ADHD Channel
Topics & Medications
Quicklinks
Related Channels
Ritalin Side Effects
Related Multimedia
Click on an icon to view.Interested in a Discount on Ritalin?
Enter your email address to see if eMedTV's free DiscountRx service has a program that could help you save on your prescription(s).
Thank you!
Thank you for your interest in DiscountRx from eMedTV. An email has been sent to the address you provided. Please follow the link within that email to see what offers may be available.
Serious side effects of Ritalin, while not as common, should be reported to your healthcare provider, including:
- Suicidal thoughts
- Confusion
- Chest tightness, chest pain, or heart palpitations
- Shortness of breath
- Depression (see Ritalin and Depression)
- More outgoing or aggressive behavior than normal
- Strange behavior
- Hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not really there)
- Agitation or restlessness
- Fainting
- Seizures
- Uncontrolled movements of the head, neck, mouth, arms, or legs (known as tics)
- Signs of an allergic reaction, such as:
- Unexplained skin rash
- Itching
- Hives
- Wheezing or difficulty breathing
- Unexplained swelling.
Rare Side Effects
Rare Ritalin side effects were reported in only a few people taking the drug. Given how uncommon they are, it can be difficult to tell whether these side effects are actually caused by the medication or something else.
Some of these rare side effects include but are not limited to:
- Changes in liver function (including hepatitis)
- Hair loss (see Ritalin and Hair Loss)
- Anemia.
If you suffer from seizures, heart problems, or mental problems, Ritalin can aggravate the symptoms associated with these conditions.
You may experience some or none of the Ritalin side effects listed in this article. Unfortunately, there is no way for your healthcare provider to know beforehand if you will have side effects from a medicine that you have never tried. Therefore, be sure to let your healthcare provider know if you develop any side effects while taking the drug. Also, let your healthcare provider know if you develop something that "just does not seem right." While it may not be a side effect, he or she will be able to diagnose and treat the problem.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD