Os efeitos adversos do uso não prescrito do metilfenidato

Abstract

Currently, the level of knowledge required in the academic environment has increased considerably. To keep pace with the growing complexity of this context, students have resorted to strategies that promise significant gains in performance, such as the non-prescribed use of methylphenidate (MPH). Aiming to identify the prevalence and consequences of the indiscriminate use of MPH among students, an integrative review was conducted using scientific articles published in the academic repositories SciELO, BIREME, and PubMed, focusing on the main adverse effects reported by university students using the substance without medical prescription. The evaluation of the selected articles resulted in a sample of 3,173 students involved in various studies, with a predominance of females enrolled in health- related courses at public universities. The students reported experiencing symptoms such as anxiety, impulsivity, aggressiveness and amnesia, as well as signs including headache, tachycardia, hypertension, sweating, and dry mouth, following the use of the drug either in isolation or in combination with other substances. The findings made it evident that, although MPH is predominantly used by students in health-related fields, its use occurs mainly without medical supervision. Ultimately, this review highlights the importance of raising awareness among health science and public university students about the adverse effects caused by self- medication with MPH and other psychoactive drugs aimed at enhancing cognitive performance.