Just started Ritalin today. Results:

[davey]

I took myself off of Strattera because I happen to be in the <1% who get hives from the medication. Sucks to be me. Anyway, my doctor prescribed a trial of ritalin LA. I'm not noticing any side effects yet besides having to force myself to eat a sandwich during lunch time. I just wasn't hungry at my usual lunch time, which was very different.

I took 20mg at about 9:15 AM. I noticed a slight effect after about 30 minutes. I felt calm, and I wasn't trying to hurry through my work like I usually do. I was working slowly and deliberately, but getting things done in a more orderly fashion. I also wasn't sweating as much as I usually do. One strange thing I also noticed was that patterns and textures were starting to stick out, like patterns in the office carpet, tiles on the walls, the dots on my desk. I don't know if that was an effect of the drug...

[Sc@tterBr@in_UK]

You're problably just managing to notice these patterns etc. because you were never calm and collected enough to stop and look properly...

I have a lot of visual processing issues and I certainly noticed that type effect at first... it was like the world suddenly stopped moving and blurring and I saw the "real" world for the first time. And by God the real world isn't scattered, fragmented or blurred!!!

At least for me, the "Stimulants are like putting on glasses if you're short- or long-sighted" analogy was true in the literal sense.

[davey]

I'm glad to hear that it's having an effect! I described the feeling to a friend last night as, "kind of like putting on a new prescription of contact lenses" or "going from 800 x 600 resolution on a 17" monitor to a 1600 x 1200 resolution on a 21" monitor." The only problem was it all wore out at about 2 PM.

Today (day 2) the effect was more defined. I came in to work and started doing some tasks on my computer. I noticed that I was kind of "staring" at the screen, but it wasn't they type of staring where your eyes fall asleep and your mind just takes a hike. I was staring but my eyes stayed focused while I typed away. Usually there are things in my peripheral vision that distract me even my own hands typing on the keyboard. This was different. Everything in my peripheral vision seemed blurred out and insignificant.

[Sc@tterBr@in_UK]

Cool! Maybe you will eventually need a top-up to carry on after 2pm but it sounds like it's really having a great effect

[davey]

what is a "top-up"?

Sorry, I'm new to all this!

[Andrew]

It means a second dose in the afternoon.

While extended or slow release meds are "supposed" to last all day, for some they dont, and require an additional dosage.

[KMiller]

I have experienced the same side effects, still forcing myself to eat after 2 weeks. Nevertheless, the effects are very good, and I am better focused when I am on it and a lot of my symptoms aren't there.

That said, I do take a 20mg Ritalin-SR in the morning, and I take a 5mg at 4pm, but I actually will probably need to up that to a 10mg because it still doesn't carry me through the rest of the day. It is now 3:20pm and my SR has run off already.

For record, due to State laws I am taking Generic Methylphenidate, not actual Ritalin.

[davey]

I think I'm also having problems with insomnia now. I had problems sleeping the last two nights.

[KMiller]

I had that too for the first three or four days. If you're not taking a supplemental dose, try drinking a lot of water before you're about to go to bed, to flush your system. You won't have a problem eventually; the side effects are mostly temporary.

Just make sure you keep eating. I've eaten a lot less lately, and though I'm still healthy and haven't lost weight, I can see a lot of differences in my behavior because I'm eating less. Eventually, though, the eating less will go away - there's a reason they don't use it as a diet pill anymore.

[cracell]

with ritalin I've never had problems with eating

anyways I'm on 20mg of Ritalin SR

I take it around 7:30AM in the morning

It starts kicking in around 8 and is fully on around 8:30

then around 12 it starts to slow down, and then by 2 it is fully gone


now I may sound crazy, but it seems like sometimes I can like use it faster or slowly, say I need it for a hard math lecture around 9, and like the mount of time it lasts is shortened

It's almost as though I can control the speed that I use it at, AM I crazy? or has anyone else sorta noticed the same thing

[Sc@tterBr@in_UK]

Originally Posted by cracell

now I may sound crazy, but it seems like sometimes I can like use it faster or slowly, say I need it for a hard math lecture around 9, and like the mount of time it lasts is shortened

It's almost as though I can control the speed that I use it at, AM I crazy? or has anyone else sorta noticed the same thing

It's not that you consciously control how fast you use it, but when you are doing something that is more intense (like a test) then you go through it faster.. I am not sure if this is because the Dopamine gets used faster or because your metabolism speeds up (and processes the Methylphenidate faster) when you are busy.

For me, light work only needs a low dose of Concerta (18mg are fine fo rthe morning) but anything more intense, such as keeping up with a film, work where I have to do more than one thing at a time etc. needs more (36mg).

Going into town (visual processing overload!) tends to need even higher levels (36-54mg).

When I was on the short-acting Ritalin, the times it lasted were very variable and I could work happily (sitting down) on 15-20 mg for 3-4 hours or I could go into town and 20mg would wear off in an hour or so.

[Imaginableone]

i just started Ritalin LA today.Ive never taken it before or anyother ADD/ADHD stimulants.I just got diagnosed with ADD and i guess i would say its hard to deal with, im going off to college Friday and i dont know if the medication will work or not.I took my first pill when i woke up and i felt a slight change,i wasnt hungry at all but i had to force myself to eat,because i hadnt eaten anything all day.I feel a little "shacky",i wasnt able to walk as steady as i could, i seemed a little calmer than usual and i seemed to notice things a lot more.I never really sat down and payed attention to a television show as much as i did today.Maybe being a Ritalin kid isnt so bad

[pershingd]

Imaginableone,

Don't worry too much about the shakiness and loss of appitite, they're just side effects that will disappear in the next week or so.

Being a Ritalin Kid isn't bad at all. Been one off and on since the early 70's and I amazed at what I've accomplished since I returned to using meds. I only wish I had gone back before I started college instead of waiting until after.

Best of luck,
David Pershing