# Ritalin to help me work

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ritalin-to-help-me-work/159107>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 4, 2003, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ritalin-to-help-me-work/159107 "2003-03-04T22:56:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![KarmaComa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e36b37/32.png) [@KarmaComa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarmaComa)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ritalin-to-help-me-work/159107/1 "2003-03-04T22:56:25Z")

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While I have a hard time concentrating, I don’t consider myself to have ADD. However, I know that many people take unprescribed ritalin before tests, etc. to help them study.

1. Would taking ritalin help me concentrate, say, if I had to read (and absorb) a thesis, paper, etc.? It seems like it would be more suited to menial academic work than anything else.

2. What are the side-effects of taking ritaling occasionally (say, once or twice a week from a prescription intended for thrice-daily use for ADHD)?

No preaching. Dope only, please (testimonials welcome).

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**Author:** ![John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ccd318/32.png) [@John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Kentzel-Griffin)\
**Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ritalin-to-help-me-work/159107/2 "2003-03-05T00:19:11Z")

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It’s illegal to take pescription durgs not prescribed to you. We’re not going to help you break the law.

This is closed.

**DrMatrix** - General Questions Moderator