Methylphenidate is known as a psycho-stimulant that usually comes in a pill form. It's typically prescribed to children who suffer from a condition such as attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD). Although it's a stimulant, methylphenidate works by reversing the hyperactive tendencies of children and is meant to calm them down. Since this substance has some of the same chemical properties as cocaine, there is always the potential for methylphenidate abuse. Common signs of abuse include difficulty sleeping, irritability, paranoia, weight loss and depression.
One of the most common signs of methylphenidate abuse is when an individual has consistent difficulty with sleeping. Since it works as a stimulant, abusing methylphenidate often forces the body to stay awake and throws off natural sleep patterns. If abuse continues for extended periods of time, it can have a negative effect on a person's circadian rhythm. As a result, lack of sleep can lead to other problems that affect the mental and physical functioning of an individual.
Irritability is another common sign that often stems from these atypical sleep patterns. This is especially prevalent once the initial high has worn off and the body's natural rhythm has been thrown out of whack. In turn, abusers tend to lash out at others in an irrational manner. Also, incongruous anger over small details is relatively common.
Another sign of methylphenidate abuse is exhibiting general paranoia. In many cases, abusers become delusional and can even experience hallucinations over time. It usually takes prolonged abuse to become delusional, but even mild abuse can lead to some form of paranoia. This may involve feelings that someone is out to harm the person or a general distrust in others.
Weight loss is another problem that can become potentially serious if methylphenidate abuse goes on for an extended period of time. Since this substance acts as an appetite suppressant, it's only natural that it sends messages to a person's brain that he is full even if he hasn't eaten. As a result, this can have adverse effects on an individual's health.
With all of these side effects, depression is also a very common sign of methylphenidate abuse. It's relatively easy for symptoms like unclear thinking and feelings of dread to occur when one's mental and physical functioning has been thrown off. If a deep depression occurs, it's also possible for suicidal thoughts to creep in. That's why it's so important for a person to seek help if he has been abusing this substance.