Misc What are the risks of crushing Ritalin LA?

[sasic]

A friend of mine sometimes crushes the pellets and then puts the powder on the tongue and keeps it in his mouth for a while before swallowing.
He likes to imagine that it kicks in faster this way.

I wonder is this dangerous? Or is it safe as long as you keep in mind that the time-released mechanism is destroyed this way and
you get 100% now instead of 50% now and 50% later.

For example what if MPH or the other stuff in the capsules is harmful to the mouth tissues?
But if the capsule dissolves completely in the digestive system then there shouldn't be any harmful substances in it, right?

 

[Kilfer]

I don't see how the practice could be dangerous. Commercial pharmaceuticals, especially those likely to be prescribed to children, do not as a general rule contain caustic or toxic ingredients that could harm the user even if he/she misuses them. As for the risk of OD'ing it shouldn't be much of a concern for an adult considering that the most potent formulation for Ritalin LA is 40mg with a substantial part not reaching its indented destination owing to losses incurred during the grinding process and the fact that even when crushed the powdered pellets still retain a sizeable percentage of 'retardants' and are not as readily absorbed into the digestive system as Ritalin IR tablets would be.

I remember reading an article where some neurologists and psychiatrists were complaining that Ritalin LA's unusually sluggish rate of release was so seriously detrimental to therapeutic effects that they still preferred the original Ritalin despite the abuse potential, in fact the article's undertone was a thinly veiled allusion at the fact that Concerta had been a dud, albeit a fiercely self-denying one. But I digress. Unless he spends his days feeding Ritalin pellets to industrial grinders it is very unlikely that your friend's health is at serious risk.

 

[sasic]

Hi, are you talking about Ritalin IR crushed or chewed vs. crushed Ritalin LA or do you mean that Ritalin IR when swallowed normally is still faster than crushed Ritalin LA? Does this mean that Ritalin LA sucks generally? This concerns me cause I only have access to Ritalin LA where I live. Instant Ritalins are NOT allowed for adults which is a joke. And Ritalin LA doesn't really do much for my adhd symptoms. I tried doses from 10-30mg and it's not really much of a difference. I read reviews from others who take ritalin and they say it's a huge difference but not for me. And going higher than 30mg single dose would only increase side effects so that's no option.