I've been trying Focalin XR for a week now and here is what I experience with it:
after an hour of taking it, I feel the effects for an hour or so; then it doesn't work very much for the next hour or two an then i feel it again for an hour.
Then 8 to 9 hours of having taken it it I start feeling very weird and nervous. Anybody had similar experiences?
Thx

Not really nervous but different than normal. Sometims I get aggitated or feel real down when coming off of it.

Hello all I am new to this board and my ADD or ADHD,I still don't know the difference ,anyway let's just say I thought I was getting Alzheimer's at the age of 22 yrs then now I am 26,and finally described my concern to a doctor that KNEW what it was all the others just looked at me ,I mean I quit promising jobs ,and schools because I couldn't remember the training Manuals.

I 've been started off with Focalin XR ,and i've only toke 2 pills out of the 30 since 07/27/07 ,why? because after reading these boards and a bit before I've realized what med would work for me ,but like many..I am afraid my doc will try to mark me as an drug head if I request a med to try..this is so unfair..their paid regardless and we can still walk out the door with a med that totally doesn't work.

~Thanks All , I am so glad to finally find out I am not loosing my marbles.~

shayshay,

is the focalin not helping

No the Focalin did not work for me , I was switched to Adderall 10mg Xr in August and Im sure my dosage will go up on my next appointment but I 've noticed a difference already.
I find that Focalin is working for some people on these forums my doctor told me that Focalin is a very new drug for ADD,so time will tell on this medication,I just didnt have the time because my bills are piling up I need to go back to work.

I hope the best for you !

Focalin XR (and Ritalin LA) both have a bi-modal release (50/50 dose split). Each dose releases in about 4 hours give or take. Methylphenidate clears from the body so quickly which results in 2 very distinct peaks with each of these. Concerta gets around this by using a slow, ascending profile and Metadate CD, while a capsule with beads, uses a 30/70 release to help minimize the rise and fall of meds.

J

I am up to 30mg and it's working great for me, no peaks or crashes. It effects my hunger that's about it. At night if I am not going to bed on time I will raid the fridge. If that's my only issue I'll take it. It works great for me.

Then 8 to 9 hours of having taken it it I start feeling very weird and nervous. Anybody had similar experiences?
Thx
I was just prescribed Focalin XR 10mg and Focalin 5mg a few days ago, and my side effects fit your description to a T.

Previously, I was on Concerta 27mg, which was pretty much ineffective. I was spacing out all the time.

Before that, I was on Concerta 36mg, which worked wonders, I was able to concentrate in class, but it suppressed my appetite to the point of being 5' 8" and 120 lbs. Yikes!

I experience ups and downs with Focalin XR as well. My Dr. and I met with another Dr. who specializes in ADHD and prescribes a lot of Focalin. She advised that Focalin XR only lasts about 6 hours and that my dose should probably be split. I was taking 20 mg once a day, and now take 10 mg when I get up in the morning (typcially about 6:00) and a second dose around noon. It seems to help with some of the ups and downs, particularly in the afternoon. There are definitely two peaks with Focalin based on a chart I saw of blood concentrations in the literature on Drugs.com.

Focalin XR seems pretty strong. It is typically prescribed at 1/2 the dose for methylphenedate (sp?), but I feel like that ratio should be a little lower. My Dr. just talked about trying 10 mg / day with two 5 mg doses to hopefully reduce the impact on my heart rate and blood pressure. These side effects are not extreme, but are somewhat bothersome to me, especially over the long-term. I am very sensitive to most drugs, so I may need a lower dose than many. I am also taking Wellbutrin XR at 300 mg/day, which has helped a lot with my ADHD as well as depression. I think they both impact dopamine, so perhaps impacts the proper dose of Focalin.