How does Ritalin cause brain damage

My nephew takes it and I was wondering if anyone has evidence or specifics in what ritalin does to change chemicals in the brain?

Ritalin is basically a stimulant that alter the activity of various neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, serotonin, etc. Similar to amphetamine and cocaine in general action, but differ in their action at the synaptic level.

Exactly how it works to improve the symtomology of ADHD is still not completely understood. But it does work. One favoured hypothesis is that ADHD is caused by high levels of Dopamine transporter (DAT) ligands, these would reduce levels of dopamine in important areas of the brain. Dopamine is important for attention and also reward processing. And, therefore, treatment with ritalin apparently increases dopamine activity in these areas, as they are strong DAT inhibitors.

However, there is also suggestions that methylphenidate works through enhancing noradrenaline activity in the frontal lobe. So, still stuff to learn.

Various studies show that using stimulants brings the brain activity of ADHD kids to within normal levels (i.e. untreated ADHD kids show very low activity in the frontal lobe and elsewhere), they also perform numerous neuropsychological and cognitive tests normally when treated (e.g., improved performance on the stroop test). And, of course, their everyday behaviour is improved.

However, the long-term effects of such treatment are still under examination.

[edit on 27-9-2007 by melatonin]

reply to post by AnDroidX107

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Ritalin does work, however, it is one of the most overprescribed drugs out there.

One thing you can do is make sure that the doctor prescribing the drug is a specialist trained for pediatrics and ADHD. A family doctor or GP may mean well, but the diagnosis and treatment needs to come from a specalist. he/she may alternative treatments than may work just as well.

Touretts can be exasperated by Ritalin, but that's all I'm aware of.

In my experience the effects same as any amphetamine if the patient is missdiagnosed as having add/adhd. You have heart problems and your brain shuts down due to lack of sleep.


Im 28 now and was in that first generation of Australians to have this crap forced down our throats.

My own brother was on dexamphetamine, nasty stuff and the doctor kept increasing his dose without looking at other issues.

Anyone of any age group small amounts of amphetamines daily is not good we get told this in our anti drug campains. The kids zombie out due to sleep deprivation/disruption and bad nutrition due to a supressed appitite.

I have never seen ritalin or dexamphetamine do its supposed miracles. Most of it prescribed got sold at school or to local junkies for $1 a pill. Most of the kids I knew that were on either drug ended up with a dependence on amphetamines and straight to Ice/meth.


I find that most cases of adhd/add are misdiagnosed. Think about what kids today have to put up with compared to previous generations. We suffered information overload and adjustment issues as it was its worse for kids now days. Our western school systems are still stuck in the 50s and totally conflict with the outside technology, media and forced cultural influence. Any normal child would rebel and shut off in that environment and then they get diagnosed with something.


Please ensure your nephew has the correct diagnosis. I had all the supposed symptoms my brother did but being female I had better handwriting skills so they didnt pounce on me. I dont have adhd im just a product of my generation

Ritalin a.k.a Methylphenidate acts upon (primarily) dopamine receptors in the brain. Basically, that means it affects your moods, energy and general motivation. In general, it seems if you have an excess it suppresses it and alleviates a deficiency. That's just a broad generalization of course as I am not a physician or pharmacist- consult one for more precise information.
The problem, it seems, is that no one knows for certain what the long-term consequences of usage are. Does it permanently "fry" certain neuro-receptors? Does it "lodge" in the brain (as say LSD)? What are the eventual permutations of use before/during puberty? Even though it has been in existance for about an half-century, it has really only been extensively used for ten or twenty years. I have the sneaking suspicion that this is going to be one of those things that the medical community comes out (twenty years from now) and says: "Oooops, Sorry!". (See Thalidomide, Swine Flu Vaccine, et al)

If the drug is not understood

why do they want kids to take it

android, because they think its a miracle. And it isnt.
Kids are kids, they'll always be hyperactive and never sit still in school. They think there's something great happening outside and sitting in the classroom is making them miss out on whatever fun they think is outdoors. lol. Kids, being kids, don't really have the attention span to sit through most classes. Yet everyone wants to diagnose normal children with ADD/ADHD, its really pathetic, turning this new generation into a bunch of drug addicts by age 10.

edit: Misread androids post lol

[edit on 28-9-2007 by Chiiru]

Now that Bush is hoping to block healthcare for children or he is against it.

Maybe they won't have insurance for Ritalin at least W hopes

It's more a case that ADHD is not completely understood. The action of the likes of ritalin and amphetamines in the brain are fairly well understood, that is, what neurotransmitters they act on etc. The long-term effects of treating kids isn't.

But ADHD is less well understood. I don't want to put across that researchers know nothing, that's totally not the case. For example, there appears to be a genetic component to ADHD, and the genes that have been identified underpin dopamine functioning. So, the dopamine hypothesis of ADHD has good support. But, again, it can't be linked to single gene abnormalities, which is the case for most mental disorders.

As the likes of ritalin affect dopamine functioning, there is good reasons to accept their validity as efficacious treatments. They do improve the functioning of ADHD kids.

Whether anyone wants to medicate their kids for such disorders is up to the family. There are other therapeutic approaches, and I'm sure there will be better non-stimulant psychopharmacological treatments in future. Indeed, Modafinil appears to be promising.

I have no doubt that ADHD is becoming overdiagnosed, and kids are being mistreated in the aim of a quick fix for behavioural issues. But that doesn't negate the existence of the true disorder.

The reason why stimulants are the treatment of choice is because, firstly, they do work; secondly, it is cheap and easy. Proper behavioural therapy is timely and costly. It's the same with most mental conditions - the likes of CBT is expensive, popping prozac is cheap.

I wouldn't want give my child stimulants. But I don't have a ADHD kid, so I can't really judge whether I would if I was in such a position. I'm sure it's not an easy decision.

[edit on 28-9-2007 by melatonin]