How Ritalin Can Be Addictive

Why abusing this stimulant drug used to treat ADHD can lead to addiction

Ritalin Pills on Table
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Ritalin (methylphenidate) is a stimulant medication widely prescribed for children and adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). And it has been shown to be both safe and effective for this purpose.

But Ritalin also has the potential for misuse and abuse. This leads some to question, "Is Ritalin addictive?" Unfortunately, the answer isn't a simple one. Here's why. 

The Most Important Thing to Know About Ritalin

Although Ritalin is often effective for relieving ADHD symptoms, taking this medication without a prescription—and when you don't have ADHD—is not only illegal but can lead to adverse side effects and increase your risk of substance use disorder.

How Ritalin Works

Ritalin works predominantly by increasing two neurotransmitters in the brain: norepinephrine and dopamine. Norepinephrine plays a role in alertness, attention, and focus, while dopamine is associated with pleasure, memory, and mood.

Not only does increasing dopamine levels help treat ADHD, but it also impacts areas of the brain that affect a person's potential for abuse. This raises concerns regarding the safety of the drug, particularly by individuals who take it without a prescription.

Is Ritalin Addictive?

When taken as prescribed, individuals with ADHD won't become addicted to Ritalin. However, in May of 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning that if you take a prescription stimulant when it has not been prescribed to you by a physician, it can lead to addiction, misuse, and abuse, also potentially leading to overdose and even death.

Specifically, the FDA warns that sharing your Ritalin medication can increase the other person's risk of developing substance use disorder, also elevating their risk of addiction. This has prompted the FDA to require a boxed warning on these drugs, advising healthcare professionals to closely monitor patients for these concerns.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.

Demographics at Risk for Ritalin Misuse

Certain demographics have a greater risk of Ritalin misuse. Among them are high school and college students. This misuse of Ritalin without a prescription puts these adolescents and young adults at greater risk of developing an addiction to this drug. But it has other consequences as well.

Additional concerns of Ritalin misuse include:

  • Ritalin may be a gateway drug for some, also increasing the risk of developing a substance use disorder later in life.
  • If the drug is ingested via snorting or injection, it gets to the brain faster and reinforces the drug's use. This potentially increases addiction risk.
  • Taking Ritalin without a prescription is illegal, as is selling your pills to others. both of which can have legal consequences.

Side Effects of Ritalin

In addition to its addiction potential, taking Ritalin can also lead to adverse effects. Some of Ritalin's side effects include: 

  • Abdominal pain
  • Anxiety
  • Decreased appetite
  • Drowsiness or fatigue
  • Headache
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Irritability
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Sleep issues

Serious Ritalin Side Effects

Some people experience serious side effects after taking Ritalin, some of which include chest pain, shortness of breath, trouble speaking, numbness or pain in the fingers or toes, or an erection that is painful or lasts more than four hours. If you have any of these effects, seek immediate medical attention.

Alternative ADHD Treatment Options

Although medications are typically the first line of treatment offered to control the symptoms of ADHD, Ritalin and other drugs are not the only effective treatment for ADHD. Other ways to help minimize or reduce ADHD symptoms include.

  • Dietary interventions may be helpful when particular foods aggravate hyperactivity.
  • One analysis of several studies found that, when compared to other non-pharmacological treatments, physical exercise was the best for alleviating ADHD symptoms.
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which involves learning how to change destructive thought patterns, has been found to help reduce feelings of depression and anxiety in individuals with ADHD.
  • Neurofeedback therapy has been shown in a few studies to be an effective, long-term, drug-free option for attentional disorders in some cases. This type of therapy involves learning in real time how you react to certain things, then using this new understanding to better control your responses.

Summary

While Ritalin offers individuals with ADHD some benefits, taking this drug without a prescription can lead to unintended consequences such as addiction and the development of a substance use disorder. Even individuals with a prescription may experience side effects when taking this drug.

If you struggle with attention and focus, talk with your healthcare provider or a mental health professional. They can help discover the reason for your lack of focus, then help find ways to resolve it that don't put you at an increased risk of addiction.

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Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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By Elizabeth Hartney, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD
Elizabeth Hartney, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD is a psychologist, professor, and Director of the Centre for Health Leadership and Research at Royal Roads University, Canada.