Ritalin (methylphenidate) is a central nervous system stimulant that’s prescribed to people with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in an attempt to mitigate symptoms like poor focus and concentration, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Like Adderall, Ritalin works by increasing the concentration of neurotransmitters in the brain that play a role in behavior and problem-solving. While ADHD medications should only be taken with a prescription, many people take them without one to enhance their performance at work or school. But what does Ritalin do to a person without ADHD? The drug experts at our luxury addiction treatment center share more below.
How Does Ritalin Work?
Ritalin works by increasing the amount of the neurotransmitter dopamine in a region of the brain called the striatum, which is related to motivation, action, and cognition. Dopamine is a chemical messenger that’s used by nerve cells to communicate with each other. It plays a role in how we feel pleasure and the activation of reward in the brain when we perform certain behaviors.
People with ADHD tend to have low dopamine levels, which can make even the most mundane tasks difficult to concentrate on and complete. This is especially common among children with ADHD, mainly because they have too many molecules in their brain that suck up dopamine before it can be used for other functions like motivation and cognition.
Ritalin blocks these receptors, allowing dopamine to collect in the brain. High levels of dopamine are not only shown to improve mood and provide a sense of well-being, but it’s also shown to increase motivation and performance in certain tasks. Ritalin highlights the task at hand, making it seem interesting enough that the person is more willing to focus, which is why this medication is so effective for people with ADHD.
However, with any medication, it’s always important to know the possible side effects that could occur. Common Ritalin side effects include:
- Nervousness
- Trouble sleeping
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Dizziness
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Headache
How Does Ritalin Make Someone With ADHD Feel?
In individuals with ADHD, Ritalin increases dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the brain, allowing for an overall improvement in executive functioning and ability to manage activities and tasks, as well as an overall sense of calm. Individuals who take Ritalin for ADHD may also feel a sense of control, focus, and clarity.
Additionally, as a stimulant, Ritalin can make you feel “up,” which is why it’s sometimes referred to as an “upper.” As a result, the individual may be alert, awake, filled with a sense of euphoria, or more talkative, all of which can help the individual manage their daily activities and tasks.
Why Do People Take Ritalin If They Don’t Need It?
Although drugs like Ritalin are commonly prescribed to treat ADHD, many individuals take them without having the disorder in the belief that the drugs will enhance focus and cognitive performance. Individuals may also take ADHD medications to experience a high or increase in energy and mood. Since these medications are usually stimulants, they can also alter dopamine and norepinephrine chemicals to the point where mood improves, especially if they’re taken in high doses.
What Happens If You Take Ritalin Without ADHD?
Taking Ritalin without ADHD is common in many people. People without ADHD use Ritalin as a “study enhancer” to perform better on tests. Although Ritalin’s effects on people with ADHD are well-studied, there isn’t as much research on what happens when you take Ritalin without ADHD. However, recent studies show that the use of methylphenidate without ADHD in college students occurs at rates anywhere between 14 and 38 percent.3
The common belief is that this drug magically increases focus and concentration when studying and enhances one’s ability to perform on a test. Stimulants like Ritalin and Adderall are finding their way into high schools and colleges at alarming rates. To better understand what Ritalin does to a person without ADHD, a recent study examined the effects of Ritalin in rats during what would be equivalent to adolescence in humans.
Results showed changes in the reward pathway, locomotor activity, body weight, and other behaviors. Further research indicated that female subjects were more sensitive to the side effects of Ritalin than male subjects. In addition to the results from this study, if we look at the functions that are influenced by dopamine, we can imagine which physical and behavioral areas may be overstimulated and impacted.
Ultimately, we can say that common side effects of Ritalin in adults without ADHD include:
- Increased risk-taking behaviors
- Increased impulsivity
- Mood swings
- Excitability and energy
- Disrupted sleep cycles or trouble sleeping
- Extreme reduction in appetite
- Problematic weight loss
- Depressed moods and decreased anxiety
Ritalin effects on adults without ADHD also include extreme antidepressant side effects, including sedation, drowsiness, and elevated mood. While this might sound pleasant, too much of anything is never a good thing, and taking Ritalin without a prescription or medical condition can produce extreme and undesirable side effects.
Does Ritalin Work If You Don’t Have ADHD?
Despite the popular belief that ADHD medications like Adderall and Ritalin improve studying and make people “smarter,” this isn’t the case. On the contrary, one study shows that ‘smart’ drugs may actually inhibit performance and productivity in individuals who take them without having ADHD.1
In a series of four double-blinded, randomized trials conducted in Melbourne, spaced a week apart, a cohort of 40 healthy participants were administered one of three commonly used ‘smart’ drugs (methylphenidate, modafinil, or dextroamphetamine) or a placebo. The study aimed to assess their performance in a task designed to mimic the intricate decision-making and problem-solving processes we encounter daily.2
Unlike prior research on the effects of smart drugs, which often employed simpler cognitive tasks targeting memory or attention, the Melbourne trial introduced more complex computational activities designed to better replicate the challenging nature of real-life tasks.
Participants were tasked with completing the Knapsack Optimisation Problem, commonly known as the ‘knapsack task.’ In this exercise, they were given a virtual fixed-capacity knapsack and an array of items with varying weights and values. Their objective was to strategically allocate items to the knapsack in a manner that maximized the overall value of its contents.2
The findings revealed that participants who took the drugs experienced slight reductions in accuracy and efficiency, coupled with significant increases in the time and effort required to complete the task, in comparison to their performance when not under the influence of these substances.2
For instance, when administered methylphenidate, a medication frequently prescribed for children with ADHD but also increasingly used by college students during exam preparation, participants took an average of approximately 50% longer to complete the knapsack problem than when given a placebo.2
Furthermore, individuals who initially outperformed their peers in the placebo condition tended to exhibit more pronounced declines in performance and productivity after the administration of the drugs. All in all, according to these findings, Ritalin does not work as it is meant to in people who do not have ADHD.
Help for Stimulant Abuse
Taking Ritalin without attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder also presents the risk of dependency and addiction. Although ADHD medications like Ritalin aren’t as addictive as illegal stimulants like cocaine, both types of drugs influence dopamine levels in the brain and, therefore, have a similar mechanism of action. Many prescription drugs are also known to cause dependence after long-term use, and the discomfort of withdrawals is often reason enough for users to continue using the drug.
To be clear, using Ritalin or any prescription drug without a prescription from a doctor is not only dangerous but illegal. If you or a loved one has become addicted to Ritalin or any other prescription or illicit substance, our Florida luxury rehab can help. We offer luxury detox for all kinds of substances to address withdrawals before patients move forward in their treatment plans.
Following detox, clients will then have the opportunity to work with our specialists and counselors individually and in group settings to promote personal healing and offer peer support. During these meetings, clients will discuss everything from the underlying causes of their addictions to learning how to manage stress in recovery.
We leave no stone unturned when it comes to helping people overcome their addictions, mental health disorders, or co-occurring disorders. For more information about the prescription drug addiction treatment offered at our private rehab center, call Seaside Palm Beach today at 561-677-9374.
Sources:
- University of Cambridge – ‘Smart’ drugs can decrease productivity in people who don’t have ADHD, study finds
- Science Advances – Not so smart? “Smart” drugs increase the level but decrease the quality of cognitive effort
- University at Buffalo – Nonprescription use of Ritalin linked to adverse side effects, UB study finds
