Anyone have chest pain with FocalinXR. I believe this is listed as one of the side effects. In any case, I took regular Focalin a year or so ago without problems. Since starting XR, the chest pain has been getting worse, so I stopped taking it yesterday and had no problems. Thought I would give it another go today and see how things go.

Just wanted to see if anyone else has experienced the same thing...

I have never experienced that problem with Focalin. However, I have experienced with Ritalin before.

I would strongly reccomend that you talk to a Dr. about this ASAP. Chest pains can be a symptom of a very serious underlying condition, or chest pains could be nothing to worry about. Only a Dr. can be sure. I hope you get it checked out and keep us posted.

Thanks Lars. I will definitely bring this up with my doctor. However, I wanted to see if anyone else out there had similar side-effects. Also, I took a Focalin holiday, then started and the chest pains have not returned. Perhaps it was something else, not sure. Also, I have noticed the effectiveness has dropped a bit over the last week or so. Perhaps I need a dose increase...

Where in your chest are the pains, and what do they feel like?

They seem to reside behind my chest bone in the center to right. However, sometimes my entire upper chest will feel tight. Kind of like it is being squeezed. Since I stopped for a day or two, things appear to be better but I still feel it only to a lesser extent.

Have you had an EKG on your med?

Pain _under breastbone_, and "squeezing" sensation.

Sounds like you should see a Doctor.

Have you seen your Dr since your post? Saturday morning I took my Focalin XR 20mgs and a little later I took some Excedrin Migraine for a headache that just wouldn't go away (I had the headache before taking my meds, just didn't take anything for it until a few hours after). I had been up all night with my husband and friends. About an hour after I took the Excedrine my heart was beating super fast... not too terribly hard but I could feel it when I put my hand across my chest. I have a blood pressure monitor at home so I used that and my bp was fine...but my heart rate went up to 116. I also take Tenex for Anxiety and since this felt sort of like how I feel when I get an anxiety attack I took a 1/2 of pill (.5mg). Within 30 minutes it went back down to normal.

I found out today that I can NOT take anything with Caffeine or drink any caffienated beverages while taking Focalin XR. The Excedrine Migraine has caffeine in it, which caused the fast heart rate.

Sorry for the long reply. I freaked out and found out that the caffeine and having stayed up all night were my culprits (mostly the caffeine).

I have not seen my doctor yet. Due to go back in a month or so. The chest pain seems to have mostly gone away. Just about the time I started to get them I also started working out lightly. In other words, doing mostly push-ups and sit-ups. I am thinking that maybe the push-ups strained a muscle in my chest that may have been the culprit.

As for caffeine with Focalin XR, does not seem to be a problem. However, I do get a bit more speedy in the morning just after that first cup. That does not last long though.

In any case, I will be mentioning the chest pains to my doctor. Just want to be sure he is aware. If they come back, I will be be stopping.

Does anyone have any problem with Focalin XR not lasting that long? I know it is suppose to last 8 hours, but I am just not seeing it. It does last longer than regular Focalin, but still requires two doses for me. However, I am splitting them up. I take half a 10mg pill in the morning and another half at noon which works OK. Would be nice to find something that lasts a bit longer and cheaper. Not sure how people take Focalin without insurance. My co-pay was 25$, but without insurance it was something like 125$ which is insane. Perhaps an old school med like Dexedrine would work better, not sure.

I've been increased to 30mgs (2- 15mgs) of Focalin XR and I too notice that it doesn't last that long for me. around 4 hours is all I get out of it and when it wears off I get a nasty headache on the top of my head and at the base of my neck. The only way to get it to go away is either to take one 15mg pill (which will help get me through my work day) or 1/2 pill of my Tenex helps at times too (but not always).

This is good to hear ShawnB. Just amazing the XR is suppose to last 8 hours and I see nothing near that. Perhaps this is due to my skinny build and fast metabolism, not sure. Currently I am only taking half of my 10mg capsule in the morning, then half at noon. This seems to work out OK, but it would be nice if it actually lasted as long as they advertise.

I have been doing this for about 1.5 months and so far no after-effects when it wears off which is nice. Seems with everything else I tried, I get headaches or tired, but not with this. At this point, I am thinking the chest pains were something different. They went away for about 3 weeks and are now back, but on the right side. More than likely it is a strained muscle or something. In any case, I am not thinking it is related to the focalin.

I have had some chest...discomfort?? not pain, but a tightening in the middle and left chest wall...but cannot attribute this as pain. I have not yet mentioned it to my pscyitrist, but will be seeing my MD next week. Should I ask my MD to monitor my heart closer not that I take focolin xr?

jojo

-Age
-meds?
-what makes it better/worse
-worse with deep breathing?
-worse with certain positions?


-have you had an EKG on yer meds?

Now that you mention it, yes, my pain has been more of a discomfort than pain. However, this has more or less gone away since first staring several months ago. No, never had an EKG while taking.

I'm going to post here, because this is what I need to know about.
I started on Focalin XR about a week ago. It's only a 5mg dose.
Ever since starting, I have had a chest pain/discomfort on the upper left side, above the breast. This went into my arm the first time I experienced it, but now it is just a discomfort in that area, a burning feeling almost.
Is this normal?
And does it have to do with the Focalin? My mom thinks I'm having anxiety problems because I am afraid of new meds. (I am also on Zoloft for anxiety).

That is more or less exactly where I had the discomfort, however it never went in to my arm. One thing I did notice was the chest discomfort went away after a few days of taking Focalin XR. Recently, I switched to generic Barr brand Dexedrine and that by far gave me the worst chest pains/discomfort (hated that stuff!). So, now I am back to generic Methylphenidate ER which does not give me this problem.

I have experienced discomfort in my chest with Focalin XR. The med tends to make me tighten the muscles in my chest. If I consciously relax the muscles or apply some pressure in a few places, it relieves the tension and the problem subsides. It was worse early on in treatment than it is now, but I still get it from occasionally. I have been on Focalin for several months, but am still trying to get the right dose. The most signficant side effects for me have been increased heart rate and blood pressure, although not extreme.

I just switched to Focalin XR 15mgs after having been on various dosages of Adderall for nearly 10 years. It seems like these medications pretty much work the same way, although there are positive differences with the Focalin in that I no longer feel like I have to act like I'm not freaking out on speed when I'm around people. So far, it's a much "smoother" alternative to Adderall, and it's really helping me follow through on things. It also seems to have a calming effect after the hyperfocus sort of wears off, no sleeping difficulty, and I actually have an appetite while I'm on it.

I also get the chest discomfort now and then, I've had EKG's and X-Rays and all manner of tests run. My doc says it's inflammation of the chest wall, or costochondritis, which can come or go intermittently. It's behind my sternum, and a bit to the left or right like bikemike described. Pushups and other exercises like the bench press can definitely aggravate the symptoms, and these meds can increase tension in the muscles in the thoracic region, making the discomfort worse. An increase in blood pressure is pretty much expected with these meds, so long as it's kept at the proper dose I'm ok.