Ritalin (Methylphenidate)

Yes, in that it triggered SVT, and even after coming off of it deal with palpitations.  I probably would have developed anyways, but it was not fun being seated and my watch telling me my heart rate was 180 Outside of that I felt like it changed my life for a week or two drasticallyand then it just felt like things were relatively easier.  Controversial opinion but I believe me 2 years on stimulants a using them really only even I needed to sit down and work helped me be able to do that even After stopping them.  So besides the heart thing, it overall helped. I was doing ~okay before then, doing okay after, but also consisted “twice gifted” 

I’m new to this and raising my dose on my first flavour of stimulant - up to 50mg and looking to 70mg Elvanse. Cautiously optimistic, it’s helping and side effects seem light and manageable so far. Brain fog: I’d hoped that this would just go away and I’d feel clear like after the deepest sleep, but that’s not quite accurate. I hadn’t thought about it like this before, but the fog might have been the sensation of my attention being divided, and it’s the fog itself that is being focussed - like my consciousness was blurred and now it isn’t. Is this what people mean when they say meds is like putting on a pair of glasses? Don’t feel the need to drink alcohol or use nicotine - I’ve been hooked to nicotine replacement lozenges for decades, popping them like M&Ms when working. Next to no withdrawal. Chewing gum more...Read more...

I mean not so much. But i sure helped me improve my grades. But i don’t find myself less stressed. I kind of feel more anxious and more aware of myself. Like the chatter in my brain hasn’t stopped. And lt was the only thing that i was so excited for. Like my inner negative monologue is still there, but i mean before it was more like my thoughts was all over the place now i can kind of more hear one train of thoughts. But i feel more socially awkward and aware of myself in social situations. I also tend to kind of «hide myself» like i genuinely feel more anxious around people… not at all times, but i don’t like that im so aware. Maybe its something i need to work with. Like i was also like that before medication.

Yup. I was able to actually do my work for work in a timely manner which has helped me take on more tasks leading to more money (essentially overtime). I've also developed new hobbies (drawing) that I never would have had the patience for earlier. On top of all that, just the ability to have my head clear and able to focus on tasks is such an amazing feeling that is hard to explain to someone with ADHD who's never experienced it. If someone had told me that is what I would experience, I would have been skeptical of its benefits before I took it. I didn't know what I didn't know.

A friend of mine told me a few months ago she's never seen me so focused. I've been on meds 18 months---in that time, I got acclimated at a new job, sold my house and moved to a new city across the country, one ive always wanted to live in. Id say one of the best things theyve done for me is to give me a baseline to what is "normal". I usually keep the meds just for work days and if I only skip a day or two, I can get myself back, with relatively little energy, to stay consistent with newly established routine. Day 4 or 5 without meds is usually when I start slipping and that comes through at work (when ive not been able to get the script filled) The emotional regulation thing has been clutch too. Even when Im not on my meds, its easier...Read more...

YES. I am still figuring it out - I think the dose is right (40mg Elvanse), but my sleep hasn’t improved too much. Saying that, I used to have all 3 types of insomnia (can’t fall asleep, can’t stay asleep, wake up too early) and I now only experience the last one. During the day, the effects are subtly there - I can think ‘right, time to do this’ and I do it, I can study for extended periods without getting out my phone, I can focus in lectures without my mind wandering. It’s honestly been a game changer for me. I’m currently trying supplements to improve my early waking and REM sleep (stimulants and SSRIs both can impact it, and I’m on both), and the meds are only so effective when I’m very sleep deprived; I still need to stick to a good wind down routine and keep good...Read more...

I don’t take ten anymore but I took adderall and ten Ritalin to make it through college. That’s how I found out I had ADHD. I struggled so hard in physics that I asked my psychiatrist about it. So the meds helped me pass physics.

It was life changing for me and I didn’t even realize it for a while. I was put on a stimulant. I’m not chronically late anymore, my home, car, etc are mostly clean, and I’m able to set up routines and stick to them better. One of the biggest changes though, is that the crippling anxiety I had for years is mostly gone. I’m in better control of my emotions and can now set boundaries. I realized the difference when I was around people that hadn’t spent time with me in a while. They notice enough to make comments or ask questions. No one but my core family knows about my ADHD, so I’m usually asked if I had my anxiety treated. So yeah, treatment helps. I’m not perfect— there’s still a lot I’m trying to get a handle on. But I’m much better supported.

Tried a few before Vyvanse 30mg I'm on now like Concerta, Methylin, Adderall but those made me feel my heart rate was too quick and I didn't like the crash after especially the Adderall. My heart rate is a bit higher on Vyvanse but it helps me so much with executive dysfunction, energy, mood (since mood swings were always a problem I deal with) and I feel definitely more focused on things.

I was diagnosed as an adult. I am an expert masker but it all started to fall apart in my early 30s. I couldn't keep a full time job, manage my finances or relationships. which is why I had to figure my shit out. I'm also on the spectrum. Disordered thinking, emotional dysregulation, inattentiveness and impulsivity are my most dominant traits. My short-term memory is the shittiest. I resisted medication because I thought I could figure how to cope with it on my own. My therapist convinced to just try and if it didn't work for me, no harm done. It gave me the relief and clarity I needed to do the work. I'm very lucky, I didn't have to try multiple medications, we figured out my correct dosage in about 6 months, and the side effects are manageable. I was able to reduce my mood disorder medication, my anxiety...Read more...

I noticed the first day that I took it. Brain fog significantly improved, I felt motivated, depression lifted a little, and my brain was a lot quieter... I only had about 5 thoughts running in my mind, that were manageable, instead of two dozen that were overlapping, amping up my anxiety 😅.

In short, yes they've helped immensely. A lot of times I thought I was physically exhausted from adulting but really you're mentally exhausted and your mind simply won't let you do more unless it's something you enjoy. Its helped me pay more attention to detail, short term memory, be more organized and get more tasks done. It's not a complete cure as you still need organizational skills to do these tasks as well but it's been life changing. On top of that, it's helped me become a lot more sociable in real life and made my anxiety not feel so crippling as well.

I was able to focus more but it affected my hunger so I could go the whole day without eating but it also made me feel like a zombie, I felt depressed when I would take it

Yes I had some of those side effects initially, yes they waned after a little while, and yes it was absolutely worth it. The most helpful things for me were to eat something with protein (like an egg) half an hour after I took my meds, drink lots of water throughout the day, and don't drink coffee for at least an hour before or after you take the ritalin. Also no OJ or anything high in vitamin C, which can neutralize the effects of the ritalin. If you're worried about any of the side effects though, definitely talk to your doc.

I've seen incredible positive changes in my life. In my opinion, truly life changing. I take 25mg xr in the morning and 20mg IR in the afternoon. Physically, I'm no longer tired and dragging all the time. It used to eel like I was physically walking through water or mud all the time and moving my body was just tiring. Now I feel like I did when I was a kid and actually have energy, which makes it easier for me to get up and do stuff or makes me excited to get out of the house, rather than needing to stay home and recharge so often. I found out that I'm really good at my job! I'm a special Ed teacher, and now I feel way more engaged with my students. I don't feel the need to sit down all the time. I put so much more time into...Read more...

This is same question I have, thanks for bring it in. I heard many people said “I feel like having glasses on my brain. Is this what normal people feel?”. Is that sounds familiar? It sounds like magic, especially those taking stimulant. But here is my honest comment for your question. I don’t feel what they say. And that disappoint me , because I expected change. I want to experience that. I have taken Adderral for about 1.5 months now and thinking to quit bec I don’t feel the positive effect, very subtle. Negative side effects yes. I’m concern about the meds effect on heart and kidney and liver, bec I’m not young anymore. Some comments would say that probably I haven’t got the correct dose, maybe they are right. But with this meds I feel unfonfortable everyday on my body, like headache, heart rate increase, urine retention. That’s my...Read more...

ADHD is a severely imparing disability : Example I went ten days without washing my face, showering, or brushing my teeth. As a result of poor hygiene, I noticed a small cyst on my neck two days ago, about the size of a nut. Treating it would have been simple—I just needed to apply some ointment, and it would have healed on its own. But I couldn’t bring myself to do even that. Because of my inaction, the small cyst became infected and grew into a large wound, roughly the size of a lemon. A doctor advised me to use warm compresses and apply ointment to help it heal. Yet, for three days, I couldn’t bring myself to follow those instructions either. I spent hours sitting on my bed, thinking about doing it, but I simply couldn’t manage to start. During this time, the wound worsened. Eventually, I took my...Read more...

1 Week on Ritalin - The side effects are evident... For context - I am 34 years old; recently diagnosed. - taking Ritalin 10mg every 4 hours - 8am, 12pm and 4pm. I mostly needed for work; I think it does help, but I am not sure it helps only because I am taking it rather than its really working; like a placebo. But that's an argument for another day. General feelings - calmer, less energetic (but I would not say lethargic, maybe this can be attributed to ingesting less sugars). I feel like i am talking significantly slower (I do notice that I take longer pauses, I guess I am thinking more before I talk. I would not say that it is as life changing as others describe; sometimes I doubt myself whether its really working at all. I surely noticed that I can tolerate boredom more. I am...Read more...

Who’s the manufacturer? I took it because of the adderall shortage. It was terrible. I didn’t want to answer text or have conversations with anyone. It required too much mental energy I didn’t have with Ritalin. The last brand was Mallinckrodt.

Ritalin makes me more talkative than usual...but all the other side effects you mentioned are spot on.

Positive effects : - A little boost in productivity - Less fatigue and more energy (but not always) - Better self confidence and less anxiety during the effect - Just a little euphoria - Less back pain (yeah that's weird 😅) - Makes me more sociable Side effects : - Sweating - Loss of appetite - Nausea - Makes me thirsty and want to pee the whole day, i have to wake up twice during the night to drink and go to the toilet, and that effect lasts 3 days even if i take it only once - At higher doses, it makes me sleepy and yawn excessively (more than usual) - Anxiety for like 3 or 4 hours after it wears off (sometimes too much anxiety, as if the world is about to end) - Even worse ADHD and SCT symptoms after it wears off Also : - Doesn't...Read more...

Increased focus by 10 times but also increased anxiety levels by 100 times. So stopped taking it

Massive anxiety to the point where it negates any productivity increase. Shaky, clammy, emotional dullness, loss of sensation in extremities, the whole nine yards.

I've been taking them pretty regularly since I was 8 (I'm 25 rn) but obv a sample of 1 isn't reliable I take Concerta, which is methylphenidate extended release I have experienced no long term side effects from taking it. However, I do experience moderate nausea every day when I take it, but it doesn't occur on days I don't, so I believe this is just a short term side effect I went a while w/o taking it, and I noticed when I got back on that the short term effects were worse for the first couple days. It raised my heart rate a bit, and made my skin "crawl" for lack of better term.

I was on 72mg on Concerta for almost 5 years, just barely got an increase to 81mg. My only side effects are daily. Random sweats mostly!

I was taking Concerta (methylphenidate er) daily from like first grade to a few years after graduating high school with only a few breaks in between. I hadn't noticed any side effects that could be directly traced back to it except that it gradually stopped being effective for me so I had to increase my dose which caused my heart rate to go up causing my anxiety to increase. So yeah, eventually it may stop being as effective and you may need to look into trying different meds. If you're concerned with heart/liver issues, ask your doctor or psychiatrist about doing annual tests to monitor heart/liver to make sure they're healthy. I do annual blood work and urine sample at my doctor's recommendation (and have been for a little over a decade iirc). Also the dose you're prescribed sounds pretty low. I was on like 50 something mg of Concerta...Read more...

I’ve been on 72mg Concerta, with the occasional 10mg Ritalin afternoon boost, every single day for a decade and I’ve had no health issues. I’m also in the camp that a quality life is more important to me than longevity. But I’m in my late 20s so maybe I’m still feeling a bit invincible.

A Layman's opinion so **\[Trigger Warning\]**. I'm not a medical professional so take what I say with a grain of salt. Also anyone who disagrees feel free to chime in, I am pretty open minded and would like to hear other opinions as long as they aren't insults. Having said that, there are a couple things I take into account with anyone who says that "there are **no** **risks**" with any medication. It's common sense to me that there will be always be some kind of physical affect on a molecular and chemical level every time you introduce a foreign entity to your body and it is broken down by your body. Anyone saying that there are no risks, is simply incorrect. *If you believe that bad food can affect your health over the course of weeks/months/years, why would you think that distilled drugs will not? The same drugs that...Read more...

18 year old software engineer here (part time remote hourly paid contract). I take my medication daily, and I am fortunate to be in the same position as you with hyperfixation on my work. I have, however noticed increased ability to focus for extended periods and not get bored of my environment at the same rate as I usually would when I take my medication. If you’re 30 and developing professionally you may be okay not taking medication long term - its all down to whether you think its worth it. The only way I can really suggest to find out is to do a trial for a month on month off type basis. Make notes of your feelings especially focussing on your work ethic and motivation, and compare each month - then you’ll be able to see any benefits that arise. Edit: Of course, rely on doctors advice more...Read more...

Been on biphentin (methylphenidate) for roughly 10 years now (I'm 29) and feel absolutely wonderful! I was on a handful of other meds starting when I was about 12, until we found biphentine worked best for me. Recently did bloodwork and an echocardiogram on my heart for an unrelated thing and everything is normal and very healthy. Also in a healthy weight range for my height and age, and no side effects. Also no dependence, sometimes I forget to take them and I simply feel more scattered and get less done in my day. No withdrawal symptoms or physical changes. I feel the same on vs off my meds, just more focused and in control. I used to be on 80mg but found it was making it really hard to fall asleep (hours of a busy brain lol). Now I'm on 40mg and can fall asleep much more easily. I...Read more...

I’m prescribed 60 mg per day, I stopped cold turkey along with Xanax and had no withdrawal symptoms. I stopped to see what it was like without medication, and it’s a necessity for children and adults with an impaired prefrontal cortex. In my experience, it even helps me from becoming depressed from the cons of being mentally different. The effects do not diminish over time, your brain is receiving the biochemicals it needs to function properly. The uplifting feeling that diminishes after a few months, could just be the rewiring of the brain, the uplifting feeling could be soley, the stimulant, but also the ADD or ADHD. We’re not cured, we still have ADHD, however, the longevity to properly utilize executive processing,( control of our behaviors to complete a goal) to manage our emotions, actions, and tasks are easier to well… process and execute. My memory, task completions, and vocabulary,...Read more...

I started out with 10mg in the morning for two weeks, then 10mg in the morning and 10mg 4h later for another two weeks and currently trying out 20mg in the morning and 10mg 4h later. On the weekends I don't take meds. My doctor told me to take my meds after having a meal and to not drink any coffee or alcohol on the days I take meds. The very first time my heart was racing but that went away the second day. In the first week I forgot that I was taking meds and drank two espressos. I felt dizzy, had a headache, felt nauseous and my heart was racing. Independently of the dose, I loose my appetite for a few hours after taking the medication. Currently I sometimes get a little "hyper" and my heart races. Sometimes I get nervous/restless/fidgety (but not anxious and no racing thoughts!)...Read more...

So after a week of taking Ritalin, I was doubtful. Until my first day off, I organised my closet for the first time, honestly ever! This was crammed full with old clothes, new clothes and just absolute rubbish. I am shook. It may not be tidy to some, but to me this is a huge milestone!

It was subtle for me too. At first I was like I can do anything! Then it was like ugh the changes aren’t novel to me anymore BORING. But then OTHER people noticed things: the focus, the attentiveness, the remembering.

It improved my life significantly. I can focus much better at work, my impulsivity is way better and it shows in many ways like I can listen to my partner explain things much better and I don't cut them off or blurt out stuff. I can stick to my healthy routines pretty regularly. Not like a robot but that's not the goal for me. I am much better at controlling and processing my emotions. I lost a lot of weight and I enjoy going to work finally. I can prepare and run meetings which waa nowhere possible for me before. I organized and run our household, keep things tidy and clean. It's not perfect, and it doesn't work the same way every day... It depends on a lot of factors like sleep which I still sometimes struggle with. It was also hard work to figure out my dose and timings......Read more...

I wasn't talking to anyone, constantly rotting, unable to go to class, wouldn't submit assignments even if i had finished them, was constantly late to class even when i did go, had to take a leave of absence, my room was literally constantly full of garbage, i wouldn't do laundry for months, my head would never be quiet and i could not think straight. and you're right it's not magic, and i still struggle with a lot of these things, meds can't fix everything. but they brought me to a level of baseline functionality that allow me to do at least some of the things i need to do, to fix this stuff. I remember when I first started concerta it didn't do much. i was prescribed a combination of concerta, strattera, and wellbutrin together. they had completely killed my appetite and didn't really have any positive effects. eventually i...Read more...

Yes. The increased focus and productivity has been great but that's a societal expectation thing. More personally, the medication revealed to me that I've been depressed for a long time and that cloud finally started parting. I feel like a human being finally

Yes and no. The initial impact is obviously the biggest, but even as the benefits "diminish" over time, I wouldn't go back. They definitely helped with all aspects of life, or rather my ADHD was indeed affecting all of the categories you mention: - My career improved, I struggle less with "unpleasant" tasks and I'm more organized in general, which directly translates to better results and honestly just plain more enjoyment of work because I'm actually good at what I do - Relationships improved because I stopped being constantly burnt out, and had more energy/motivation/time to actually devote to my partner and family - Motivation, well, it's not a night/day difference, but it's there. It's like a +25% on whether I successfully get off my ass and do stuff I aim to do, which depending on your perspective can be life changing nonetheless. - Mental health & confidence - oh...Read more...

For me, it didn’t increase my motivation at all but it made harder things a lot easier to do. For example, I still don’t feel like doing work. But doing the actual work isn’t painful anymore. I still don’t want to take a shower, but showering itself isn’t awful now. I still don’t want to do my laundry, but when I fold clothes it feels much more pleasant. Without the medication, I don’t want to do things and it is painful. With the medication, I don’t want to do things but it is pain free.

Audhd'er here. When I started taking medication, I was blown away by the immediate improvement in my ability to focus, and do tasks that normally I just couldn't make myself do. I have far less anxiety. I have far better emotional regulation. I probably wouldn't have my current relationship without it. My head doesn't race all night. I don't have a kazililion thoughts going at the one time. I don't have repeating intrusive phrases going in my mind. If I was in a career that I wanted to be in, I think I'd get a lot more benefits from the medication and would be smashing life right now. I wish I had the medication back when I was doing something that meant a lot to me, but that was a long time ago. I'm looking for another job. Currently I can still only work part time and not become dysregulated...Read more...

Yes I think it’s changed my life dramatically but it’s not an instantaneous fix, I have to still put in a lot of energy to improve all facets of my life but now it’s much much easier to do so. - Career: I lose focus easily, am extremely unorganized, I have a lot of anxiety from my mind racing constantly and the meds helped calm all that down so I can focus better at work and make a schedule to keep everything of mine organized which has improved work. - relationships: SO much better. Such dramatic improvement that I can’t believe I went 26 years of my life undiagnosed. The biggest impact my adhd has on me is my ability to emotionally regulate, forgetfulness, and impulsivity. Like I would forget what I was saying mid sentence, my mind would go blank from anxiety, and any perceived negative reaction made me...Read more...

Yes and no. I’m able to do more things and I am now clearly able to understand when my adhd disrupts my life. In the past, it wasn’t so clear but now I see how my impulsiveness and emotional dysregulation affects me. I shower everyday, sometimes go to the gym, and sometimes study consistently for 1 hours a day. Also things that would used to stress me out no longer do. Before medication, I showered inconsistently, never studied, never went to the gym. I also used to panic last minute study for tests, but I notice I don’t do that anymore. I would say medication is a game changer. IMO it rose me from a 2/10 to a 5/10 human.

**Did your life change significantly before vs after meds?** Yes, profoundly, in my opinion. After about 6 months or so, I actually realized what being medicated was doing for me. Did they help with things like: **Career or school success**: I started actually doing work instead of sitting around all the damn time. *Everyone* noticed this. I was a manager, so I was "managing" but I could never find it in me to jump in and help if it wasn't *absolutely necessary*. Suddenly, I was jumping in, helping out, learning new things and expanding my knowledge at work. It really helped me become liked by the employees rather than hated. **Relationships or marriage**: My girlfriend is happy that I have been able to *mostly* stick to routines and my room has actually been kept clean for over a year now. I can do chores more easily, although I still have...Read more...

I take 18mg or 36mg concerta everyday during the school days. It doesn't help much with the difficulty in getting started, but I can focus on my studies a little more. ADHD wears me out and I still can't actively participate in various university activities.But at least I can finish my studies without failing any courses!!!! I don't have any more ambitions , for real. My life have been tormented by adhd for many years and taking medication has slightly improved the situation.

Yes, in every single bullet point. It has helped me be more emotionally stable and I feel more confident because my social anxiety has improved. I also feel like certain things that I would dread doing like filling out applications for internships or jobs is a lot easier etc. I am also more sharp and organized now during my job

Yes, in that it triggered SVT, and even after coming off of it deal with palpitations.  I probably would have developed anyways, but it was not fun being seated and my watch telling me my heart rate was 180 Outside of that I felt like it changed my life for a week or two drasticallyand then it just felt like things were relatively easier.  Controversial opinion but I believe me 2 years on stimulants a using them really only even I needed to sit down and work helped me be able to do that even After stopping them.  So besides the heart thing, it overall helped. I was doing ~okay before then, doing okay after, but also consisted “twice gifted” 

I’m new to this and raising my dose on my first flavour of stimulant - up to 50mg and looking to 70mg Elvanse. Cautiously optimistic, it’s helping and side effects seem light and manageable so far. Brain fog: I’d hoped that this would just go away and I’d feel clear like after the deepest sleep, but that’s not quite accurate. I hadn’t thought about it like this before, but the fog might have been the sensation of my attention being divided, and it’s the fog itself that is being focussed - like my consciousness was blurred and now it isn’t. Is this what people mean when they say meds is like putting on a pair of glasses? Don’t feel the need to drink alcohol or use nicotine - I’ve been hooked to nicotine replacement lozenges for decades, popping them like M&Ms when working. Next to no withdrawal. Chewing gum more...Read more...

I mean not so much. But i sure helped me improve my grades. But i don’t find myself less stressed. I kind of feel more anxious and more aware of myself. Like the chatter in my brain hasn’t stopped. And lt was the only thing that i was so excited for. Like my inner negative monologue is still there, but i mean before it was more like my thoughts was all over the place now i can kind of more hear one train of thoughts. But i feel more socially awkward and aware of myself in social situations. I also tend to kind of «hide myself» like i genuinely feel more anxious around people… not at all times, but i don’t like that im so aware. Maybe its something i need to work with. Like i was also like that before medication.

Yup. I was able to actually do my work for work in a timely manner which has helped me take on more tasks leading to more money (essentially overtime). I've also developed new hobbies (drawing) that I never would have had the patience for earlier. On top of all that, just the ability to have my head clear and able to focus on tasks is such an amazing feeling that is hard to explain to someone with ADHD who's never experienced it. If someone had told me that is what I would experience, I would have been skeptical of its benefits before I took it. I didn't know what I didn't know.

A friend of mine told me a few months ago she's never seen me so focused. I've been on meds 18 months---in that time, I got acclimated at a new job, sold my house and moved to a new city across the country, one ive always wanted to live in. Id say one of the best things theyve done for me is to give me a baseline to what is "normal". I usually keep the meds just for work days and if I only skip a day or two, I can get myself back, with relatively little energy, to stay consistent with newly established routine. Day 4 or 5 without meds is usually when I start slipping and that comes through at work (when ive not been able to get the script filled) The emotional regulation thing has been clutch too. Even when Im not on my meds, its easier...Read more...

Tried ritalin, aduvanz and strattera, which are the only medications available for adults in my country. The only effects I got were mild anxiety and nausea, didn't help with any of my symptoms. They told me I have treatment resistant ADHD, so now I'm just living my shitty life with no real hope of ever overcoming my ADHD symptoms.

YES. I am still figuring it out - I think the dose is right (40mg Elvanse), but my sleep hasn’t improved too much. Saying that, I used to have all 3 types of insomnia (can’t fall asleep, can’t stay asleep, wake up too early) and I now only experience the last one. During the day, the effects are subtly there - I can think ‘right, time to do this’ and I do it, I can study for extended periods without getting out my phone, I can focus in lectures without my mind wandering. It’s honestly been a game changer for me. I’m currently trying supplements to improve my early waking and REM sleep (stimulants and SSRIs both can impact it, and I’m on both), and the meds are only so effective when I’m very sleep deprived; I still need to stick to a good wind down routine and keep good...Read more...

As I’m also autistic, the medication has only helped me concentrate better at work. But sadly it doesn’t do much else outside of that so I still ended up being burnt out

It was life changing for me and I didn’t even realize it for a while. I was put on a stimulant. I’m not chronically late anymore, my home, car, etc are mostly clean, and I’m able to set up routines and stick to them better. One of the biggest changes though, is that the crippling anxiety I had for years is mostly gone. I’m in better control of my emotions and can now set boundaries. I realized the difference when I was around people that hadn’t spent time with me in a while. They notice enough to make comments or ask questions. No one but my core family knows about my ADHD, so I’m usually asked if I had my anxiety treated. So yeah, treatment helps. I’m not perfect— there’s still a lot I’m trying to get a handle on. But I’m much better supported.

Tried a few before Vyvanse 30mg I'm on now like Concerta, Methylin, Adderall but those made me feel my heart rate was too quick and I didn't like the crash after especially the Adderall. My heart rate is a bit higher on Vyvanse but it helps me so much with executive dysfunction, energy, mood (since mood swings were always a problem I deal with) and I feel definitely more focused on things.

I was diagnosed as an adult. I am an expert masker but it all started to fall apart in my early 30s. I couldn't keep a full time job, manage my finances or relationships. which is why I had to figure my shit out. I'm also on the spectrum. Disordered thinking, emotional dysregulation, inattentiveness and impulsivity are my most dominant traits. My short-term memory is the shittiest. I resisted medication because I thought I could figure how to cope with it on my own. My therapist convinced to just try and if it didn't work for me, no harm done. It gave me the relief and clarity I needed to do the work. I'm very lucky, I didn't have to try multiple medications, we figured out my correct dosage in about 6 months, and the side effects are manageable. I was able to reduce my mood disorder medication, my anxiety...Read more...

I noticed the first day that I took it. Brain fog significantly improved, I felt motivated, depression lifted a little, and my brain was a lot quieter... I only had about 5 thoughts running in my mind, that were manageable, instead of two dozen that were overlapping, amping up my anxiety 😅.

I’m 53F and was just diagnosed in late April with combined ADHD, RSD, severe depression, severe anxiety and mild PTSD. I begged my family doctor for years to get me tested for ADHD but she dismissed me and just prescribed Wellbutrin and anti-anxiety meds and chalked it up to perimenopause. 😠. Went to a private clinic and got the diagnosis, made sure to take the results to my family doctor and tell her that I wasn’t making it up all those years. As soon as I started meds, I realized how much it would have affected everything in my life if I had been diagnosed earlier. How much I had shut down the past few years because I was so overwhelmed by stress and literally locked myself in my apartment for 2.5 years. Had I started meds earlier, my life choices would have been massively different and treating the RSD...Read more...

I've been put on many things for ADHD since I was 5 years old. The ones I actually remember are Concerta and Strattera. I took Concerta from ages 8 to 20, but around 16 I started "not taking" them and throwing them in the trash and just not taking them at all during the summer (which I convinced my parents to let me do). I honestly never noticed any effect. I could stop taking it cold turkey and nothing would happen. I was no different with or without it. My parents switched me to strattera when I was 15 and it made me extremely depressed in a harmful way, so that didn't last long. A couple of years ago I decided to try Vyvanse. I did some research on it and thought it could be helpful. I decided to start taking meds again because I just felt off. Having been...Read more...

I dont get stuck during the workday anymore. Even after the medication wesrs off i have more juice in my executive function tank left over. Completely changed my life

Definitely have helped me the past 12 months since being medicated, managed to lose 20kg. Started eating clean, listening to self help podcasts Also have been running a business for 10 years, which was pretty unorganised as well as being unmotivated. Now way more organised and estimated to have doubled my income just being able to apply myself to the jobs, without getting bored wanting to go home. Also joined gym 3 months ago to double down on all the other positive changes I’ve made. Prior to the medication I had years of alcohol abuse, to manage the internalised symptoms of anxiety/overthinking and being overwhelmed by any tasks that need to be done that I just couldn’t bring myself to do. I’m still not perfect. But the way I see it is I have a 50/50 chance sometimes of me just doing the task as soon as it comes to...Read more...

Life change for me honestly so far, focalin XR, “the static” is what I call my experience of ADHD, like an ever present tv on in the other room of my brain Constantly creeping in and being a nebulous reminder of everything I’ve failed at or didn’t remember to do today or whatever Medicine actually turned that TV down so I could feel like a human again, I love my wife the way I did before, I feel happier and more relaxed with myself and friends, work seems more intuitive and less soul sucking etc

Since starting ADHD medication, I’ve seen major improvements across the board. Career or school success Work has improved noticeably. Before meds, I constantly second-guessed myself. I’d doubt my understanding of legislation and worry about making mistakes. Since medicating, the quality of my work has gone up significantly. At first, my output dropped because I had more mental bandwidth but no clear direction. Once I re-established my routines, everything clicked. I’ve applied for a promotion, and for the first time I’m not overwhelmed by stress leading up to an interview. Relationships or marriage One of the main reasons I sought medication was my wife. She carries a huge load as our main income earner and the one who kept everything running. I could see the weight she carried and worried she’d end up resenting me. Since starting meds, I’ve been able to step up more. She can finally take time off...Read more...

I was prescribed various antidepressants from the time I was in my early twenties . I finally found one that worked well when I was in my fifties. In my late seventies, I was still taking the one that worked, but as I aged, I lacked energy more and more. In my mid-seventies I faced some extremely depressing and exhausting problems I had to solve and had no one to help me. My depression was bad but manageable. The same antidepressant continued to make "normal" life livable, but less enjoyable. The worst part was that I simply ran out of energy. I mean OUT of energy. My doctor prescribed a generic Adderall along with my antidepressant. I had absolutely no confidence whatsoever that it would work. Finding the one antidepressant that worked was the result of so many trials and failures over so many years that I assumed Adderall would...Read more...

Not really, but yes. I'm way better on meds than off. 10mg methylphenidate. Before, I'd need a nap at least once a day even if I only laid down. I also wouldn't do homework for several months, and struggled to shower. I can now do homework once or twice a week, same with showering and other tasks that were once difficult like heating up food or doing laundry. I still get depression slumps where I can barely do anything, but I'm able to do more than when I wasn't on meds during a slump, not to the level I want or was able to do before I got in this slump, but I'd still remain on meds if given the choice. I take it twice a day and notice when I miss a dose around an hour after; I get super slow and tired. Takes an hour to kick in,...Read more...

I started being able to identify and execute the steps to solve problems in my daily life (excessive social media use solved by using an older phone and deleting apps ; insufficient home cleaning habits ; insufficient consumption of diverse foods, etc.). I got into a selective scientific course despite my school background being very much not scientific and I got good grades (slightly below class average and way above a fail grade) I was able to make and keep good trustworthy friends that I am close with. I improved my relationship with the rest of my family. My motivation hasn’t changed ; I’m just better able to find the tricks to make myself do the work. I became a lot more confident and self-assured. I no longer have a GAD (generalised anxiety disorder). I’m better able to identify symptoms of health problems ; I manage my IBS better and...Read more...

I only took it at the end of elementary and start of high school, and then incidentally for studying. I think long term it had a huge impact on my social development. Because instead of being a busy kid, I became the quiet kid. I had almost no friends, my study performance went up, started getting better grades, but I was always quiet, starting to get bullied on, but I didn’t really care / feel much about it. I didn’t really understood why I didn’t have much friends, till I stopped taking it later at high school and started making friends again. The damage was kind of already done though. My performance at school also started to drop significantly, ended up having to move to a different school, which also sucked quite a bit, for the last years of high school. Then I just took Ritalin incidentally, and made some...Read more...

I took Ritalin from the age of 5 until 18. Every four hours a dose. I achieved more than they said I could and now I'm 26 years old. The last eight years have been great. I miss the concentration, but in a way, I never really had it. I had so many nasty side effects, so I feel 10 times better now without any medication. I had sleep problems, an eating disorder, huge mood swings, and nothing was truly fun. Now, everything is fun for the last 8 years.

- Stopped compulsive eating and any other impulsive decisions, made it easier to make conscious choices. - Made me significantly more emotionally stable. - Reduced intrusive/obsessive thoughts. - Makes receiving verbal instructions incredibly easier. - I speak slower, my speech is more coherent, I don't interrupt people. - My head feels SIGNIFICANTLY less noisy. I don't feel I'm being pulled in a thousand directions at the same time anymore. - Work is tolerable, and I find it easier to start tasks and commit to them. - I'm way more aware of time. Days now seem consistent in length, and I can better estimate tasks. I can easily be on time for everything, and rarely get stuck in waiting mode. - I'm capable of better managing relationships, making plans and taking a genuine interest in people, and have more energy for socialising, I'm less in edge, and my social Life has...Read more...

In short, yes they've helped immensely. A lot of times I thought I was physically exhausted from adulting but really you're mentally exhausted and your mind simply won't let you do more unless it's something you enjoy. Its helped me pay more attention to detail, short term memory, be more organized and get more tasks done. It's not a complete cure as you still need organizational skills to do these tasks as well but it's been life changing. On top of that, it's helped me become a lot more sociable in real life and made my anxiety not feel so crippling as well.

I was able to focus more but it affected my hunger so I could go the whole day without eating but it also made me feel like a zombie, I felt depressed when I would take it

I mean not so much. But i sure helped me improve my grades. But i don’t find myself less stressed. I kind of feel more anxious and more aware of myself. Like the chatter in my brain hasn’t stopped. And lt was the only thing that i was so excited for. Like my inner negative monologue is still there, but i mean before it was more like my thoughts was all over the place now i can kind of more hear one train of thoughts. But i feel more socially awkward and aware of myself in social situations. I also tend to kind of «hide myself» like i genuinely feel more anxious around people… not at all times, but i don’t like that im so aware. Maybe its something i need to work with. Like i was also like that before medication.

I've seen incredible positive changes in my life. In my opinion, truly life changing. I take 25mg xr in the morning and 20mg IR in the afternoon. Physically, I'm no longer tired and dragging all the time. It used to eel like I was physically walking through water or mud all the time and moving my body was just tiring. Now I feel like I did when I was a kid and actually have energy, which makes it easier for me to get up and do stuff or makes me excited to get out of the house, rather than needing to stay home and recharge so often. I found out that I'm really good at my job! I'm a special Ed teacher, and now I feel way more engaged with my students. I don't feel the need to sit down all the time. I put so much more time into...Read more...

This is same question I have, thanks for bring it in. I heard many people said “I feel like having glasses on my brain. Is this what normal people feel?”. Is that sounds familiar? It sounds like magic, especially those taking stimulant. But here is my honest comment for your question. I don’t feel what they say. And that disappoint me , because I expected change. I want to experience that. I have taken Adderral for about 1.5 months now and thinking to quit bec I don’t feel the positive effect, very subtle. Negative side effects yes. I’m concern about the meds effect on heart and kidney and liver, bec I’m not young anymore. Some comments would say that probably I haven’t got the correct dose, maybe they are right. But with this meds I feel unfonfortable everyday on my body, like headache, heart rate increase, urine retention. That’s my...Read more...

I thought it would be a world changing overnight transformation of my life, but its much more subtle than that. The reality is still very positive for me at least. In the long term for me I've experienced Less overall stress Better more consistent sleep A greater ability to pursue new interests (and actually stick with them) And a general greater ability to self govern. I found it to be a gradual and steady improvement. More like I've been wearing weights for my whole life, and I'm learning how to leave them at the door

ADHD is a severely imparing disability : Example I went ten days without washing my face, showering, or brushing my teeth. As a result of poor hygiene, I noticed a small cyst on my neck two days ago, about the size of a nut. Treating it would have been simple—I just needed to apply some ointment, and it would have healed on its own. But I couldn’t bring myself to do even that. Because of my inaction, the small cyst became infected and grew into a large wound, roughly the size of a lemon. A doctor advised me to use warm compresses and apply ointment to help it heal. Yet, for three days, I couldn’t bring myself to follow those instructions either. I spent hours sitting on my bed, thinking about doing it, but I simply couldn’t manage to start. During this time, the wound worsened. Eventually, I took my...Read more...

Ritalin success story for ptsd hey, just wanted to post a success story :’) i was dealing with existential anxiety/depersonalization/derealization as I’m going through a tough time in my life (sudden cptsd realization) i went to a psychiatrist for the first time to get some help with this, and to discover any other potential diagnoses. She diagnosed me with adhd, and suggested we jump straight to treating that first rather than trying an antidepressant. i’ve been on ritalin for 3 months, and sort of noticed that things were generally a bit better. for the past two weeks, i had to go off of the ritalin for an upcoming sleep test. Coming off of the meds was such a wake up call to what my “baseline” is and how much i’ve actually been supported with the ritalin. I was only on ritalin for two months, so being back at my baseline...Read more...

I became more present and a lot less stressed.. so it got a lot more enjoyable for me. I'm able to do my share of house work and cook a nice dinner... I've got more mental space and less RSD so I'm adulting and advocating for myself a lot better.

It improved my life significantly. I can focus much better at work, my impulsivity is way better and it shows in many ways like I can listen to my partner explain things much better and I don't cut them off or blurt out stuff. I can stick to my healthy routines pretty regularly. Not like a robot but that's not the goal for me. I am much better at controlling and processing my emotions. I lost a lot of weight and I enjoy going to work finally. I can prepare and run meetings which waa nowhere possible for me before. I organized and run our household, keep things tidy and clean. It's not perfect, and it doesn't work the same way every day... It depends on a lot of factors like sleep which I still sometimes struggle with. It was also hard work to figure out my dose and timings......Read more...

I wasn't talking to anyone, constantly rotting, unable to go to class, wouldn't submit assignments even if i had finished them, was constantly late to class even when i did go, had to take a leave of absence, my room was literally constantly full of garbage, i wouldn't do laundry for months, my head would never be quiet and i could not think straight. and you're right it's not magic, and i still struggle with a lot of these things, meds can't fix everything. but they brought me to a level of baseline functionality that allow me to do at least some of the things i need to do, to fix this stuff. I remember when I first started concerta it didn't do much. i was prescribed a combination of concerta, strattera, and wellbutrin together. they had completely killed my appetite and didn't really have any positive effects. eventually i...Read more...

Yes. The increased focus and productivity has been great but that's a societal expectation thing. More personally, the medication revealed to me that I've been depressed for a long time and that cloud finally started parting. I feel like a human being finally

Yes and no. The initial impact is obviously the biggest, but even as the benefits "diminish" over time, I wouldn't go back. They definitely helped with all aspects of life, or rather my ADHD was indeed affecting all of the categories you mention: - My career improved, I struggle less with "unpleasant" tasks and I'm more organized in general, which directly translates to better results and honestly just plain more enjoyment of work because I'm actually good at what I do - Relationships improved because I stopped being constantly burnt out, and had more energy/motivation/time to actually devote to my partner and family - Motivation, well, it's not a night/day difference, but it's there. It's like a +25% on whether I successfully get off my ass and do stuff I aim to do, which depending on your perspective can be life changing nonetheless. - Mental health & confidence - oh...Read more...

For me, it didn’t increase my motivation at all but it made harder things a lot easier to do. For example, I still don’t feel like doing work. But doing the actual work isn’t painful anymore. I still don’t want to take a shower, but showering itself isn’t awful now. I still don’t want to do my laundry, but when I fold clothes it feels much more pleasant. Without the medication, I don’t want to do things and it is painful. With the medication, I don’t want to do things but it is pain free.

Audhd'er here. When I started taking medication, I was blown away by the immediate improvement in my ability to focus, and do tasks that normally I just couldn't make myself do. I have far less anxiety. I have far better emotional regulation. I probably wouldn't have my current relationship without it. My head doesn't race all night. I don't have a kazililion thoughts going at the one time. I don't have repeating intrusive phrases going in my mind. If I was in a career that I wanted to be in, I think I'd get a lot more benefits from the medication and would be smashing life right now. I wish I had the medication back when I was doing something that meant a lot to me, but that was a long time ago. I'm looking for another job. Currently I can still only work part time and not become dysregulated...Read more...

Yes I think it’s changed my life dramatically but it’s not an instantaneous fix, I have to still put in a lot of energy to improve all facets of my life but now it’s much much easier to do so. - Career: I lose focus easily, am extremely unorganized, I have a lot of anxiety from my mind racing constantly and the meds helped calm all that down so I can focus better at work and make a schedule to keep everything of mine organized which has improved work. - relationships: SO much better. Such dramatic improvement that I can’t believe I went 26 years of my life undiagnosed. The biggest impact my adhd has on me is my ability to emotionally regulate, forgetfulness, and impulsivity. Like I would forget what I was saying mid sentence, my mind would go blank from anxiety, and any perceived negative reaction made me...Read more...

Yes and no. I’m able to do more things and I am now clearly able to understand when my adhd disrupts my life. In the past, it wasn’t so clear but now I see how my impulsiveness and emotional dysregulation affects me. I shower everyday, sometimes go to the gym, and sometimes study consistently for 1 hours a day. Also things that would used to stress me out no longer do. Before medication, I showered inconsistently, never studied, never went to the gym. I also used to panic last minute study for tests, but I notice I don’t do that anymore. I would say medication is a game changer. IMO it rose me from a 2/10 to a 5/10 human.

I take 18mg or 36mg concerta everyday during the school days. It doesn't help much with the difficulty in getting started, but I can focus on my studies a little more. ADHD wears me out and I still can't actively participate in various university activities.But at least I can finish my studies without failing any courses!!!! I don't have any more ambitions , for real. My life have been tormented by adhd for many years and taking medication has slightly improved the situation.

Yes, in every single bullet point. It has helped me be more emotionally stable and I feel more confident because my social anxiety has improved. I also feel like certain things that I would dread doing like filling out applications for internships or jobs is a lot easier etc. I am also more sharp and organized now during my job

I have only been on them for around 10 months and they're not fully effective. Following my review, my new psychiatrist is titrating again. However, even in that time which has been an incredibly difficult, stressful time for reasons unrelated to my ADHD (left an abusive relationship, bought a house on my own and feeling very depressed about where I am in life and having to start over plus had 2 bereavements last year which I didnt get a chance to process as my ex would throw a tantrum when I showed any negative emotions) even with all that, my mental health is better. My mood is more settled and my emotions are more regulated though I still have had some spirals. I am more motviated but only for hands on practical tasks like cleaning so far, not for anything that involves sitting still and focusing, like paperwork at work,...Read more...

Yes, in that it triggered SVT, and even after coming off of it deal with palpitations.  I probably would have developed anyways, but it was not fun being seated and my watch telling me my heart rate was 180 Outside of that I felt like it changed my life for a week or two drasticallyand then it just felt like things were relatively easier.  Controversial opinion but I believe me 2 years on stimulants a using them really only even I needed to sit down and work helped me be able to do that even After stopping them.  So besides the heart thing, it overall helped. I was doing ~okay before then, doing okay after, but also consisted “twice gifted” 

I’m new to this and raising my dose on my first flavour of stimulant - up to 50mg and looking to 70mg Elvanse. Cautiously optimistic, it’s helping and side effects seem light and manageable so far. Brain fog: I’d hoped that this would just go away and I’d feel clear like after the deepest sleep, but that’s not quite accurate. I hadn’t thought about it like this before, but the fog might have been the sensation of my attention being divided, and it’s the fog itself that is being focussed - like my consciousness was blurred and now it isn’t. Is this what people mean when they say meds is like putting on a pair of glasses? Don’t feel the need to drink alcohol or use nicotine - I’ve been hooked to nicotine replacement lozenges for decades, popping them like M&Ms when working. Next to no withdrawal. Chewing gum more...Read more...

Yup. I was able to actually do my work for work in a timely manner which has helped me take on more tasks leading to more money (essentially overtime). I've also developed new hobbies (drawing) that I never would have had the patience for earlier. On top of all that, just the ability to have my head clear and able to focus on tasks is such an amazing feeling that is hard to explain to someone with ADHD who's never experienced it. If someone had told me that is what I would experience, I would have been skeptical of its benefits before I took it. I didn't know what I didn't know.

A friend of mine told me a few months ago she's never seen me so focused. I've been on meds 18 months---in that time, I got acclimated at a new job, sold my house and moved to a new city across the country, one ive always wanted to live in. Id say one of the best things theyve done for me is to give me a baseline to what is "normal". I usually keep the meds just for work days and if I only skip a day or two, I can get myself back, with relatively little energy, to stay consistent with newly established routine. Day 4 or 5 without meds is usually when I start slipping and that comes through at work (when ive not been able to get the script filled) The emotional regulation thing has been clutch too. Even when Im not on my meds, its easier...Read more...

YES. I am still figuring it out - I think the dose is right (40mg Elvanse), but my sleep hasn’t improved too much. Saying that, I used to have all 3 types of insomnia (can’t fall asleep, can’t stay asleep, wake up too early) and I now only experience the last one. During the day, the effects are subtly there - I can think ‘right, time to do this’ and I do it, I can study for extended periods without getting out my phone, I can focus in lectures without my mind wandering. It’s honestly been a game changer for me. I’m currently trying supplements to improve my early waking and REM sleep (stimulants and SSRIs both can impact it, and I’m on both), and the meds are only so effective when I’m very sleep deprived; I still need to stick to a good wind down routine and keep good...Read more...

As I’m also autistic, the medication has only helped me concentrate better at work. But sadly it doesn’t do much else outside of that so I still ended up being burnt out

It was life changing for me and I didn’t even realize it for a while. I was put on a stimulant. I’m not chronically late anymore, my home, car, etc are mostly clean, and I’m able to set up routines and stick to them better. One of the biggest changes though, is that the crippling anxiety I had for years is mostly gone. I’m in better control of my emotions and can now set boundaries. I realized the difference when I was around people that hadn’t spent time with me in a while. They notice enough to make comments or ask questions. No one but my core family knows about my ADHD, so I’m usually asked if I had my anxiety treated. So yeah, treatment helps. I’m not perfect— there’s still a lot I’m trying to get a handle on. But I’m much better supported.

I was diagnosed as an adult. I am an expert masker but it all started to fall apart in my early 30s. I couldn't keep a full time job, manage my finances or relationships. which is why I had to figure my shit out. I'm also on the spectrum. Disordered thinking, emotional dysregulation, inattentiveness and impulsivity are my most dominant traits. My short-term memory is the shittiest. I resisted medication because I thought I could figure how to cope with it on my own. My therapist convinced to just try and if it didn't work for me, no harm done. It gave me the relief and clarity I needed to do the work. I'm very lucky, I didn't have to try multiple medications, we figured out my correct dosage in about 6 months, and the side effects are manageable. I was able to reduce my mood disorder medication, my anxiety...Read more...

I noticed the first day that I took it. Brain fog significantly improved, I felt motivated, depression lifted a little, and my brain was a lot quieter... I only had about 5 thoughts running in my mind, that were manageable, instead of two dozen that were overlapping, amping up my anxiety 😅.

Life change for me honestly so far, focalin XR, “the static” is what I call my experience of ADHD, like an ever present tv on in the other room of my brain Constantly creeping in and being a nebulous reminder of everything I’ve failed at or didn’t remember to do today or whatever Medicine actually turned that TV down so I could feel like a human again, I love my wife the way I did before, I feel happier and more relaxed with myself and friends, work seems more intuitive and less soul sucking etc

Since starting ADHD medication, I’ve seen major improvements across the board. Career or school success Work has improved noticeably. Before meds, I constantly second-guessed myself. I’d doubt my understanding of legislation and worry about making mistakes. Since medicating, the quality of my work has gone up significantly. At first, my output dropped because I had more mental bandwidth but no clear direction. Once I re-established my routines, everything clicked. I’ve applied for a promotion, and for the first time I’m not overwhelmed by stress leading up to an interview. Relationships or marriage One of the main reasons I sought medication was my wife. She carries a huge load as our main income earner and the one who kept everything running. I could see the weight she carried and worried she’d end up resenting me. Since starting meds, I’ve been able to step up more. She can finally take time off...Read more...

It was subtle for me too. At first I was like I can do anything! Then it was like ugh the changes aren’t novel to me anymore BORING. But then OTHER people noticed things: the focus, the attentiveness, the remembering.

I’m 53F and was just diagnosed in late April with combined ADHD, RSD, severe depression, severe anxiety and mild PTSD. I begged my family doctor for years to get me tested for ADHD but she dismissed me and just prescribed Wellbutrin and anti-anxiety meds and chalked it up to perimenopause. 😠. Went to a private clinic and got the diagnosis, made sure to take the results to my family doctor and tell her that I wasn’t making it up all those years. As soon as I started meds, I realized how much it would have affected everything in my life if I had been diagnosed earlier. How much I had shut down the past few years because I was so overwhelmed by stress and literally locked myself in my apartment for 2.5 years. Had I started meds earlier, my life choices would have been massively different and treating the RSD...Read more...

I've been put on many things for ADHD since I was 5 years old. The ones I actually remember are Concerta and Strattera. I took Concerta from ages 8 to 20, but around 16 I started "not taking" them and throwing them in the trash and just not taking them at all during the summer (which I convinced my parents to let me do). I honestly never noticed any effect. I could stop taking it cold turkey and nothing would happen. I was no different with or without it. My parents switched me to strattera when I was 15 and it made me extremely depressed in a harmful way, so that didn't last long. A couple of years ago I decided to try Vyvanse. I did some research on it and thought it could be helpful. I decided to start taking meds again because I just felt off. Having been...Read more...

I dont get stuck during the workday anymore. Even after the medication wesrs off i have more juice in my executive function tank left over. Completely changed my life

Definitely have helped me the past 12 months since being medicated, managed to lose 20kg. Started eating clean, listening to self help podcasts Also have been running a business for 10 years, which was pretty unorganised as well as being unmotivated. Now way more organised and estimated to have doubled my income just being able to apply myself to the jobs, without getting bored wanting to go home. Also joined gym 3 months ago to double down on all the other positive changes I’ve made. Prior to the medication I had years of alcohol abuse, to manage the internalised symptoms of anxiety/overthinking and being overwhelmed by any tasks that need to be done that I just couldn’t bring myself to do. I’m still not perfect. But the way I see it is I have a 50/50 chance sometimes of me just doing the task as soon as it comes to...Read more...

I was prescribed various antidepressants from the time I was in my early twenties . I finally found one that worked well when I was in my fifties. In my late seventies, I was still taking the one that worked, but as I aged, I lacked energy more and more. In my mid-seventies I faced some extremely depressing and exhausting problems I had to solve and had no one to help me. My depression was bad but manageable. The same antidepressant continued to make "normal" life livable, but less enjoyable. The worst part was that I simply ran out of energy. I mean OUT of energy. My doctor prescribed a generic Adderall along with my antidepressant. I had absolutely no confidence whatsoever that it would work. Finding the one antidepressant that worked was the result of so many trials and failures over so many years that I assumed Adderall would...Read more...

Not really, but yes. I'm way better on meds than off. 10mg methylphenidate. Before, I'd need a nap at least once a day even if I only laid down. I also wouldn't do homework for several months, and struggled to shower. I can now do homework once or twice a week, same with showering and other tasks that were once difficult like heating up food or doing laundry. I still get depression slumps where I can barely do anything, but I'm able to do more than when I wasn't on meds during a slump, not to the level I want or was able to do before I got in this slump, but I'd still remain on meds if given the choice. I take it twice a day and notice when I miss a dose around an hour after; I get super slow and tired. Takes an hour to kick in,...Read more...

I started being able to identify and execute the steps to solve problems in my daily life (excessive social media use solved by using an older phone and deleting apps ; insufficient home cleaning habits ; insufficient consumption of diverse foods, etc.). I got into a selective scientific course despite my school background being very much not scientific and I got good grades (slightly below class average and way above a fail grade) I was able to make and keep good trustworthy friends that I am close with. I improved my relationship with the rest of my family. My motivation hasn’t changed ; I’m just better able to find the tricks to make myself do the work. I became a lot more confident and self-assured. I no longer have a GAD (generalised anxiety disorder). I’m better able to identify symptoms of health problems ; I manage my IBS better and...Read more...

I only took it at the end of elementary and start of high school, and then incidentally for studying. I think long term it had a huge impact on my social development. Because instead of being a busy kid, I became the quiet kid. I had almost no friends, my study performance went up, started getting better grades, but I was always quiet, starting to get bullied on, but I didn’t really care / feel much about it. I didn’t really understood why I didn’t have much friends, till I stopped taking it later at high school and started making friends again. The damage was kind of already done though. My performance at school also started to drop significantly, ended up having to move to a different school, which also sucked quite a bit, for the last years of high school. Then I just took Ritalin incidentally, and made some...Read more...

I took Ritalin from the age of 5 until 18. Every four hours a dose. I achieved more than they said I could and now I'm 26 years old. The last eight years have been great. I miss the concentration, but in a way, I never really had it. I had so many nasty side effects, so I feel 10 times better now without any medication. I had sleep problems, an eating disorder, huge mood swings, and nothing was truly fun. Now, everything is fun for the last 8 years.

- Stopped compulsive eating and any other impulsive decisions, made it easier to make conscious choices. - Made me significantly more emotionally stable. - Reduced intrusive/obsessive thoughts. - Makes receiving verbal instructions incredibly easier. - I speak slower, my speech is more coherent, I don't interrupt people. - My head feels SIGNIFICANTLY less noisy. I don't feel I'm being pulled in a thousand directions at the same time anymore. - Work is tolerable, and I find it easier to start tasks and commit to them. - I'm way more aware of time. Days now seem consistent in length, and I can better estimate tasks. I can easily be on time for everything, and rarely get stuck in waiting mode. - I'm capable of better managing relationships, making plans and taking a genuine interest in people, and have more energy for socialising, I'm less in edge, and my social Life has...Read more...

In short, yes they've helped immensely. A lot of times I thought I was physically exhausted from adulting but really you're mentally exhausted and your mind simply won't let you do more unless it's something you enjoy. Its helped me pay more attention to detail, short term memory, be more organized and get more tasks done. It's not a complete cure as you still need organizational skills to do these tasks as well but it's been life changing. On top of that, it's helped me become a lot more sociable in real life and made my anxiety not feel so crippling as well.

I was able to focus more but it affected my hunger so I could go the whole day without eating but it also made me feel like a zombie, I felt depressed when I would take it

I've seen incredible positive changes in my life. In my opinion, truly life changing. I take 25mg xr in the morning and 20mg IR in the afternoon. Physically, I'm no longer tired and dragging all the time. It used to eel like I was physically walking through water or mud all the time and moving my body was just tiring. Now I feel like I did when I was a kid and actually have energy, which makes it easier for me to get up and do stuff or makes me excited to get out of the house, rather than needing to stay home and recharge so often. I found out that I'm really good at my job! I'm a special Ed teacher, and now I feel way more engaged with my students. I don't feel the need to sit down all the time. I put so much more time into...Read more...

This is same question I have, thanks for bring it in. I heard many people said “I feel like having glasses on my brain. Is this what normal people feel?”. Is that sounds familiar? It sounds like magic, especially those taking stimulant. But here is my honest comment for your question. I don’t feel what they say. And that disappoint me , because I expected change. I want to experience that. I have taken Adderral for about 1.5 months now and thinking to quit bec I don’t feel the positive effect, very subtle. Negative side effects yes. I’m concern about the meds effect on heart and kidney and liver, bec I’m not young anymore. Some comments would say that probably I haven’t got the correct dose, maybe they are right. But with this meds I feel unfonfortable everyday on my body, like headache, heart rate increase, urine retention. That’s my...Read more...

I thought it would be a world changing overnight transformation of my life, but its much more subtle than that. The reality is still very positive for me at least. In the long term for me I've experienced Less overall stress Better more consistent sleep A greater ability to pursue new interests (and actually stick with them) And a general greater ability to self govern. I found it to be a gradual and steady improvement. More like I've been wearing weights for my whole life, and I'm learning how to leave them at the door

Ritalin changed my life in such an amazing way So im 17 and have been on Ritalin for about 3 weeks now, i use the extended release tablets each morning. I suffered from horrible social anxiety and could barely talk to people i didn't know well which for pretty clear reasons made me angry at myself because i was very lonely but couldn't make friends because of this. To add onto it i went to the only psychiatrist who was covered by my insurance plan and she ended up misdiagnosing me with depression and having me try 4 different anti depressants, none worked and made me feel worse, this testing of medications lasted for about 3 years. Eventually i called her and asked about adhd and she didn't even listen to me and that was my sign that i needed to go to a professional regardless of the cost, which...Read more...

Ritalin Changed My Life I am a (25M) and have been diagnosed with severe ADHD since the age of six. Growing up, finding the right medication was a difficult task at hand due to the variety of symptoms. I have dealt with anything from an upset stomach, to excessive levels or anxiety and discomfort. Symptoms became so heightened at times that I would have to totally quit taking medications. Although the symptoms were alleviated through quitting, it put a barrier on my focus in school and for my career. After struggling to stay motivated during my freshman year of high school, I started taking Ritalin/Methylphenidate. Instantly, I saw significant changes in my performance and overall wellbeing, while at the same time, lessened symptoms. I went from being an below student to college graduate with a 4.0. I literally didn't even know how to multiply until freshman year of high school,...Read more...

It is overwhelming. After 26 years your confidence and self esteem has taken a massive knock. Ritalin is good for helping you concentrate. From the sound of it you are worried about the effort it takes to live 'normally' or function 'normally'. Ritalin can't help for that, it will help you concentrate, it won't help you have the energy to do something. Straterra is good for that. They are both very good when used together. One gives you the energy to feel like you have the strength to do it. The other one let's you sustain attention to get the rewards for doing what you are doing. You are clearly overwhelmed at the massive change that's happening. Take some time to chill and don't let yourself get stressed out.

I was diagnosed later in life. It took about two years for me to stop obsessing about things I might have done differently if I had been medicated earlier. As things went on, that faded, but it recurs sometimes and then goes away again. I often feel overwhelmed. My psychiatrist has reluctantly allowed me to get ritalin in different dosages - 10s, 20's and 40's. I take something more often than nothing. But I often go unmedicated just to allow myself to be more creative, relish time in my fog and "escape" from some of those thoughts. Stay strong. Be in charge of your own mental health. Find the right formula between medication, lifestyle and personal growth that fits for you. Unfortunately my non-ADD partner was in much the same position as you are due to clinical depression. Very sadly, I convinced his to put his father in a nursing...Read more...

In Belgium, it's literally written on the leaflet because of the side effects :s (not for adult) .I think It's mainly related to the heart and I had those strong side effects (increase heart rythm ,feeling like I took an extra large coffee of 2 L). Because of my family predisposition with heart problem, I had to change my treatment and it's a lot better.

First, let me say that you have plenty to hope for! Even if what you say is true, and you have no friends, no job, and so on, that doesn't mean that you can't have all of those things in the future. From where I stand, that is the very definition of hope. You said it yourself - "Now I feel capable. I want to go back to school, and I think I can actually do it.". If that isn't hope, I don't know what is. I've definitely been in your position. The details are different, of course, but the sense of being overwhelmed is not. The thing to remember is that while everything looks difficult, and can be very intimidating, especially at first, *you* have changed, and you're more capable than you were before. If you think back to all of the problems you've had, how many of them...Read more...

First day on Ritalin! Timeline and documentation inside. Documentation of my FIRST DAY ON **RITALIN 10mg**! 18/10/2014 Male, 25yo, 79kg, highly athletic (competitive cyclist) Recently diagnosed, never medicated before. **10:27** | 65 bpm | Taken ritalin 10mg. Sitting on desk at pc. **10:31** | 66 bpm | I think I feel something already going on. Slight tension on the under-eye area. Slight inexplicable sensation on chest. Kind of provokes deeper-heavier breathing. **10:47** | 65 bpm | Checking in. Not much change. Though I feel slight change in consciousness / focus when moving head around, as if mildly tipsy. Leg muscles feel warmer and better, as if taken little magnesium after heavy cycling workout. **11:08** | 69 bpm | Half hour in, no perceivable news. Have started working on some Uni work as I wait in front of the pc for stuff to happen and log. **11:28** | 70 bpm |...Read more...

I've been taking them pretty regularly since I was 8 (I'm 25 rn) but obv a sample of 1 isn't reliable I take Concerta, which is methylphenidate extended release I have experienced no long term side effects from taking it. However, I do experience moderate nausea every day when I take it, but it doesn't occur on days I don't, so I believe this is just a short term side effect I went a while w/o taking it, and I noticed when I got back on that the short term effects were worse for the first couple days. It raised my heart rate a bit, and made my skin "crawl" for lack of better term.

I was taking Concerta (methylphenidate er) daily from like first grade to a few years after graduating high school with only a few breaks in between. I hadn't noticed any side effects that could be directly traced back to it except that it gradually stopped being effective for me so I had to increase my dose which caused my heart rate to go up causing my anxiety to increase. So yeah, eventually it may stop being as effective and you may need to look into trying different meds. If you're concerned with heart/liver issues, ask your doctor or psychiatrist about doing annual tests to monitor heart/liver to make sure they're healthy. I do annual blood work and urine sample at my doctor's recommendation (and have been for a little over a decade iirc). Also the dose you're prescribed sounds pretty low. I was on like 50 something mg of Concerta...Read more...

I’ve been on 72mg Concerta, with the occasional 10mg Ritalin afternoon boost, every single day for a decade and I’ve had no health issues. I’m also in the camp that a quality life is more important to me than longevity. But I’m in my late 20s so maybe I’m still feeling a bit invincible.

18 year old software engineer here (part time remote hourly paid contract). I take my medication daily, and I am fortunate to be in the same position as you with hyperfixation on my work. I have, however noticed increased ability to focus for extended periods and not get bored of my environment at the same rate as I usually would when I take my medication. If you’re 30 and developing professionally you may be okay not taking medication long term - its all down to whether you think its worth it. The only way I can really suggest to find out is to do a trial for a month on month off type basis. Make notes of your feelings especially focussing on your work ethic and motivation, and compare each month - then you’ll be able to see any benefits that arise. Edit: Of course, rely on doctors advice more...Read more...

Been on biphentin (methylphenidate) for roughly 10 years now (I'm 29) and feel absolutely wonderful! I was on a handful of other meds starting when I was about 12, until we found biphentine worked best for me. Recently did bloodwork and an echocardiogram on my heart for an unrelated thing and everything is normal and very healthy. Also in a healthy weight range for my height and age, and no side effects. Also no dependence, sometimes I forget to take them and I simply feel more scattered and get less done in my day. No withdrawal symptoms or physical changes. I feel the same on vs off my meds, just more focused and in control. I used to be on 80mg but found it was making it really hard to fall asleep (hours of a busy brain lol). Now I'm on 40mg and can fall asleep much more easily. I...Read more...

I’m prescribed 60 mg per day, I stopped cold turkey along with Xanax and had no withdrawal symptoms. I stopped to see what it was like without medication, and it’s a necessity for children and adults with an impaired prefrontal cortex. In my experience, it even helps me from becoming depressed from the cons of being mentally different. The effects do not diminish over time, your brain is receiving the biochemicals it needs to function properly. The uplifting feeling that diminishes after a few months, could just be the rewiring of the brain, the uplifting feeling could be soley, the stimulant, but also the ADD or ADHD. We’re not cured, we still have ADHD, however, the longevity to properly utilize executive processing,( control of our behaviors to complete a goal) to manage our emotions, actions, and tasks are easier to well… process and execute. My memory, task completions, and vocabulary,...Read more...

Been on IR for about 8 months now and honestly it's been much smoother ride compared to extended release stuff. First week was bit rough - had some appetite issues and felt bit jittery around 2-3 hours after taking it, but that settled down pretty quick Food timing is really important with IR, I learned this hard way. Taking it with heavy meal basically kills the effectiveness, so I usually take it 30 mins before breakfast or on empty stomach. Also found that spacing doses properly makes huge difference - I do one in morning and another around lunch if needed

been on ritalin for about 3 years now and honestly it was a game changer for me. the social stuff you mentioned really hit home - before meds i'd zone out mid-conversation or jump topics like crazy and people would give me those looks. ritalin helped me actually stay present in conversations without my brain doing backflips the hyperactivity thing is tricky because sometimes when you first start or adjust doses it can feel more intense before it levels out. took me maybe 2-3 weeks to find that sweet spot where i felt focused but not wired. your doc starting you on 20mg total is pretty conservative which is good - gives room to adjust if needed honestly the fact that you're being thoughtful about this shows you're already in a better headspace than when the depression was hitting hard. antidepressants can definitely make adhd symptoms worse for some people,...Read more...

1. Take the Ritalin. I went off it during pregnancy and tried to stay off after giving birth but I stayed at home for 6 months with my daughter and it SUCKED. Getting back on Ritalin was borderline life changing. (To clarify, I loved being home with my daughter but managing the house off my meds was difficult and draining.) 2. Finacé isn’t breastfeeding, he doesn’t get a vote. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

J'entame seulement mon deuxième mois de ritaline. Effectivement la mémoire à court terme c'est une dinguerie comment c'est fluide. Par contre à long terme effectivement je n'ai pas assez de recul. Mais par exemple j'arrive à me rappeler quasiment parfaitement d'un entretien que j'ai eu avec mes chefs ya une semaine, où auparavant ça aurait été flou et je n'aurai retenu que de l'émotion. Je suis incapable de bien me souvenir de la restitution de mon bilan neuropsy avant la ritaline en mai, mais mon rdv ya trois semaines en service génétique si je force je me rappelle de détails que je ne me serais pas rappelé avant. Possiblement vu qu'on est plus encré dans le présent, ça s'imprime mieux.

Depends honestly. I took it for years (from 14 till about 20/21) and I was only getting worse and worse side effects. Every day I'd take my first dose, start to feel a bit.. slower I guess is best I'd describe it. Then at some point take my second dose of the day, feel anxious (without a cause), then frustrated and angry (without a cause) and eventually not feel anything (complete lack of any emotion state at all) until the meds wore off for the day. Reason I took em in the first place was for others (so they'd enjoy my company more) so at around 20/21 I went back to a psychiatrist who prescribed me a different med which didn't work at all. Then when that med went off my insurance, my psychiatrist asked why tf I was taking meds in the first place, I told em 'twas for...Read more...

* 20mg x 3/day on days when i need them. * \~5 years on it. * i'm even more focused and can visualize my work much clearer, which is the intended effect. * do i feel dumber? no. i consume, process, and compartmentalize information better. * having sex is interesting though. while on ritalin, i can go for multiple rounds without ejaculation. this makes my partner sad some times, but i assure them i'm very happy that i can satisfy their needs (i genuinely am!). to counter this, i just skip my dosage for a fun date night. * weight goes down because it suppresses my appetite so i eat less but more healthier meals like black coffee and oatmeal in the morning. honestly, ritalin has done wonders for me. the positives outweigh the negatives, with the negatives being far and few.

Hi there, pharmacist here with adhd. Taking any stimulant varies from person to person. If you are already struggle with cardiac problems, anxiety, or seizures, it’s possible they will become worse. As far as memory, obviously it helps while you’re using it but there are some risk related to after the drug wears off and of stopping the drug abruptly/withdrawal due to possible damage to neurons per a few studies. Also taking it consistently builds tolerance and may require increasing the dose, and therefore increasing the side effects. I personally use mine like a drug holiday or drug vacation meaning I will use my meds for daunting task or projects that require extensive concentration (like pharmacy school or teaching myself code), but when I’m not working on anything overwhelming I won’t it (like weekends, breaks, off days, etc) That way my tolerance gets a chance to recalibrate to prevent having...Read more...

I've been on Ritalin for a month now, and there is no zombie anything going on in my brain. I'm alert, focused, and I don't procrastinate when I'm on it. I can still write poetry. If I do just sit down and relax, my mind is quiet and I just don't feel uncomfortable the whole time. But everyone is different

The zombie effect isn't unique to Ritalin and it's exactly what it sounds like. Emotionally dead unless *properly* provoked and altogether kind of a dull thoughtless trance. You'll still get things done, but like that other person said it won't be an "enjoyable" experience. It's like being on autopilot to some extent. I backed off my dose when it randomly started doing that to me. I started high but think the healthier I became the more effective the meds were, was depressed when I initially started on meds. (don't take this last sentence as fact, it's just conjecture on my part)

You might get this with Ritalin if you're over-medicated. I got this when I was taking 54mg Concerta, which was too much for me. Basically, it was really easy to focus on work, but very difficult to socialize. If someone came over to talk or ask me something, I would just kind of stare at them. It was like I was so in the zone that it was difficult to talk. EDIT: Just to be clear for OP, I think both the methylphenidate and amphetamine based stimulants are great options and I wouldn't want to scare you away from either, but they have their strengths and weaknesses. If you're in school or having a lot of trouble with a boring, busy-work job, I'd say Ritalin all the way. The ability to focus on the work for me was just better. And when I wasn't on too high a dosage, I...Read more...

I have used it before, but nowadays using long release. When dosage too high, I kinda feel... absentminded in a weird way. Like the world is warped around me or something. It's a bit like some shows portray after a flashbang I guess? That feeling of everything being far away. Right dosage? I still feel like me! Everything just works better.

Been on Ritalin for 1 year now. It works pretty well for me, I'm more focused and I don't procrastinate things. I'm also able to stay calm and organize my activities when I have A LOT of work/chores to do. That said, I also take anti-depressant/anxiety and mood stabilizers (but they were doing nothing for my ADHD before adding Ritalin to the mix). Sometimes when I take Ritalin in the morning but haven't slept enough I start to feel sleepy a few hours later, even if I don't feel tired because I'm under stimulants. This and the occasional higher heart rate/blood pressure (nothing dangerous at all) are the "worst" symptoms I have experienced in this year so far. I don't know if this is the "zombie effect" but it happens only if I didn't get enough sleep.

I just started ritalin (in combo with strattera), and it is the best prescription drug I have ever taken. Focus up, mood has been feeling better, reasonably more social, all I ever wanted from a medication. The biggest side effect, however, is that in super drowsy. It lasts throughout the day, and I'm trying to find a balance with my tea intake. About as close to zombie as it comes. Haven heard of what you're describing otherwise That being said, I have tried 5 different adhd prescriptions before this (strattera, guanfacine, adderall xr, Vyvanse, adderall ir, in that order) and ritalin is by far the best I've taken. All the rest had side affects so severe that they outweighed any benefit. Hell, most made my adhd worst. Adderall, for example, made me focused, but on whatevers put in front of me. Got super distracted for hours on end. Worse than...Read more...

I have this a little bit when i'm overmedicated. It feels like i'm hyperfocused and can't stop. Any distractions aren't interesting and are ignored. I stop feeling things in a lot of ways and just focus on what's in front of me. It's incredibly calm which feels a bit uncomfortable. And it feels like i'm a robot just doing my work and not really thinking. There's no space to drift away in thoughts to think about anything else or other ways of doing what i'm doing. It's quite clinical like i'm a robot that just does what it's told. To me it feels like my gas pedal is stuck to the floor while being the calmest i've been in my life. It's not terible as it's incredibly productive. But it's hard to control. The reality is that i like to have my thoughts drift a bit. I like it when...Read more...

Adderall made me feel like a zombie. Ritalin/concerta doesn't. Its like i'll sit there for hours either doing nothing or barely making progress on what i am working on. Like genuinely loose track of time and then i realize its 2 am and i haven't eaten lunch. That was with too high of a dose. Titrating the dose down helped a ton, but concerta doesn't overstimulate me

I was taking Concerta (methylphenidate er) daily from like first grade to a few years after graduating high school with only a few breaks in between. I hadn't noticed any side effects that could be directly traced back to it except that it gradually stopped being effective for me so I had to increase my dose which caused my heart rate to go up causing my anxiety to increase. So yeah, eventually it may stop being as effective and you may need to look into trying different meds. If you're concerned with heart/liver issues, ask your doctor or psychiatrist about doing annual tests to monitor heart/liver to make sure they're healthy. I do annual blood work and urine sample at my doctor's recommendation (and have been for a little over a decade iirc). Also the dose you're prescribed sounds pretty low. I was on like 50 something mg of Concerta...Read more...

I’ve been on 72mg Concerta, with the occasional 10mg Ritalin afternoon boost, every single day for a decade and I’ve had no health issues. I’m also in the camp that a quality life is more important to me than longevity. But I’m in my late 20s so maybe I’m still feeling a bit invincible.

A Layman's opinion so **\[Trigger Warning\]**. I'm not a medical professional so take what I say with a grain of salt. Also anyone who disagrees feel free to chime in, I am pretty open minded and would like to hear other opinions as long as they aren't insults. Having said that, there are a couple things I take into account with anyone who says that "there are **no** **risks**" with any medication. It's common sense to me that there will be always be some kind of physical affect on a molecular and chemical level every time you introduce a foreign entity to your body and it is broken down by your body. Anyone saying that there are no risks, is simply incorrect. *If you believe that bad food can affect your health over the course of weeks/months/years, why would you think that distilled drugs will not? The same drugs that...Read more...

18 year old software engineer here (part time remote hourly paid contract). I take my medication daily, and I am fortunate to be in the same position as you with hyperfixation on my work. I have, however noticed increased ability to focus for extended periods and not get bored of my environment at the same rate as I usually would when I take my medication. If you’re 30 and developing professionally you may be okay not taking medication long term - its all down to whether you think its worth it. The only way I can really suggest to find out is to do a trial for a month on month off type basis. Make notes of your feelings especially focussing on your work ethic and motivation, and compare each month - then you’ll be able to see any benefits that arise. Edit: Of course, rely on doctors advice more...Read more...

Been on biphentin (methylphenidate) for roughly 10 years now (I'm 29) and feel absolutely wonderful! I was on a handful of other meds starting when I was about 12, until we found biphentine worked best for me. Recently did bloodwork and an echocardiogram on my heart for an unrelated thing and everything is normal and very healthy. Also in a healthy weight range for my height and age, and no side effects. Also no dependence, sometimes I forget to take them and I simply feel more scattered and get less done in my day. No withdrawal symptoms or physical changes. I feel the same on vs off my meds, just more focused and in control. I used to be on 80mg but found it was making it really hard to fall asleep (hours of a busy brain lol). Now I'm on 40mg and can fall asleep much more easily. I...Read more...

I’m prescribed 60 mg per day, I stopped cold turkey along with Xanax and had no withdrawal symptoms. I stopped to see what it was like without medication, and it’s a necessity for children and adults with an impaired prefrontal cortex. In my experience, it even helps me from becoming depressed from the cons of being mentally different. The effects do not diminish over time, your brain is receiving the biochemicals it needs to function properly. The uplifting feeling that diminishes after a few months, could just be the rewiring of the brain, the uplifting feeling could be soley, the stimulant, but also the ADD or ADHD. We’re not cured, we still have ADHD, however, the longevity to properly utilize executive processing,( control of our behaviors to complete a goal) to manage our emotions, actions, and tasks are easier to well… process and execute. My memory, task completions, and vocabulary,...Read more...

1 Week on Ritalin - The side effects are evident... For context - I am 34 years old; recently diagnosed. - taking Ritalin 10mg every 4 hours - 8am, 12pm and 4pm. I mostly needed for work; I think it does help, but I am not sure it helps only because I am taking it rather than its really working; like a placebo. But that's an argument for another day. General feelings - calmer, less energetic (but I would not say lethargic, maybe this can be attributed to ingesting less sugars). I feel like i am talking significantly slower (I do notice that I take longer pauses, I guess I am thinking more before I talk. I would not say that it is as life changing as others describe; sometimes I doubt myself whether its really working at all. I surely noticed that I can tolerate boredom more. I am...Read more...

Ritalin makes me more talkative than usual...but all the other side effects you mentioned are spot on.

Yes I had some of those side effects initially, yes they waned after a little while, and yes it was absolutely worth it. The most helpful things for me were to eat something with protein (like an egg) half an hour after I took my meds, drink lots of water throughout the day, and don't drink coffee for at least an hour before or after you take the ritalin. Also no OJ or anything high in vitamin C, which can neutralize the effects of the ritalin. If you're worried about any of the side effects though, definitely talk to your doc.

I started out with 10mg in the morning for two weeks, then 10mg in the morning and 10mg 4h later for another two weeks and currently trying out 20mg in the morning and 10mg 4h later. On the weekends I don't take meds. My doctor told me to take my meds after having a meal and to not drink any coffee or alcohol on the days I take meds. The very first time my heart was racing but that went away the second day. In the first week I forgot that I was taking meds and drank two espressos. I felt dizzy, had a headache, felt nauseous and my heart was racing. Independently of the dose, I loose my appetite for a few hours after taking the medication. Currently I sometimes get a little "hyper" and my heart races. Sometimes I get nervous/restless/fidgety (but not anxious and no racing thoughts!)...Read more...

For me it's like feeling normal for 2 or 3 hours until it ends. I don't feel high, just not depressed or anxious haha

Yeah, I found that methylphenidate hit me quite hard… and I’d intensely hyper focus on completely the wrong things for hours. Switched over to Elvanse and although I’m aware when it’s started working it’s a lot smoother and feels less of a “dirty high” 😂 I’ve seen comments from some people here they experience it the opposite way around though.

I’m currently 6 weeks in titration Just moved up to 50mg and it’s still kicking in strong for me too. It’s comforting as I know it’s working but some times it’s a lot

i started off at 5mg medikinet, and the difference on the first day wasn't very visible. bit easier to think, but nothing lifechanging. it started getting noticeable over the next few days, and then i upped the dose to 10mg. now im on 18mg concerta whats very extended release, and i feel great. can focus, can think clearly, the brain fog is less annoying (but ill be upping the dose soon) only precaution, my sister started 18mg concerta as well, and it worsened her anxiety/depression, which can happen. she's now on concerta and zoloft, and feels great.

I had to stop after a week. It spiked my hypochondria and made me get extremely depressed after about 5 hours. I was also on a generic and it could have not been helping but I just don’t think methylphenidate is for me. However the first day was honestly great on it, just got worse each day

First day was awesome. Very vivid dreams for a few weeks and some evening tiredness, headachy if I dont drink enough water. All good now settled on 36mg

The first day only, actually it made my son oddly sleepy! Then it started to work very well. He’s older, not a kid when first trying. As in young adult.btw.

For me it was a bit weird for the first 3 days. I was extremely tired when the effect went off. Then it settled, and the extended release was much easier but still had some bad coming off effects. Trying another brand name that's supposed to last even longer and be more gentle. But in any case, what's certain is that methylphenidate works for me, as opposed to other molecules. We just need to find the right balance now. Look forward to it instead of thinking of the side effects. Maybe there won't be any, maybe they'll be acceptable compared to nothing. If you don't like it, nobody will force you to continue.

I found 18mg was enough to make me buzzy and do absolutely nothing for my brain. Like a too much coffee kind of buzz. 36mg is better for me. I’m trying 54mg today to see if 36 or 54 is better. But 18mg is a child’s dose.

According to my drivers license I am 60 yrs old. So I guess that’s adult enough. I take Ritalin. Finally, after about 9 mos, I got a generic that is worth a shit. So different than the last 3 generics. Sorta worked but this one is like what I imagine the real thing is. I’m a lot more functional.

I was miserable on methylphenidate when I first tried it. Those side effects sound very typical of methylphenidate; can't eat (literally nauseous at the thought of eating), headache. It *does* get better, though, and you have to be consistent for that to happen. I thought meds just weren't for me until I gave it a couple weeks, and the side effects got quite a bit better. If you still don't like it after that much time, tell that to your psychiatrist. The appetite piece of it was really killer for me, since I was already underweight before starting meds. I'm currently on Azstarys, which is dexmethylphenidate/serdexmethylphenidate. I've tried other methylphenidate products as well as amphetamines, and they'll all do that. It's especially devastating if, like me, you already had a poor appetite to begin with. For the appetite, I actually have found something that works for me. I had pre-existing...Read more...

Ive been in the 27mg dose for almost 2 months now, actual brand name Concerta. First week was headache and sleep issues. After that Ive really had no side effects. My experience has been a touch more concentration and follow through. Absolute biggest gain for me is in emotional regulation…i don’t “spaz out” when I’m on it, things just flow. When I take a day off I realize just how tired and lazy I feel…tough to get going.

Doctors told my mom I had A.D.D., they prescribed methylphenidate, I went from a bright, talkative, outgoing kid, to a zombie. I used to have these vivid dreams, daydreams, I used to have a vivid imagination, now that I was on a higher than I needed dose of methylphenidate, I'm a shell of my former self.

i was given lisdexamfetamine first, i was given a methylphenidate IR top up at one point but it wasn’t effective for me. I wasn’t given a choice for which one to start with but they’ve always made it clear that if one isn’t working we can try the other. I don’t know how much anyone can really advise you here as meds are a very individual thing but here’s some of my experience: I have tried XR methylphenidate in the past as my mom let me try hers (it was in the US so it was Ritalin LA) though not for any significant amount of time. I found that it definitely had a more apparent ‘kick in’ for me and a noticeable crash when it wore off - My mom, who no longer takes it, said she thought it felt ‘speedier’ than other medications. Then, my prescribed top up of...Read more...

First time on Methylphenidate, kinda worried? I've just taken my first dose of 10mg XL Methylphenidate one hour forty minutes ago and... Im scared Everyone on reddit describes an onset of euphoria and productivity, immediately getting all their chores done and starting up hobbies again. The whole reason I wanted to be medicated was so I could easier engage in my hobbies (i.e. art, coding) and do my chores wasier... but that's not happening so far I'm just laying in bed. I feel different I think, but it's not really positive? I don't know if I'm panicky because of the meds or because my expectations aren't being met Anybody else have a similar experience? How did it go for you? Maybe when I start 20mg next week it'll be better EDIT: woah, a lot of comments! So after this post, like maybe two hours later? I stopped feeling so down,...Read more...

There was one post about someone not being able to take meds because it ruined their liver. that sort of scared me. I just started 2 weeks ago at age 40 and was a little scared because i abused Sodas when I was younger. But I'm pretty healthy now. I feel not treating it can possibly lead to things like dementia. I also have bad sleep problems too, which both my doc and I think are ADHD related. The stim med sadly isn't making it any better, but at least it's not making it worse. I give it credit for at least making me much more alert. Hopefully, Adderall isn't that bad. They call it salt or something so hopefully it's not as bad in the chemical makeup when compared to other meds lol

I've been taking them pretty regularly since I was 8 (I'm 25 rn) but obv a sample of 1 isn't reliable I take Concerta, which is methylphenidate extended release I have experienced no long term side effects from taking it. However, I do experience moderate nausea every day when I take it, but it doesn't occur on days I don't, so I believe this is just a short term side effect I went a while w/o taking it, and I noticed when I got back on that the short term effects were worse for the first couple days. It raised my heart rate a bit, and made my skin "crawl" for lack of better term.

I was taking Concerta (methylphenidate er) daily from like first grade to a few years after graduating high school with only a few breaks in between. I hadn't noticed any side effects that could be directly traced back to it except that it gradually stopped being effective for me so I had to increase my dose which caused my heart rate to go up causing my anxiety to increase. So yeah, eventually it may stop being as effective and you may need to look into trying different meds. If you're concerned with heart/liver issues, ask your doctor or psychiatrist about doing annual tests to monitor heart/liver to make sure they're healthy. I do annual blood work and urine sample at my doctor's recommendation (and have been for a little over a decade iirc). Also the dose you're prescribed sounds pretty low. I was on like 50 something mg of Concerta...Read more...

I’ve been on 72mg Concerta, with the occasional 10mg Ritalin afternoon boost, every single day for a decade and I’ve had no health issues. I’m also in the camp that a quality life is more important to me than longevity. But I’m in my late 20s so maybe I’m still feeling a bit invincible.

A Layman's opinion so **\[Trigger Warning\]**. I'm not a medical professional so take what I say with a grain of salt. Also anyone who disagrees feel free to chime in, I am pretty open minded and would like to hear other opinions as long as they aren't insults. Having said that, there are a couple things I take into account with anyone who says that "there are **no** **risks**" with any medication. It's common sense to me that there will be always be some kind of physical affect on a molecular and chemical level every time you introduce a foreign entity to your body and it is broken down by your body. Anyone saying that there are no risks, is simply incorrect. *If you believe that bad food can affect your health over the course of weeks/months/years, why would you think that distilled drugs will not? The same drugs that...Read more...

18 year old software engineer here (part time remote hourly paid contract). I take my medication daily, and I am fortunate to be in the same position as you with hyperfixation on my work. I have, however noticed increased ability to focus for extended periods and not get bored of my environment at the same rate as I usually would when I take my medication. If you’re 30 and developing professionally you may be okay not taking medication long term - its all down to whether you think its worth it. The only way I can really suggest to find out is to do a trial for a month on month off type basis. Make notes of your feelings especially focussing on your work ethic and motivation, and compare each month - then you’ll be able to see any benefits that arise. Edit: Of course, rely on doctors advice more...Read more...

Been on biphentin (methylphenidate) for roughly 10 years now (I'm 29) and feel absolutely wonderful! I was on a handful of other meds starting when I was about 12, until we found biphentine worked best for me. Recently did bloodwork and an echocardiogram on my heart for an unrelated thing and everything is normal and very healthy. Also in a healthy weight range for my height and age, and no side effects. Also no dependence, sometimes I forget to take them and I simply feel more scattered and get less done in my day. No withdrawal symptoms or physical changes. I feel the same on vs off my meds, just more focused and in control. I used to be on 80mg but found it was making it really hard to fall asleep (hours of a busy brain lol). Now I'm on 40mg and can fall asleep much more easily. I...Read more...

I take it! It’s common to provide for kids because it’s shorter acting (this is what my psychiatrist told me) but that’s also why I use it because other adhd stimulants were making me jittery and I wasn’t sleeping well at night. Ritalin works wonders for me because it fully wears off by the end of my work day which is what I wanted. Other ppl might need a longer lasting stimulant if they need the boost for other life functions etc. Everyone is different and meds are just meds. You can take whatever fits you best.

I’m prescribed 60 mg per day, I stopped cold turkey along with Xanax and had no withdrawal symptoms. I stopped to see what it was like without medication, and it’s a necessity for children and adults with an impaired prefrontal cortex. In my experience, it even helps me from becoming depressed from the cons of being mentally different. The effects do not diminish over time, your brain is receiving the biochemicals it needs to function properly. The uplifting feeling that diminishes after a few months, could just be the rewiring of the brain, the uplifting feeling could be soley, the stimulant, but also the ADD or ADHD. We’re not cured, we still have ADHD, however, the longevity to properly utilize executive processing,( control of our behaviors to complete a goal) to manage our emotions, actions, and tasks are easier to well… process and execute. My memory, task completions, and vocabulary,...Read more...

To be honest, the usual consensus is methylphenidate products typically have a lower chance of side effects and are typically the more "mild" option all around. That being said, sometimes a med that's considered "mild" just doesn't work for someone and the med considered "stronger with higher chance of side effects" can feel great. Just sounds like that formulation isn't the best fit for you, I'd try another methylphenidate product just to rule them out yk. Then try an amphetamine based product. I feel benefit on Adderall XR but have zero side effects other than maybe a slight decrease in appetite but I can work around that easily as it's very mild.

I was miserable on methylphenidate when I first tried it. Those side effects sound very typical of methylphenidate; can't eat (literally nauseous at the thought of eating), headache. It *does* get better, though, and you have to be consistent for that to happen. I thought meds just weren't for me until I gave it a couple weeks, and the side effects got quite a bit better. If you still don't like it after that much time, tell that to your psychiatrist. The appetite piece of it was really killer for me, since I was already underweight before starting meds. I'm currently on Azstarys, which is dexmethylphenidate/serdexmethylphenidate. I've tried other methylphenidate products as well as amphetamines, and they'll all do that. It's especially devastating if, like me, you already had a poor appetite to begin with. For the appetite, I actually have found something that works for me. I had pre-existing...Read more...

I’m only a week into concerta 18mg as well as my first stim so I can only be so helpful unfortunately. I had a similar experience with it being helpful but then getting less helpful over time. From my research that seems pretty normal as your body was introduced to a new compound. 18mg is more of a testing period to make sure the side effects aren’t too bad. That being said, i don’t have as severe side effects as you. Mostly just less appetite and in the beginning, pressure in the head like a headache without the pain. I would recommend you keep a medication journal where you note: - time you took meds and with what food - how you feel - how you feel after taking (update this through the day) - a list of side effects - what your blood pressure measured at after medication You...Read more...

I have been just diagnosed as an adult for the first time too (at 20) started taking methylphenidate (generic concerta) and same story, first 3-4 days works wonderful then almost no effect on symptoms, after a week since starting upped the dose as my psychiatrist told me to do if i wasn't seeing desired effects after a week, just gotten very irritable and couldn't sleep good, headaches at the end of the day. Decided to go back to the previous dose for a few days to observe, as of right now can't see much of effect but still better than no meds at all. About dealing with appetite suppression – I just try to eat a huge breakfast that would either fulfil my daily calorie norm or so that i can reach my daily norm by having a couple of little snacks. For headaches what I found helpful is drinking...Read more...

Ive been in the 27mg dose for almost 2 months now, actual brand name Concerta. First week was headache and sleep issues. After that Ive really had no side effects. My experience has been a touch more concentration and follow through. Absolute biggest gain for me is in emotional regulation…i don’t “spaz out” when I’m on it, things just flow. When I take a day off I realize just how tired and lazy I feel…tough to get going.

Doctors told my mom I had A.D.D., they prescribed methylphenidate, I went from a bright, talkative, outgoing kid, to a zombie. I used to have these vivid dreams, daydreams, I used to have a vivid imagination, now that I was on a higher than I needed dose of methylphenidate, I'm a shell of my former self.

I'm in the same boat. 4 months on elvanse, all the way up to 70mg. Noticeable effects, but awful side effects when leaving my system. Moved to Methylphenidate (Equasym). Noticeably worse effectiveness but basically zero side effects either. Then 2 months ago, my prescriber said we were getting an Equasym shortage so put me on to generic Methylphenidate and it's basically been like taking a placebo. I've got another titration appointment this afternoon. I'm going to be asking to move to an immediate release version of elvanse. That way I should at least be able to play with timing so as to avoid crashing around family time after work. I'd rather feel like shit in the late afternoon and better in the evening. My partner & child don't deserve a grumpy asshole every evening.

Same here, I was on elvanse which helped massively but I was starting to get palpitations and shaking and my hair fell out so I switched to methylphenidate. They’ve got me on affenid 36mg and I don’t think it’s helping at all. I do feel calmer than usual but I’m also sooo lazy and exhausted and feeling very blue as well. My psychiatrist is telling me I’m only allowed one more appointment with them so I don’t think they’ll let me try anything else different drug, I don’t know what to do :( it’s only day 4 for me on 36mg so I’m hoping this feeling will go away or get better with a dose increase.

I’m 51 and I take methylphenidate, which is the generic form of Ritalin. I don’t know if I could have a job without it, at least not one that requires focus and concentration. I took Ritalin when I was in elementary school, but I stopped by high school (I’m a little mad that my mom let that happen). I realized I needed medication for my ADHD while trying to write my dissertation for my Ph.D. in my early thirties. I was having such a hard time focusing long enough to write a string of coherent sentences. Getting on Ritalin was a life-changing decision, and I’ve been on it ever since. By the way, my elementary school principal told my mother when I was diagnosed with ADD in the early 80s that I would never be anything more than an average student. I now have a Ph.D. I won!

I’ve been on Ritalin since 1994, with a few brief detours to try out Dexedrine, Atomoxetine, Concerta, and now Vyvanse. I always ended up back on Ritalin - until now maybe, I’m loving the Vyvanse! (If you’ve always been on Ritalin and haven’t tried others recently, it might be worth considering because things have changed a lot. I’m 2 months into Vyvanse and I have none of the anxiety inducing side effects or sweating I get with the Ritalin. I don’t quite get the same kick in the pants as when the Ritalin hits which I miss in some ways because it was a good way to get me moving, but the way the Vyvanse works feels so much kinder to myself. It’s a slower more constant motivation and I don’t burn out my energy all at once.)

I’m 27 (28 next month) and I take Ritalin! I took adderall in high school and college, just recently (a couple years ago) switched to Ritalin because for me it’s less intense than adderall and I don’t need that if I’m not in school. So I was put on Ritalin when I was about 25!

32, and I recently started a low dose of Ritalin, 5mg twice a day. My psychiatrist didn’t bring up any other medication, just started me on it. It’s been beneficial so far.

I take Ritalin. Definitely helps me focus and prioritize in order to do simple things like laundry and cleaning. Adderall helps with that too but it also makes me wired in a feels good way that scares the crap out of me. With Ritalin I don’t feel that. Plus Ritalin is supposedly easier on your heart.

I take it and have been for about 6 years- 47 F. I was diagnosed with adhd as an adult too, it really does help me with work and I only take during the week in the morning 10mg

So, the overall effect is milder than amphetamines. But having taken both, I absolutely prefer Ritalin. It works quicker, I don’t feel “cracked out” or crash when I come down, and I absolutely get what I need out of it. I’m also 34 and took Adderall for years. They may prescribe younger kids diagnosed with ADHD Ritalin more, because of the milder stimulant effects, but that doesn’t mean it’s FOR children. What an irresponsible thing to say.

I 62/F have just been diagnosed Adult ADHD, started taking Ritalin for the first time in my life in May. So sad I didn’t get this 50 years ago but so happy I can finally function in so many ways without anxiety, stress, and such low self esteem. At least I get to live the last years of my life feeling a bit normal!!

I take Ritalin and it works really well for me. I took adderall for a long time and tolerated the side effects. I also tried vyvanse for a while too. My son has ADHD also (of course!) and was doing well with Ritalin so I decided to try it and it’s the best stimulent I’ve tried for me personally.

Ive been dignosed as a combined type since 5 yrs old and used to be on (exscuse my spellings) Medadate and am now on genric Ritalin. Ive been on other stuff throughout the years and they are the one things I can feel working and not have side effects so I trust them. My problems have been the stupid work or school crap which is annoying because I have more then just ADHD and daily life is struggle enough in genral. Recently since phycs doctor above her didnt like to do stimlets over certian amounts they dropped my amount and (accdently or not not sure) changed me from ER to imdeate release and I HATE it and am not functional at all. It feels pretty much like im taking nothing 🥺. Sorry if it seems like nonsense rambling I tend to do that 🤣

I am 42 years old and I am on Ritalin. My Dr switched me to this about a year ago, when for some reason, I was rarely able to find any pharmacies that had Adderall in stock. After months of dealing with this backorder issue with Adderall, she put me on Ritalin. 30 mg 2x a day. I find it to be as affective as the Adderall was.

Same thing happened to me on that dose - the mood swings were brutal 😂 My doc switched me to XR and it made a huge differance, way smoother throughout the day 🔥

I started ritalin this year (20mg ER) and I think the main issue I personally had at first was how nauseous it made me. It lasted a few weeks but then it died down. I still get super nauseous if I take it without food (or enough food) in my system, obviously, but that’s self inflicted lol. Drink lots of water too. 😊

Well i just started my meds recently as well and they gave me the same 2 options u had. Methylphenidate or Lisdexamphetamine. I had pretty high hopes since the Psychiatrist said it would solve most of my problems. I started on the minimum dose 18MG Concerta to see how i react to it and i was so disappointed... i didn t notice literally any positive improvement and as a side effect i have palpitations every now and then that stop happening about 8 hours after i take the pill. I m supposed to go in a week to the Psychiatrist again to talk about the meds. Only advice i can give you for now is don t have high expectations :)) u might end up very disappointed.

39M here- I was in the exact same boat as you 6 weeks ago. It took me two weeks of getting up the nerve just to take the medication (generic methylphenidate XR), and so far my only side effects are increased productivity, reduced anxiety, and a much happier quality of life. It's amazing what one can do when not faced with crippling anxiety and despair over not being able to 'start' even the simplest project, and being overwhelmed with constant failure. This medication isn't a miracle, but it can feel that way some days. Hoping you get as much satisfaction and contentment from it as I do!

I started 2x 5mg IR per day 4 days ago. There are some improvements, but the negative effects over shadow them. I'll continue as per recommendation by my doctor until i have a call in a couple of days to discuss further steps. Not many tips other than doing what you always did and don't add any variables that could cloud the effect

I started 16mg extended release (so effectively 8+8) atenza xl. I have to say my appetite went out of the window that first 2 weeks but oddly enough the move up to 36mg I’ve somewhat returned to having interest in food. But my BMI is 29 so they probably thought any appetite suppressant effects were in my interests 😂

You probably won’t feel much on 5mg but building up really slowly is better to see how you tolerate any side effects! I take 10-20mg instant release and a 36mg extended release everyday and the IRs are a bit harsher with ups and downs I’ve found

I’m on different meds to you (60mg Elvanse + 2x 5mg dex boosters), I started titration on Meflynate XL but switched to Elvanse after 4 weeks. I didn’t have issues with appetite until 50mg Elvanse. I wasn’t feeling any hunger until the meds wore off, and if I didn’t eat I’d get headaches and the meds didn’t work as well. I had to force myself to eat proper meals at set times every day regardless of whether or not I was hungry (good job it was ADHD meds causing loss of appetite because there’s no way I’d have remembered to eat if I wasn’t hungry). Within 3 months of being on my settled dose I’d lost 9kg (I’m 5ft 4in). I think the weight loss was a combination of suppressed appetite and the meds speeding up my metabolism. Though I was forcing down 3 well rounded meals a day, I...Read more...

Been on both IR and ER for years now and honestly the ER is way more chill but still effective. With IR you get that obvious "oh shit I can suddenly organize my entire life" moment, but ER is more like you just realize halfway through the day that you've been actually getting stuff done without the rollercoaster The big difference for me was not having to remember to take a second dose and not getting those afternoon crashes. With ER you kinda forget you took anything until you notice you're not doom scrolling for 3 hours straight or that you actually finished tasks without getting distracted by every random thought Side effects wise just watch your sleep and appetite the first week - ER can mess with both since it's working longer in your system. I had to start eating breakfast even when I wasn't hungry or I'd feel...Read more...

When I took this med I usually got a big boost and then it tapered off the rest of the day with a big crash after maybe 5hrs (sucked it wore off so quick for me). Right after taking it, my heart rate would increase, making me a feel a bit jittery. I knew it was working when I suddenly felt the need to "go" in my body. Like enough energy where I needed to move to relieve it. I felt "locked in" after maybe an hour after I took it. By that I mean, I could stop side chatter at work *because my thoughts had slowed down enough* to let me be quiet and focus. Im a yapper lol. For school, reading was easier to focus on, and felt more interested in topics that I dont normally find interesting, like I wasnt so annoyed that it wasnt interesting for...Read more...

There is a lot of fear and misinformation out there about meds. Our culture has a strong anti-drug bias and neurotypical people can wreck their lives by abusing stimulants. But those problems are rare for us because our brain chemistry is different. I have chronic clinical depression and have been on high doses of at least 2 antidepressants for 30 years. 6 years ago I was diagnosed with ADHD and started meds. For me antidepressants and stimulants do different things. If I'm just taking SSRIs, my mood is good, but my mind is mush. If just stimulants, I'm sharp mentally, but so depressed I can't get out of bed. For me, Adderall feels like a toll plaza going from 3 open lanes to 9. Same toll plaza, a lot more stuff going through. Things that seemed like walls yesterday feel like speedbumps today. I can focus and plan. Then, at...Read more...

A week to notice? 🤣🤣 More like 2 hours! Low dose doesn't necessarily mean poor symptom control. 18 mg is my normal dose. I take 27mg during my luteal phase

I started on 18 mg generic concerta. I noticed a difference on day 1. It took me about 6 months of ramping up to find the right dosage and I’m settled on 54 mg now. The lower dosage worked but I was finding it quit on me about 2 pm(I was taking it at 830). It seemed like the more I focused, the faster the med wore off, like I was burning through it faster. The 54 lasts until about 6 pm. I am diagnosed with severe inattentive ADHD. One thing about meds though, it doesn’t do all the work. You have to be mindful that you don’t let yourself focus on the wrong things. It keeps you focused but it doesn’t mean you will be productive if you’re focusing on the wrong things.

Talk with your doctor about what you’re experiencing. The dose may need to be adjusted, or you might need to try a different ADHD medication entirely. I was on Vyvanse for a long time. And it did help with my attention, but for some reason it made me feel “moody”. Eventually I switched to Ritalin and felt MUCH better on it! However, I’ve read here on Reddit about people who felt terrible on Ritalin but great on Vyvanse. And other people do better on non-stimulants (or vice versa). So it’s worth experimenting (under the guidance of your doctor) until you find what’s best for you as an individual. We think of ADHD as being “one thing”, but it’s a bit of an “umbrella term” for executive dysfunction…there are likely sub-categories (in terms of subtle differences in the neurological mechanisms and neurotransmitters involved) to ADHD as well. That’s probably part of...Read more...

It can take months to find the right medication and dosage. The idea is not to feel worse. Talk to your doctor about either a dosage change or other options. Ritalin made me angry, adderall didn’t, so I went with that for the time I decided to take it.

My son was a little older (6) when he started methylphenidate but it’s been the only medication that works for him. He also has adhd + autism. It calms him and controls his impulsiveness. Only the immediate release works for him and he takes 5mg twice a day (he takes it at 7:30am and 11:30am.) He takes Clonidine in the evening because there is a comedown period from the medication where their symptoms will return so just something to keep in mind.

Methylphenidate, first day successes started my first baby dose (5mg) this afternoon and wow. first thing i noticed was that all the racing thoughts quieted down. i felt calmer and not so stressed out about every little detail in my life, like i could actually focus. i also feel like i got a “puff” of energy (i am so freaking tired by midday) and i had enough energy to put the dishes in the dishwasher. that task was daunting all week and i feel proud of myself for being able to do so. i am recently dx with adhd as of last monday, so i am still learning a LOT; ie executive dysfunction. i’m also happy i self advocated and spoke to my psychiatrist about needing help. just wanted to share my slice of life and hope y’all are doing alright.

Concerta has changed my life Hi all, 34 M, diagnosed ADHD inattentive type this year and started on 30mg methylphenidate HCl on Wednesday last week. First couple of days I was sort of playing the game of "is it the meds, or is it the placebo effect", but this past weekend, the changes hit me like a ton of bricks. Saturday morning, I woke up around 7:30, fed my cat, walked my dog and then rotted on the couch for a while, doing my morning NYT puzzles before my spouse was off to work. Once they left, I had breakfast, took my pills and then proceeded to: * Make potato salad * Roast some root vegetables as food for the dog * Do dishes * Vacuum the entire house * Empty the litter box * Make up 2 Kongs and 2 lick mats for the dog, and * Take the...Read more...

Medication changed my life When I was 14 I was diagnosed as ADHD. I immediately felt a huge amount of relief because it meant there was a real reason for my shitty grades and the “quirky”, forgetful, clumsy personality I was always so ashamed of. Although I was officially diagnosed, a part of me still doubted it and feared that I was just stupid. They tried me on Adderall first in different dosages and I reacted badly to it. It made me feel depressed and even more foggy than usual. The first time I took Concerta (methylphenidate) changed my life forever. I remember I took it in the car on my way to a hockey game and I thought nothing of it until about 40 minutes after when in the middle of a conversation with my mom I began to really hear her and process everything she was saying, without...Read more...

Same. I’ve only been taking it for a month but it’s changed my life. I can tolerate my kids without constantly snapping at them and I actually enjoy being with them because I’m not always irritated or bored out of my mind. That’s the biggest one for me. But also feeling less stressed out generally, less tense, less overwhelmed, not frustrated or angry all the time. Downside is it makes me extremely thirsty and a little tired. I think I can deal with that. I recently said something about this to my doctor (I wanted to see if I could have the larger dose) and he basically said “It’s not supposed to make you feel calm, it’s supposed to make you focus.” I thought about this later, and I realized what I should have said was that it makes me feel NORMAL, which is calm compared to what I’ve experienced...Read more...

As someone who started out on Adderall over a decade ago, had issues with it (and so stopped it), then sought re-eval from an ADHD specialist more recently, I have to say that I agree 100%. Methylphenidate has been a game-changer for me. I get the benefits of the stimulant (prolonged focus and concentration, elevated mood) without the extreme appetite and weight loss, jumpiness, and crashes that I experienced on Adderall.

I started on them last week. First three days were like a weight had shifted. I had energy. I was sleeping well. I was getting shit done. Until the chest pains started. Now I feel like I have a choice, back to the chaos of being unmedicated, or what feels like a very real risk of a heart attack. Didn't take today's tablet and I feel shit and scared and I was only on them a week.

I'm on 36mg. It's changed my life too I'm about 7 months in and have developed acne though but the benefits out weigh the cons

Ritalin Changed My Life I am a (25M) and have been diagnosed with severe ADHD since the age of six. Growing up, finding the right medication was a difficult task at hand due to the variety of symptoms. I have dealt with anything from an upset stomach, to excessive levels or anxiety and discomfort. Symptoms became so heightened at times that I would have to totally quit taking medications. Although the symptoms were alleviated through quitting, it put a barrier on my focus in school and for my career. After struggling to stay motivated during my freshman year of high school, I started taking Ritalin/Methylphenidate. Instantly, I saw significant changes in my performance and overall wellbeing, while at the same time, lessened symptoms. I went from being an below student to college graduate with a 4.0. I literally didn't even know how to multiply until freshman year of high school,...Read more...

are you guys planning on taking meds for life? does that thought ever bother you? i am on methylphenidate XR and it has been life changing. It's not a magic fix but I have the ability to keep myself a little more in check now. I started on it to get through my bachelors, now I am working on my master's. The topic of when I will stop taking it has come up several times in my family though. My GP also mentioned that people usually only take adhd meds when they have to study (so like school and uni) and stop after. My housemates also have ADHD and quit taking them when they started working full time. but tbh... i am finding them so useful in daily life as well? i am useless without, i have a really hard time. medication has helped me SO much, if it was...Read more...

Methylphenidate Saved my Life I want to tell my story to let people know how life changing ADHD medication can be, and that there is hope even in the darkest moments. I'm a 45 year old guy living in Scotland. I have bipolar 2, and lately the depression has been overpowering. On April 29th, I finally decided that I'm done, I can't go on. Started making plans. Two days later my wife asked for a divorce, and my mind broke. I don't know how, but while curled up in a ball on the bed, sobbing, shaking and screaming at myself, I managed to phone my doctor. The psychiatrist questioned if I had ever been evaluated for ADHD. Thankfully I could afford to go private, received a positive diagnosis within a month and was started on methylphenidate MR immediately. This has absolutely, categorically, without a shadow of a doubt saved my...Read more...

TRIED METHYLPHENIDATE FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY!!! 16M btw :) Used AI, thought yall would be curious PMDAY 1 ON ADHD MEDS - TIMELINE \~8:00 AM - TOOK MEDS "how do i even know if it's working tho" Anxious, worried about placebo \~8:20 AM - FIRST EFFECTS "NOWAY" Started reading textbook in one go Mind actually quiet "It felt so low effort HOW?" \~8:30 AM - PEAK BUILDING "Why is my calculation speed faster lmao" Math just... works now? Everything seems easier Can actually control the mental music "I guess I actually have ADHD ;)" \~9:00 AM - FULL FUNCTION "I bathed and my mind was like 'unfinished task' so I wiped the bathroom floor and put my dirty clothes away WITHOUT BEING ASKED" Task chaining actually works Zero friction doing things Parents suddenly want to talk to me?? Communication skills unlocked \~10:00 AM - CONTINUED "I don't even get...Read more...

I've been taking them pretty regularly since I was 8 (I'm 25 rn) but obv a sample of 1 isn't reliable I take Concerta, which is methylphenidate extended release I have experienced no long term side effects from taking it. However, I do experience moderate nausea every day when I take it, but it doesn't occur on days I don't, so I believe this is just a short term side effect I went a while w/o taking it, and I noticed when I got back on that the short term effects were worse for the first couple days. It raised my heart rate a bit, and made my skin "crawl" for lack of better term.

I was on 72mg on Concerta for almost 5 years, just barely got an increase to 81mg. My only side effects are daily. Random sweats mostly!

I was taking Concerta (methylphenidate er) daily from like first grade to a few years after graduating high school with only a few breaks in between. I hadn't noticed any side effects that could be directly traced back to it except that it gradually stopped being effective for me so I had to increase my dose which caused my heart rate to go up causing my anxiety to increase. So yeah, eventually it may stop being as effective and you may need to look into trying different meds. If you're concerned with heart/liver issues, ask your doctor or psychiatrist about doing annual tests to monitor heart/liver to make sure they're healthy. I do annual blood work and urine sample at my doctor's recommendation (and have been for a little over a decade iirc). Also the dose you're prescribed sounds pretty low. I was on like 50 something mg of Concerta...Read more...

I’ve been on 72mg Concerta, with the occasional 10mg Ritalin afternoon boost, every single day for a decade and I’ve had no health issues. I’m also in the camp that a quality life is more important to me than longevity. But I’m in my late 20s so maybe I’m still feeling a bit invincible.

A Layman's opinion so **\[Trigger Warning\]**. I'm not a medical professional so take what I say with a grain of salt. Also anyone who disagrees feel free to chime in, I am pretty open minded and would like to hear other opinions as long as they aren't insults. Having said that, there are a couple things I take into account with anyone who says that "there are **no** **risks**" with any medication. It's common sense to me that there will be always be some kind of physical affect on a molecular and chemical level every time you introduce a foreign entity to your body and it is broken down by your body. Anyone saying that there are no risks, is simply incorrect. *If you believe that bad food can affect your health over the course of weeks/months/years, why would you think that distilled drugs will not? The same drugs that...Read more...