How to Treat a Ritalin Addiction

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1Recognizing You Have a Problem

2Getting Help and Support

3Tapering Off of Ritalin

4Managing Your Recovery Process

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Methylphenidate, also known as Ritalin, can create a dependency similar to recreational drugs. If you feel like you have may have an addiction to Ritalin, realize you're not alone, and you can get help for your addiction. Start by recognizing you have a problem, and then discuss the issue with a trusted person in the medical profession. From there, you can work to slowly wean yourself off of Ritalin under the guidance of your doctor and then take steps to manage your addiction and cravings.

Steps

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Recognizing You Have a Problem

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   Look for early symptoms of addiction. These symptoms can include feeling the need to use the drug often, having cravings for Ritalin that consume your thoughts, and needing more and more of the drug to feel the same way. You may start taking more and more of the medication without even realizing it. You might also start feeling sick when you don't take it.

   • In this stage, you'll start to feel like you need to make sure you have a supply of the medication around all the time.
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   Watch for later signs of Ritalin abuse. As you fall further into your drug addiction, you may stop meeting responsibilities, or you might stop going out with friends as much. You may spend all your cash or more than you have on getting more Ritalin. You may start stealing to feed your habit.

   • By this point, you may start realizing that you have a problem but feel like you can't stop.
   • In this stage, you may try to get off the drug and fail. When you do attempt quitting, you experience withdrawal symptoms, causing you to return to the drug. You likely spend much of your time finding Ritalin and using it.
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   Look for physical and psychological symptoms of Ritalin overdose or abuse. Too much Ritalin can cause nausea and vomiting, as well as uncontrollable shaking or twitching. You might get headaches, feel flushed, sweat too much, or have a fever. You may feel increasingly angry or irritable.

   • You may also notice your heart is beating too fast or irregularly. Overdose can also cause you to lose consciousness or have seizures. If you're having major symptoms like these, go to the emergency room.
   • Watch for psychiatric symptoms of Ritalin abuse and toxicity, which may include symptoms like confusion and delirium or hallucinations. Also, you may feel extremely angry or even aggressive. Over time, you may experience obsessive-compulsive behaviors, teeth-grinding, and the compulsion to handle objects over and over again
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   Pay attention to the impacts Ritalin addiction has on your relationships. Like any drug addiction, Ritalin can cause you to spend more money than you have, which can negatively affect your relationships. As you become more addicted, you can become paranoid and aggressive, which can also cause your relationships to deteriorate. You may notice that friends stop calling as often, for instance, because you've become angry all the time.

   • Think about how your addiction has been impacting your social life. Maybe it's made a difference between you and your significant other because you're hiding the amount of money you spend. Maybe you aren't going out as much with friends because you're spending all your time and money on Ritalin.
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   Consider how your addiction is affecting your career and/or schooling. Ritalin addiction often comes with consequences on your work life, too. For instance, while Ritalin can give you a feeling of being "up" and focused, it is often followed by a disabling "crash" period, where you sleep for many hours. That can cause you to lose valuable time.

   • Similarly, you may find that your paranoia and aggressiveness are causing you problems at school and work. Just like these symptoms can affect your personal relationships, they can also affect your relationships with peers, colleagues, and bosses.
   • You may also find that you're missing work or school to score a "hit" of the drug or that you're going into debt trying to stay on top of your addiction. You may feel like you can't function without Ritalin at work or school.
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Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Getting Help and Support

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   Ask your friends and family for help. While they likely can't offer professional help, your friends and family can help you get the assistance you need. Plus, admitting you have a problem to your friends and family is a great first step on the road to recovery. They can support through your recovery process.

   • Talk to your family about ways they can help. Maybe they can assist you in finding a local doctor. Maybe you'd like them to help you break ties with the people you use with. Don't be afraid to ask for what you need.
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   Call the national helpline for a referral. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has a national hotline that you can call anytime of day every day of the year. They'll refer you to a doctor or substance abuse center that can help you with your addiction. If you don't have insurance, they'll refer you to your state office to find a state-funded program.

   • The main number is 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
   • They can also send you materials about Ritalin abuse or refer you to a support group.
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   Visit with a doctor, psychiatrist, or addiction specialist you find yourself. If you prefer, you can find your own doctor to help with your addiction. Do an internet search to find specialists in your area, and make an appointment to see them.

   • If you want to get off of Ritalin, you should do it under the supervision of a doctor or a team of doctors.
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   Check yourself into a rehab center for more extensive help. At a rehab center, you can taper off Ritalin under the guidance of a group of doctors. While there, you'll also undergo therapy and create a plan for when you leave.

   • For a short-term rehab, you'll typically stay a week, though long-term rehabs can last several months.
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Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Tapering Off of Ritalin

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   Don't stop taking Ritalin suddenly. Like many drugs that are abused, you don't want to go cold turkey off of Ritalin. You're more likely to have major withdrawal symptoms if you do, which makes it more likely that you'll relapse.

   • Stopping cold turkey can also trigger a severe depression.
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   Develop a tapering off plan with your doctor or addiction specialist. The tapering off plan needs to be individualized to your needs. Your plan will depend on the dosages you've been taking and your tolerance of the medication. It could take a few days or several weeks to fully wean yourself from Ritalin.

   • Be honest with your doctor about the dosages you've been taking. They can't help you properly if they don't know the whole truth.
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   Prepare for the withdrawal symptoms. Even though tapering off will reduce your withdrawal symptoms, you may still experience some of them. Some withdrawal symptoms include hallucinations, nightmares, fatigue, panic, and depression. You also may find yourself hungrier than normal.

   • Talk to your doctor and support team when you're experiencing these symptoms. They may be able to help. Also, let your family and friends know what you're going through. They may not be able to help you get rid of them, but they can support you and be sympathetic while you're having these issues.
   • Stick to the tapering plan to help reduce these symptoms.
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Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Managing Your Recovery Process

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   See a counselor who specializes in drug addiction. If you didn't enter a rehab where you were provided with counselors, you'll need to find one for yourself. Ask for a referral from your doctor or psychiatrist. A counselor can help you make a treatment plan for yourself. They'll also help you work through any issues that may have led to your drug use.

   • In addition, counselors can teach you coping strategies for cravings, assist you with figuring out your triggers, and help you make a plan to avoid your triggers.
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   Identify your reasons for quitting. Treating an addiction can be difficult. To remain motivated throughout the process, make sure you understand clearly why you want to get help. Write down a list of reasons, and look back at this list when you are struggling.

   • For example, you might write down that you are sick of cravings or that you hate feeling sick.
   • The key to beating an addiction is being willing and ready to change. Identifying why you want to treat your addiction can help give you that extra edge to beat the addiction.
   • You can also write a list of things you can accomplish once you beat your addiction.
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   Join a 12-step program for drug addiction. Your doctor can put you in touch with 12-step programs in your area. Find one that fits your schedule and is nearby so you're more likely to attend regularly. Try to attend meetings most days of the week when you're first recovering to help you stay on track.

   • If a 12-step program isn't your style, try group therapy instead with a professional psychologist. Being in a group can help you realize you're not alone in your addiction.
   • Group therapy or counseling is often done once a week in the initial stages of rehab or psychological treatment.
   • A support group can provide resources and assistance from others experiencing the same type of addiction.
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   Schedule out your days to avoid falling into old habits. When you're first recovering, creating a schedule for yourself can be useful. Schedule in therapy meetings, exercise, work, social activities, and even hobbies.

   • Keeping yourself busy and on schedule helps you avoid falling back into drug-seeking behavior, as most of your life likely revolved around that before seeking treatment.
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   Analyze your drug use to figure out why you used. This process, called functional analysis, gives you the tools to stay away from your drug addiction by helping you examine the situations and problems that lead to drug use. Start by examining what feelings, thoughts, and circumstances caused you to use in the past. A counselor or therapy group can help you work through this process.

   • Once you've examined what situations led to your drug use, look at both the positive and negative outcomes of your drug use.
   • For instance, the positive, short-term effects could be anxiety relief and freedom from your problems, but the long-term consequences include drug dependency, severe side effects, and a worsening of your problems.
   • Through your functional analysis, you should begin to figure out what cued you or triggered drug use. As you figure out each cue or trigger, write it down on a collective list so you can make a plan to avoid it.
   • Cues and triggers can be objects, situations, people, emotions, or activities, just to name a few.
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   Stay away from the cues and triggers that you identify. Triggers are things that you associate with your drug use. If you encounter them, you may find your cravings are stronger than you can overcome, and you might relapse. Avoiding these triggers can help you stay on track.

   • For instance, avoid situations you would have used Ritalin in before, such as high-stress situations where you feel you need a pick-me-up. If you used with other people, avoid hanging out with them.
   • Don't go back to the area you bought the medication, if you were getting it illicitly.
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   Learn to say "no" to people who want you to use. While it's best to avoid individuals who want you to use, that may not always be possible. In that case, you must learn how to deal with them by stating a flat-out refusal. Make it clear that you don't want to hear an offer like that in the future.

   • For instance, you could say, "No, I don't do that any more. Don't bring it up again. However, I'd love to take a walk with you or hang out over coffee sometime." Make eye contact and use a serious tone so that the person knows you mean what you say.
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   Remember one slip-up doesn't mean you've failed. While you should avoid using Ritalin at all costs, if you do happen to slip, don't immediately think you've failed. If you think you've failed, you're likely to give up. Instead, treat it like what it is, a single mistake. You can do better tomorrow.

   • However, when you do slip up, make sure to talk to your counselor or doctor about it, so they can give you tips on working through it. Schedule a session specifically for the relapse as soon as you can.
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Tips

• Remind yourself of the dangers of Ritalin. Abusing Ritalin can cause a whole host of side effects, including high blood pressure, trouble sleeping, paranoia, and irregular heartbeat. It can even induce seizures or result in death.
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• Write out these side effects on a piece of paper, especially ones you experienced. Tape them up where you can see them every day to remind yourself you don't want to return to that.
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