Sticking with the ritalin trial.....

[Crazy_Cutie]

for the next week an a half.

I talked to my doctor and she has upped the dose.. 20mg morning 20mg afternoon 10mg evening. She says we should max out on the dose before giving up on the med all together. Whats the average dose of ritalin anyway?

[Ace]

Just a suggestion:
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20011015/1355.html Scroll down to Table 5.
I do 10 mg morning and 5 mg afternoon. It's enough for my requirements.
Your mileage may differ. Consult your doctor.

[Crazy_Cutie]

Thanks, I read it. Today I took the higher dose and it's still not working. I have managed to stay at my job for 3 weeks but I doubt I'll have my job much longer by the way things are going. I can't complete anything. The ritalin didn't help at all. I have wandered from task to task, then don't even get ANYTHING done (basically I just looked at all the work on that project then moved on to the next and looked.. then looked at the next one and so on)

I am not as hyperactive as before but now my problems with staying on task seem worse than before I even took the medication!

[mctavish23]

Ace,
TY for that post.It's excellent.The one thing I would like to point out for everyone when it comes to checklists, is that only the Conners and the ADHD-IV by George DuPaul are normed on BOTH boys and girls.Thats very important. I wish ya'll luck on getting the dosage right.Im still in the process myself.

[wizephoenix]

I read that site too and it is helpful. I have a question though. It says doses per day range from 2 to 6. Is anyone taking this six times a day? I was given the regimine of 10 mg 3x a day. I have been on it for over a week now. I am happy with the effects of Ritalin, however, I peak after about two hours. Taking it every 8 hours is pointless since it is so short acting. Should I talk to my doctor about more frequent dosing? Only side effect I have is occasional nausea. Is it possible that upping the dose to 20 mg 3x (with dr. approval) would make the effect last longer?

[Crazy_Cutie]

If you take it 3 times daily you should be taking it every 4 hours. That would equal a total of 12 hours, which should be enough for the day. It doesnt make sense that you would take 10mg every 8 hours 3 times per day. That would make your doses spread out over 24 hours...which is not the way you take stimulant medication!!

[Tara]

Originally posted by wizephoenix
I read that site too and it is helpful. I have a question though. It says doses per day range from 2 to 6. Is anyone taking this six times a day? I was given the regimine of 10 mg 3x a day. I have been on it for over a week now. I am happy with the effects of Ritalin, however, I peak after about two hours. Taking it every 8 hours is pointless since it is so short acting. Should I talk to my doctor about more frequent dosing? Only side effect I have is occasional nausea. Is it possible that upping the dose to 20 mg 3x (with dr. approval) would make the effect last longer?

Have you talked to your Dr about Concerta or Ritalin LA?

[Wheel1975]

Yes...

I make sure i don't go over my 30 mgs per day, by putting 3 10 mg pills in a pill box. then i break them into halves or quarters and take them at will....

Tiny doses avoid the "rush" side effects "like caffeine" that distract me.

Completing things is a game. When "outside the zone" it is very hard to get back in for me.

My advice is for you to explore ways to trade with others... offer to start things or work through the middle if they will just "finish up." You probably will have to offer to do "more of the early and middle work" to get the trade, because "everybody hates to finish things."

They don't "hate to" like we hate ourselves because we can't finish, but they use the language and think they mean the same thing we do!

Anyway, also reward yourself for steps toward finishing. get yourself a bag of m&m's... give yourself just one for "doing" the next step toward doing completely a "hung" task.

that is bait yourself, with small bait, so you can use LOTS of it without getting sick on it.

Good Luck