Hello everyone,

I just got diagnosed last week Aand my Dr started me on 10 mg of ritalin twice a day.

I have been on antidepressents since I was 19 (I am now 30) prozac, zoloft, and wellbuterin for depression then I was told I was bipolar.

The meds did help a little but I still knew that something else was wrong so I have to say it was a relief when I was told it was ADD which is something I had suspected long ago.

Long story short, I have been taking the meds for the last week and I have been feeling very wired, very speedy.

Does this feeling go away? I have to say my head feels less spacy and I feel more focused but the change is not huge.

What should I expect? Is 10mg twice a day very much?

Thank you.

Hi and welcome to the ADDForum Missgoldie!

It's great that your head feels less spacy and more focused! That is really something you should expect. 2x10mg is not really much, but if you are not feeling well (wired/speedy) you should find out, together with your Dr, what to do. Maby that feeling will go away...? 3x20mg is more common (I'm on 4x20mg).

I really wish you good luck! :)

Missgoldie,

I took my first dose of Ritalin 10mg today. I felt the same way - wierd & speedy. Like I had too much coffee. The good part is that I wasn't tired. I think it may have helped my concentration but I'm not sure. I'm having trouble with knowing when to take them since it only lasts for 4 hours....I am at work hoping this second pill will kick in soon and help me focus on work. But it'll be worn off by the time I get home....

I am 32 and got diagnosed yesterday. I too have been misdiagnosed and feel that relief that finally we know what it is! and the hope that maybe things can finally get better.

I hope we both can find some relief.

- Emily Bemily

I would let the doctor know about that. You may need to decrease the dose tempoarilly but I'm no MD.

I was diagnosed last week also, and have been prescibed 10mg per day. They have done absolutely nothing. I rang the shrink about it, and was told to continue because they may take a while to get into my system. BS! Can I increase the dose safely; does anyone know?

All the medications that I have tried.. Ritalin, DEX, and, then Adderall XR.. all left me feeling calmer....my brain slowed down.. and relaxed even to the point where I had the best hour long naps.

Much like what coffee does to me.. they all seem to blurr out all the voices/thoughts in my head right down to one linear thought... which makes me feel kinda dumb sometimes.. cause I can get zonish..... I have never felt speedy on them.

I take 40mg 3 times daily and I never feel speedy. My doctor told me initially that if side effects (feeling speedy is a side effect) occur, to stop taking the meds and we could try alternative medications. My former doctor told me that if I feel hyper or speedy, that it is an indication of something other than ADD, but then again he is my former doctor due to poor practice.

Hi Goldie!
It's been a week now that I've been on 10mg of Ritalin 2/per day (although I have been taking 10mg 3x perday and it is really nice to have all day coverage).
I did not experience that speedy feeling again - the first day was really different, Now I don't "feel" it at all, just notice that i"m more focused, remember a little more, and have an easier time getting my stuff done. Although I'm still vastly confused when I have a bunch of things to do at work - what to do first? Should I write them all down before I do anything else? But then I get distracted and do the most urgent thing thus forgetting the rest...Anyway....I've noticed the ritalin has been an improvement to my life.
My family has noticed too since I've started taking my last dose at 4pm so I'm covered until the kids bedtime. It's wonderful! I used to feel really upset and react when the kids were too loud - last night they were actually YELLING/singing (all three of them) and I was able to ignore it (instead of yelling at them to stop yelling) let the kids play and continue my grown-up conversation in the next room. THAT was very different! :)
I feel like MUCH less of a spaz. yay!
Anyway, I just wanted to say that I only felt speedy that first day of taking it. Now, I don't "feel" it at all, it's nice although I do feel anxiety when it starts wearing off. Wierd. Is this typical? The next dose makes it go away though.
I hope things are going well for you and the other posters who just started as well.

To answer the origonal question, yes the speedyness may or may not go away, that's why I'd explain it to the doctor. He or she can best advise you on your treatment.