Ritalin, the brand name version of methylphenidate, increases activity in the central nervous system, or the brain and spinal cord. A doctor can prescribe Ritalin for narcolepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. Some people choose to abuse Ritalin for the arousal effect that the drug produces. The University of Maryland's Center for Substance Abuse Research notes that the effects of Ritalin abuse is similar to amphetamine abuse, another type of central nervous system stimulant.
Toxic State
If a Ritalin abuser takes large amounts of the drug daily, he can have symptoms resembling acute paranoid schizophrenia, explains the University of Maryland's Center for Substance Abuse Research. For example, users can have hallucinations, which can be auditory, visual or tactile. Users can become paranoid, such as believing someone is trying to kill them. High amounts of Ritalin can cause delusions, or false beliefs that users think are true. Some users may experience formication, in which they have the sensation of bugs crawling under the skin.
Changes in Mental State
Ritalin abuse can cause changes to users' mental state. For example, the Partnership for a Drug-Free America points out that users can develop anxiety, in which they have unreasonable worry about specific situations. Users may become restless and have a hard time staying still. Some users may start doing repetitive movements or rituals. The University of Maryland's Center for Substance Abuse Research adds that some users may develop seizures, which may progress into a coma. Users may experience confusion and delirium, which affects their thinking. Other changes include sleepiness or becoming excited.
Physical Effects
People who abuse Ritalin may have physical changes. The Partnership for a Drug-Free America notes that tremors and muscle twitching can occur from Ritalin abuse. Some users may have a loss of appetite. Other physical effects include an irregular heartbeat, fever and headache.
Lesions
Some people may choose to abuse Ritalin by crushing up the pill and injecting it. People who inject Ritalin combine it with a talcum filler, which they also crush, then dissolve in water. The University of Maryland's Center for Substance Abuse Research explains that the talcum filler can lead to lesions forming on the areas of injection.
Tolerance
When people heavily use Ritalin, they can develop a tolerance to the drug. As a result, abusers need to take more of the drug to reach the same high as before. The University of Maryland's Center for Substance Abuse Research points out that abusers then have a physical dependence on Ritalin, which leads to withdrawal if they stop taking it.
