{"id":3650,"date":"2023-07-31T07:02:28","date_gmt":"2023-07-31T07:02:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.floridarehab.com\/?page_id=3650"},"modified":"2025-02-07T12:35:09","modified_gmt":"2025-02-07T12:35:09","slug":"addiction","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.floridarehab.com\/drugs\/methylphenidate\/addiction\/","title":{"rendered":"Methylphenidate Addiction Signs, Symptoms & Side Effects"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Methylphenidate is commonly used to treat ADHD, but it can also be addictive when used other than prescribed.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Methylphenidate<\/a>\u00a0is a drug commonly used to treat\u00a0attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)<\/a>. It works as a central nervous system stimulant, which increases the availability of neurotransmitters that help people focus and be more alert. When used at doses higher than prescribed, the effects on the brain can cause the person to have a feeling of euphoria. When a person craves the euphoric feeling and continually uses the drug in high amounts to achieve the euphoria, it can become addictive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Methylphenidate Abuse and Addiction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Methylphenidate misuse occurs when a person takes more of the medication than they were prescribed. Misuse also occurs when someone uses an alternative route (such as snorting or injection) to feel the effects of the drug faster. When injected through the vein, methylphenidate has been reported to have the same effects as cocaine<\/a>, and the effects are more sustained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Methylphenidate addiction occurs when a person craves the euphoric feeling of the drug and uses it more and more often. As this happens, the drug will not have its effects as quickly or higher doses will be needed to achieve the same feeling of euphoria. When a person increasingly uses the drug at higher doses, they may become dependent on it. A person who depends on methylphenidate will not be able to function normally without it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has categorized methylphenidate as a Schedule II drug<\/a>. This means it has a \u201chigh potential for abuse, which may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Methylphenidate is commonly misused by students<\/a>, who use its effects to study more efficiently. When someone uses methylphenidate without a prescription, it is considered misuse \u2014 even if they are not using it for the feeling of euphoria. Using methylphenidate when not prescribed puts teens<\/a> at an increased risk for becoming addicted<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Effects of Methylphenidate Abuse and Addiction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When someone misuses methylphenidate, they run the risk of having side effects that a person taking the normal dose would not normally experience. Methylphenidate addiction effects can be short- or long-term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Short-Term Effects<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some of the short-term effects of methylphenidate include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n