Anyone Familiar With Effects of Focalin?

[zaftigangel]

Hey All,

My doc and I decided to try a stimulant that operates differently from the Adderall that I have been taking for the past ~ 1 month (~40mg/day..30mg in AM, 10mg in PM). He wrote a script today for Focalin (5mg 2x/day for the next 7 days as a trial), explaining that it was basically Ritalin without the chemically inert portion and would be "smoother" than regular Ritalin (which I have never tried).
Does anyone have 1st hand experience with Focalin? What did/do you think? How do you feel it compares to Ritalin or other stimulant meds?

[Sc@tterBr@in_UK]

Haven't tried it (don't think it's available here) but as you said it's Methylphenidate with the inert isomer removed... so you get the full effect but only half the side effects

[bikemike]

I have not really tried Ritilan (did when I was young, but cannot remember the experience), but trying Focalin now. The first two weeks went really well. This was at 2.5 mg twice a day. Since then, I saw my doc and have gone up to 5 mg, 4 times a day or as needed. Since I have been taking this for a few weeks now it almost seems like I am not getting the benefit I was in the beginning, but sticking it out for a few more until I go back to the doc. One other negative is that it is very short acting. Feel like I am popping pills all the time. Supposedly they are coming out with an extended release version sometime this year or early next, we will see.

I think I am going to suggest to the doc to try either Adderall or Dex. Both of those are quite a bit longer acting.

Besides that, I would say it feels pretty clean. Had a headache in the morning for about a week after starting but that has gone away. No other SE to speak of.

[zaftigangel]

...thanks a lot! I've had my AM dose and feel ok...not spectacularly alert, but ok.
I'll try it for the week and see how it goes!

[crackersmonkey]

Focalin??? not to be a knucklehead but wasnt that the name of the fake add drug Bart Simpson took in the episode where he was diagnosed with ADD??

[zaftigangel]

..I think I heard that somewhere--I'm not a Simpsons watcher, but it wouldn't surprise me!

[bikemike]

zaftigangel - how is your Focalin experience coming along? I am now taking a "drug holiday" this weekend. The wife said I was starting to get really moody. Not sure if this is a result of the focalin or just work stress, etc. Anyhow, thought I would lay off a bit, then try again on Monday.

Keep me updated on your progress...

[zaftigangel]

Hey Mike,

...well, what I think I am finding with Focalin is that it (for whatever reason) lasts longer than regular Adderall for me! A dose of Adderall would last ~4 hours before the death-like sleepiness appeared and I'd need to reboot! Focalin (5mg) seems to last closer to 7 hours, but the crash is so sudden and so debilitating, it makes the Adderall crash seem like being just a tiny bit tired--and I am absolutely STARVING when I come down from the Focalin!! I have started taking the 2nd dose at ~ the 5 hour point, and that seems to go ok, but I actually wake during the night to eat--not snack, EAT!!

The BIG thing that I'm noticing is that my impulse control seems non-existent w/Focalin! With Adderall assistance, I could stop and think about what the effects of, say...spending $200 bucks (that I don't really have) in a casino would be on my student budget, and then walk away without a problem. I seem to have lost that ability in just the few days since I've made the switch! (Saturday was a VERY bad day!)
Perhaps at a higher dose I might be able to slow my mind down enough again to think about actions/consequences...? I don't know.
I am still tinkering with it, but I have the feeling that I'll be back to Adderall after this trial--unfortunately the Adderall dose that worked best for me seemed to have freaked my psych-resident doctor out--45mgs/day. He swears that 40mg is max unless you have narcolepsy...I keep telling him if it works, stop being so ******* tight about it! We'll see...

[brilliantmoment]

I've been dying to see a post about Focalin... finally.. lol.. I was starting to think I'm the only person that takes it..

I'm currently taking Focalin 10mg, a few hours before school..when I remember early enough. As far as focusing goes, it doesn't work as well for me as Concerta did, but I don't have the horrible side effects I was getting with Concerta (Couldn't eat-therefore weight loss-, couldn't sleep -therefore insanity-, dizziness if not taken daily, stomach pain..it was a long list..).. The only side effect(s) I have with the Focalin is difficulty sleeping, and occasional loss of appetite... My only suggestion is avoid caffiene... When I took the focalin with anything caffinated my heart rate would soar (normal HR is mid 90s... it would jump to 130, sometimes higher), and have palpitations...
The reason I stick with Focalin is because it only lasts about 6-8 hours for me (to wear off totally, it "works" for about 4), which gives me some flexibility with what time I take it. I prefer to take it on more of an as needed basis, for occasions when my attention is required. My job doesn't involve thinking beyond counting and basic math, so I only take it for more involved/complex subjects in school. It also seems to help me carry on/follow an entire conversation, without backtracking, getting lost/bored, or wandering off before the conversation is over.

(Granted, my comparison will be a bit skewed on Concerta since my moron of a doctor gave me the highest dose available to start with.. He did the same with Focalin, but theres a HUGE difference between 54mg of Concerta, and 10mg of Focalin as far as side effects go) . Thank GOD my regular Dr is back from maternity leave.

[cpalm1]

Originally Posted by crackersmonkey

Focalin??? not to be a knucklehead but wasnt that the name of the fake add drug Bart Simpson took in the episode where he was diagnosed with ADD??

bart took Focusin in the episode where he was diagnosed with ADHD. when my doctor first prescribed Focalin for me, the first thing i thought was "isn't that what bart took" then i thought about it more and remembered Bart was prescribed the imaginary drug focusin. The episode was released before Focalin came on the market

for those who havn't seen the episode, bart gets diagnosed with ADHD, and is prescribed medication. he becomes the smartest kid in his class. He discovers that Major League Baseball has satellites spying on Americans. He hijacks a tank and shoots the sattellite down. mark mcguire comes and steels the tapes from the camera. the episode ends with this song sung to the tune of Popeye the Sailer man.

"when i can't stop fiddlin
I just take my Ritalin
im poppin' and sailin man"