I don't have any scientific evidence, but I have heard that Ritalin being a mild CNS stimulant has less cardiovascular side effects when compared to other stimulants. Is there any truth to this?

What kind of cardiovascular side effects? What do you mean?

I mean increased blood pressure and a pounding heart beat, and perhaps the occasional second or two of pressure in the chest. I was wondering if this is myth of fact..

I have heard that Ritalin being a mild CNS stimulant has less cardiovascular side effects when compared to other stimulants. Is there any truth to this?For me there is no truth to that whatsoever Dude. Ritalin (methylphenidate) is not a mild stimulant at all for me. In fact, it's one of the strongest I have ever taken.

Methylphenidate is the only prescription stimulant that I ever stoped taking because of cardiovascular issues, like high blood pressure, & arrhythmias.

The important thing to remember here is that we each can and often do respond differently to these drugs. As a result, it's really impossible for anyone to predict exactly how they will react to a given drug until they try it out themselves.

From what I understand, it was methylphenidate that caused the FDA to consider the adding of the "black box" warning in Febuary of 2006. The FDA then decided to go ahead and extend the warning to the other stimulants used for treating ADHD. Food for thought brother. Here's a quote from wikipedia concerning this:

"In February 2006 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_2006), the FDA's Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee voted to include black box warnings on methylphenidate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylphenidate) formulations—used to treat ADHD (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADHD)—due to possible cardiovascular side-effects.<SUP class=reference id=_ref-2>[3] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_box_warning#_note-2)</SUP><SUP class=reference id=_ref-5>"</SUP>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_box_warning

My experience is similar in that I can feel ritalin CV wise whereas with dexedrine I didn't feel it at all. To me it just sometimes feels like I've had a bit too much caffeine (like maybe it increases my pulse a little). Dex on the other hand didn't have a body feel to it.

I also find that ritalin makes me more sensitive to the (CV) effects of caffeine, whereas dexedrine didn't.

But like Lars said everyone is different. So the same might not be true for you.

i have to say ive had the same experience with ritilin and adderall cardiovascular wise. Both raised my BP and and made me feel like I was going to have a heart attack......

Dex is the only one that doesnt make my heart race and my BP is actually lower now that ive been on it for 8 months......

I have had no blood pressure problems with Ritalin. But, then again, I have fairly low blood pressure to begin with, so a little lift would probably be alright.