Ritalin is a prescription medicine that contains methylphenidate, a drug very similar to amphetamines. Methylphenidate was originally manufactured in 1944, but was later approved in 1955 as a central nervous system stimulant to treat extreme drowsiness and narcolepsy, according to Drugs.com. Ritalin was subsequently used to treat hyperactivity and attention deficit issues in children, although the drug's cocaine-like properties did not go unnoticed by drug-abusing adults. And like cocaine, snorting Ritalin causes many harmful effects.
Addiction and Dependency
Ritalin is classified as a schedule II drug and is similar to both cocaine and amphetamines in structure, action and effect, according to the DailyMed website. Taking Ritalin in high enough doses, and especially snorting it, produces a "high." However, like cocaine, Ritalin is addictive, habit-forming and causes strong cravings. In 2000, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency issued another warning for Ritalin, and stated that it has a high potential for abuse and can lead to severe psychological or physical dependence. By snorting Ritalin, methylphenidate goes directly into the bloodstream, which makes the "high" effect more immediate, more powerful and more dangerous.
Sleep Disturbance
Due to Ritalin's similarity to amphetamines, or "speed," and its effectiveness at treating extreme day-time sleepiness and narcolepsy, it is not surprising that Ritalin causes sleep disturbance. Drugs.com notes that insomnia and disrupted sleep cycles are the most commonly reported harmful effects from Ritalin use. Chronic lack of sleep in Ritalin abusers partly accounts for their characteristic zombie-like behavior.
Nasal Damage
DrugRehab.net states that snorting Ritalin, like cocaine, causes damage to the nasal passageways, which is called intranasal insufflation. Specifically, the delicate epithelial tissues that line the nasal cavities and air passages are chemically burned by direct contact with the hydrochloride salt of methylphenidate. The damaged nasal tissues can lead to open sores, nose bleeds and deterioration of the nasal cartilage. In addition, when Ritalin is ground up for snorting, it is not sanitized, and can cause infections in the nasal and sinus cavities.
Agitation
Another common harmful effect of Ritalin use is a change in emotional well-being often described as agitation, nervousness, anxiety, irritability, depression or restlessness. Drugs.com notes that irrational bouts of aggression are also reported more frequently, although this may be a reflection of the overall increase of Ritalin use. According to 2010 information from the Hoover Institution, 90 percent of the Ritalin produced is consumed in the United States.
Cardiovascular Effects
Perhaps the most serious harmful effect of snorting Ritalin, albeit rare, is a sudden myocardial infarction leading to death, according to DrugLib.com. Other cardiovascular effects include irregular heartbeat, increased heart rate and sudden hypertension.
