Ritalin (the brand name) is a commonly prescribed medication, often used for ADD, ADHD, or narcolepsy. Ritalin can be prescribed in a variety of forms and doses including Ritalin 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg tablets, Ritalin SR (sustained-release) 20 mg tablets, and Ritalin LA (long-acting) 10 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, and 40 mg capsules. Other variations of Ritalin, produced under various names based on the pharmaceutical company that manufactures the specific medicine include Concerta, Focalin, Metadate, Metadate ER, Metadate CD, Methylin ER, and the Daytrana Patch.

Ritalin is water-soluble and dissolves at varying rates of speed in different areas of the stomach based on which brand of medication the doctor prescribes. Once swallowed the medicine is absorbed into the blood stream it flows to the brain where it allows someone with ADD to focus more effectively. People who use Ritalin (as prescribed) in the lower doses one, two, or three times a day do not usually build up a tolerance to the medicine.

The Daytrana patch is the one exception to all of the orally ingested Ritalin forms. Daytrana is a self-adhesive topical patch applied to the left or right hip once daily. Daytrana will stay in the system up to 12 hours or up to 3 hours after the removing the patch.

Abusers of Ritalin often snort or inject the medication, which allows an almost immediate high. People who abuse Ritalin to achieve the euphoric high usually do not have ADD. Ritalin abuse is so rampant that abusers will try almost any method to obtain the medicine. Abusers have even tried to fake the symptoms of ADD or narcolepsy or by trying to convince a doctor their non-ADHD child is indeed ADHD. Then after obtaining a prescription in their child’s name so he or she can in turn use the medicine personally or sell it for money.

Thanks to the wide spread use of the internet abusers can usually obtain any desired prescription medication from prescription narcotics for pain, or stimulant medicine used to treat ADD. For the right price, a “medical” consult happens online or via a telephone to discuss the symptoms with a doctor. If the consult is satisfactory for an additional price, medication ships directly to the “patient” in a day or two. These pharmacies are usually located in Canada or Mexico; both countries have fewer restrictions legally than the USA.

One of the latest trends involving Ritalin abuse involves high school and college students who use the medicine to stay awake all night and cram for final exams. Since a higher dose of Ritalin is required to keep one awake and alert this is where many of the undesirable side effects including high heart rates, shakiness, disorientation, psychosis, and even cardiac arrest leading to death occur.

As in any kind of drug abuse, the abuser builds up a tolerance to the medication and continues to need higher doses or more frequent doses to continue to reach the high desired. Ritalin is a Class II medication because it has the capability of causing addiction when used improperly and in high doses.

When Ritalin first hit the market in the 1940’s its use included a wide variety of cocktails to try and combat fatigue, depression and even psychosis. Ritalin was prescribed in conjunction to many of the anti-psychotic medicines prescribed for schizophrenia or psychotic depressions to offset the severe drowsiness those medications cause. Research on hyperkinetic syndrome (one of the original names for ADHD) and Ritalin was not a consideration until the 1960’s.

On a final note, Ritalin use for ADD or ADHD remains an emotional and controversial subject. For anyone who has personally used Ritalin for ADD or who has seen a family member with ADD use Ritalin successfully to focus can easily validate the information provided in this article. For someone who does not believe ADD or ADHD exists or refuses to believe there is a chemical change in the brain of someone who is ADD or ADHD he or she will just as easily find information to disprove Ritalin works.