Is It possible that Methylphenidate(ritalin) has a long-term side effect like grand-mal epilepsy or cause it?

Question

When I was 6 years old I was Diagnosed as being ADD/ADHD, and I was placed on Ritalin, until I was about 11 years old, then the medication was changed to the antidepressants norpramine and nortryptaline, after finding that those two weren't functioning, I was placed on Dexedrine, which I was taken off of when I was 12 or 13 years old when I started having Grand Mal, or Tonic-Clonic Seizures, and was Diagnosed as being an Idiopathic Epileptic, meaning that the doctors and neurologists had no clue as to why I was having seizures, but as time passed, I started getting ideas as to why I could be epileptic because of what would happen as, or just before I went into a seizure. One Such Idea is that the left Frontal, and parietal lobes of my brain were intermittentally being hyperstimulated due to the massive increase in mental function and/or the right side of my neck going into an uncontrollable spasmatic tic or twitch just before the seizure occurred.

Answer 1

I have been searching and all the literature and the side effects listed are all short term, there is no mention of long term effects. I would think that the experts know very little about this as Ritalin is a relatively new drug.
You have been on some pretty serious drugs in a short time frame, maybe its the combination rather than just one drug which has caused your problems.
I feel for you, its rotten on top of the problems you have already had. I hope you find a satisfactory answer to your question...good luck x

Answer 2

Society and doctors these days are way too eager to medicate rather than finding the root of a problem so I feel for your situation. You are right we do not know enough about possible sideffects so we need to be very careful about meds and things and they have not really been in use long enough to be properly studied (only 20 yrs or so). That being said on the flip side of things there is no proof that methylphenidate is the cause of your concerns, I have never heard of a similar situation. The causes of epilepsy are so numerous so its difficult to say exactly how it was started, but if I was you I would research different angles as to the cause. Try to prove a cause due to reasons other than med use. You may find a reason that sounds as Strong as your med use explanation.
Don't think that by giving you an answer such as this that I support the use of meds, I don't. Drug companies like to push their products. There are some that benefit from its use but I think that there are thousands of kids out there that are given meds because parents or teachers etc..... are too lazy or lacking the proper skills to parent and teach. It is easier to deal with a child that is doped up instead of one that is rambunctious and active.

Answer 3

I've had two epidurals, one 4 years ago and one 5 weeks ago. I felt some residual tingling with the first one down my sciatic nerve where I had a severe injury years before. This did not last long. I discovered the same tingling sensation this time in my lower back only when I bent over the baby at a certain degree (when I changed her diaper.) It went away but the same sensation has gravitated to my middle back. It wouldn't prevent me from getting another one, although I found the administration to be frightening. Actually I think the doc had a terrible bedside manner.

Answer 4

Wellllll, since ritalin is entirely metabolized and gone from your body in hours and you took ritalin when you were 6, I would say the answer is no...I do not see a logical chronological sequence in your post...there are over 800 kinds of seizures..NOW if you are having seizures it is known that amphetamines and lots of other drugs can and do exacerbate the situation...are you still having them or are you controlled by meds?

Answer 5

http://www.drugs.com/Methylphenidate/index.html