Ritalin May Cause Changes In Brain’s Reward Areas

[NOW tense]

Ritalin May Cause Changes In Brain’s Reward Areas; Effects May Overlap With Those Of Cocaine

ScienceDaily (Feb. 5, 2009) — A common treatment for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, prescribed millions of times a year, may change the brain in the same ways that cocaine does, a new study in mice suggests. Research from Rockefeller University shows that methylphenidate, commonly known as Ritalin, causes physical changes in neurons in reward regions of mouse brains. In some cases, the effects overlapped with those of cocaine.

the study highlights the need for more research into methylphenidate’s long-term effects on the brain, the researchers say.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090204193314.htm

[JonLP24]

1. This is well known I think

Ritalin is mixed amphetamines and like meth. Both drugs release dopamine and dopamine is naturally released when someone does something good, like you're being rewarded in feelings for doing something good. Not 100% sure on amphetamines but with Meth it overloads the circuit and eventually damanges the neurotransmitters resulting in quite some time to fully recover. I believe 6 months to 2 years depending on useage.