Has anyone tried focalin xr? I just got prescribed for it today and start on it tomorrow. Any experiences or any info would be great!

Thanks!

Janet

Not yet, but I'm in the same boat as you- prescribed today, start tomorrow. Good luck! :)

A very happy Focalin XR user here! I've been on many drugs for my ADHD. They've all helped me to some degree, but I am especially pleased with the Focalin XR. I LOVE how I am able to just sit like a "BLOB." My incessant restlessness is wiped away with this medication. More so than on others, I think. I actually have the "patient advisory leaflet" here. Here is an excerpt:

"This medication helps increase your ability to pay attention, stay focused on an activity, and control behavior problems. It may also help improve listening skills, help you to stop fidgeting, and allow you to organize your tasks better."

Doesn't that sound too good to be true? Well, for me, it's not! Have y'all been on other medications or is this your first try? What dose are you starting out at? Let me know how your first day goes!

Well,

Results are inconclusive so far, as I am still working out the dosage. Started on 5mg for a couple days, just made me want to snooze. Up to 10 today, much better. More motivated and a normal energy level. I'm set to up by 5mg every 4 days up to 20mg.

It's good to start out gradually like that, especially to minimize side effects. I started right out on 20mg, but I've taken LOTS of meds, for lots of things, in the past, so my body is very used to side effects and such. Not to mention I've been on methylphenidate and Ritalin LA (both similar to Focalin) in the past, and had a brief stint with Focalin XR in the past, as well. I don't remember what dosage I was on then, but whatever it was, didn't work for me. This time around, the 20mg didn't do much at all, so my doc raised it to 40mg and that seems a perfect dose for me. Twice a day. I just hope it continues to work over time, as I have a history of meds losing their effectiveness over time. Anyway, keep us posted as to your progress!

Thanks for your helpful information; this is good to know. I will keep everyone posted on my progress.:) It's good to start out gradually like that, especially to minimize side effects. I started right out on 20mg, but I've taken LOTS of meds, for lots of things, in the past, so my body is very used to side effects and such. Not to mention I've been on methylphenidate and Ritalin LA (both similar to Focalin) in the past, and had a brief stint with Focalin XR in the past, as well. I don't remember what dosage I was on then, but whatever it was, didn't work for me. This time around, the 20mg didn't do much at all, so my doc raised it to 40mg and that seems a perfect dose for me. Twice a day. I just hope it continues to work over time, as I have a history of meds losing their effectiveness over time. Anyway, keep us posted as to your progress!

I don't really notice the 10 mg that I am on right now; it's almost like not even being on any meds at all. I called yesterday (Tue) and spoke w/my docs nurse and she's going to talk to the doc when she comes in today (Wed) and let me what the doc says. I know it'll get increased as needed with my doc. She is pretty good at what she does.

I'm sorry to hear that it made you snooze at the 5mg dose. Let me know how the 20mg does for you.

Janet

Well,

Results are inconclusive so far, as I am still working out the dosage. Started on 5mg for a couple days, just made me want to snooze. Up to 10 today, much better. More motivated and a normal energy level. I'm set to up by 5mg every 4 days up to 20mg.

i started on 20mg xr and it worked great, same effectiveness as concerta with 0% of the side effects.

good luck gettin your insurance to cover it though, mine wont :(

now im back on 54mg concerta and couldnt be less happy :(

Thank you for your reply :). First I was started with 10mg of focalin xr and now I'm on 20mg of focalin xr. I had to call into my doc's office (psychiatrist) and spoke with her nurse. Nurse called me back after she spoke w/doc and increased it to the 20mg.

The nurse also said that is the highest dosage amount that can be give for focalin xr is 20mg. Is this true, or do you know if it depends on the doc?

I am sorry:( to hear your insurance won't cover it. Fortunately my insurance does cover it...relief!

Janet

i started on 20mg xr and it worked great, same effectiveness as concerta with 0% of the side effects.

good luck gettin your insurance to cover it though, mine wont :(

now im back on 54mg concerta and couldnt be less happy :(

Nope, thats not the highest dosage. Just the biggest single capsule dose. My doc actually wrote my scrip for 2x20mg a day. Now, I think thats a little much (20 will be fine thankyouverymuch) but thats what he wrote.

I'm sorry to hear how the dosage is a little much for you. I didn't think it was the highest dosage. I think it's the doctor choosing the highest dosage amount.



Nope, thats not the highest dosage. Just the biggest single capsule dose. My doc actually wrote my scrip for 2x20mg a day. Now, I think thats a little much (20 will be fine thankyouverymuch) but thats what he wrote.

Oh, it's all good.

I just take one and the 30 day supply will last 60 days. I also was prescribed some 10mg caps to take and help offset the 'valley' of less effectiveness between the first and second waves of the 20mg cap.

So, I'll take a 20mg in the AM, then 10mg 2.5 hrs later.

After a brief spell of side effects, I seem to be doing OK on the Focalin. It's not quite as effective as Adderall at squelching my ADHD, but the Adderall just had untolerable side effects unfortunately.

Sorry about the side effects adderall gave you. Could you tell me what side effects you did get while on adderall?

Thanks!:)

Oh, it's all good.

I just take one and the 30 day supply will last 60 days. I also was prescribed some 10mg caps to take and help offset the 'valley' of less effectiveness between the first and second waves of the 20mg cap.

So, I'll take a 20mg in the AM, then 10mg 2.5 hrs later.

After a brief spell of side effects, I seem to be doing OK on the Focalin. It's not quite as effective as Adderall at squelching my ADHD, but the Adderall just had untolerable side effects unfortunately.

Well, I had some strange reactions to the Adderall.

After about a week or so of taking my dose everyday, I started to get nasty aches in my neck, back, and my right shoulder/elbow/wrist. It got to the point where I was just hating life.. OTC analgesics or NSAIDs wouldn't touch the pain either. Also, I got really irritable in the evening when it wore off.

If I stopped for a few days, then started again, these effects would be lessened or absent for a week or so again. I pushed on through without stopping after week 4, and it didn't get better. It got worse- started to get headaches, and even felt a constricted throat at the very end. This was with just a 20mg XR am, and sometimes also a 20mg XR 4 hrs later. This was as prescribed by my doc.

I am sorry the adderall did that to you. You gave it shot, and I am very glad that the focalin is working much better for you. Thank you very much for sharing your experience with the adderall, I greatly do appreciate it :).



Well, I had some strange reactions to the Adderall.

After about a week or so of taking my dose everyday, I started to get nasty aches in my neck, back, and my right shoulder/elbow/wrist. It got to the point where I was just hating life.. OTC analgesics or NSAIDs wouldn't touch the pain either. Also, I got really irritable in the evening when it wore off.

If I stopped for a few days, then started again, these effects would be lessened or absent for a week or so again. I pushed on through without stopping after week 4, and it didn't get better. It got worse- started to get headaches, and even felt a constricted throat at the very end. This was with just a 20mg XR am, and sometimes also a 20mg XR 4 hrs later. This was as prescribed by my doc.