Started out the Ritalin. Gradually upped to 30ml. 2x a day. First dose was awesome. 20 mins after taking it and I was in motion and able to clean and focus like never before. However, the second dose of the day was like taking an aspirin, nothin. Doc put me on Adderall. OMG!!! Send out the white jackets and tazer guns!!!!:mad: . I was nuts. Doc put me on Concerta, 24ml. Upped my own dose today just to see if anything would come of it, which means I was safely taking a 54ml dose.
I am wondering if they perscibe Ritalin in conjunction with concerta? I don't see my Doc for a few weeks and she is hard to get a call back from. Has anyone ever had them do that or heard anything about it? Ideally, I am wanting my 30ml in the morn then a few hours later taking the concerta

Well, a lot of people do take a short acting pill along with the Concerta, to extend the time that medication is in their system. I'm not sure a doctor would prescribe 31mg short acting though, and 54mg of Concerta. That's a lot of medication.
I'm curious though as to why you think you need more? What is it that you are looking for? Is it motivation? Concentration? Is it the initial feeling that you had on Ritalin?
I ask because there is an initial euphoric feeling that you can get from stimulant medications. It is very short lived though, which is good, because it's not a normal state. The problem is, people get this initial feeling, think THAT is how they want to feel, and then chase that feeling constantly. Constantly increasing their dose, trying to get that feeling back, and it's a dangerous road, because it can lead to addiction.
So if you are chasing that feeling, stop. You won't get there, you'll just end up in trouble. You want to pay close attention to how you are functioning, how is your concentration, are you fidgeting (if you normally do), what things can you do on medication, that you normally would struggle with off medication. These are your best indicators of how medication is working.

Also, for many of us, Concerta is a very smooth medication. There aren't a lot of ups and downs with it. No major "kick ins....revving up" and also no real "fall off" (again this doesn't happen for everyone). This can be interpreted as the medication not really working, because you don't feel any major "kicks" from the medication. So again, it's important to pay attention to yourself and how you are doing with every day things. Journaling can help, comparative notes on how you are off and on medication.

Keep in touch with your doctor, and just follow her lead. Finding the right medication and the right dose, can be a bit of a trial, but it's worth the trial when you find just the right med/dose for you.
Good luck!

Started out the Ritalin. Gradually upped to 30ml. 2x a day. First dose was awesome. 20 mins after taking it and I was in motion and able to clean and focus like never before. However, the second dose of the day was like taking an aspirin, nothin. Doc put me on Adderall. OMG!!! Send out the white jackets and tazer guns!!!!:mad: . I was nuts. Doc put me on Concerta, 24ml. Upped my own dose today just to see if anything would come of it, which means I was safely taking a 54ml dose.
I am wondering if they perscibe Ritalin in conjunction with concerta? I don't see my Doc for a few weeks and she is hard to get a call back from. Has anyone ever had them do that or heard anything about it? Ideally, I am wanting my 30ml in the morn then a few hours later taking the concerta

I know some people here take Concerta AM then add Ritalin later in the day, yes.

What came of your experiment upping from 24mgs. to 54mgs. Concerta? I can possibly address this question better if I know that :).

Crazy

I'm still trying to get the dosage right, for a time I was on 72mg of Concerta in the AM and 20mg of instant Ritalin in the afternoon.

Regular Ritalin seems to work a bit better for me than Concerta, although I have a hard time remembering to take the instant release as often as I'm supposed to. I was just put on 60mg sustained release in the am and 20mg instant in the afternoon to see how that goes. Today's day 1...

It definitely doesn't hurt to ask, I'm proof that some drs. do that!

Great thread. I love Ladym's description of the Concerta experience - it's spot on. And Arrwyn you got a really funny style. I think they do (hope anyway) that I can get some short acting ritalin to go with the Concerta cause the Concerta wears off by about 8PM for me and then my mind starts racing so I can't get to sleep without a bit more meds to calm the mind back down.