the chemical effects of food can enhance or interfere with a medication response. For example, if your child gets a sugar rush from eating sweets while taking a stimulant medication such as Ritalin they may become excessively hyper by this interaction.
When the dosage is too high, stimulants can cause children or even adults to seem “spacey” or “zombie-like,” or to be uncharacteristically tearful or irritable (a condition known as emotional lability). In general, the best way to rein in these side effects is simply to lower the dosage.
One clinical study showed that 24.7% of patients developed tolerance to stimulants in the time of days to weeks; another showed 2.7% developed tolerance over 10 years. Long term follow-up studies demonstrate that medication response may lessen over longer durations of treatment in a high percentage of patients.
What does Ritalin do to the body? Some people who misuse Ritalin might feel high or excited, even when only low doses are taken. Others feel more excited when a high dose is taken. When misused, the drug can make people feel more alert or sleepier.
Ritalin: Ritalin takes 20-30 minutes after swallowing before it starts to work. Immediate release Ritalin is effective for approximately three hours, and the extended-release (Ritalin SR) lasts for approximately eight hours.
The immediate-release form of Ritalin lasts about 4–6 hours before person needs another dosage, whereas the extended-release forms of methylphenidate like Concerta may last anywhere from 10 to 14 hours.
You will not usually need to take it for the rest of your life. It's a good idea to talk to your doctor every year about taking methylphenidate. 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.
Stimulants are believed to work by increasing dopamine levels in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with motivation, pleasure, attention, and movement. For many people with ADHD, stimulant medications boost concentration and focus while reducing hyperactive and impulsive behaviors.