ADHD Medicine Attacks Normal Male Development
A study[1] published in the National Institutes of Health’s journal indicated that methylphenidate had adverse effects on the normal development of males. Methylphenidate (Ritalin) is a commonly prescribed treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
The case report involved the delayed puberty of a 20-year-old latino male. The subject lacked sexual desire, had erectile disfunction, and his testicles were the size of a 8 to 15-year-old’s. The subject had the appearance of a 12-year-old though he was 20. He lacked body hair and couldn’t grow underarm hair, spoke with a high-pitched voice, was under-weight, and he experienced chronic fatigue.
He was started on methylphenidate treatment from when he was a very young child and received the treatment for 17 years of his life. The subject tested low for serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone levels, all of which effect normal male development.
Though Ritalin has been commonly used to address ADHD, there has been little attention directed towards its effect on the male reproductive system, even though some studies have shown a link between methylphenidate and adverse effects on the male reproductive system.
One study involving juvenile Rhesus monkeys treated with high doses of methylphenidate showed lower than normal serum testosterone levels and a significant delay testicular development.[2]
Another study showed that male mice treated with treated with high doses of methylphenidate developed a reduction Leydig cell count,[3] which is a marker for lower serum testosterone levels and fertility. The mice also had a significant decrease in body weight.
The subject of this case study sought medical intervention and was advised to undergo testosterone supplementation. He received testosterone pellets implants that slowly released testosterone into his body over a period of 4-6 months.
After 4 months the subject’s serum testosterone increased dramatically. As a result, he experienced increased testicular size, better erectile function, increased sexual desire, and increased energy. He also started growing facial, armpit, and pubic hair.
The reality is pharmeceutical companies develop unnatural drugs to address particular issues, and there is no way for the companies to know all of the adverse effects the drugs will have on the body. There is also incentive to ignore and cover-up the adverse effects to get the drugs to market.
[1] Case Report: Testicular failure possibly associated with chronic use of methylphenidate
[2] Mattison DR, Plant TM, Lin HM, et al. : Pubertal delay in male nonhuman primates (Macaca mulatta) treated with methylphenidate. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011;108(39):16301–6. 10.1073/pnas.1102187108
[3] Fazelipour S, Jahromy MH, Tootian Z, et al. : The effect of chronic administration of methylphenidate on morphometric parameters of testes and fertility in male mice. J Reprod Infertil. 2012;13(4):232–6.
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