Ritalin User Reviews & Ratings (Page 5)

• Sarare
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 17, 2016

For ADHD "I was first given Ritalin at 6 years old. Ritalin made it hard for me to sleep. Being on Ritalin made me feel nauseous. Ritalin caused tremors in my arms. Being forced to take Ritalin made me self-conscious. Ritalin increased my anxiety. My anxiety turned into panic attacks so I was prescribed with antidepressants like Zoloft, Wellbutrin and Effexor. I was also prescribed with Lamictal, an anti-convulsant. For me, Ritalin was the "gateway drug.""

• Jeane...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 9, 2016

For Narcolepsy "Taken Ritalin over 15 yrs for NARCOLEPSY. Provigal to $$. Over the years I have increased to 40mg two times daily. Have not (and won't) increased dosage in over 5 yrs. Retired now so it's easier to adjust mg. If I feel it's not working, I will stop taking it for a week or two (if possible) and then go back 10 mg at a time. May be time consuming but never had addiction. Considering the SR."

• Anonymous
• October 18, 2009

For ADHD "I felt very groggy and out of it for while on this drug, I felt like I could barely form a thought and had great difficulty interacting with people while on it. I had no feelings, no emotions it felt like if I had to choose an emotion it would be disoriented."

• Juliu...
• April 13, 2009

For Narcolepsy "I had to quit Ritalin, despite starting on a very small dose, because it gave me tremors and a "wired" (but not alert) feeling. The problems did not diminish within 2 weeks, and that was all I could stand."

• Kaden
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 26, 2021

For ADHD "I have taken Adderall for years and made the switch to Ritalin. Adderall just wasn’t cutting it for me and was actually affecting me negatively (it only lasted a couple of hours, and the comedown was terrible. It also affected my ability to think after the affects took place 30 minutes prior). Ritalin may not last as long, but splitting the dose into 3 different times lasts me 10-14 hours. With the Adderall, I would take 20mg twice daily, it affected my appetite which caused it effectiveness to perish. With Ritalin, I take it first thing in the morning, eat about 3 hours later, take the second dose, eat about 4-5 hours later, then take the third dose (I wake up at 7am). It starts to wear off around 6-7 pm, which I’ll then eat dinner and it kind of reactivates it, lasting until it’ll ready for bed (which would be after dinner or 1am, it doesn’t keep me awake like Adderall). Take it 10-15 mins before a meal for max effectiveness. I take 60mg a day, but 40mg is just as effective."

• NotCo...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 7, 2020

For Narcolepsy "I was diagnosed with excessive daytime sleepiness in the 90's. I took Ritalin twice a day for more than a decade. I found it was like being on a roller coaster. My first dose was mid-morning and it would take at least 30 minutes before it started kicking in. It "peaked" about 2 hours after consuming the dose where I felt awake, alert and full of energy for a very short time. Then it's effects slowly wore off, leaving me feel completely out of it, depressed, slow, un-motivated. I took the 2nd dose mid-afternoon, and it's effectiveness ran the same course. It was a struggle getting through every day."

• anony...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 12, 2021

For ADHD "I struggled for years, doubting my mental capacity, while people around me described me as brilliant but apathetic, smart but utterly distracted. I behaved in erratic ways, dropped out from my academic path due to verbal violence, being unable to tolerate people and abusing substances, at this point I was 21, non diagnosed, and lost. My social relations were tense and my behaviour hurt everyone around me. I thought about rehab but I found something better, a good psychiatrist. He explained to me that the aggressive behaviours, self harm, research for substances were all signs of a severe dopamine deficiency. We started at 30 mg day and raised up to 60mg daily over three years. I am now 27 and a different person. I collected the pieces and started again, in one year I have the exams I missed, found the backbone to apologize to the ones I hurt. I never felt the urge to do drugs ever again. For me, It was and it is a life changer. For the ones around me, deserved peace."

• Pipw
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 29, 2022

For ADHD "I'm a 42 year old male who has struggled over the years with anxiety and depression. Researching ADHD and ultimately having ritalin X 3 per day has been incredible. I feel calm, centred and focussed. I'm happy than I've ever been. I've had it for 5 months. I feel my functionality day to day has changed from about 45 to 60 percent to more like constant 70 or 80. I feel rather than bumbling along I am really getting traction in my life. Having this medication mixed with learning about ADHD and how it plays out has been a real game changer. It's strange to not be able to imagine not having it now. It's not like it's a high it's just that I feel like a solid high functioning individual for the first time. I will continue taking this medication. My work, my relationship s and overall well-being are better than they've ever been."

• Erinn
• October 27, 2011

For ADHD "I found Ritalin increased my alertness and concentration. I rate Ritalin 2/10 as I find it increased my depression, from which point I stopped taking. Unsure whether the Ritalin interacted negatively with my usual small dose antidepressant Cymbalta or if increased depression is an unreported side effect."

• Akiba...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 10, 2021

For ADHD "38 years old male diagnosed with ADHD at age 37. Took Ritalin for the first time and it made me feel awful. At first I just felt like my blood circulation was weird but then I felt fatigued, anxious, and stressed. I had difficulty spelling correctly when typing. I had difficulty focusing both figuratively and literally, for about an hour I had to concentrate to focus my vision when I was reading something. It basically was a slightly less worse reaction than what I had to Straterra."

• jezzml
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 4, 2017

For Narcolepsy "When I was first diagnosed with narcolepsy at 13, I started with Ritalin and was taking about 40mg per day and definitely helped with my narcolepsy but wasn't strong enough to keep me fully awake and repress my cataplexy. I now take 81mg of concerta and 10mg of ritalin in the mornings and if needed another 10-20mg ritalin in the afternoons or when feeling tired. It's definitely been a life saver especially during class or when I'm out. Didn't have or had any significant side effects and am so glad to have been introduced to it"

• Student...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 1, 2016

For ADHD "I started on 10mg short acting. I'm in the process of finding something different. I'm a student and in a competitive feild studying nursing . I'm a busy person and this didn't help me in any way except for test cramming and homework. It would last about 2 hours and if I wasn't done with my work I needed to take another. Doctor said use it on an as needed basis . But I want something that will help me through the day. Help me focus on everything I need to do in the day. I can't take this short acting stuff, because when it wears off I'm nervous and I feel cloudy minded and weird. I don't want to be around people at this time because I feel off. I'm going back to the doc on Monday. I heard adderal doesn't have the nervousness sideeffects"

• Rick...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 12, 2024

For Narcolepsy "I was diagnosed in 1977 at the Mayo Clinic by Dr. Robert E Yoss. It changed my life! No one understood Narcolepsy like Dr. Yoss. He said some doctors will tell you to take a nap around noon for 15 minutes, that's when to look for a new doctor. Dr. Yoss said, 'I don't take my glasses off when I'm in the middle of reading something, so you should not be taking a nap in the middle of the day.' Dr. Yoss retired from the Mayo Clinic and had moved his practice to his home. He would only see people with Narcolepsy. He said most people with Narcolepsy are underdiagnosed and not being treated properly. When he said to take as needed, I asked, 'Well, how much and how often?' He explained that not every day is the same, some days you may be more tired and some days more alert, so take what you need when you need it."

• Punky
• October 11, 2020

For Narcolepsy "In a single year, I was diagnosed w/intracranial hypertension, narcolepsy + severe sleep apnea. I use an ASV bc My brain forgets to breathe at night. Before Ritalin, my ASV didn't help much. I'm a 35 yr old F + I've tried Provigil, Nuvigil, Adderall, Sunsoni, & only 80mg of Ritalin ÷ in doses of 40mg 2× day has WORKED. My life is back & my apnea scores are lowest EVER. My neurologist can't believe it. Ritalin keeps my brain active so I breathe at night. Push thru the side effects; they WILL GO AWAY!"

• Skye
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 19, 2022

For ADHD "Just got diagnosed ADHD and prescribed Ritalin (10mg 3 times a day, starting with 1 and increasing it every few days). It’s my 6th day taking it and it feels like it’s doing the complete opposite of what it should be doing. It’s worsened my anxiety and depression, I feel robotic and numb, my moods fluctuate more than usual, I can’t focus, I feel tired and lethargic, irritable, nauseous, dizzy, racing heart, and none of my usual coping mechanisms that I had before I started meds are helping at all. It’s helped so little and made me feel so much worse. I've started dreading having to take them. Called my Dr today and waiting for him to call back so I can speak to him about it."

• justt...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 22, 2023

For Depression "I have had Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) for 8 years now and tried multiple medications to help. I was prescribed 5 mg to be taken six times a day of Ritalin and it has turned my life around. Within an hour it was working and the effects are still profound almost two years later. I pair it with Magnesium on days it doesn't hit as well and I'm back to new. Should be prescribed for more serious depressives. Just look at the reviews here for it. Zero withdrawals ever."

• Mercu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 27, 2016

For ADHD "I was recently prescribed generic form of Ritalin for Aspergers/lack of focus issues. I am in my low 40s and used Meth recreationally for years, although I gave that up thankfully, a while back. This is the third pill I have taken and I assure you, the effects of this drug mimic, in many ways, taking a moderate amount of Meth, although not as strong. However, I realize that it affects different people, different ways based on their chemistry. I am not sure I will take it all the time but it does give me energy and new focus, I was lacking. I can see how this drug could be addictive to some people. But it is extremely expensive."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2017

For ADHD "I have only been on ritalin for a couple days now and the results are great. My concentration and focus has improved, I can get more things done and I feel more motivated and self assured. My social life is better and can keep a conversation going. The downsides for me where fast heart rate which made me feel anxious, a bad headache when I first took it and a decreased in appetite. Overall this is working for me so far and I would say to not abuse this drug, combine it with alcohol or anything else and to eat well before taking medicine. hope this helps"

• kcooper
• March 11, 2011

For ADHD "Ritalin made me able to block out everything and focus on reading my boring, tedious nursing books. Take it at least 12 hours before you go to sleep, or else it will keep you up at night with thoughts racing. It suppresses appetite and makes most people lose weight- I actually gained weight because I would be starving and binge eat at the end of the night. I did like Ritalin, but it made me too irritable so I switched to Adderall. That is much more pleasant and even more effective. Focalin 10 mg is good for people with mild ADHD symptoms. "

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 3, 2017

For ADHD "There are some things I love about this medicine, like my ability to focus and get things done. But I really hate the side effect of having no appetite because I'm skinny to begin with. It also increases my heart rate which can make my feel anxious. It also gives me diarrhea which my doctor said does happen to some people. It's super effective, but I wish I could get rid of those side effects. may be better for people who do not need to focus 12 hours a day like I do because I require 3 doses a day."

• Miklos
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 11, 2018

For ADHD "I think it's a very good medication and it can helps a lot! I have been taking this drug when I was 14-15 years old and at the beginning it works well but then because I took a high dosage of Ritalin (around 60-80 mg daily) I experienced a few side effects (just like increased heart rate, weight loss and insomnia! So I stoped taking this drug and after that I have been taking Strattera (atomoxetin) for a year but that was terrible. I had insomnia so bad I couldn't sleep for 36-60 hours maybe twice a week and besides that I usually slept 3-4 hours), I also had increase hearth rate (maybe 100-130 in the morning, increase blood pressure(100/190), headache and stomach problem. So I stoped taking this medication too. Now I am 18 years old and I started to take Ritalin but not every day only when I have to learn a lot and just 10mg twice a day and I think it works very well and it has no any side effects. So I thing its a very good and useful medications just the "normal" dosage is very important!"

• JoA
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 4, 2023

For ADHD "I am a 51 year old woman who struggled since university. Ritalin has given me my life back. I feel calm, focused, and just, me again. Mo more being overwhelmed constantly and anxious. The side effects were mild for me, a headache. But that has passed now and I feel like I can get my life back on track! I take Ritalin LA 10mg twice a day. It’s amazing!"

• Anonymous
• December 16, 2011

For ADHD "I am a 20 year old man, going to university and had or still have troubles concentrating with my ADHD, mostly staying on one subject. Started taking Dexedrine, first it made me restless and gave lots of anxiety. Could not hold up a normal conversation or sit still, it made me feel uncomfortable. Then tried Concerta it was effective somewhat but did not help as much as I had hoped, could not notice much of a effect. Ritalin gives me the concentration when I need it most. "

• Rae
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 26, 2019

For ADHD "I'm 19, female and i've been on this medication about 3 weeks and have slowly upped the dose from 10mg twice a day to 20mg and I feel like when I just started it it worked wonders but now I need more and more for it to help. My pyschiatrist told me to take it everyday. The last couple days I've been on 40mg a day and it doesn't do anything for me anymore, maybe my tolerance is high and I shouldn't be taking it everyday. But I'm still figuring out what works for me, I find I am quite resistant to most drugs like I need more than most people but I only weigh 40kg so I'm a little disappointed at the moment but I think it might just be a tolerance thing and maybe I should only take it when I need it like for university."

• Polly...
• May 29, 2016

For ADHD "COULD NOT STOP EATING! After taking Ritalin for about 1 month, I noticed a strong desire to snack. Just munch on anything; crackers, peanut butter, carrots. Whatever was around. It was like the constant munchies. Then the snacking turned into constant eating after another month. A constant desire to eat in order to feel good. It was as if I didn't feel well, and only eating would take the edge off. So about 2 months and 10 pounds later, I switched to Adderall. Why this made me eat like mad I'll never know..."