How Long Can Ritalin Be Taken?

Posted on Thu, 5 Dec 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 5 Dec 2013 Answered on

Thu, 2 Jan 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : how long can you be prescribed ritalin any reasons why you would have to stop taking as an adult when you have been taking for years and it helps

Answered by Dr. T Shobha Deepak (2 hours later)

Brief Answer: Discontinue only time avoid drug interactions Detailed Answer: Namaste Welcome to Healthcare-Magic Greetings of the day If a individual is on Ritalin and it's helping him, he can be safely given Ritalin. It's unlikely to see any major adverse side effects with these drugs in adults. Only time one needs to temporarily discontinue use is to avoid drug interactions when taking other medicine like 1.Clonidine; 2. Guanethidine; 3. Blood thinner such as warfarin, Coumadin; 4Antidepressant--amitriptyline, citalopram, doxepin, fluoxetine, nortriptyline, paroxetine, sertraline, and others; 5.Cold or allergy medicine that contains a decongestant; 6. Medications to treat high or low blood pressure; 7. Seizure medicine--phenobarbital, phenytoin, This is one of major reason to discontinue use of Ritalin. I hope it helped Take care Best Regards Dr T Shobha Deepak MBBS,MD Clinical Pharmacologist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D