Rating Improvements

[ahalo]

Hello,

Just started on the generic of Ritalin (can't spell it out yet sorry). I was prescribed 10 mg 2X daily to start. The doc. seems to think it will need to be increased to something like 20 mg in the Am and 10 mg in the Pm eventually. I don't get back in until early December so for now I'm at the introductory dosage.

Anyway, I was wondering how people go about rating improvements. For example I personally might see any improvement as wonderful and not realize that there could be more of an improvement. Conversely, I might see an improvement but think that it could be better when in fact maybe that's as good as it gets. I have no clue how to rate this as I have no idea what "normal" is. I tend to be happy with any improvement and don't go as far as I probably could.

Are the effects of the meds apparent right away or does it build up over time, like with SSRIs? I am not sure at all what to hope for or expect. I do think I notice subtle differences with my appetite mainly but I am not sure if that's just because I'm looking for it.

Thanks!

BTW I dont know if my doc. is very knowledgeable. he told me that all stimulants are pretty much the same except for length of time in someone's system. I am not sure if that is true, it doesn't seem to match up with what I've read. He might just have said that though because he knew I don't have any other option due to finances.

[Tara]

It's different for everybody. Some people notice a huge change right away. Sometimes it can be hard to tell if it is helping too. I was one of those people who had a very hard time telling if it was working.

If you don't notice a huge change it doesn't mean it's not working though. Some ways you can tell if it is working is that some things are easier for you to do. What really helped me to realize my meds were working one day I started walking up the stairs and after only 3 steps I realized I forgot to bring something up with me. Before the meds I would have probably gone all the way up and started doing something else before I realized what I was going up for.