I have just started Ritalin this week (5mg per day, rising to 10mg in the morning and 10mg at lunch after two weeks), and am wondering about the effects of Ritalin on drinking alcohol. If I was drinking in the evening, how much Ritalin would still be in my bloodstream by then anyway, seeing as though it is a very fast acting medication?
The medication leaflet says "do not give your children alcohol", but this would be good general advice, whether they were taking Ritalin or not! (Ritalin is not licensed for adult use in the UK, so technically I am on a "clinical trial".)
Lots of other medications say "avoid alcohol", although how much of this is to protect themselves from lawsuits? Whereas the effects of alcohol plus a tranquilliser may be to make you really drowsy, or possibly to pass out, being a stimulant, could Ritalin have the effect of causing extreme hyperactivity when it is mixed with alcohol, or does it even encourage us to drink less, as we are likely to be thinking more clearly?
Very confused, but avoiding drink for the time being (at least until the weekend).
IS