Stim Nation: Ritalin and Cocaine Addiction
Inspired by this letter I’ve been researching links between methylphenidate (Ritalin) and cocaine addiction.
First I dug out the study mentioned in the letter. ‘A choice procedure for drug reinforcers: cocaine and methylphenidate in the rhesus monkey‘ used Rhesus Monkeys to examine if, when given a choice, the monkeys preferred cocaine, methylphenidate or saline solution. The monkeys ignored the saline solution but showed no preference between cocaine and methylphenidate. One interpretation of this data is that both cocaine and methylphenidate offer the same rewards to the user.
In the 2003 study ‘Adolescent Exposure to Methylphenidate Alters the Activity of Rat Midbrain Dopamine Neurons’ [ PDF ] they found that rats given low doses of methylphenidate where more likely to self-administer cocaine as adults.
In another 2003 study, ‘Methylphenidate and MDMA adolescent exposure in mice: Long-lasting consequences on cocaine-induced reward and psychomotor stimulation in adulthood‘, mice where found to be more susceptible to cocaine and to be more likely to relapse in to drug use if they had been given Methylphenidate.
Its not all bad news for Ritalin. In a detail analysis of how cocaine and methylphenidate effect the brain, ‘Is methylphenidate like cocaine? Studies on their pharmacokinetics and distribution in the human brain‘, the study concluded that Ritalin and cocaine were very similar but were as cocaine drops out of the body quickly, Ritalin remains. This is good news because it is believed that it is the high followed by a rapid decline that makes cocaine so addictive. Where as in Ritalin, the high is followed by a slow clearance making the effect less pronounced.
It is clear that there is some risk that children given methylphenidate in adolescence will be more likely to abuse cocaine in later life. However this leaves parents in a difficult situation. Untreated children are more likely fail in school leading to poor work prospects in adults and low income is a major risk factor in lots of diseases including drink and alcohol addition. A real catch-22 situation.
Find Out More:
Books:
- Talking Back to Ritalin: What Doctors Aren’t Telling You About Stimulants and ADHD
- Concerta Side Effects
- Beyond Ritalin: Facts About Medication and Other Strategies for Helping Children, Adolescents, and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorders
- Ritalin is Not the Answer Action Guide: An Interactive Companion to the Bestselling Drug-Free ADD/ADHD Parenting Program
- Nature’s Ritalin for the Marathon Mind: Nurturing Your ADHD Child With Exercise
May 26th, 2006
ADD / ADHD, ADD / ADHD Medication, Science
Comments on: Stim Nation: Ritalin and Cocaine Addiction
You don’t get it.
People take drugs because they need them. If you have an ADD/ADHD problem stimulants may be required for life. Thus the pre-disposition is not caused by the drugs. It is caused by the condition of the body.
http://powerandcontrol.blogspot.com/2005/11/is-addiction-real.html
Is Addiction Real?
The Medical Cartel is against illegal drug because they cut into profits.
http://powerandcontrol.blogspot.com/2005/10/war-on-unpatented-drugs.html
The War On Unpatented Drugs
The whole drug prohibition regime is a fight against a phantom menace.
Posted by: M. Simon May 26th, 2006 at 6:18 pm
Simon,
Your articles are interesting. The relationship between heroin and childhood abuse is noteworthy. However all the studies in my post are on animals breed under identical conditions with limited genetic differences. Each of these studies demonstrates that once exposed to stimulants, users are more likely to use them again. For a parent having to make a choice about medicating their child, the dilema is very real.
Chris
Posted by: Chris Tregenza May 26th, 2006 at 6:43 pm
M. Simon,
I’d have to disagree with you. There’s plenty of VERY effective non-drug treatments available for sufferers of ADD/ADHD. I’m not totally against the use of drugs, but they should not be something seen as a permanent replacement for treatment.
Among the things that can help with ADD (or cure in some circumstances) that do not involve drugs: brainwave entrainment, neurofeedback (EEG biofeedback), possibly cranial electrotherapy stimulation (still need to look into this more), and very importantly… heavy omega 3 EPA supplementation.
Posted by: Neurofreak May 27th, 2006 at 10:06 pm
i have been told by cocaine users that methylphenidate gives exactly the same effect. i know 2 coke users who have ADD/ADHD and who admittedly self-medicate rather than seeking a prescription (so they can use it ‘only when they need it’). This would suggest that the need for the drug is created by the condition of the body, except for the matter of all of the other illicit drug users. Are we to suppose that they ‘need’ the drugs too?
As for the crash after the high, it is less pronounced with methylphenidate, but the effect is still definitely there. It is in fact used by many professionals to convince parents to keep their child on medication, by reccommending short holidays of a few days or a week off the drug, and then saying, “now you see how he behaves without it, so he is not ready to stop taking it yet.”
i can vouch for the reality of the rebound effect. I took Ritalin for 3 months, then stopped because all of my carefully developed coping strategies were going out the window, and I didn’t want to be dependant on the drug. I found myself useless if I missed a day’s dosage. After I stopped, I had two weeks of being completely unable to concentrate. I was 22, and climbing furniture, unable to hold a conversation, getting distracted and wandering off at work – I had not been that bad since i was a kid! It was very embarrassing.
I have freinds who were put on Ritalin (not necessarily for ADHD) as children, but are stuck on it as adults because they can’t afford the time off work to come off the drug.
Posted by: ML Mountjoy June 8th, 2006 at 10:15 am
There are many reasons for impaired brain function of all types, from parasitic infection, to exposure of heavy metal toxicity(especially mercury and other harmful chemicals that cross the placental barrier). There are labs that can check for these toxic byproducts that are very prevalent in the air, food water etc.Certain labs can test urine using a provoked urine analysis and also heavy metals can be tested via stool analysis. The medical profession just refuses to use these labs or are ignorant of their existence. I suggest that parents should read Dr. Ellis’s work(Autism) is the name of the book and there are numerous others. When the liver can no longer break down these compounds into water soluble form the toxins build up and flow into the nervous system affecting brain function.These particles (such as mercury, lead, and many others including neurotoxins such as Lyme or certain molds-Shoemaker et al.)cross the blood brain barrier and cause severe brain dysfunction, Do your homework parents and get your children tested for neurotoxic loads before pumping them full of dangerous addictive drugs. If you need the name of these certain labs or more info on helpful therapies contact me at Jamesslmt@aol.I also suggest reading Dr. Breggins work on the dangers of these adhd drugs.James Stivaly
Posted by: James Stivaly September 8th, 2006 at 11:15 pm
I have a six year old son that has just been diagnosed with ADHD. He honestly doesn’t seem like he has ADHD, but of course I’m not the doctor. However, I would be the first to admit it if I thought there was something to be concerned about. I was shocked by the diagnosis. We have an appointment this Friday 05/04/2007 to discuss treatment options with his doctor. I’m terrified by the things that I’ve read about Ritalin and all of the other drugs normally prescribed. I’ve been researching alternative treatments. If anyone has a suggestion please post a message. I’m desparate.
Posted by: Sharon May 2nd, 2007 at 7:01 pm
It should be noted that need and dependency are mutually exclusive and should remain so. Someone grows dependent on a substance because of other influences, not just due to the substance. The substance usually just acts as an aid to the addiction.
Posted by: David December 4th, 2007 at 6:08 pm
i read this stuff in the comments and it makes me sad to know that people know so little about human biology and psychology.
ADHD is natural condition from by gone days of the hunter gather era of time in human history. were not ment to read or live the way we do but we are forced to. if i was living in the woods with no need for modern life i would not want or need ADHD medication. but since i do live in the modern world i am glad i have ADHD medication. i have no issues from it at all not for hte problems others have because i need it and it is nessary for me. these people that have so many problems on ADHD medications may not even have ADHD they may have psychological conditions. ADHD is not a psychological or a nerological condition at all. though it should be treated by neurologists not psychlogists or general practice doctors with out neurological training.
these horrors and problems people speak of are typically people that should not be on ADHD meds or may need a good psycholgist.
ADHDers typically have low skills to handle life properly and need counceling like spoke of in Dr. David J. Lieberman, Ph.D. speaks of and should read his Instant Analysis book.
most of the people that speak poorly of ADHD treatments nad medication are ignorent and ill informed in general.
i could not function wiht out my Adderall in my work life and home life, i have all the knowlage and skills required to live my life and i have a normal psychological profile with a high genius I.Q well over 150 ( my math and english is at a high school level, all on my own not from school only self direction) but i am just not able to do what i have to in this modern age without ADHD medication. i tried all the diets and suppliments and only ADHD (ritalin) medications work for me and i was off them for 10 years and went back on them for 2 and then off again for 8 years and then Adderal came out and i started taking it and it works even better then ritalin for me at least. the reasons i went off them were not to do with the medication or medical need.
so to all of you people against ADHD medications pick up some books on ADHD written by degreed professionals that do not have agenda or quacky reasonings like they typical new ager alternative medicine crazies.
think about it life , laws,taxes, bills, lawn mowing, mail, driving laws, political correctness and all the horrors of modern life is mentally taxing to normal adults imagine an ADHDer dealing with all these things properly.
ADHD medication and treatment is not easy as doctors make it sound it is not a cure all, you need to have coping skills and training to make it in life and most all people lack the knowlage and reasources to make it work if they are nerotypical or not.
the average person has it rough as it is then they have to raise a ADHD child that is almost impossible. i raised my self and educated my self past the 6th grade and my parents happed to support me morally and finacially and that is about it.
ADHDers need lots of help in life and taking the time to do it requires alot for parents and medication is a major help for the children and parents. if i did not have medication i would be in a real rut in life.
Posted by: kay January 23rd, 2008 at 6:35 pm
My son is 42 and addicted to cocaine.We are trying to find a Dr. that will prescribe Ritalin. It is obvious that he is self medicating and has been since he found Cocaine.He is anxious and Hyper. One Dr. prescribed him as the most hyper adult they had ever seen. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Posted by: Carole Walker March 24th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
My son is 42 years old and addicted to cocaine. His Dr. took him off in Jr. high and it has been a disaster ever since. It is obvious that he is self medicating.He is anxious and hyper. We are trying to find a Dr. who will prescribe Ritalin. We can’t find one and would appreciated any suggestions that you can give us.
He has been to rehab and makes every effort to beat this. He is anxious and hyper. One Dr. said he was the most hyper adult she had ever seen but wouldn’t prescribe it b/c it is addictive. Makes no sense. We have nothing to lose by trying this medication. Thank you
Posted by: Carole Walker March 24th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Could you please explain the deviation between binaural beats and brainwave entrainment?
Posted by: brainwave September 8th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
I saw somone note isochronic tones the last week, do you know what this is or where I could find out about it?
Posted by: OBE forums September 8th, 2009 at 11:36 pm
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