Experiences with Ritalin - Long acting and Short Acting

[Tara]

I'm curious as to what people's experieces having with long acting VS Short Acting Ritalin

Regular Short Acting Ritalin
Ritalin SR
Ritalin LA
Concerta

I curretly take Ritalin LA and it works well. I started on Concerta but had to stop because the Release mechinism really did a job on my degestive system. The Ritalin LA doesn't last quite as long for me as Concerta but it's last between 6 and 8 hours for me.

I have never taken the short acting Ritalin.
I haven't heard anything but negative things about Ritalin SR.

[t-bird]

I take regular release ritalin and it seems to work really well for me. I don't have any side effects besides the occasional headaches and insomnia.

I took Concerta 18mg for a month and had unbearable headaches on a daily basis. So I never had good benefits from it.

[David]

I take aproximately 10 mg's of Brand Ritalin 3-4 times a day. I also get the 20 mg pills and break them in half as I don't like the 10 mg pills. (Yes, I can tell the difference)

I have tried the longer acting Ritalin but it didn't really work well for me. It didn't last as long and I had a problem regulating it based upon my daily activities.

[Ian]

I've only ever taken the short acting generic Ritalin. It had a brutal backlash where I'd be willing to eat young children without much provocation. I was taking 10mg twice a day. So far I'm happy with the brand Dex la in the morning and 5mg sa at 3:30pm or so.

I hadn't considered the SR Ritalin but given my success with stimulants I'd guess it might be worth remembering in case the Dex begins to loose it's shine.

I didn't know there was a difference between the LA and the SR Ritalin.

David: I wouldn't mind hearing more about how you use the short acting formula to help regulate or maybe suit your daily activities.

Cheers! Ian.

[dreamer]

hi! my son tried normal four hour ritalin before trying slow realease and im surpised you have heard only bad things as we are much happier with sr! before my son had headaches, stomach pains nausea, loss of appitite and depression. i took him back to the doctor when he lost 2 stone in 6 weeks. we tried sr and all the side effects went, he eats me out of house and home, laffs jokes and throws typical temper tantrums!lol the only problem we have is that mornings and evenings are pretty bad, but no worse than on normal ritalin. im now looking into strattea as i know it will be suggested but sr worked for us!

[Gracie]

Glad to finally find a discussion on the various forms of Ritalin. Just today I started on the SR because my doctor inadvertently wrote the script out for it instead of my usual LA, and much to my surprise, found it to be quite different from the LA, even though the pharmacist claimed that there was no difference.

Here are the CONS I experienced:
not as sharp,
grogginess,
absolutely no appetite,
alternately sweat and froze several times within an hour all day long,
dropped things accidentally twice due to muscle weakness,
no elated feelings,
no motivation, and
all of the above symptoms lasted a good 10 hours.

Here are the PROS:
none.

I would love to hear about your personal experiences with LA and/or SR or what you've heard about them. Thanks.

[tractor1]

I have mostly been on generic ritalin. I have tried stratterra, concerta, and recently generic SR ritalin. No effect for at least 2 hrs, then very little, but better than nothing I guess. I am now just back on regular 4 times a day or so.

[olga]

I'm sorry to sound so dumb folks, but what is the difference between Ritalin SR and Ritalin LR? I just thought there was a "Time released" Ritalin (the SR) and the fast acting stuff which is now available as a generic.

Would somebody clue in this newbie?

[DadwithaLad]

My son has taken methylphenidate (Ritalin) 10mg 4 hour release and 36mg Methylphendiate slow release. Here's my two pennies worth of comparison.

With the 10mg only side effects were very poor appetite leading to a gradual loss of weight and some problems sleeping.

With the 36mg, loss of appetite, stomach aches, blood in urine, deeper feelings of depression, more obvious mood swings, increased anxiety.

We perservered with the 36mg slow release and loss of appetite and some occasional sleep problems are the only noticable side effects.

[Chadwick]

You have to take any anecdote with a huge grain of salt. People simply are not aware of many issues involved. There is no reason why a slow release of methylphenidate would have markedly different results than fast release, slightly different, potentially. Slightly better? Maybe. Interesting and very new side effects from slow release vs. immediate release? Very unlikely. In general people are not very good at perception and arrive at conclusions too readily.

[Imnapl]

Originally Posted by Chadwick

You have to take any anecdote with a huge grain of salt. People simply are not aware of many issues involved. There is no reason why a slow release of methylphenidate would have markedly different results than fast release, slightly different, potentially. Slightly better? Maybe. Interesting and very new side effects from slow release vs. immediate release? Very unlikely. In general people are not very good at perception and arrive at conclusions too readily.

You make a good point. My understanding is that the slow release Ritalin is preferred by some people who experience "crashes" as the more frequent doses of regular Ritalin wear off. Other people adjust the timing of doses of regular Ritalin to avoid this.

I am always intrigued by people who blame Ritalin for appetite suppression - a common side effect when first going on the med., which should disappear in time -, forgetting that the patient was thin, hyperactive and often forgot to eat before ever going on Ritalin. When I read stories about weight loss with other ADHD meds., I am tempted to approach my doctor for a new med. to lose the extra pounds I carry. As I do well on Ritalin, my doctors are hesitant to mess with something that is working with no side effects.
L.

[whiteraven]

This is a very interesting topic.

The only Ritalin I have ever tried is the SR. It was not a good experience, which is why I have not tried anything else. The minor stuff that occurs when the body is getting used to a drug, like headaches and no appetite, went away in a week or so. The awful stuff crept up on me. I tried to ignore it, I willed this medicine to work for me, but it didn't.
Firstly, it made me seriously unhappy to the point of wondering why I was alive. I cried 3-4 times daily. I was not like this before trying the SR. I am usually the happy-go-lucky, Pollyanna type.
Secondly, it did nothing to improve motivation or focus. I gave it a good try. Almost four months. Then I threw the rest away.
The deep sadness didn't go away immediately. It took several weeks SR free to get rid of the feelings of wretchedness that it gave me.

Therefore, the fact that others who have tried more kinds of Ritalin than me say that there IS a difference gives me hope. From what I have read here, I will not be trying the Concerta. I think I would like to try the straight stuff, as it sounds like the least complicated.

Why do you think there is a difference between the 10 mg and the 20 mg cut in half? I really want to know this.

[kjames]

I've been actually taking both Ritalin LA and methylphenidate together for the past few years. I definitely prefer the LA since its makes me less edgy and allows me to work at a more relaxed pace. Unfortunately, it doesn't last as long as it should with me which is why I compliment it with the short acting; taking it towards the end of the day to help during the last few hours. I just couldn't take the short acting multiple times a day as I kept feeling like I was "spiking" my moods. Also, the short acting doses really make me anxious unless I keep it a low dosage ( <10 mg). It took a year of modifying my prescription before my doctor and I came to this treatment. It works well for if the LA doesn't last as long but you don't want to increase the dosage or take multiple SA all day long.

[MonkeyGirl]

Long acting (capsules), released twice: Have a 30 min valley between the first and second dose. The last dose workes less than the first one. Makes me calmer, but doesn't do much for my concentration and focus. Easier than tablets in social situations, more stabile throughout the time it's working. I take mine with 5 hrs apart. It lasts longer than that, but between 5 - 6 hrs after I take it, it loses effect quickly. I also avoid the "valley" between each time I take it this way. You can take a smaller dose than the "window" that works for you on the tablets, without getting jittery etc. Of course that will affect how well it works. Starts to work after little over an hour.

Ritalin (tablets): Works quickly - 30-45 min. You need to find that "window" where "everything falls in to place". Makes me feel more calm, works better, a whole lot better ability to focus than capsules, but wears off quickly. It can be hard if it's a social event or meeting; it works, then it doesn't, then you have to take the next dose. Works better overall - when it is working. I have to take them every 3 hrs. After 3 hrs I know (feel) it's time for the next dose, on the spot, I don't need a watch. Except for the down period between you take them, it can work much better also in social events (but they will notice when it's time to take your meds again ).

[arkyle]

I started with Ritalin. Headaches and a bad reaction with caffeine the first two days. Palpitations too. Sleep problems!!!!! horrible. Palpitations and crazy heart rates.
But now I don't have side effects apart from the weird palpitations and irregular heart beats.
I'm taking 54 mg concerta right now. It kicks in in about 50 minutes. Ritalin worked in 30 minutes so that's the advantage but I prefer taking just one concerta pill in the morning instead of taking Ritalin every now and then (mainly because I forget to).