Focalin User Reviews & Ratings (Page 4)

• indyg...
• May 4, 2010

For ADHD "38 year oid female - within three days of taking this medication (1/day at lowest dosage) I was suicidal. Depression, but NO previous history of suicidal tendencies. There were no other changes in my life other than this medication. I recovered quickly after stopping taking Focalin. I also had strong negative reaction to Vyvanse. Doc said there was something unusual about how my body metabolizes this particular medications. Concerta has done well for me, considering Ritalin SR due to cost."

• adult...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 8, 2023

For ADHD "Started taking Focalin 18 months ago after being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult and it’s been a miracle. I deal with anxiety, anger, impulsivity, and sensory integration, but wasn’t obvious because I was a “good kid” with good grades who hid my extreme emotions to avoid criticism. I’m also physically awkward and uncoordinated so I often get hurt or break and lose objects a lot. In my 30s I went from a high-functioning overachiever to barely functioning at all. I became edgy and irritable constantly, cried for hours a day from sheer terror or rage over nothing, then felt exhausted and paralyzed. My nervous system was cranked up to 11 and wouldn’t turn off. After taking the first dose of Focalin I could think more clearly, regulate my emotions, and am much less clumsy. I take Focalin XR 30mg in the morning and regular Focalin 10mg as needed in the afternoon."

• Rich
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 17, 2023

For ADHD "I see a lot of negative comments about this medication. I just moved from Concerta to this as Concerta was always out of stock. Nothing has worked for me so far. I'm an older male who took way too long to realize I needed focus meds. Anyway, my question is why are people on it so long if it's not working? I knew after 2 weeks if something wasn't working and I changed it. Just curious."

• chris...
• November 27, 2010

For ADHD "I put my 6 yr old on this, 5mgs about 2 weeks ago. He is at school the whole time he is on it. He takes it at 7 am and by 4 when he gets home he is back to his hyper self. I can tell a little bit of difference though. Hhe has no reactions that I can tell."

• Tom
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 11, 2022

For ADHD "The way that ADHD medications are marketed to parents for children is morally unjustifiable to me. I was prescribed this drug when I was nine years old and immediately dreaded taking it. I remember going to my father and telling him that I didn't feel like myself very shortly after starting, but me getting good grades in school and doing what he wanted was more important to him than my mental well being. Over a decade of use, I was unable to function socially, especially during high school years. I battled depression, constant fatigue, extreme anxiety, high heart rates, and the worst was how it impacted my sexual development, shooting my sex drive through the roof by the time I was only 13 and didn't even understand what was happening to me. I tried to stop taking it without my father or doctors knowing when I was 15 and wound up in crisis counseling due to withdrawal. Their solution? Put me back on the pills until I turned 18 and stopped use. That's 10 years I will never get back."

• plain...
• September 11, 2010

For ADHD "My 10-year son has ADHD (combined) and ODD. Focalin XR so far is the only medication that works on my son's inattentiveness. However, on 15 mg he was very moody and glassy eyed. Found out later that he was overmedicated. What I didn't like about Focalin was that he became very quiet almost Zombie like. Also, the medication did not last in his system long enough. He stopped takes Focalin XR over a year now and has been on Vyvanse (70mg.) I am considering putting him back on Focalin with a lower dose."

• amano
• 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."

• mollusk
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 18, 2019

For ADHD "Worked my way up from 2.5mg twice daily to 10mg twice daily. No symptom relief on 2.5mg, mild symptom relief and moderate nausea on 5mg, mild symptom relief and severe nausea on 10mg. The crash made me puke for the first time in sixteen years. Never again."

• Hano
• January 6, 2021

For ADHD "I took focalin for 2 days and it immediately put me into the deepest darkest depression I’ve ever experienced. It barely helped with my focus, the little help it did offer wore off in a couple hours. Definitely not worth the depression it caused."

• Fajita
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 14, 2021

For ADHD "I was on focalin when it was in the trial stages many years ago and I loved it. I finally was able to eat and enjoy eating for the first time since I was diagnosed with ADHD at 5. It then hit the market and wasn’t covered by insurance so I stopped taking it because I didn’t want my parents to pay the EXTREMELY high monthly payments for the daily dose. I have now been on it for a couple months again as a 23 year old adult and I love it. I feel like I have my life back. My anxiety has decreased. My concentration is amazing, and I feel organized again. My insurance covers the 2x day dosage."

• To1220
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 5, 2023

For ADHD "Had to use Focalin temporarily when dextroamphetamine salts was back ordered. I felt terrible - I had GI upset and difficulty sleeping. Wasn’t as effective for focus and had a longer onset, and felt pounding in the evening 14 hrs after taking it. Initially started on 5mg IR bid, and half the time couldn’t remember the second dose. Eventually was put on 5mg ER. It unfortunately didn’t work for me."

• Moni
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 13, 2021

For ADHD "I am a college student who has ADHD (inattentive) and been taking Focalin XR 20mg sometimes 30mg for about a year now. I'm not going to lie, it 100% has helped me in school. I can finally complete assignments on time and be super focused while doing them. My professors teach super fast and I am finally able to keep up mentally and take notes quickly due to my increased heart rate. It keeps me physically awake all day, but mentally tired because I can't sleep at night, so I have to take prescribed Clonidine to sleep. My stomach is constantly hurting and has led me to have horrible eating habits and I'm skinny. I have to force myself to eat and drink water -if I don't, I will shake uncontrollably and have headaches. My heart will race so much, it causes my anxiety to increase and it makes it difficult to socialize. I can never predict my mood for the day because it is incredibly unstable. This medicine is worth it school-wise, but the side effects are definitely factors to consider."

• Jackson
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 17, 2020

For ADHD "I've been reading some comments and they make a lot of sense. Focalin along with pretty much everyone of the ADHD medicines are powerful stimulants. I would think children should be put on this and others like it only in extreme circumstances. Its help change my life for the better. The pros out weigh the cons for me no question."

• Liz
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 1, 2023

For ADHD "I was on 20 mg of focalin for a while and it seemed to not work or help my adhd so I told my provider and we upped my dose to 30 mg and when I say it made me have a full blown anxiety attack all day long. Talking 12 hours long. The nausea and lump in your throat like you can’t breathe or swallow while hot and shaky. Threw the whole bottle away that same day."

• adult...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 16, 2023

For ADHD "I was just recently (finally!) given an ADHD diagnosis at 27 years of age. After spending a few months trying Adderall, Ritalin, and Concerta with abysmal results, my doctor switched me to 20mg extended-release Focalin. The first few days I noticed random bouts of anxiety and nervousness, which was unusual for me as I am not an anxious person. After around a week of being on Focalin, the anxiety went away and I was actually seeing increasingly positive results at work, school, and home. It does start to wear off on my 16hr school plus work days, but my doctor gave me 5mg short-acting doses for the longer days if I need them towards the end, and that helps. As long as I take it and immediately eat breakfast, I don’t feel any appetite suppression like I do when taking it on an empty stomach. My only complaint is that my heartburn is in full force after starting it, but I’m okay with taking antacids until my body gets used to it, as the results have been more than worth it!"

• Fresh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 6, 2021

For ADHD "I was prescribed 25mg daily and it’s horrible, it works for 2 hours great but then immediately after that 2 hours I start to feel like I’m starving but every time I think about eating I get really nauseous so it’s like I've got mixed signals going on. This stomach pain also makes it impossible to concentrate, even worse than before I take it and that lasts the rest of the day. Then when I get ready to sleep I feel super physically and mentally tired like I could just close my eyes and fall asleep right away but the pain in my stomach keeps me up the entire night because it feels like it’s eating itself. I also have to rock back and forth in my bed tucked into my blanket because Focalin also makes me very cold but even though I am freezing cold I start sweating like even more than when I’m in football practice and completely soak my bed throughout the night"

• Gretc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 16, 2020

For ADHD "I’ve taken focalin once a few years ago and again just recently. Both times it made me very tired, to the point where I often have to take a nap 45 minutes after taking it because I’m so tired! I’ve never had this happen with any other ADHD medication except Focalin. It only helped my ADHD symptoms a tiny bit, but the side effects weren’t worth it and both times I switched meds. Besides feeling truly tired (not “crash” tired, actually like a I have to sleep) the other side effects I got from this medication: ear pressure, fast heartbeat, and ringing in ears."

• Dr Mom
• 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. (dexmethuylphenidate). 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 letter of medical necessity the insurance company will say no. It is worth the fight."

• Cherry
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 10, 2020

For ADHD "I took focalin as a kid and it worked, but it messed me up. I had an erratic and unhealthy sleep schedule, I became anorexic and never ended up ending my anorexia even after I stopped taking it. A lot more happened that I don’t want to go into but I do NOT recommend it"

• Ryano
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 29, 2020

For ADHD "I'm on Focalin 10mg 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 10pm then wake up around 7-8 am, now if I'm lucky I go to sleep at 11pm or 12pm and wake up at 6am. I rarely sleep through the night, and I'm anxious and agitated all the time. I'm also on prozac (20mg) 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."

• Pancake
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 22, 2021

For ADHD "Just went on this drug recently and I have taken other ADHD medication. Focalin makes me feel extremely anxious and weak. I have never experienced this with any other ADHD medication. It makes me feel like I can only sit in one area and do nothing. It doesn’t help my focus ability and ability to complete tasks."

• BPano
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 15, 2020

For ADHD "I have been prescribed this for around 4 years now for my pretty bad ADHD which has affected my life in many ways. I must say I have never ever liked taking this but I had to every school day. It helps me kind of focus but it makes me feel terrible as though everything really annoys me, when taking this even talking irritates me and no matter what variation I take it always has the same annoying/negative effects with only a few positive effects."

• Student
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 17, 2020

For ADHD "I’ve been taking focalin ever since my junior year of high school, I’m now a junior in college. When I started taking it I was on 15 mg extended release and 10mg regular . No side effects other than some sweating and just the medicine helping me focus and doing what it was supposed to. It seems that the longer I’ve taken it the worse the symptoms got. I now still sweat when taking it along with nausea (used to be occasional but it’s getting very frequent now) vomiting, and extreme frequent urge to go to the bathroom ("

• Dakota
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 30, 2021

For ADHD "Honestly, I like the effects of I'm on 20mg Focalin. When I was on 5 and 10, it didn't seem to do much of anything at all. But on 20mg, my dysthymia has gone away. I've been dysthymic for as long as I can remember, and being on this medicine totally motivates me to get work done and be genuinely happy. However, this motivation comes with the effect of hyperactivity, which can kind of translate to anxiety. I can't rest as well as I used to, as I'm just thinking about the things I still need to do. I also cannot sleep as easily, and I wake up once or twice during the night. I've always had a low appetite, so I'm not sure how much the medication is affecting my appetite versus my own brain. Despite these side effects, I prefer my mental state when I'm on the medication over my mental state when I'm off. It's helped me get so much stuff done and not just lay down thinking about it and feeling crappy."

• SInch
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 29, 2021

For ADHD "I take Focalin for ADHD. I have bidirectional autonomic failure with Addison's Disease, so the brain fog is terrible and Focalin helps get my brain going for the day. Unfortunately, I feel it kick in, feel like I can conquer the world, forget about my disorders, but an hour to two hours or so later I feel the crash and am done for the day. I have a short window of opportunity to get things accomplished. I am on permanent disability, so the tasks I need to get done are things I do at home such as crafting, stamp collecting, drawing, reading, and blogging. I will skip it for a few days in a row if it builds up to a tolerance where I no longer feel the effects. Once I restart it, I feel the effects as if it were the first time taking it. I wish I could try something different, but my insurance covers this 100%, so unless I want to pay for a new medication, I'm stuck with this. I have been on Focalin off and on since 2012."