Focalin and Tremors: What Users Say

• MBa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 6, 2021

For ADHD "10mg Focalin once a day. I feel shaky and cold after taking it. Very angry, moody, and depressed often after it stops working. It helps my focus but not the hyperactivity. Decreased appetite, so I try to eat before taking it. Anyone else experiencing these symptoms and found another med that has worked for them?"

• A...
• May 21, 2020

For ADHD "I’m scrolling through reviews, and a lot of what I’ve been feeling recently is starting to make sense. This medicine helps me focus, but I feel weak and awful while on it. It makes me shake, and my anxiety spikes. I’ve also been having some depression issues, my moods stoop to a terrible level, and I’ve been in such a dark place at some points. This medicine makes me feel like a zombie, it makes me shake and feel sick to my stomach. I feel bad for any other kids taking this. It helps me focus, but makes me feel awful. I absolutely DREAD having to take them. I have experienced depersonalization, depression, major mood swings, anxiety, derealization, and suicidal tendencies after getting on this medication. I am not self-diagnosing for anxiety and depression. I strongly advise watching your kids before and after having them take these pills. Make sure your child is safe and happy. I’m sorry for my terrible grammar and typing skills."

• col...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 22, 2018

For ADHD "I am 20 and have been on Focalin since I was about 16. I feel like a robot who cannot socially interact with anyone. Eating food feels unnatural to me. While it is great for focusing on school work, I am anxious about whether I am doing the right thing or not. Talking is a chore. My hands shake when I do homework. It feels like a state of panic with a rapid heartbeat and yet I feel no emotion at all, if that makes sense. I just get from point A to point B. Please make sure this medicine is right for you."

• Gan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 16, 2020

For ADHD "Focalin does what it is supposed to, but this medication makes my heart beat fast and also makes me super nervous and agitated all the time. I hate this medication. It makes me feel like a zombie, and it makes me feel cold all over. The worst part is that I can barely eat without feeling sick and that it makes me constantly shake. This medication also makes my mood stoop to a terrible and very low level. After it wears off, I feel weak, tired, cold, and nauseous."

• ada...
• January 31, 2010

For ADHD "My 9-year-old son has been on various medicines for ADHD since he was 6. We just switched to Focalin 10 mg about 2 weeks ago. We are noticing that by about 1:00 in the afternoon it is completely out of his system and there is no focus. We are going to try a booster dose of 5 mg in the afternoon. I'm going to talk to our doctor about lowering his morning dose because he feels shaky and tired, which I thought would have subsided by now. His focus is terrific, but I wonder if we can get the same results by knocking down the dose a bit and adding the booster. Other than that, his sleep and eating habits are the same. Whew!"

• A k...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 19, 2017

For ADHD "I just started taking it for two days, and I hate it. The first day, I started twitching and shaking, and my stomach felt so uncomfortable. The second day, it felt worse. I had a dry throat, uncomfortable stomach, less twitching, and I felt so useless. The worst thing about it was it was supposed to make me focus, and it does not even help. I just hate how I have to lie about how I feel - I say I'm okay, but I'm so far from being okay."

• A k...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 19, 2017

For ADHD "I just started taking it for two days, and I hate it. The first day, I started twitching and shaking, and my stomach felt so uncomfortable. The second day, it felt worse. I had a dry throat, uncomfortable stomach, less twitching, and I felt so useless. The worst thing about it was it was supposed to make me focus, and it does not even help. I just hate how I have to lie about how I feel - I say I'm okay, but I'm so far from being okay."

• Ric...
• December 1, 2015

For ADHD "I love how it makes you more focused on one thing. But it has too many bad things to it. First, you have loss of hunger for a longer period of time. Then you get this bad stomach feeling like barely fainting or puking. Your muscles start to twitch, and you feel annoying and hostile. I also feel like crying at random points, and it is pretty embarrassing."

• adh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 2, 2019

For ADHD "I switched to Focalin after taking Adderall XR for about 5 years. Adderall XR worked, but I thought that there must be something better, so my doctor put me on Focalin. Today has been my third day on the new medication, and I feel awful. As someone who has acid reflux, Focalin worsened my heartburn and caused me to gag every 10 minutes for no reason. Focalin barely helped me focus during my class, and I couldn't drive because of how weak I was and how much I shook. This medicine has given me diarrhea and constant headaches. Needless to say, I will be going back to Adderall XR."

• ama...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 10, 2020

For ADHD "Pros: Helps my focus and relieves other ADHD symptoms. Did not decrease my appetite, create hyperfocus, or put me to sleep like Adderall did. Cons: Nausea, jaw tension, can't eat much at once. Feels pretty bad when it wears off (shaky, cold, weak, heart pounding, shortness of breath). Probably going to discontinue this med. The cons aren't worth it, unfortunately."

• Dr ...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 29, 2021

For ADHD "I have ADHD myself. Other stimulants had severe effects such as tremors, frequent urination, twitching, and mood swings. Focalin was a game changer. I was at 10 mg XR twice a day. I could focus very well without the above side effects. Then they allowed generics, and my life became a nightmare. Many of the generics seem to be methylphenidate and not generic Focalin (dexmethylphenidate). They cause the exact same side effects as the other meds, and they don't work. I used to be able to ask for a specific generic. Now it is considered drug seeking. I suggest, even though it is expensive, try the brand-name Focalin for a month because it will be a game changer for your child. Then complain to the FDA and the insurance commissioner in writing because no matter how hard your medical provider tries with prior authorization and a letter of medical necessity, the insurance company will say no. It is worth the fight."

• Dr ...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 29, 2021

For ADHD "I have ADHD myself. Other stimulants had severe effects such as tremors, frequent urination, twitching, and mood swings. Focalin was a game changer. I was at 10 mg XR twice a day. I could focus very well without the above side effects. Then they allowed generics, and my life became a nightmare. Many of the generics seem to be methylphenidate and not generic Focalin (dexmethylphenidate). They cause the exact same side effects as the other meds, and they don't work. I used to be able to ask for a specific generic. Now it is considered drug seeking. I suggest, even though it is expensive, try the brand-name Focalin for a month because it will be a game changer for your child. Then complain to the FDA and the insurance commissioner in writing because no matter how hard your medical provider tries with prior authorization and a letter of medical necessity, the insurance company will say no. It is worth the fight."

• Rya...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 29, 2020

For ADHD "I'm on Focalin 10 mg twice a day. I'm shaky and cold after I take it, my appetite is down, and my heart is beating way too fast. I feel relatively blank, I'm tired, but have a hard time sleeping. I used to sleep between 9 or 10 pm then wake up around 7-8 am, now if I'm lucky I go to sleep at 11 pm or 12 pm and wake up at 6 am. I rarely sleep through the night, and I'm anxious and agitated all the time. I'm also on Prozac (20 mg), and maybe they're clashing. It does help with paying attention, I can focus on things long enough for them to register, but I feel worse than I did before I started it."

• hyd...
• July 5, 2021

For ADHD "After 43 years, I was diagnosed with high-functioning ADHD and OCD and maybe PTSD from abuse. I am very confident and have made many accomplishments in my life. I am proud of what I have become, but being medicated has changed my life. I started on Zoloft and felt tired, but it helped. I was amazed. But I then went into Focalin 45 mg. I feel like it is not enough as of yet. But I love this med. Honestly, it seems like I cannot be stopped. I recommend this for a try. My only complaint is I haven't received a higher dose as of yet. I was a bit shaky and moody for 3 weeks. After that, things started to click. I recommend not using THC or high doses with this med. Try small THC and high CBD. Remember, without the THC, your ADHD brain will not accept the CBD."

• mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 23, 2022

For ADHD "Makes my heart beat too fast, and I get shaky and extremely anxious. Someone else said talking feels like a chore on these meds, and I agree. I feel so strange on Focalin, I don’t think I’m going to continue."

• sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 10, 2021

For ADHD "I have tried a lot of stimulants for my ADHD, and Focalin XR did not work well for me. It makes me feel extremely shaky and anxious, and my heart pounds so hard I can hear it in my ears. It also gives me migraines to the point where my head feels like an overfilled balloon. It makes my hands shake so badly I can’t grip things properly. Obviously, when it comes to ADHD meds, they can affect everyone in different ways, but this one is a no from me."

• sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 10, 2021

For ADHD "I have tried a lot of stimulants for my ADHD, and Focalin XR did not work well for me. It makes me feel extremely shaky and anxious, and my heart pounds so hard I can hear it in my ears. It also gives me migraines to the point where my head feels like an overfilled balloon. It makes my hands shake so badly I can’t grip things properly. Obviously, when it comes to ADHD meds, they can affect everyone in different ways, but this one is a no from me."