Can You Snort Ritalin (Methylphenidate)? Snorting Ritalin Risks, Side Effects and Treatment

Ritalin Abuse Statistics

In 2016, nearly 2 million Americans over the age of 12 reported the abuse of prescription stimulants like Ritalin. The yearly Ritalin abuse rate is estimated to be about 4%, and those most likely to abuse Ritalin are white males who abuse other drugs and are affiliated with a fraternity.

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How Does Ritalin Work In The Body?

Ritalin works by stimulating the brain chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine, chemicals associated with control and attention. Dopamine also has strong associations with pleasure and reward. Norepinephrine mobilizes the brain and body to get ready for action and is involved in the fight-or-flight response. When taken in larger doses than prescribed, Ritalin produces euphoria, increasing the potential for addiction in some individuals.

Stimulant drugs like Ritalin are usually abused to enhance performance by speeding up physical responses and mental processing, suppressing appetite, or experiencing euphoria. They may appeal to individuals with food addiction, eating disorders, or problems with obesity, because of the energy-releasing effects and appetite-suppressant. People who take Ritalin for these reasons may have emotional vulnerabilities that could potentially contribute to addiction.

Ritalin Uses 

Ritalin is used to treat attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and narcolepsy (sleep disorder). Ritalin should be used as a part of a total treatment program for ADHD that may include counseling or other therapies. Off-label uses of methylphenidate (Ritalin) include treatment for fatigue in patients with cancer, refractory depression in the geriatric population, apathy in Alzheimer’s disease, and enhancing cognitive performance (e.g., memory). The efficacy of methylphenidate (Ritalin) for its off-label uses varies from limited to moderate. 

Since it can be abused as a cognitive enhancer, it is a federally controlled Schedule II substance. Drugs are classified as schedule II drugs if they are determined to have a high potential for misuse, dependence, and addiction. If you have a history of substance use problems, it’s important to let your doctor know before taking this medication. 

Why Do People Snort Ritalin?

Although the primary use of this drug is to treat attentional deficits, some individuals abuse it recreationally as a party drug to get “high.” Others abuse it to help improve performance in sports because t it provides increased energy and focus. In any event, many people who abuse it end up wanting to withdraw from the drug and function naturally. How long do Ritalin withdrawal symptoms last? The duration of the physical symptoms of Ritalin withdrawal generally lasts from one to three weeks, depending on the length of the addiction and how high the dosages were. The Ritalin withdrawal period is typically associated with a “crash” that is accompanied by fatigue, poor concentration, and depression.

How Ritalin Is Snorted?

This drug is usually crushed until it becomes a fine powder and then snorted to intensify its high. Snorting Ritalin results in large doses of methylphenidate entering the bloodstream almost immediately. This is especially dangerous with the extended-release formula. There is no medical reason to snort this medication. Snorting Ritalin can be dangerous. An overdose of this drug can cause heart problems, psychotic symptoms, and even death.

The “means of administration” refers to the way a drug enters your bloodstream. First, it has to pass through the liver and the blood-brain barrier. Many chemicals are filtered out at these roadblocks, but some make it through.

You can take a drug in a variety of ways, including orally, intranasally, sublingually (under the tongue), transdermally (as a patch), and intravenously. However, most drugs are better at making into the bloodstream through certain means, which is called bioavailability. In other words, the drug’s effects might be fast-acting and more intense through certain entry points.

Physical Effects Of Ritalin

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) [3], insomnia and nervousness are the most commonly reported adverse effects in patients using methylphenidate (Ritalin). Other frequent side effects mainly involve the CNS (dizziness, headache, tics, restlessness/akathisia), gastrointestinal (nausea/vomiting, dry mouth, decreased appetite, weight loss, abdominal pain), and cardiovascular systems (tachycardia, and palpitations).

What happens if you snort ritalin? People who take this drug are more prone to become easily agitated, irritable, or depressed and go through mood swings/lability. Some may even develop blurry vision or decreased libido. Stroke and myocardial infarction also have been observed in adults. Due to the risk of such fatal side effects, it is advisable to avoid Ritalin in people with a structural cardiac abnormality, cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmias.

Effects Of Ritalin on the Brain

What happens if you snort ritalin? Investigators funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse have shown that the medication methylphenidate (Ritalin), can cause physical changes in neurons in reward regions of mouse brains—in some cases, these effects overlapped with those of cocaine. Both methylphenidate (Ritalin) and cocaine are in the class of drugs known as psychostimulants.

“Studies to date suggest that prescribed use of Ritalin in patients with ADHD does not increase their risk for subsequent addiction. However non-medical use of this drug and other stimulant medications, can lead to addiction as well as a variety of other health consequences,” said NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow. ” [4] “Methylphenidate, which is thought to be a fairly innocuous compound, can have structural and biochemical effects in some regions of the brain that can be even greater than those of cocaine,” stated Dr.Yong Kim, lead author of the study. “

Ritalin Overdose

The first step in a Ritalin overdose is to immediately contact a poison control center or a hospital for the necessary management steps. Doses that exceed 60 mg of the IR (immediate-release) formulation or 120 mg of the ER (extended-release) formulation can be considered toxic [5]. If the overdosed quantity is unknown, look for signs and symptoms such as:

In addition to the common adverse effects mentioned above. Supportive care with supplemental oxygen, IV fluids and external cooling methods is the mainstay of Ritalin overdose treatment. Multiple studies have shown that benzodiazepines are an option, especially if dystonia, agitation, or convulsions are present.

Ritalin Addiction Treatment

There is a strong link between mental health and substance abuse. Individuals who struggle with mood disorders like depression, ADHD, and anxiety are more susceptible to developing an addiction to drugs or alcohol, often to self-medicate symptoms of their underlying mental health condition. These co-occurring disorders can make each other worse without proper treatment.

If you’re asking the question, “can you snort Ritalin?”, then you should also be aware of the risks involved in doing so. If you are experiencing Ritalin withdrawal, it’s crucial to first get an accurate assessment of all the symptoms. When the symptoms have been evaluated by a mental health professional, it may be determined that another form of mental condition is present and needs a particular type of treatment. Very often, some combination of psychotherapy, medication, and/or lifestyle changes are effective for coping with functional.

Medically-Assisted Detox

Detox is often considered the first stage of treatment. It will help you navigate the complicated process of Ritalin withdrawal, but it doesn’t address patterns of thought and behavior that contribute to drug use. Various treatment approaches and settings can help provide the ongoing support necessary to maintain long-term sobriety after you complete detox.

Cravings are very common during detox and can be challenging to overcome. This often leads to relapse. Constant medical care provided during inpatient treatment helps prevent relapse. Clinicians can provide necessary medication and medical expertise to lessen cravings and the effects of Ritalin withdrawals.

Psychotherapy 

Several different modalities of psychotherapy have been used in the treatment of mental health disorders along with addiction, including:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – is an effective treatment that involves making changes in both the patterns of negative thoughts and the behavioral routines which are affecting the daily life of the depressed person for various forms of depression.
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy – is a comprehensive mental health and substance abuse treatment program whose ultimate goal is to aid patients in their efforts to build a life worth living. The main goal of DBT is to help a person develop what is referred to as a “clear mind.” 
• Person-Centered Therapy – is a strategy that allows and encourages clients to understand and resolve their concerns in a safe, supportive environment.
• Solution Focused Therapy – is an approach interested in solutions that can be quickly implemented with a simple first step leading to further positive consequences.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Prescription drug abuse and mental health disorders often co-occur. In many cases, traumatic experiences can result in a mental health disorder and substance abuse. Dual diagnosis rehabilitation treats both of these issues together. The best approach for the treatment of dual diagnosis is an integrated system. In this strategy, both the substance abuse problem and the mental disorder are treated simultaneously. Regardless of which diagnosis (mental health or substance abuse problem) came first, long-term recovery will depend largely on the treatment for both disorders done by the same team or provider.