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Despite increasing controversy, relatively few hard data exist about side effects from stimulants used to treat attention-deficit disorder, particularly methylphenidate (Ritalin). In this triple-blind crossover study, 83 children alternately received low-dose methylphenidate (0.3 mg/kg) twice daily, high-dose methylphenidate (0.5 mg/kg) twice daily, or placebo in one of six possible orders, and were evaluated by parents, teachers, and a research assistant.
Three children had to stop taking methylphenidate because of severe side effects (tics, dizziness, headache, increased hyperactivity, and altered thinking), which then resolved promptly. Teachers reported significant declines in anxiety, staring or daydreaming, and sadness while the childr…