Hi folks,

I just started ritalin on top of a low regimin of paxil (20 mgs each night). The paxil is good. It is the only drug that has helped me sleep through the night-- sleep dep is a major contributor to my depression, I feel.

My pdoc wanted me to up the dose, but I wanted to address the ADD symptoms I have-- paxil does NOTHNING for my wandering, racing, disorganized brain, I'm just happier about it all. He prescribed an experimental run of ritalin at 5-10mgs, once a day, only when needed.

The pdoc knows that I am a recovering drug addict with 16 years of sobriety, no alcohol, no drugs. Speed and coke never did much for me except when mixed with other drugs, but I wanted to proceed cautiously.

I started with 5 mgs in the morning at work. I found it stimulating and a bit druggy-euphoric, and it did help me concentrate. It wore off by noon and I took a second dose of 5 mgs. Since then, I found that 10mgs, twice a day seems to work OK. I probably could go with a little higher in dose. I also found that my usual 2 cups of espresso in the morning reacts badly with the ritalin, making me jittery and paranoid, so I went to decaf.

I've tried this for about three weeks, on and off. Contrary to what my pdoc says, I feel like I could take ritalin every day, with a break on the weekends. The drug really helps me focus and slows down my wandering mind. My wife says I'm easier to deal with, less impatient, I drive slower, for example.

The use of ritalin, seems to completely lift my depression, even in the evenings when it wears off.

But, am I at risk for becoming an active drug addict again?

In fact, I felt embarassed when I picked up the first perscription for ritalin at the Kaiser pharmacy and they made a big deal about filling the script. I felt like that scheming dope fiend again and wanted to say, oh, just forget about it!

Also, how do you deal with daily doses of ritalin (or other amphetamines)? Is this a common dosing regimin? From reading this board, I see that it is, but I still feel funny about it.

What about that druggy feeling from Ritalin? Does it diminish?

I know that Kaiser Permanente does not allow ritalin for ADD for adults. How about other health plans?


-Stan

Wrong. Ritalin is addictive, just not at prescribed doses for ADHD. When taken as directed by a doctor, there is basically zero danger of becoming addicted.

I don't take Ritalin myself, but from the reading I've done, the initial "druggy euphoria" is normal and will go away quickly.

Stan welcome to the forums

SIXTEEN years of sobriety WAY TO GO!!!

Blue Cross covers ADD meds

I suppose it's all in how you define addiction. I believe addiction refers to a physical change in your body that requires continued use (i.e. withdrawal) In that sense I find Ritalin less addictive then caffeine. Ritalin is not an amphetamine.

As for craving something that you enjoy, that can be addiction. If you use porn everyday you will get addicted, but if you lose your internet connection for a week you won't get sick.

The anti-depressants, the amphetamines, the opiates, the benzos produce real physical addiction.

When I was in college I snorted Ritalin every day for months, yea I know that's abuse but the whole "getting high" thing is a myth. There is a very brief euphoria feeling when you first use Ritalin that is unrelated to Ritalin, it's a response from your brain at the introduction of a new stimulant. You don't get high, it's nothing at all like cocaine, you just get really focused on your tasks. When I stopped there was no symptoms of withdrawal. Contrast that with adderall, if I miss my adderall my blood-pressure goes up I feel uneasy and irritable, I get the shakes, etc.

There is still no reports by legitamate studies that show Ritalin is addictive, there is just a lot of hoopla about it.

It is Mentally Addictive at 1st......self esteem issues makes u think u can't be a better person w/o for example.......but the more it becomes mentally addictive it becomes physically addictive...cause u have withdrawls and some have no self control..

I was this way on Ritalin, and now I am on dex....and the way I control the need to take more...is my Bipolar Meds, my self esteem is somewhat better so i do not feel the need for more....It can be controlled...You just need the will power.

Everyone play nicely together in the sandbox please.
ian

Thanks for your responses. I didn't mean to initiate so much controversy, but I do feel that ritalin could be addictive, as Draga and Exeter wrote. I want to keep mindful of this.

As long as I stick to the dosage schedule, I think I can handle it.

Thanks for the welcome.

Cheers,

-Stan

All my best wishes to ya, Stan..Keep us posted. Hugs :)

oh for the love of st. flabberlflab.

(i know this is two years later, but jeez -)

You all must be smart people? If you take a drug that doesn't threaten you personally, how could you possibly conclude similarly for all people?

Ritalin is dangerous to those who are vulnerable to it.

Smile, your just a character my friend.

Welcome to character club. It consists of every person on the face of the planet. We are all creatures of habit. I rarely make it through the evening without twenty minutes of backgammon. Yes, we are all addicts.

Like for all habit of that sort, and including my ritalin medication, I take a full week off off every two to three months. Puts the genie back in the bottle, gives a chance to act up and also to realize what a valuable tool habits, like ritalin, can be.

In my opinion, keep the ritalin dosage under 20mg/day as per Aug 28 '06 post.

ubar

But, am I at risk for becoming an active drug addict again?
If you were a fan of cocaine its possible.

They're similar in alot of ways, more ways than drug companies feel comfortable admitting.

YOU DO HAVE A CHANCE OF GETTING ADDICTED! Ritalin is incredibly addictive with hundreds of studies to prove it. Thats why it is catagorized as a CII by the federal government the same level as morphine. CII being the most addictive legal drug (cocaine is actually a CII due to its limited use in some pre-op hospital settings). CIII-V being proven as addictive but to lesser degrees (such as Lortab and Vicodin).

Not to start an arguement with you Andocrates but you clearly have never been addicted to a drug. Stanzen you already taking the drug differently then prescribed and you are doing that because you like the feeling you are getting. Don't get me wrong its great you can go on a drug holliday Androcrates (as you should) but not everyone can do that. AND that is the tell tale sign of addiction. From the first few paragraphs of the orginal post do you really think Stanzen can?

Be realistic Stanzen. If you can moderate it great. If you find yourself wanting/needing more then think about a nonamphetamine like drug for ADHD like Strattera. Best of luck.

-BackAgain

Caffiene and Ritalin as well as nicotine and even Adderall had addictive potential (quick tolerance overuse, snorted ritalin as a teen) but I get a "zombie feel" and feel slow and tired rather than drunk (been sober from Benzodiazepines since 2003 myself and dont use anything but nicotine and medication) and Ironically I can safely take Dexedrine but I had to take it from age 4 to 14 (when I was "forced" as a child for being "hyperactive") and given that I have zero impulse control without it I can say that I tend to prefer to skip it but then risk wanting to get "pill drunk" from Xanax and having to withdraw from that again (which dying must be so much more pleasant)... I view it as a medicine rather that CII drug or whatever so it is about attitude toward it.

yikes you're scaring me on the xanax issue. im wondering why you prefer to "treat" the add than bury the anxiety/ panic? im am debating the usefulness at the moment, of treating my add. i dont know how much that will do in my life is what im trying to say i guess. i dont work outside the home and my kids drive me nuts anyway. im not sure anymore if it really is helping me be nicer / more patient. :( it does help with the other stuff - focus, finishing tasks, remembering things, follow thru etc whatever that issue was ... but i cant decide what exactly is important in my life right now really (besides my kids .... and i suck at that many days).

As mentioned IF Cocaine was yr drug then you have a chance of abusing it, especially if you snort it, IVing Coke or Rit is indistinguishable by reports, Coke and Rit have VERY similar modes of action:

Ritalin:

<TABLE cellPadding=3 width="125%" align=center border=2><TBODY><TR><TD>methylphenidate <TD>Ritalin, Concerta, Metadate, Methylin, Methylphen <TD>ADD, ADHD, depression, CFS <TD>20-30mg
(60mg max) <TD>2.9 hrs <TD><A href="http://sl.schofield3.home.att.net/medicine/psychiatric_drugs_chart.html#ABBR">* psychostimulant:
DA reuptake inhibition ++
NE reuptake inhibition + ("] psychostimulant:
DA reuptake inhibition
NE reuptake inhibition
NE release [/url]</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>



Cocaine:

<TABLE cellPadding=3 width="125%" align=center border=2><TBODY><TR><TD>cocaine <TD>N/A <TD>topical anesthetic (oral, laryngeal and nasal cavities) <TD>N/A <TD>30-90 minutes
CYP-3A4 <TD><A href="http://sl.schofield3.home.att.net/medicine/psychiatric_drugs_chart.html#ABBR">*[url=")</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>



Dexedrine has a greater potential for abuse, and many (non ADD/HD) Docs consider it 'a street drug', It was even prefered over Methedrine, by many past celebrities, musicians, Elvis, Cash (more euphoric), famous people who could get whatever they wanted.