Hi everyone. I'm a 34 year old recently diagnosed ADDer. I can't believe how long it took me to realize something was wrong and that i wasn't just a lazy slug lacking discipline. I have a large number of the symptoms in spades and I have a lot riding on being able to get this treated effectively.

Anyhow, I'm now on day 3 of taking Ritalin. My doc said to take 10mg once a day in the morning for the first week, then move to 10mg twice a day after that.

I feel no different so far, but don't want to kneww jerk here. How long should I wait until I call my doc and see what my alternatives? I know it takes some time for some folks, but most of what I've read is that I should start to feel the effect of the Ritalin fairly quickly after taking.

I have made sure i take at least 45 minutes before eating. One thing I've been wondering about is if weight has anything to do with how much needs to be taken. While I'm no morbidly obese, I am overweight, and wonder if that means I need a larger does.

Any thoughts would be welcomed. Thanks.

Hi MWM400. I started with 10mg of Ritalin LA 4 days ago and can't report much of anything either. I am, however, also taking Strattera. Strattera made me dreadfully tired and the Ritalin was prescribed to help get rid of that. It has helped in that aspect, but I still am not noticing much improvement with my ability to focus. I weight 200lbs so I'm was also wondering about the weight question.

Your doctor has started you on a very very slow titration program. People typically start on 1 pill, 2x per day i.e., morning & lunch. Then later they go to 3x per day as an afternoon dose may cause sleep problems if your body isn't adjusted to Ritalin.

As for your weight: has nothing to do with your metabolism of Ritalin.

I'd wait until you're 2x per day before you see any improvement.

I feel no different so farWhat do you feel like an hour after taking Ritalin?

What do you feel like an hour after taking Ritalin?

I really don't notice anything different. Nothing. It's like I never took anything.

I know one person who I know has ADD and he's in his 30s as well, but was diagnosed as a kid. He now takes a combination of Adderall and Strattera. He told me that Ritalin is someting that takes time to accumulate in your system and this it will probably take a few weeks. Everything I've read says the exact opposite, and I didn't ask my doc about this. I think my friend is wrong here, but I kind of hope he's right.

Hitting a rock bottom in my job is what finally made me realize that there's got to be something wrong with me beyond lack of motivation, self-discipline, etc... I began to read up on ADD and it was like reading an auto-biography. I figured if something was wrong, it was only with my ability to concentrate on things. It turns out that I have the majority of the symptoms associated with ADD. I went to an ADD specialist psychologists and went through a few rounds of interviews and testing ans she said it was pretty obvious from early in our conversation. There's zero quetion whatsoever that I have ADD, but I also need to learn to cope here pretty quickly. Maybe I had unrealiztic expectations about the meds.

I'm going to have to find some quick coping mechanisms if the meds don't kick in pretty soon. I'm not in danger of being fired. But I am in a highly competitive program that's promote after three assignments or find another place to go. I've started my 3rd one a few months ago and it was hand-picked for me because my only deficiency was the ability to manage day to day priorites and handle lots of things at the same time. This is ajob that requires it or you get buried. My techical ability and critical thinking in my field are "exceeding expectations", but my deficiency is seen as a delimiter that will prevent promotion here. The good news is that were it not for this assignment I might have been able continue to skate by doing just enough, but never distinguishing myself. This helped me realize there was something wrong. So that's a plus and I'm grateful for that. I've been tearing myself to shreds internally for as long as I can remember about my lack of ability to change or to develop the motivation/discipline/willpower/passion/etc... to actually be productive and energetic. That has all stopped now, which is another plus. I now know the root of my problems, and I've "forgiven" myself, but I'm now coming down from the initial boost you get from discovering what was wrong to realizing you still have to figure out a way to conquer it.

What my employer doesn't realize is that every evaluation I've had here is identical to every evaluation I've ever had in any job I've had. I just always left those jobs within a few years before it hurt me too much. I have a fantastic job right now and I want to make it work here. I have a prestigious graduate degree from an elite university (school is another subject altogether for me. I still don't know how I survived), and I've always been great in an inteview. That's how I have this job. And I'm a really good oral communicator which has been able to mask a lot of deficiencies to those except the ones who work closely with me. That's how I've survived, but I've gone as far as I can go that way. If I can figure out how to work effectively with my ADD, then the sky really is the limit. But if I don't figure it out real soon, I'm afraid I'm going to have to settle for making it happen at a lesser place. There's a lot of benefit to a fresh start once I've gotten to the point where I'm slowed down by this disorder any more, but I really want to make this work here. I'm a little nervous. I have a new boss that starts this week and she will be developing her perception of me pretty quickly. I need to be able to focus. The next 90 days are the busiest in my role and would challenge even the most efficient of my peers. If I don't make great strides very soon, I'm going to drown.

Heck, I should be working right now. I'm in the office on Sunday evening. It's perfectly quiet with no one here and I've been here several hours and accomplished very little. I came in knowing I had to be ready for this week and that I needed to be at least somewhat productive. There's no distractions around, yet I still am powerless. That's the other edge of the sword in the discovery of ADD. It's liberating knowing that there's something biologically wrong that can be dealt with. But now that I've got the awareness of what's going on, I've come to the realization that I've got no control over this (at least as long as meds aren't working). That's a tough one, knowing that I'm powerless in my current state to stop it. I know that meds are only part of the answer and that I'm going to have to develop coping mechanisms in order to function effectively in the long run, but that's going to take some time and some trial and error. You can do it overnight.

Part of me thinks it was easier when I was just a pathetic, lazy, undisciplined, unmotivated loser who just wasn't willing to do what it took to succeed. :)

The first dose for me (10mg IR Ritalin) was not great but it was noticeable - a little calmer. minor improvement in memory/clarity. The next dose felt about the same. The next day the fourth dose came on stronger with more calm and even felt a little bit happier.

Today's doses were about equivalent to the first day; but I had been cutting back (so I don't get overloaded by the ritalin) on some of supplements and the other prescription I take that would potentate the ritalin.

I figure it'll take a little over a month to have it's full effect for me. I'd like to switch to Concerta to get more of a consistent effect and not have to worry about taking it so often.

What do you feel like an hour after taking Ritalin?

For me I have much more energy and am in a better mood. It helps me work better and also is able to motivate me to do things that I need to do like clean my house. The change and improvement in my mood is the best thing about the med for me. I am so easy to be around when I am on this med.

I did start to lose weight when the doc first put me on it last summer. It killed my appetite and made me more energetic. I'm fat and also had gastric bypass surgery in November so I have lost a lot since then too. I do know that weight loss is a common side effect. (benefit for me).

Ive been dx and on ritalin 14yrs with trials on other meds

Ritalin works best for me, noticed positive results almost immediately

weekly contact with doc when first starting, went from 5mg x2 to 10mg x4 within 2wks

call your doc, it takes trial and error dosing at first

good luck:)

I am on the same page you are, with the whole workload thing MWM. I am a graduate student in geology, 24 year old female who is typically very quiet and shy. A daydreamer. Being a graduate student, I get good grades and I am always in a good mood. I am successful in everything I do, I live alone, I volunteer, I exercise. However, I seem over worried, almost obsessed about things because of my inability to organize and time manage. I am late for everything. Even in my undergraduate work, I could procrastinate like none other, and I was a waitress so I was always goingoingoing. So, they never suspected I might have ADHD, but going thru therapy for 'anxiety', she realized that I most certainly am. And that's where people get caught up with the whole adult ADHD thing. I have more responsibilities, and when I TA my classes, I talk unusually fast, and sometimes skip over important things... I get really fidgety when the students do their labs and I am doing nothing but watching. Sitting at home is the worst. Nothing gets done because my body is so tired, but my mind is overflowing and fleeting with worrysome thoughts. Its like all the lights are on in the house and I can't figure out which room to be in. I wish I could turn some of them OFF.

However, they were a bit nervous because I have anxiety too, and they are concerned which is causing which. They think the anxiety 'causes' my attention problems, but in reality its the other way around. I have tried 6 different anti-anxiety/depression medications and none of them worked for me.

FINALLY after years of horrible side effects from other meds, and searching for the right doctor, I was prescribed ritalin yesterday, 5 mgs to kind of 'experiment' and take it as I need it. I took about 15 mg in the morning and 10 more in the afternoon and I didn't feel anything, just that I wanted to clench my jaw and grind my teeth, my eyes felt heavy and I felt this annoying headache, but I never felt any different with focus and concentration. I was pretty sleepy, actually. I was in the computer lab, and although my friends were talking, they did not distract me.... but what I was doing on the computer still took a great deal to focus on. I still skipped around the computer and the reading. It was pretty irritating because I felt zoned out rather than focused.

I have tried adderall before and I felt focused and calm, and even motivated and patient! It was like, the fog has been lifted! I could turn off the lights and turn on the ones I wanted to. Thoughts were deliberate, and steady. My friend said that on ritalin, I seemed more serious and zoned out, rather than focused.. I didn't tell my doctor I tried it though, since that's illegal you know but I'm wondering if I should say something to him about it anyways? Do you think he would let me try adderall on a low dosage if I suggested it and told him I tried it? I just don't want him thinking that I like to abuse drugs. I certainly do not. He knows also that I smoke pot about once a week, just to calm my mind down, but I do not and have not ever done any other 'illegal' substance. When I WAS on adderall, it was during the day in my own home, 5mg and the last thing I thought was, " I don't see how people can get addicted to it or use it as a 'party' drug, I just wanted to be by myself, get things done and go to bed." I sure as hell got stuff done. Like cleaning the house... usually its like I'll dust here, vaccuum there, oh crap look there are dishes I'll do a few of those..... but on adderall, it was like. OK. I'm doing the dishes. I felt NO need to rush, and I did all of the dishes. Then I mentally 'organized' how I was going to clean the house, and I cleaned the house efficiently and completely without rushing to do it. It wasn't a priority at the time, I was going out later and I had the whole weekend to do it... but I felt like, 'well, why not?'. The thought did enter my mind that, "I could do this later, cleaning sucks." like usual but then I thought, "But I could do this now, and I could get this done and over with." and I didn't feel burdened by it, I felt like my energy was more level and consistent than up and down. When there was a distraction (a phone ringing), I almost felt annoyed that I had to answer it but once off the phone, I went right back to what I was doing. I even had the time and motivation to pick up my violin again. I had NO problems sleeping (probably because i took it early and it was a low dose), and the best part? I didn't feel like drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes. I used to drink a LOT! I had two beers, and water afterwards and still went to sleep like a baby.

I read the insert for the ritalin (i'm on generic), and it says that is actually does take 2 weeks for the drugs effects to really work in your system. Plus, that will give it time to get the side effects worked out (i'm hoping!). Your body is going to be in a bit of a shock when you are giving it medical-grade coke or speed obviously. I'm not naive to that fact. I'm not proud that I am taking this drug, but for the first time in my life I feel like there is a solution to all of it and I am NOT crazy!

Sorry this is SO long. FINALLY....

So after 25 mgs over the course of yesterday, and not feeling anything... I woke up today and took 15 mg to start off instead of the 10. I feel like I have woken up quicker than usual, which is good (because I am tired constantly), but still my mind doesn't seem to be where it should be. I am more focused on this forum than doing research. I feel like some lights have turned off, some have dimmed and some are on. On adderall, I felt no need to check my email, play with my cats, chat online... the lights were on in one room and off in all the rest.

Today, I feel kind of zoned out, kind of in my own world, and more like I drank a few cups of coffee. The jaw clenching isn't so bad today, but my eyes still hurt and are heavy.. like they just want to be closed. I am just hoping that over the course of the next two weeks, that it will be similar to the adderall so I can get some motivation and focus on what I need to do rather than focusing on whatever is in front of me.

Ugh. I just took it less than an hour and a half ago, and I just want to go back to sleep :( I don't know what to do. They say if you have the jaw clenching and slight jitteryness to cut down on your dose, but I'm still so drowsy...

Does anyone have any thoughts on switching to adderall from ritalin? Do you think that proposing this idea to my doctor would be a valid argument if I told him about my experience with it? Him and my therapist talk, also, to get a better overall picture of my brain :-D That's pretty nice. I'm still going to give the ritalin thing a shot though.

Aaah!

I was just started on ritalin this Monday and somuchbetter's story sounds exactly like mine. "Lights on an off" and not feeling much. If she, or anyone, felt like this and "broke through" after this mysterious "two week" mark, please let me know.

I'm not only in a fog re: concentration, I'm unusually apathetic; last week I wanted to get things done and couldn't, this week it's still just has hard to do things and I couldn't care less about them. It's terrible.

If you have any proof that it will get better: please let me know.

My friend said that on ritalin, I seemed more serious and zoned out, rather than focused.. I didn't tell my doctor I tried it though, since that's illegal you know but I'm wondering if I should say something to him about it anyways? Do you think he would let me try adderall on a low dosage if I suggested it and told him I tried it? I just don't want him thinking that I like to abuse drugs.
This is a common question from people here on ADDF. I've discovered after 40 years of living that the best way is to be honest. Just be straight up with your Doc. Tell your Doc what you think would help, what your experiences are. Any Doc should be able to identify an addicted person from an non-addicted person.

If your Doc suggests to go on a lower dose or a different medication, then work with him/her. They have the experience, but you are the patient. Give feedback on your progress, and everything will fall into place.

I knew within 20 minutes of taking my first 10 mg that this was going to be a life changing experience. It was as dramatic as if I had been half blind my whole life and then put on a pair of glasses for the first time and everything became sharp and clear.
I was told that the side effects would diminish after a couple of weeks. Things like blurred vision, slight euphoria, tight muscles (sort of cramping), but I have to say that it took about three months for me to begin to feel "normal", or not notice these effects.
I still have the occasional muscle cramping effect, across my collar bone, shoulders, arms. It feels like I'm hunching forward with bad posture. I now cut my 10 mg pill in half and take 5 mg at at a time and this has made the effect less noticeable.
From my experience it takes a lot of time to become comfortable with the side effects. Some people may adjust in only a couple of weeks, for me it was a lot more. I don't think there are any rules about this, but what I would suggest is giving the medication a serious try for about six months before you make any conclusions about it's effectiveness (unless of course the side effects are unbareable, then see your doctor).