Long-Term Side Effects of Ritalin: An Overview
Ritalin® (
methylphenidate hydrochloride) is a prescription medication approved for treating
ADHD and
narcolepsy. Although short-term side effects of the drug have been studied, little is known about the long-term side effects of Ritalin use.
Understanding Ritalin Studies
Before medicines are approved, they must go through several clinical studies in which thousands of people are given a particular medicine and compared to a group of people not given the medicine. In these studies, side effects are always documented. This way, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group not taking the medicine. However, these studies for Ritalin were short (usually less than two weeks) and did not look at the long-term side effects of Ritalin.
Long-Term Side Effects of Ritalin: Growth Suppression
Temporary growth suppression has been reported as a side effect of long-term use of stimulants (such as Ritalin) in children. This slowing down of growth is usually small (less than an inch and less than two pounds), and children usually catch up to normal growth rates with time. Your child's growth should be monitored while he or she is taking Ritalin.