Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta) Posts

[Stivens]

Hi Pop

I was on Concerta 54mg & now on Ritalin SR 60mg for a while now, and yes I did notice that my hair tends to fall out - although I don't really know if it was the methyphenidate that was causing that. To combat it I do a few things:

- I make sure to eat really healthy, especially since the med does mess with appetite sometimes.

- I take a supplement called Biotin which promotes cell growth & is available OTC at any drugstore.

- I use a salon-grade shampoo & conditioner (the one I use is from Nexus) and don't put any junk products in my hair.

I know that may sound like a lot, but it's really nothing. I'm a guy & since I've been doing this my hair has been growing faster and doing great. Hope this helps some!

S

[Tamer]

Hello everyone,

I have been on Ritalin for almost two years now, and the thing is... I had a depression relapse few months ago and I have been prescribed Seroquel XR and Remeron 30mg ( both of them are extremely sedative drugs ) and even though I only take them at bedtime I still feel so tired drugged up and my mind is just numbed the next day.

it's known that the maximum dose shouldn't exceed 60 mg and that's why my Dr refused to increase the dose, but I just don't feel like it's enough and I still have no energy even when I take 60 mg and I really really need to concentrate because I have finals coming up and I DO have ADD.

does anyone have similar experience ( being on Ritalin AND sedative medications at the same time ) ?

Thanks in advance

[K Abbey]

This is the first time I've ever posted on ANY forum, (I usually just read) but wanted to reply about Ritilin. I've been on every AD there is. And had ECT. And by the way, I HATED Remeron, tried it years ago. I felt so groggy. Until two weeks ago, I was on Lamictal 400 mgs and Cymbalta 120 mgs, plus valium as needed. I only use it at night for sleep, now. But it wasn't shaking off the depression. My doc added Ritalin, and my results were amazing.

I'm now taking 80 mgs of Ritilin a day, 20 mgs every 3 hours. Since it has such quick results we were able to play around with the doses right away and come up with this. There ARE docs who are willing to go beyond the "guidelines." I take it every 3 hours because that let's another one ramp up before the last one wears off. So I stay pretty steady.

It probably helps that I have a long-standing relationship with this p-doc, and he trusts me to give honest feedback. When I told him how well I was doing on the 80 mgs a day, he said, "Oh, 80 isn't bad at all."

So, how much is too much? I don't know, but this is my experience.

[Mr Wright]

Where and how to buy Ritalin ? And do I need a prescription to buy Ritalin legally, for example, online? Help, pls

Edited June 3, 2013 by Mr Wright

[Velthir]

Where and how to buy Ritalin ? And do I need a prescription to buy Ritalin legally, for example, online? Help, pls

Ritalin in the US and Europe is a scheduled medication, possession of it without a prescription or trying to buy it anywhere but a legit pharmacy is punishable by prison and/or fines. The same goes for the other stimulants such as Adderall and Desoxyn. You'll have to see a doctor if you need them for ADHD, if you want them for depression you'd have to try regular antidepressants first.

Edited June 3, 2013 by Velthir

[Mr Wright]

Thanks for your reply, Velthir :)

[O Morgan]

Velthir is wright, you need a prescription in all cases.

Ritalin (Methylphenidate) is a prescription stimulant commonly used to treat Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, and Attention-deficit disorder, or ADD. The drug is seeing early use to treat cancer-related fatigue.

[O Morgan]

a few months ago my friend told me about meds-easy.com, website where she bought Ritalin, I look it thru and find out they offer there different Ritalin doses. Can it help??

[pensiveone]

My doc just gave me an RX for RItalin, because I am in the process of taking major exams. I don't know what to think--it really seemed to help me focus, but I found that I couldn't get to sleep last night. I'm still jittery (and I only took 2 pills yesterday).

Does it get easier to get to sleep?

[Achelois]

Hello everyone,

I have been on Ritalin for almost two years now, and the thing is... I had a depression relapse few months ago and I have been prescribed Seroquel XR and Remeron 30mg ( both of them are extremely sedative drugs ) and even though I only take them at bedtime I still feel so tired drugged up and my mind is just numbed the next day.

it's known that the maximum dose shouldn't exceed 60 mg and that's why my Dr refused to increase the dose, but I just don't feel like it's enough and I still have no energy even when I take 60 mg and I really really need to concentrate because I have finals coming up and I DO have ADD.

does anyone have similar experience ( being on Ritalin AND sedative medications at the same time ) ?

Thanks in advance

I am on Ritalin instant release and Cloazepam for anxiety...

In my country the maximum legal dosage for adults is 90 mg and not 60 mg....

You can even get a special permission for 120mg a day in rare cases (need to get a permit from the department of health....usually it's given to people whose weight requires higher dosage).

I am on 60mg a day and yes, I also feel it's not enough...I am supposed to take them 3 times a day and since my metabolism is very fast, the 20mg hardly last for 3 hours....

On the other hand, taking more than 60mg a day makes the doctor look at you like at some addict....and they do not increase the dosages that easily....

[ladysmurf]

Does anyone have experience with Ritalin? What is the starting dosage of it? How long does it last?

It seemed like adderall was lasting longer than Ritalin did.

However, they both **** my appetite and I can't afford to lose any weight. Not to mention that my sex drive is already high, and with ritalin (and adderall) the only thing I think about is sex!

Thank you

[ladysmurf]

bump

[johncp727]

All psychoactive stimulants (Adderall, Dexedrine, Vyvanse, Ritalin, Focalin, Concerta) are appetite suppressants. They aren't like antidepressants where they might go one way or another, might gain weight might lose weight might have no change. No one takes any of those six meds I just listed and gets the munchies. It just doesn't happen. If you are underweight or just at a weight you're comfortable with that you don't want to go down from, you either need another type of med or you need something appetite stimulating to balance it out.

I suppose some sort of stimulant + atypical antipsychotic combo might work. Like take Concerta once every morning and take Seroquel to fall asleep and feel hungry once in awhile.

By the way Concerta is the same chemical as Ritalin (methylphenidate) it's just designed to last longer, so that's why I recommend it.

Edited March 11, 2014 by johncp727

[gmack123]

Hi! I recently was put in a psych hospital. I've always been the girl who knew everyone and had a blast. Until about two years ago, I met someone and fell in love. I started failing my classes, stopped hanging out with my friends, never went to school and I didn't want anything to do with my family. Everyone around me could see this guy (whom I'm now engaged to) was tearing me apart. I started hating myself. I couldn't stand to look at myself in the mirror. I quit taking care of my appearance and my self hygiene was going down the drain. My parents had enough and admitted me to the hospital where I had a mental breakdown and I was admitted. I was diagnosed with major depression while I was there. Even though I acted as if I was happy to all the therapist and doctors so i could go home. Now I struggle with depression everyday. It's really bad at night. Every night I question if I want to be alive to see tomorrow. I found a bottle of Ritalin in my mothers purse and took two 10mg I felt alive and could deal with my fiancé without harming myself. I actually had energy and wanted to leave my bed. So yes! Ritalin is something that you can take for depression! Things that I have problems with while I'm on it is, feeling the need to chainsmoke, and really jittery. That's it. But other wise it's what is saving my life every night.

Edited March 20, 2014 by gmack123

[ladysmurf]

I know it's supposed to last like 10-12 hours..but how long does it last for those who take it??

Because I take it around 6:30AM and around 12 -1pm I am already tired..

[ladysmurf]

anyone?

[ladysmurf]

I am just wondering how long does Ritalin last for those who take it? How many times per day can you take it?

What does the crash feel like?

[johncp727]

Stimulant crashes are a well stirred mix of sorrow, despair and paranoia. Don't intend to scare you off it, if you take as prescribed it probably won't be bad. Methylphenidate is a short acting drug and those on it usually take more than one dose. If you end up dealing with extreme highs and lows on it, your doctor might switch you to Concerta, which is the same chemical but with a time-release mechanism.

[ladysmurf]

I tried concerta but it was not really helpful for me as much as Ritalin is.. I like the idea that it lasts longer, but I dont feel the energy that I feel when I take Ritalin.

[ladysmurf]

By the way did anyone experience itchy skin while taking this for the first few months?

[ladysmurf]

Hi,

 

I was just wondering if anyone has experienced any itching while on Ritalin?

 

I usually take Concerta in the morning but around 4 pm I sometimes take Ritalin if I need to go out and I don't have much energy.

 

Anyway, did anyone notice itching from it? or muscle/joint pain? It does not occur right away when I take it. It usually happens after an hour or so..

 

 

[Jacqui90]

Hi everyone,

 

I have Major Depressive Disorder, Anxiety and Bipolar Disorder Type II. I have had serious problems with getting things done. I am great at making plans, schedules and lists, just the executive function (actually doing things) has been a serious problem. I am on Efexor 300mg daily (2x 150mg in morning), Lithium - 1x450mg in morning, 2x450mg at night, and doxepin (Deptran) 75mg - 3x25mg at night. I also have hypothyroidism so I take Oroxine 50mcg in the morning. My psychiatrist suggested Ritalin. I waited over a month to get the script, as since I don't have ADD or ADHD we had to get special authorisation from the government department. He said to start on 10mg twice a day, that it will work within an hour (my psychologist - therapist said it would work within 10 minutes), but if I am feeling like it's only working two thirds after a week I could increase one of the doses to 20mg. 

 

My problem is I have no results! I took it nearly an hour and a half ago and the only possible effect I noticed was feeling more awake. Even this effect I can at least partially attribute to getting up and having something to eat/drink and waiting for my Dad to get off the phone to give him his birthday present. But apart from that - nothing. No impact on my hunger, and even being more awake I have lost slightly. I could easily go back to bed now and sleep some more - I often sleep for 2-3 hours during the day as well as the minimum 8-9 hours a night total (excluding trips to the bathroom).

 

I just feel so lost. I built up so much hope for this, my doctors (psychiatrist and therapist) and relatives in medicine/pharmacy said it was more likely than not, even almost guaranteed to work for me at least a bit. I waited over a month to get it, and despite my parents' caution about it possibly not working the way I want, not being a miracle drug getting me to get stuff done, or working at all, I built up hope for it.

 

I relied so much on it working, I am enrolled for returning to university next year - I graduated from a Bachelor of Arts (English Lit. and Writing) four years ago today and am partway through a Graduate Diploma in Commerce (Accounting) with plans to finish with a Masters after that. I am 25 years old, still living at home (as is my fiance but his full time job doesn't pay enough for him to move out on his own or to support both of us) and I don't have paid employment. I do volunteer work at a charity's office one day a week, which lately I did two days a week. But the past couple of weeks I have been really unwell and had to miss even this commitment.

 

I do go to an employment services place regularly (1 appointment a week) to meet with my case manager, but as I am not on benefits I am a voluntary client. I just feel awful that I have been doing hardly any applications despite them setting a fairly easy target for me to get done. 

 

I just feel so lost, help!

Edited March 12, 2017 by Natasha1

[mattobaker]

I have treatment resistant major depression.

I'm on 225mg Effexor. I recently tapered off Wellbutrin and added 15mg Ritalin. 

 

Benefits: 

- Less REM sleep (e.g. less crazy and stressful dreams)

- Easer to fall asleep

- Better focus

- Works fast ~ 2 days

 

Cons: 

- No change in motivation (e.g. I have a list of goals. Meh.)

- No change in physical energy (e.g. Thinking about moving makes me tired)

- Sleep is still non-restorative (e.g. Getting out of bed is a huge chore)

- Only lasts about 8 hours (e.g. I crash about 8 hours after I take it)

 

Really not scary at all to try. I've had much worse. Doesn't seem to be doing much for me unfortunately.