about Ritalin abuse for academic achievement

[Agent999]

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The previous thread about ritalin abuse is getting too long so I decided to start a new one.

First of all, some1 mentioned that using Ritalin is illegal because we are using it to enhance studying when it's meant for those we are suffering from ADD. So according to him, using a substance illegally is when you are not using it for its intended purpose. Now may I ask how is that different from drinking coffee to stay awake? Do you really think coffee was discovered in the first place to increase our heart rate, or for our purpose, to stay awake? Hell no. Coffee is consumed for its taste and aroma, similar to why other foods or drinks are chosen. The "staying awake" effect is merely an side effect. Therefore, by your logic, we are also drinking coffee illegally, when we are using it to pull all-nighters when we should be enjoying it with pleasure during a work-break. The fact that the effects of coffee is relatively mild because of the low concentration of caffeine does not change that.

Personally I think the reason why people here are sore about ritalin users is because they are bitter about the fact that other people are achieving the same academic standings as they are, but in an easily way. Well, that's life. If people are clever enough to think of an easy way out of solution, then they deserve the reward. If the law didnt issue ritalin as an illegal drug only to be used for therapeutic puposes (if it did, it would be no different from marijuana), then it ISNT illegal to take it. End of story.

Dont be wrong, I am no advocate of Ritalin myself. I believe in good morals. I believe success comes from hardwork, and that will always be true. Those who take Ritalin will suffer their own demise soon enough, when future workload in medicine becomes so daunting that drugs like these will not be sufficient, and only those who truly take it the long way will be able to handle it.

So to the fellow medstudents, who cares if your classmates are taking Ritalin. Let those smartasses take the damn drug, and get through their problems in the short run, but only to be damned in the long run and wish they had never taken the drug b4.

 

[Psycho Doctor]

I sort of agree with you for the most part. And if med school wasn't so difficult to get into, no one would feel the need to abuse it. To much coffee actually make syou sick and has other physical problems. Adderal and ritalin seem quicker and safer to use short-term and people ustify that if it's used as a precription for others it can't realisticallyhave severe long term effects.

Just curious what everyone'e views are on amphetamines to stay awake? How about diet pills for someone slightly overweight but they really want it to pull all-nighters.

 

[gwyn779]

I sort of agree with you for the most part. And if med school wasn't so difficult to get into, no one would feel the need to abuse it. To much coffee actually make syou sick and has other physical problems. Adderal and ritalin seem quicker and safer to use short-term and people ustify that if it's used as a precription for others it can't realisticallyhave severe long term effects.

Just curious what everyone'e views are on amphetamines to stay awake? How about diet pills for someone slightly overweight but they really want it to pull all-nighters.

I just wrote this in the other thread, but Adderall is a mixture of amphetamines (amphetamine + dextroamphetamine).

 

[g3pro]

I don't do ritalin, or drink coffee. Or do any other performance enhancing substances. Why am I able to succeed without any of that stuff yet people need to resort to illegal drug use to stay competitive? 😕


Is this what med schools are like these days? Drug-abusing gunners who are so obsessed with out-competing other students that they will go to any lengths to score above them?

 

[jao86]

The previous thread about ritalin abuse is getting too long so I decided to start a new one.

First of all, some1 mentioned that using Ritalin is illegal because we are using it to enhance studying when it's meant for those we are suffering from ADD. So according to him, using a substance illegally is when you are not using it for its intended purpose. Now may I ask how is that different from drinking coffee to stay awake? Do you really think coffee was discovered in the first place to increase our heart rate, or for our purpose, to stay awake? Hell no. Coffee is consumed for its taste and aroma, similar to why other foods or drinks are chosen. The "staying awake" effect is merely an side effect. Therefore, by your logic, we are also drinking coffee illegally, when we are using it to pull all-nighters when we should be enjoying it with pleasure during a work-break. The fact that the effects of coffee is relatively mild because of the low concentration of caffeine does not change that.

Personally I think the reason why people here are sore about ritalin users is because they are bitter about the fact that other people are achieving the same academic standings as they are, but in an easily way. Well, that's life. If people are clever enough to think of an easy way out of solution, then they deserve the reward. If the law didnt issue ritalin as an illegal drug only to be used for therapeutic puposes (if it did, it would be no different from marijuana), then it ISNT illegal to take it. End of story.

It IS illegal to take Ritalin when it's not prescribed to you. That's the difference between Ritalin and coffee. Coffee is availiable for anyone to take. Taking ritalin when you're not supposed to puts other at a competitive disadvantage, and wrongfully so I might add. I personally can't believe that a med student would actually say some of the things you said. It's completely unethical to take Ritalin if you don't need it.

 

[Mirror Form]

It IS illegal to take Ritalin when it's not prescribed to you. That's the difference between Ritalin and coffee. Coffee is availiable for anyone to take. Taking ritalin when you're not supposed to puts other at a competitive disadvantage, and wrongfully so I might add. I personally can't believe that a med student would actually say some of the things you said. It's completely unethical to take Ritalin if you don't need it.

Your "legal" argument is rudimentary and just plain stupid. If I overstated my problems studying to my doctor so that he'd write me a rx, it would then be legal. Would that make it okay then???? According to your legal argument, that would be more moral then jay-walking.

 

[Mirror Form]

Dont be wrong, I am no advocate of Ritalin myself. I believe in good morals. I believe success comes from hardwork, and that will always be true. Those who take Ritalin will suffer their own demise soon enough, when future workload in medicine becomes so daunting that drugs like these will not be sufficient, and only those who truly take it the long way will be able to handle it.

Your argument breaks down due to the fact that many people who take ritalin are using it to go from B+ to A students, or from A students to honors students. They'll be able to handle themselves fine later on.

 

[Mirror Form]

Personally I think the reason why people here are sore about ritalin users is because they are bitter about the fact that other people are achieving the same academic standings as they are, but in an easily way. Well, that's life. If people are clever enough to think of an easy way out of solution, then they deserve the reward. If the law didnt issue ritalin as an illegal drug only to be used for therapeutic puposes (if it did, it would be no different from marijuana), then it ISNT illegal to take it. End of story.

You definitely hit the nail on the head here. Medical students are competitive, and seriously resent anybody who has an advantage over them. Especially if the advantage requires doing something shady. As someone who's never taken any rx drug for help studying during medical school, it irks me a bit too. But med school isn't just about competition, it's also about learning material that is supposedly important for us during our careers as doctors. If ritalin helps people learn better, then it will also probably make them better doctors in the long run.

 

[g3pro]

Huh? Are you saying that it's the fault of the med students not taking ritalin? That's really f***ed up.

 

[mpsheeha]

Your "legal" argument is rudimentary and just plain stupid. If I overstated my problems studying to my doctor so that he'd write me a rx, it would then be legal. Would that make it okay then???? According to your legal argument, that would be more moral then jay-walking.


Rudimentary??? You are joking right? Maybe I should start making my decisions on whether or not I can trick people into thinking I am doing what is lawful and morally correct.

 

[39094]

You definitely hit the nail on the head here. Medical students are competitive, and seriously resent anybody who has an advantage over them. Especially if the advantage requires doing something shady. As someone who's never taken any rx drug for help studying during medical school, it irks me a bit too. But med school isn't just about competition, it's also about learning material that is supposedly important for us during our careers as doctors. If ritalin helps people learn better, then it will also probably make them better doctors in the long run.

Yeah, and when they are trying to juggle professional life, a family and a long list of patients in a few years, prescribing themselves a little vicodin and oxycontin will help them keep their lives in check and make them "better doctors in the long run." Hell, if the Dr. who takes care of the VP of the US can prescribe himself $46,000 worth of prescription pain killers, he MUST being doing something good for his career. I'd sure hope I that I too can aspire to be the self-medicating type of physician, the only kind of physician that truly has the "edge" to make a difference in medicine. After all, they're doing it for a good reason, so it makes everything alright.

 

[Mirror Form]

Your "legal" argument is rudimentary and just plain stupid. If I overstated my problems studying to my doctor so that he'd write me a rx, it would then be legal. Would that make it okay then???? According to your legal argument, that would be more moral then jay-walking.


Rudimentary??? You are joking right? Maybe I should start making my decisions on whether or not I can trick people into thinking I am doing what is lawful and morally correct.

well it would be legal, and you said that it was legallity that made the distinction, remember?

I mean honestly, if we were medical students in India (where adderall and ritalin are OTC), would it then be morally okay to take ritalin for help studying? But then if you moved to the US, it would suddenly become immoral? Even though you're doing the exact same thing?

 

[Mirror Form]

Huh? Are you saying that it's the fault of the med students not taking ritalin? That's really f***ed up.

I don't follow you here. But to clarify, my point was that the whole "steroids in sports analogy to ritalin in academics" is flawed b/c medical school isn't supposed to be about competing, it's supposed to be about learning the material.

 

[Mirror Form]

Yeah, and when they are trying to juggle professional life, a family and a long list of patients in a few years, prescribing themselves a little vicodin and oxycontin will help them keep their lives in check and make them "better doctors in the long run." Hell, if the Dr. who takes care of the VP of the US can prescribe himself $46,000 worth of prescription pain killers, he MUST being doing something good for his career. I'd sure hope I that I too can aspire to be the self-medicating type of physician, the only kind of physician that truly has the "edge" to make a difference in medicine. After all, they're doing it for a good reason, so it makes everything alright.

You can't associate drugs like ritalin with highly addictive and habit forming painkillers. They have nothing in common.

 

[Medikit]

Does Ritalin actually increase the ability to concentrate for people without ADD? I was under the impression that it simply served as a stimulant, something that could actually make you more distracted when you study. Any case studies on this? (I ask because I brought this up jokingly with my father and being that I'm the one who is typically the doubter he thought it was a good time to throw it back in my face)

 

[39094]

You can't associate drugs like ritalin with highly addictive and habit forming painkillers. They have nothing in common.

Except they are both schedule 2 and both considered similarly addictive and habit-forming.

Just because "your friends" may not find themselves addicted to it doesn't mean it's not addictive. I'm sure that plenty of people can pop oxycontin too and not consider it a "habit."

I always think it's great when we find people who believe they know more about medicine than everyone who has come before them. Did you ever stop to think that maybe Adderall and Ritalin are classified as schedule 2 for a reason? Maybe that your anecdotal evidence of their safety may not be as accurate as years of clinical study?

Of course not, you know better than the rest of us, I forgot.

 

[Mirror Form]

Except they are both schedule 2 and both considered similarly addictive and habit-forming.

Just because "your friends" may not find themselves addicted to it doesn't mean it's not addictive. I'm sure that plenty of people can pop oxycontin too and not consider it a "habit."

You apparently know very little about ritalin or adderall if you think they're that addictive. The majority of people who use them every day for long periods of time under doctor supervision have very little trouble quitting cold turkey when the time comes. Try comparing that to opiates! If you simply take a ritalin pill once every two weeks for help studying on big nights, the idea that you'll end up addicted is just plain naive, and it exposes your lack of knowledge on this subject.

I always think it's great when we find people who believe they know more about medicine than everyone who has come before them. Did you ever stop to think that maybe Adderall and Ritalin are classified as schedule 2 for a reason? Maybe that your anecdotal evidence of their safety may not be as accurate as years of clinical study?

Of course not, you know better than the rest of us, I forgot.

Hmm, where all all these addicts on the street giving hand jobs for ritalin?????? I've never met, or even heard of, a single person who was using ritalin w/o a rx for studying that developed a serious addiction to it. I guess if somebody w/o any common sense really over did it w/ the abuse of the drug, they could develop problems. But so far I've never seen anybody do that; it's not like these drugs get you high like opiates or cocaine! Now if you started snorting lines of ritalin, then I might be a little worried . . .

 

[ctaborda]

Another Ritalin thread?

Well if you think its alright to take it, just take it, no one cares.

 

[Gleevec]

I would be interested to know how many of the emotional Ritalin defenders are in fact abusers of some sort of amphetamine.

 

[LuckyMD2b]

I don't do ritalin, or drink coffee. Or do any other performance enhancing substances. Why am I able to succeed without any of that stuff yet people need to resort to illegal drug use to stay competitive? 😕


Is this what med schools are like these days? Drug-abusing gunners who are so obsessed with out-competing other students that they will go to any lengths to score above them?

I don't do ACE inhibitors or diuretics to keep my blood pressure low, Why am I able to stay below 120/80 with out resorting to using DRUGS while others "need it"😕

Also what's up with all those cheaters using wheel chairs while I'm using my legs like a sucker.

Who cares if people use ritalin to concentrate more while studying. Stop player hating!! If you don't need coffee or caffine pills to stay awake then that's excellent for you, but everyone else in the world is not identical to you.

Also using ritalin without a prescription is illegal. But taking a drug for a purpose that it isn't marketed for is not unethical or illegal.

 

[gschl1234]

I would be interested to know how many of the emotional Ritalin defenders are in fact abusers of some sort of amphetamine.

Ha! I already assumed they were. It's a bit disturbing that drug abusers will some day be able to write perscriptions.

 

[Mirror Form]

I would be interested to know how many of the emotional Ritalin defenders are in fact abusers of some sort of amphetamine.

I used ephedrine sporadically during my second year of med school until those stupid jocks got it banned. Other then that, all i've used for studying during med school is caffeine.

BTW, I wonder how many of these people attacking ritalin use either:
1) don't know much about the drug
2) are people who've lived very sheltered lives and never tried alcohol until they were 21 b/c mommy said it was was the devil.

 

[Gleevec]

I used ephedrine sporadically during my second year of med school until those stupid jocks got it banned. Other then that, all i've used for studying during med school is caffeine.

BTW, I wonder how many of these people attacking ritalin use either:
1) don't know much about the drug
2) are people who've lived very sheltered lives and never tried alcohol until they were 21 b/c mommy said it was was the devil.

1. I know enough about the drug to know its a schedule II amphetamine, which is more than some of the *****s advocating illegal use of drugs because they are too stupid to cut it academically. And if you read the package insert, the side-effects are numerous.

2. Perhaps you should have stayed away from drinking all that old-timer methanol-denatured alcohol in lab. It seems to have destroyed the reasoning centers in your brain.

PS. ephedrine was banned for good reason due to the dangerous side-effects. Just wait for a medical student to die of Adderall overdose because the average dose wasnt enough to cram for the test and it to be plastered all over the news. Its bullcrap that it will take a martyr for schools to crackdown on this.

 

[mpsheeha]

👍 👍 👍
Gleevec hit the nail on the head!

 

[Marianne11]

Can someone please explain how ritalin helps med students that do not have ADD? Does it make you concentrate better & study longer & retain info better? No offense but I'd rather know that I made it through med school because of hard work & good study ethics, and not because I took some drug. If I have to resort to drugs to do well then I believe I didn't deserve to be a med student in the first place. I've always heard that doctors are the worst drug addicts. This thread supports that theory.

 

[HiddenTruth]

For all you advocaters out there who believe that Riddalin is "not so addictive," and that it shouldn't be compared to the adictive opiates and pain killers--well no matter what you argue--it's wrong! and furthermore, if you believe that it's not addictive and if a few BIG nights prior to exams can be successful with the use of an illicit substance, then where do you draw the line? I mean two nties before your BIG path test, o wait, studying for boards, o no!--step two is around the corner, better pop those pills, o wait--im on q4 this week during my surgery residency, gotta be up and attentive, better take those suckers--

I've obviosuly hyped it up a bit here--but honestly the point is --where do you draw the line? And it's no joke they say that docs are the biggest abusers of meds--i mean come on!--GROW UP PEOPLE! If you can't take responsibility for youself, how do you expect to be responsible for the lives of others-which are inevitably in your hands--good luck!

 

[gwyn779]

Can someone please explain how ritalin helps med students that do not have ADD? Does it make you concentrate better & study longer & retain info better? No offense but I'd rather know that I made it through med school because of hard work & good study ethics, and not because I took some drug. If I have to resort to drugs to do well then I believe I didn't deserve to be a med student in the first place. I've always heard that doctors are the worst drug addicts. This thread supports that theory.

Stimulants can help some people without ADD concentrate better/longer; at the same time, they don't always work for people who do have ADD (thought the response rate is something like 70% on first try and 90% after trying a second drug). They don't work for everyone, but they CAN work for people without ADD.

 

[39094]

You apparently know very little about ritalin or adderall if you think they're that addictive. The majority of people who use them every day for long periods of time under doctor supervision have very little trouble quitting cold turkey when the time comes. Try comparing that to opiates! If you simply take a ritalin pill once every two weeks for help studying on big nights, the idea that you'll end up addicted is just plain naive, and it exposes your lack of knowledge on this subject.

Hmm, where all all these addicts on the street giving hand jobs for ritalin?????? I've never met, or even heard of, a single person who was using ritalin w/o a rx for studying that developed a serious addiction to it. I guess if somebody w/o any common sense really over did it w/ the abuse of the drug, they could develop problems. But so far I've never seen anybody do that; it's not like these drugs get you high like opiates or cocaine! Now if you started snorting lines of ritalin, then I might be a little worried . . .

Umm, did you even read the part of my post about anecdotal evidence? Do you know what an anecdote is? It's a story, like "my brother snorts 5 lines of coke a day, and he's had no problems!" Just because you have great stories and "you've never seen" such and such DOESN'T MAKE IT TRUE.

Why don't you try logging into Pubmed and doing a search for the terms "Ritalin addiction" or "Ritalin abuse" and see how many peer-reviewed journal articles appear that actually have SCIENTIFIC evidence to back up their claims about the dangers of Ritalin.

And since I obviously know "so little" about Ritalin, how the hell do you get off saying you know so much? Are you claiming to know more than the hundreds of doctors who have conducted clinical and lab based studies relating to the dangers of taking Ritalin w/o a doctor's supervision?

Oh, and actually it's quite common for people who take Ritalin to quickly develop a tolerance to it, so the most common thing to do is to start snorting it (and the subsequent effects on the body are quite similar to cocaine). You can find that in Pubmed to with a little work. Do you know how to access Pubmed, or do you get all your info from "My-friends-said-it-was-ok-so-it-must-be.com?"

 

[superso]

aaaaahahahahahah! this thread was funny as hell! im taking my mcat tomorrow and i heard people actually take ritalin to concentrate and i found this online and ...aaaaaahahahah! wow! who knew!? im going to write an article about this in my school paper, this is hot stuff.

 

[Psycho Doctor]

hey glad you enjoyed it so much. 😛 I too am taking the MCAT tomorrow and will not be on ritalin. 😀 good luck

 

[thackl]

I studied a few times with a guy in undergrad who took it a few times when behind or had a lot of tests on the same day. He did not have ADHD, but claimed it made him very focused and allowed him to stay up all night. He wasn't busting out A's when he took it, but did pass some hard tests on one night's studying..... he would then crash real hard for a day or two after. Overall, he thought it wasn't worth it.

My advice to him was that it wasn't a sustainable fix and I encouraged him not to do it anymore.

 

[SexyLexie729]

Does Ritalin actually increase the ability to concentrate for people without ADD? I was under the impression that it simply served as a stimulant, something that could actually make you more distracted when you study. Any case studies on this? (I ask because I brought this up jokingly with my father and being that I'm the one who is typically the doubter he thought it was a good time to throw it back in my face)

Studies indicate that Ritalin actually improves the concentration of both ADD and non-ADD people. In small amounts, stimulants actually increase concentration and memory (i.e. study on caffiene learning/memory). Hope that helps.

 

[SexyLexie729]

By no means do I advocate the use of Ritalin/stimulants as study aids...hehehe.

 

[superso]

so if i drink coffee during the test, will that help me concentrate? i thought it would make me twitchy - i keep losing focus when taking this test. i know everything, was even told i should teach verbal or bio for princeton review, but when it comes to staying alert the entire time, i cant do it, almost all my mistakes are careless errors that i make as i rush through certain portions after wasting too much time zoning out on one question.

 

[barone ROCKS]

I feel the need to add to this post since i am a user of concerta...for primary hypersomnia. This stuff is not addictive and i dont feel the need to take it on days when im going to be indoors all day but on those days i sometimes sleep for 16 hours. Even on days i do take my meds i can still go to sleep 2-3 hours after taking it without any problems (concerta lasts 8-10 hours). for the people that take it to help them study i say good for you. i believe everyone has concentration problems to some extent and if it helps u learn the material, more power to you.

bring on the arguements....i have done a lot of reading on sleep disorders and cns stimulants

 

[gwyn779]

Why don't you try logging into Pubmed and doing a search for the terms "Ritalin addiction" or "Ritalin abuse" and see how many peer-reviewed journal articles appear that actually have SCIENTIFIC evidence to back up their claims about the dangers of Ritalin.

Oh, and actually it's quite common for people who take Ritalin to quickly develop a tolerance to it, so the most common thing to do is to start snorting it (and the subsequent effects on the body are quite similar to cocaine). You can find that in Pubmed to with a little work.

Yes, Ritalin can be addictive. However most using it under a doctor's supervision aren't addicted. People will stay on stable doses for years. People with ADHD are actually more likely to be substance abusers than the general population, however people who's ADHD is adequately treated are in fact less likely to abuse any drugs.

 

[cmz]

What happens when you give a hypertensive patient ritalin? I'm just curious.

 

[SexyLexie729]

so if i drink coffee during the test, will that help me concentrate? i thought it would make me twitchy - i keep losing focus when taking this test. i know everything, was even told i should teach verbal or bio for princeton review, but when it comes to staying alert the entire time, i cant do it, almost all my mistakes are careless errors that i make as i rush through certain portions after wasting too much time zoning out on one question.

The study indicated that small amounts of caffiene (i.e. 1-2 cups of coffee) helped concentration and memory. It probably depends on the person too. You might not want to take a quad shot of espresso though.

 

[thackl]

so if i drink coffee during the test, will that help me concentrate? i thought it would make me twitchy

Green tea is the way to go. I love it before/during tests.

 

[gwyn779]

What happens when you give a hypertensive patient ritalin? I'm just curious.

Their BP tends to go up. It's one of the relative contraindications.

 

[cmz]

Their BP tends to go up. It's one of the relative contraindications.

Exactly. I was just checking to see if anyone knew this ;-)

I'm sure most drugs are safe when given to the correct patient population and in the appropriate doses, however, I'm also wondering about the pharmagogenetic aspects of this drug... if perhaps there are any modifier genes out there that make individuals more susceptible to different diseases. Since we don't know if the above is true (or not, who knows), I suspect taking something like this casually (or over a long period of time, say a school semester), etc may not be such a good idea.

Sometimes I wonder if some of the posters on this board have their heads up their asses or not (referring to the ones who are staunch adovcates of, "ritalin is OK!").

 

[John Hess]

1. I know enough about the drug to know its a schedule II amphetamine, which is more than some of the *****s advocating illegal use of drugs because they are too stupid to cut it academically. And if you read the package insert, the side-effects are numerous.

Actually, some people have learning disorders. You wouldn't walk up to a person in a wheelchair and start making fun of them would you? Also, Ritalin is definitely NOT an amphetamine. The active ingredient is methylPHENIDATE or methyl alpha-phenyl-2-piperidineacetate. Get your chemistry right there you wanker....
There are side effects to taking a placebo. You do realize this right? The reason it is classified as a Sched II is becuase of a high potential for abuse (i.e. crackheads injecting it). Responsible use of methylphenidate is ethically and morally acceptable and improves concentration (and their ability to function) in those that need it.

 

[JaggerPlate]

The previous thread about ritalin abuse is getting too long so I decided to start a new one.

First of all, some1 mentioned that using Ritalin is illegal because we are using it to enhance studying when it's meant for those we are suffering from ADD. So according to him, using a substance illegally is when you are not using it for its intended purpose. Now may I ask how is that different from drinking coffee to stay awake? Do you really think coffee was discovered in the first place to increase our heart rate, or for our purpose, to stay awake? Hell no. Coffee is consumed for its taste and aroma, similar to why other foods or drinks are chosen. The "staying awake" effect is merely an side effect. Therefore, by your logic, we are also drinking coffee illegally, when we are using it to pull all-nighters when we should be enjoying it with pleasure during a work-break. The fact that the effects of coffee is relatively mild because of the low concentration of caffeine does not change that.

Personally I think the reason why people here are sore about ritalin users is because they are bitter about the fact that other people are achieving the same academic standings as they are, but in an easily way. Well, that's life. If people are clever enough to think of an easy way out of solution, then they deserve the reward. If the law didnt issue ritalin as an illegal drug only to be used for therapeutic puposes (if it did, it would be no different from marijuana), then it ISNT illegal to take it. End of story.

Dont be wrong, I am no advocate of Ritalin myself. I believe in good morals. I believe success comes from hardwork, and that will always be true. Those who take Ritalin will suffer their own demise soon enough, when future workload in medicine becomes so daunting that drugs like these will not be sufficient, and only those who truly take it the long way will be able to handle it.

So to the fellow medstudents, who cares if your classmates are taking Ritalin. Let those smartasses take the damn drug, and get through their problems in the short run, but only to be damned in the long run and wish they had never taken the drug b4.

Apparently it's no longer a felony to take a prescription drug that was not prescribed to you?? I suppose you buy coffee from some guy in an alley too right??? Pathetic.

 

[PeepshowJohnny]

Your "legal" argument is rudimentary and just plain stupid. If I overstated my problems studying to my doctor so that he'd write me a rx, it would then be legal. Would that make it okay then???? According to your legal argument, that would be more moral then jay-walking.

That's not what they're arguing at all. The fact that you admit you overstate (read: lie) to a physician to get a prescription drug is proof of the indefensibility of the position. That'd be like saying "Well, I committed insurance fraud but because they believed that fire was accidental I'm in the clear morally."

 

[gleneagles3]

1. I know enough about the drug to know its a schedule II amphetamine, which is more than some of the *****s advocating illegal use of drugs because they are too stupid to cut it academically. And if you read the package insert, the side-effects are numerous.

Actually, some people have learning disorders. You wouldn't walk up to a person in a wheelchair and start making fun of them would you? Also, Ritalin is definitely NOT an amphetamine. The active ingredient is methylPHENIDATE or methyl alpha-phenyl-2-piperidineacetate. Get your chemistry right there you wanker....
There are side effects to taking a placebo. You do realize this right? The reason it is classified as a Sched II is becuase of a high potential for abuse (i.e. crackheads injecting it). Responsible use of methylphenidate is ethically and morally acceptable and improves concentration (and their ability to function) in those that need it.

You bumped a 4 year old thread?!?....carry on 🙄

 

[ZonaRidicularis]

z

 

[MonkeyNuts!]

If you need Ritalin to study,

1.) You care WAYYY too much about your grades. Chill the ***k out.
2.) You are studying wrong. Go see an academic counselor, you junkie.

Also, necrothreadmancy deserves a touch of the banstick.

Forum noobs.

 

[Psycho Doctor]

If you need Ritalin to study,

1.) You care WAYYY too much about your grades. Chill the ***k out.
2.) You are studying wrong. Go see an academic counselor, you junkie.

Also, necrothreadmancy deserves a touch of the banstick.

Forum noobs.

Who are you talking to?

I'm surprised you're still around, but hey good to see you!

 

[berrypie]

This thread is GIVING me ADHD! There are so many misguided arguments and deviations, it's impossible to keep track!

Let's break it down right now. Clear and simple.

YES-- taking prescription drugs when they are not prescribed to you is illegal. There is no argument about that. But, we also know that deciding which drugs will be OTC and which will be prescribed is a fluid, changing process. There are a million examples of this-- paracetamol has gone from OTC to a prescription drug in some places around the world. Does that mean that we shouldn't ever consider paracetamol to be an OTC drug again? Of course not, it continues to be an ongoing debate with lots and lots of studies and analysis of data to support our decisions.

Our lives are filled with substances that alter our physical and mental states. Food, fluids, drugs, alcohol, caffeine, sugar... These things are available to us and have a healthy range within which they are most beneficial to us with the least amount of harm. The question is not WHETHER to use them, but rather, HOW MUCH of them we should be using before they start to become detrimental to our health.

I guess clinical trials are the only way to measure the therapeutic/adverse effects of ritalin in non-ADHD users (btw, ADHD is a spectrum disorder, meaning that there is a good chance that people who use this drug w/o prescription are, in fact, correcting a real deficit whether properly diagnosed or not). Right now we are basing all of our arguments on anecdotal information and emotion.

If a substance is available to people that will enhance their ability to learn, and it has been proven (<-- emphasis on this word) to have low adverse effects (when taken in the correct amount for each individual), then how can you expect people NOT to take it? It's the same with 1 cup of coffee a day, isn't it?

 

[AggieSean]

If I overstated my problems studying to my doctor so that he'd write me a rx, it would then be legal.

1. No. Most physicians won't write you a Rx for Ritalin unless you have medical records establishing the dx. I currently am taking Ritalin (I have ADD, and no my parents didn't jump hastily to that conclusion, I went through a battery of tests around age 6 before being placed on it, with remarkable improvement in performance in school, no more discipline problems, etc.) and my current physician states that he is normally hesitant to write for it for someone my age, but given the extenuating circumstances of the 1st 2 years of medical school and the amount of time required for concentration, he'd do it for me.

2. If you lie to a physician about your PMH in order to score and that physician writes you a script, that physician has committed a felony. They arrested a guy in VA I think for writing narc prescriptions to pt's who were going back and peddling them on the streets. So, not only are you taking a drug which you have no business taking, you're risking a future colleague's license simply because you're too undisciplined to sit in a chair and study hard.

As far as the addictive power of Ritalin, when I was in between med school and undergrad, I went off it without any difficulty. Was I a lot more scatter-brained, talkative, and hyperkinetic? Yes, but it's manageable when I'm not in school. I had no desire to keep taking it and I plan to permanently d/c using it after Step 1.

Just my $0.02.