Expert: Ivan Goldberg, M.D. - 3/17/2010

Question
I have been on Ritalin for about 20 years but something is ruining my health with worry. I once took my after noon dose of ritain and the whole room started spinning. I felt nausious and it felt like a panic attack too because my eyes felt like they were spinning. This happened about 5 months ago but I panic each day that this will happen again and the worry is literally killing mt. I have spoken to doctors about this and they there are no long term side effects to ritalin. I have always reasponded well to ritalin when i am not panicing like i am now. Do you feel that this was just a once off thing or will it happen everyday forcing me to go to rehab or mental hospital. I am terrified. Have you heard of this reaction before?

Answer
I think that people who tend to react to negative things in a catastrophic manner should be treated with cognitive behavior psychotherapy. Only then can they take medications without panicking every time they develop a side effect that is distressing. They will some to see that temporary distressing side-effects are not a catastrophe.

Best regards . . .

Ivan
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