Hey guys,

I was diagnosed with ADD in late December and was prescribed Ritalin. I began taking the drug when classes began in early January. My doctor started me at 5mg, which I found to be ineffective. He then suggested I up the dosage to 10mg, but I still did not find this very effective. Finally, I raised the dosage to 15mg, and began to see a bit of a difference.

I cycled between 10mg and 15mg for several days, attempting to decide which would be the better dose for me. Eventually, I settled on 10mg. I take 10mg doses three times a day. However, because of my study schedule, I often find that the drug wears off a bit too early.

I take doses at the following times on most days: 8am, 3pm, 7pm. I study approximately 5 hours a day and attend class for 3-6 hours a day.

For the first 2 weeks or so, the Ritalin dosage was seemingly effective. My performance in school and in other tasks had greatly improved. However, over the past two weeks, it seems as if the dosage is ineffective. I am once again unable to focus as well on my studies (even with slight noise/talking) and I find my self constantly drifting off task.

I am becoming very discouraged and often times feel as if I am taking this drug without reason. My doctor had mentioned that a tolerance rarely develops with these types of drugs. Although I cannot attest to the validity of this statement, I have to wonder whether this drug was ever truly effective.

I will call my doctor at some point this week to discuss my issues -- but do you guys have any suggestions or input into my situation? What other drugs for ADD are there that would coincide with my schedule? I often stay up until 12am (even 1am) studying, and sometimes don't even begin studying until 7pm. However, most of the time I am studying from 3pm-7pm and 9pm-11pm (on MWF). On Tuesday and Thursday I am usually studying between classes during the day and from 8pm-11pm at night. Yet, I take the Ritalin for lecture classes as well.

Perhaps a combination of medications would be the best solution to my situation?

If you've been taking it less than 2-3 months, chances are your body is still adjusting to it. At some point, you won't have the reduction in performance over time.

What's happening isn't exactly tolerance. That will happen if you abuse the med, or it could happen in the long term. But, your body is making some adjustments to having the med in your system on a regular basis, but it's not making "hard" changes to the neurons.

I doubt your doctor will be surprised that 10mg no longer works well for you.

Just as an example, my initial Adderall XR dose of 15mg was GREAT for the first week. Its effectiveness declined over the next three weeks, slowly and in small amounts. Then, I was increased to 20mg, which was better at that time than 15, but it also declined. Then 25, now 40 in 2 doses. I've been on that for a while now and I feel pretty stable.

Give it time & be prepared to make adjustments to your dosage for several weeks to come.

Good Luck!

Hey guys,

I was diagnosed with ADD in late December and was prescribed Ritalin. I began taking the drug when classes began in early January. My doctor started me at 5mg, which I found to be ineffective. He then suggested I up the dosage to 10mg, but I still did not find this very effective. Finally, I raised the dosage to 15mg, and began to see a bit of a difference.

The usual procedure for these medications (actually all psychotropic medications) is that you start at the lowest dose possible and raise it in small increments until you reach the optimal dose. This requires multiple visits to your doctor. Since these (ritalin and dexedrine) are fairly fast acting you can do this weekly 'til you've found the right dose.

I
I take doses at the following times on most days: 8am, 3pm, 7pm. I study approximately 5 hours a day and attend class for 3-6 hours a day.

It is no surprise that you are having this problem. Ritalin's half-life is 2.5 to 3 hours. Thats the time from when you take it to where its effectivness has worn off. Every veries a little bit but there's 7 hours between your first and second dose. For the hours between 10:30AM and 3PM you have no Ritalin in your system.

For the first 2 weeks or so, the Ritalin dosage was seemingly effective. My performance in school and in other tasks had greatly improved. However, over the past two weeks, it seems as if the dosage is ineffective. I am once again unable to focus as well on my studies (even with slight noise/talking) and I find my self constantly drifting off task.

Not surprising, but nothing to be discouraged by, you just have never found the optimal dose for you. Keep working with your doctor

I cannot attest to the validity of this statement, I have to wonder whether this drug was ever truly effective.

Most people can be stabilized on one dose which they take sometimes for years without change. There is hope yet.. and Ritalin has at least 40 years of prooven effective use. Ritalin has not failed for you yet -- its way to soon to jump to those conclusions.

Perhaps a combination of medications would be the best solution to my situation?


Just before your class or exam take your Ritalin. I htink you will find that you can work effectively for one class or one exam -- at least.

Cheers,
Katatak