Hi, I've posted on here briefly before....here's my story. For several years been on Adderall IR 60 mgs/day for adult ADD/chronic fatigue syndrome. I started to notice it didn't seem as effective anymore. However, it was still working. I would normally take 40 mg in the AM and then 20 in the afternoon, or else 10 in the afternoon and 10 at night if I was going to have to be up late.

Well, bright idea, I decided to ask to switch to Dexedrine, having heard it was more potent, thinking that it would make things back to the way they initially were.

Did that and got Dexedrine spansules and IRs. Well the Spansules were out of control, I couldn't handle them. I'd feel nothing for hours and then suddenly a huge hit like a from a ton of bricks, feeling panicky, sweaty, etc. And The Dex IRs didn't seem to be as strong as the Adderall IRs.

SO, went back to my doctor in less than a week and told him I needed to go back to my normal Adderall for now. He had no problem with that. I even returned to him my extra prescription for the following month's Dexedrine, so he didn't think I was trying to pull some scam.

So, fast forward a couple months and my psychiatrist brought it up that if the Adderall still wasn't as effective as it once was, he recommended cycling it with Ritalin. I said, OK. Big mistake!

For one thing, he gave me only 75 mg IRs of Ritalin, compared to my 60 Mg IRs of Adderall. This is not an equivalent dosage from what I have seen. It seems that Adderall is twice as potent as Ritalin.

Be that as it may, after 2 days of taking Ritalin, I am nauseous and tired. NOT sleepy at all, in fact was up most of last night, but have no energy. Focus is completely gone. I feel like I took a box of Vivarin or caffeine pills or someting. Nauseated to the point of vomiting any second, jittery and all around, not comfortable at all.

I should go back to my doctor and tell him this. However I am afraid he may think I am pulling something since I did this with the Dexedrine right away as well.

I could wait until next month when he has agreed to cycle me back to Adderall and tell him I just want to stick with Adderall. But I don't know if I can wait that long on this Ritalin crap.

What would you do? Is it possible that the Ritalin will get better after a week or so?

I guess it's my fault for messing with a good thing to try to get it even better. No meds are perfect, but Adderall came pretty close to giving me what I needed.

Any advice welcome! Thanks!

Please clarify: how is your dosage of Ritalin administered? One of hit of 75mg?

No, I am supposed to be taking 25 mg three times a day. So I take one 20 mg pill with a 5 mg one at each dosing.

Ok, that's a fair bit to start on. You sound over stimulated. You should have titrated up.

I'd split your 20mg pills and take 10mg x 3 per day and work your way from there.

The 2:1 ratio for ritalin to adderall is just a rough guide to go by, it's different for everyone.

I'd suggest trying 10-15mg doses with the ritalin 4 times a day. Maybe give it a week or two so your brain can adjust to the new med.

Lots of people find that ritalin just doesn't work for them when compared with adderall/dex. I don't see anything wrong with ringing up your phychiatrist, descibring the adverse reactions your having and asking him what he thinks you should do next.

If your current situation allows it having a break from all meds for a little while can really help boost the effectiveness. I used to take my dex everyday but found it wasn't working like it did in the begining. These days I don't take my dex. on the weekends and have a whole week off my meds. about every 3 months and 2 weeks off when I'm on holidays - this made all the difference for me personally, other people have made similar reports as well.

Thanks for the advice...I think I will just explain it to my doctor and perhaps go with the drug holiday thing rather than switching drugs like this.
I might try the suggested 10-15 mg Ritalin a few times a day, but I really think that Adderall ruined Ritalin for me.
Fair or not, I am looking for the same feeling of Adderall and not getting it from Ritalin, so I think that it's not working. Whereas as you say, they are different drugs and work differently so perhaps it won't give me the similar feel as Adderall.

I find they feel differently as well and ritalin doesn't really agree with me anyway.

Just so you know, when I had my first drug holiday I was surprised at how tired and unmotivated I felt without my dex. It was a bit of a shock as i wasn't expecting it.

The good thing is that it only lasts a week at most and after that I was back to my regular 'before-med' self. I've gotten used to it now and acually look forward to my unmedicated days, my friends always find me a lot more fun :P

Yeah different meds will make you feel differently: fact of life.

Personally I prefer dex, but as it's not available in a gluten-free form, I have to take a generic Ritalin.

If I do stick with the Ritalin, do you find that dosing 3 or 4 times daily, as a few of you recommended, is better than perhaps taking a little bit every 2 hours or so? I just find that the Ritalin wears off a lot more quickly than Adderall. Maybe more of a steady state would even things out? Or what is the reasoning for the 3 or 4 times a day dosing? Better to get a larger dose at once? Thanks!

Scarletta, did your pharmacy include a drug info sheet with your prescription?

If I do stick with the Ritalin, do you find that dosing 3 or 4 times daily, as a few of you recommended, is better than perhaps taking a little bit every 2 hours or so? I just find that the Ritalin wears off a lot more quickly than Adderall. Maybe more of a steady state would even things out? Or what is the reasoning for the 3 or 4 times a day dosing? Better to get a larger dose at once? Thanks!

dosing every 2 hours is not uncommon with ritalin, my psychiatrist said it's 'about normal'

4 doses x 2 hours is about 8 hours coverage for me and that covers me for the school/work day. I personally find ritalin works much better in small doses of about 20mg, if I go above that I find the side effects get much worse for minimum gains.

Thanks- yes I did have a prescription sheet, it said to administer in divided doses 2 to 3 times daily, preferably 30-45 minutes before meals.
My doctor told me to take 25 mg 3 times a day but didn't say when.
Even though this is the prescribing info I am just trying to see what works best for other people.
Like dosing every 2 hours, as Ozchris said, for example.

I take 10mg roughly every 2-3hrs. If I take a double-dose i.e., 20mg, I get overstimulated.

Well, I was able to get my pharmacist to switch me to the brand name Ritalin and I noticed a tremendous difference. Way less side effects and much smoother. Also, much more potent. I only took a few to experiment. Well, then, silly me, took the my full dose with the brand name pills only. The difference in potency is dramatic. The same dose of the generic left me feeling like they were sugar pills, but the brand is like- wham!! too much,on the same dose! Feel way too stimulated, headache, and generally sick.

so now I know for sure there is a difference in potencies between the brand and the generic. I have to reduce my dose, that's for sure.

driver,

Is referring to taking medication as taking a hit really necessary. Come on man, this is adhd not an episode of cops-

Well, I was able to get my pharmacist to switch me to the brand name Ritalin and I noticed a tremendous difference. Way less side effects and much smoother. Also, much more potent. I only took a few to experiment. Well, then, silly me, took the my full dose with the brand name pills only. The difference in potency is dramatic. The same dose of the generic left me feeling like they were sugar pills, but the brand is like- wham!! too much,on the same dose! Feel way too stimulated, headache, and generally sick.

so now I know for sure there is a difference in potencies between the brand and the generic. I have to reduce my dose, that's for sure. dosing is an individual and theraputic choice, but for myself I do much better with brand name Ritalin...my dose is lower...20mg x4 as opposed to 20mg x6 with generic...good luck...keep us posted...we care:)

Thank you, I did make another post about dosing and whether a lower dose is more effective because my prescribed dose of 75 mg a day is now making me totally a zombie and tired. Not like a high dose of a stimulant should make you feel!

I see you are taking 80 mg a day now, how do you spread it out? What is the most effective for you?

If, for example, you need more concentration, focus, attention etc early in the morning, is it better to take a higher dose then and later in the day when you don't need as much focus, take a lower dose?

Thanks again!

I actually put in a call to my doctor today because I can't stand it anymore. The nausea, dizziness, fatigue and tiredness...I had that when I first started the Ritalin for a few days, then it seemed to be ok but not very beneficial, and now the bad side effects again. Thought the Brand was a lot better than the generic, but just turns out it is stronger, and more potent, for me, but not beneficial.

I switched from Adderall b/c I thought it wasn't as effective anymore. But at least there were no bad side effects! And it WAS still effective. I am going to go back on it as soon as I can get my doc's approval.
Ritalin is just not working for me.

Just wanted to say that as of today I am back on my normal dose of Adderall - the Ritalin experiment was not good for me. I feel much better already!