Last Updated on September 22, 2021 by
Alternative to Meds Editorial Team
Medically Reviewed by Dr Samuel Lee MD
Table of Contents:
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- How Did Ritalin Addiction Become Widespread?
- Side Effects of Ritalin
- Want to Know About Ritalin Addiction Treatment Help at Alternative to Meds Center?
- Ritalin Withdrawal Symptoms
- What Methods Are Used in Ritalin Withdrawal at ATMC?
- How Are Ritalin Alternatives Used?
- For More Information on Alternative to Meds Ritalin Addiction Treatment Programs
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How Did Ritalin Addiction Become Widespread?
Ritalin addiction and addiction treatment have become serious issues for many. The drug hit the market in the 1940s and 1950s when drugmakers first marketed Ritalin as a “pep pill” and later for weight loss for adults. However, it wasn’t until the late 1980s that the committee of the American Psychiatric Association voted ADD and later ADHD into existence as an “official diagnosis.” Since the early 60s, what is now called ADHD was referred to as “behavioral problems” or “hyperkinetic impulse disorder” until the new term ADD and later ADHD and were promoted so heavily, they eventually became household words. Stimulants had been used on children with behavioral problems since the turn of the LAST century and with Ritalin and similar drugs, the practice continues today. The ADHD label targets children in the main, but also adults for ADHD. Ritalin is also approved for the treatment of Narcolepsy. With a breathtaking rise in the number of prescriptions for Ritalin and other stimulant drugs for children and adults in America, medical researchers such as LeFevre and Arcona have been sounding an alarm for decades. 14
Shockingly, In 2016, the CDC reported that about 10% of children in the US were diagnosed and labeled ADHD.2,3
Notably, psychiatric experiments with amphetamines carried out as early as 19371 turned “behavior problem children” into guinea pigs. The psychiatrists involved in these experiments drugged children with amphetamines ( Dexedrine, Benzedrine, etc.) As time went on, more psychiatrists repeated similar experiments using a wave of copycat stimulant drugs such as Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta, and many others.
Astonishingly, the results of the experiments on children were reported as “spectacular.” Even though what was truly shocking, was that most of the children became emotionally subdued and disinterested in their environments. Voila, a one-shot treatment for rowdy kids. And, you don’t have to hire any therapists, dieticians, tutors, educators, or other expensive and time-consuming specialists. History shows, expensive and expansive marketing and horrendous amounts of lobbying helped take the toxic drug Ritalin to the top of the charts in sales. This occurred all over the world.
Increasingly, off-label uses for Ritalin have also been reported in the Journal of Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental, including depression in the elderly, cancer patients, for obesity and weight loss, chronic fatigue, psychosis associated with depression, and for post-stroke patients, as examples. 6
In short, Ritalin has become pervasively, and some would say intentionally, popularized.1-4,14
Side Effects of Ritalin
According to drug regulators as well as researchers, the side effects of Ritalin include sudden death, heart attack, stroke, suicide, and many others. And yes, these happen even to children as well as to adults.4,5
Ritalin or methylphenidate is a stimulant drug that produces similar side effects as cocaine, meth, and other amphetamines and drugs similar to amphetamines. Side effects can intensify over time. Some come on with no warning. Often, the side effects exhibited will lead to a physician prescribing a second drug, or multiple other drugs to suppress the additional side effects, putting the person on a very slippery slope toward mental and physical chaos. One of the most problematic Ritalin side effects is its potential for addiction and abuse. Though studies on human subjects were not found, experiments published in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics on squirrel monkeys demonstrated that the effects of self-administered methylphenidate were no different than self-administered cocaine and other stimulants used in the experiment. 15
A partial list of Ritalin side effects:
- Sudden death 4,5
- Scarring of the heart, impaired or blocked circulation of blood 5
- Fast, irregular heartbeat, tachycardia, palpitations 4,5
- Suicidal thoughts 5
- Suicide attempts 5
- Psychosis, mania, tics (newly emerging) especially after long-term use 5,7
- Seizures 5
- Visual hallucinations, audio hallucinations 5
- Increased aggressive behavior, hostility, aggression, irritability 4,5
- Growth retardation 5,9
- Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), hypokalemia (low potassium), hyponatremia (low sodium), 21% elevated leukocytes (white blood cells) 7
- Priapism (sustained painful penile erection) 5
- Increased risk of cancer in mice studies 5
- Increased risk of birth defects in rat and rabbit studies 5
- Nausea/vomiting 5
- Abdominal pain 4,5
- Dependence, addictive cravings for more of the drug 2,5
- Akathisia 4
- Brain damage, especially if taken long-term 10,11
- Insomnia 4
- Anxiety, tension 5
- Nervousness 4
- Fainting 2
- Dizziness 2
- Drowsiness
- Blurred vision, double vision, visual disturbance 5
- Chest pain 5
- Fever 5
- Rashes, hives, itching, allergic reactions 5
- Ulceration of the digits, Raynaud’s syndrome, unexplained wounds on fingers/toes 4,5
- Inability to move the arms, legs, body 5
- Inability to speak 5
- Decreased appetite, weight loss 4,5
Want to Know About Ritalin Addiction Treatment Help at Alternative to Meds Center?
At Alternative to Meds Center, we know that labels and mood-altering drugs are poor substitutes for analyzing the root cause(s) of a condition or set of symptoms. Programs at ATMC are designed to assist a person in several different ways. Each person will be individually programmed according to their unique needs and profile. More information follows below.
Ritalin Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawal phenomena are not extensively reported on the drug label. Information gleaned from this and other references as indicated, is provided below:
- Priapism ( on the drug label parents are told to watch for this on “drug holidays” )
- Drug-induced psychosis and depression can be extreme, suicidality13
- Increased appetite
- Fatigue
- Sleep irregularities
- Dystonia (movement disorders) 12
What Methods Are Used in Ritalin Withdrawal?
As a first step, testing and other assessments help gather enough information to determine the underlying causes of unwanted symptoms. For instance, Ritalin is often prescribed to treat adult narcolepsy. Narcolepsy usually means the person isn’t sleeping well. Hence, the person will feel tired during the day. Simply taking chemical stimulants will awaken a person, but will not handle the sleep issues. We proactively address the sleep issues at ATMC. We do this using natural, effective, and non-invasive methods. These are based on the assessments and testing on arrival to the program.
For ADHD symptoms, ATMC applies the same principles. Assessments, testing, and analysis provide a clear path to isolating and eliminating unwanted symptoms. There is no guesswork involved.
Thus, these problems can be reduced and eliminated without resorting to simply masking these problems with drugs. As a result, withdrawal can be made much easier and much more tolerable.
How Are Ritalin Alternatives Used?
Addressing unwanted symptoms with Ritalin alternatives means we are able to address Ritalin addiction much easier. In this way, a tailored program is designed to enable the person to gradually reduce their dosage, without significant discomfort. For example, the clinical team assigned to the person will provide a program using Ritalin alternatives. These steps in the program address Ritalin withdrawals comfortably. Thus, withdrawals are softened and more easily tolerated.
During treatment, the program will typically combine effective holistic therapies that include supplements, sauna, soothing physical therapies, cleansing the body of accumulated neurotoxic buildup, mild exercise, and many other treatments. The diet, exactly tailored, can facilitate and speed up necessary neurotransmitter repair. Many supportive actions such as counseling, life coaching, equine therapy, art therapy, stress reduction techniques, yoga, Reiki, nebulized glutathione, and others, greatly ease the process of reducing and eliminating the drug without harsh withdrawals. Additionally, comprehensive educational components empower each client in better methods of self-care, for life.
For More Information on Alternative to Meds Ritalin Addiction Treatment Programs
There is much more to learn about coming off Ritalin safely, Importantly, it is possible to improve one’s health in the process. And, please ask us about your insurance coverage. We look forward to your call about Alternative to Meds Ritalin addiction treatment programs.
