Ritalin for ADHD User Reviews (Page 3)

• Jea...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 1, 2015

"Ritalin is great. I've been taking it for 6 months now after being diagnosed with ADHD. Now I can focus on my schoolwork and stay alert when last year I was sleeping the whole day during school and could learn anything. Marks, of course, have jumped from C to A as I can focus and stop doing stupid mistakes in tests that I didn't realize I was doing nor could spot due to the lack of patience. Impulses have been reduced also."

• Anonymous
• November 18, 2008

"Racing heart and head rushes when you first start taking the medicine. It was my lifesaver for high school and college and even now through life. I can actually accomplish things in an orderly fashion."

• Ali...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 23, 2020

"I'm a 20-year-old woman, 179 cm and 61 kg, who just got diagnosed with ADD for the first time in my life, after living with it untreated for so many years. So, my doctor wanted to prescribe me Ritalin, though in small doses, so I didn't just go all in from the start. I started with 10 mg, which didn't have an effect. Then I took 20 mg, I felt a little more energized, but nothing else. Then I tried 30 mg today. I felt extremely fresh in my mind, instead of the weird slump I'm usually in. Very happy, which suggests that what I lacked before was dopamine. Still no difference with anything else, like my poor concentration and focus, but on the other side, there are no side effects as of late. Other than the things that I've already struggled with, like depression and anxiety. Not a bad experience thus far, but I'm still a little bit nervous about how 40 mg and 50 mg will affect me."

• Ste...
• March 11, 2018

"Diagnosed at 33 when I was finally able to find the right psychiatrist, I was prescribed generic Ritalin, and it quite literally changed my life. It was a bit of a journey to find the right formulation and dose. I take this form of short-acting Ritalin after the Ritalin LA wears off (usually 6-7 hours). Pros: Works quickly, cheap, well-known and researched, relatively easy to obtain (not as much of a shortage as other more 'fancy' formulations), and works for a large population of people with ADHD. Cons: Wears off quickly (sometimes 2 hrs for me), feels like a bumpy ride of ups and downs, hard to remember to take on time. Drink lots of water, make sure you graze on high-protein snacks to avoid getting hangry, take a shower, and get up and do something. I get sucked into 'the zone' if I take my meds and then come online... for example :) Good luck to you in finding your best self!"

• Kev...
• June 18, 2009

"Well, my experience with Ritalin really changed my life, and I really mean really. This medication has a lot of pros as well as cons. Without Ritalin, I could not do anything in school, I was literally paralyzed. Everyone did better than me, but I tried the hardest, and I just couldn't do it, there was no way. So, when I got Ritalin, it made a huge impact on my life, I mean huge. This substance really changed me, the way I acted, the way I thought. It was amazing, I fell in love with it. I took the proper amount every time: 40 MG - 60 MG. Now, I have been taking Ritalin for 7 years. The only cons are it makes you very still after a while, and depression, but I can deal with it."

• ADH...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 13, 2019

"I started Ritalin 10 mg 3 times daily yesterday, as I have ADHD. I feel calmer and less anxious, but it is not a huge difference. I also seem to be in a more positive mood, and getting myself motivated to do things seems easier, but that could just be the placebo effect at work. The first thing I did when the first dose kicked in was have a nap, so it must be calming me down. I expected my Tourette's or anxiety to get worse, but I haven't noticed any side effects so far."

• Rit...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 9, 2023

"I can't string words together in a sentence anymore, I am devoid of any personality, and the worst part is that there is no payoff, just the physical symptoms of feeling like I want to jump out of my skin, and I am being antisocial as a result of it."

• law...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 16, 2015

"Ritalin has changed my life for the better. Family and friends could see how happy I was. I was able to finish what I started instead of 20 projects. A fill-in doctor said he would not prescribe me my Ritalin because I was 61 years old, that I was too old. My regular doctor is out of town. I am withdrawing and very tired and depressed, and I want to die, or I will if. These thoughts of the afterlife will be painless, live alone, and no one will find me for days."

• Anonymous
• March 11, 2009

"I've been on this medicine for about a month and lost around eleven pounds. I initially got on it to stay more focused in school, although I don't have a serious case of ADD, but I don't mind the weight loss. I could spare a few pounds. You get a rush for about 45 minutes after it kicks in, and that feels better than it should. I feel I can concentrate when I use it, but I'm not myself when I take it. My personality is dulled a bit, and even if I have homework to do, I'll find something to distract myself. Whether it's choosing a simpler assignment or just writing because I still feel like I'm being productive."

• n81...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 28, 2013

"What can I say, dx with mild ADD too (who isn't anymore). But this, taken with Effexor XR, has helped very much with apathy, motivation, energy, and enjoyment of life! Drs. reluctantly Rx this because it is a Schedule II substance and is mostly Rx'd for ADD/ADHD, but it has a profound effect in boosting the effects of an antidepressant. Taken alone for depression? Not really a good idea because it wears off fast. I take 20-30 mg a day (TID)."

• Rey...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 10, 2019

"(18 M) I recently got diagnosed with ADD and was given Ritalin. 5 mg per day as a start-up dose. I have dabbled with other drugs in the past, like cannabis, LSD, mushrooms, and morphine. I took Ritalin for two days before deciding to quit. Never in my entire life have I ever felt this level of addiction, nor have I ever crashed this bad on any drug. I have suffered with severe depression, OCD, and anxiety for some years. The crash gave me a rebound to my past psychosis."

• Pel...
• April 21, 2010

"I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. It seems I also have ADHD, idiopathic hypersomnia (not narcolepsy, but an unknown reason for excessive sleepiness), and a host of other symptoms. Ritalin was a lifesaver. I am able to think clearly again, I can wake up in the morning, and stay awake during the day, and my creativity is back (artist/crafter). It seems my tolerance is building, so my doctor tried me on LA; in a 1-month test I had a rocky start, but once my system adjusted, it worked wonderfully. However, now my insurance company won't pay for it. Always one step forward, two steps back."

• Pat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 12, 2013

"Have to say wow! It helps low energy, depression, and works well with most SSRIs and some low-dose SNRIs. Life feels exciting again, and it offsets SSRI sexual side effects. Works fast and well. The main problem is that it wears off in a few hours, so you need to dose multiple times a day. It causes you to sweat a little more and be a little more irritable than usual, but it is really a great med to help depression. It is much different and better than Wellbutrin for sure, even though both are NDRIs. Check out the research on stimulants for depression and bipolar depression. Going to try Provigil now for a more even energy/mood boost. But I may be back to this."

• LaF...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 21, 2017

"Been on and off Ritalin for years. The regular version works well for me, but its effect was gone in under 3 hours. The extended release was useless - I metabolize it too quickly and was overdosing on it after about an hour. When I was working, it was great not wasting time getting distracted by crap: no retracing my steps to remember what I was looking for; no wondering why I had the telephone in my hand - was I calling or answering, etc.? But I didn't like driving under Ritalin - I was used to having my attention all over the place and being able to see EVERYTHING that was going on around me: traffic slowing 5 blocks up; a wingnut weaving through lanes 2 blocks behind. I only took it while working or when I needed to focus. Same thing now."

• Bee...
• April 6, 2016

"Diagnosed in 1992 with ADHD & prescribed Ritalin. Before I took Ritalin, I was forgetful, daydreamed, moody, couldn't focus for long, did soft drugs, drank alcohol, smoked cigarettes, and was negative-minded. Now, I do none of the above. It makes me feel motivated to go to work every day, and I read novels from page 1 to the last page. Before, I never had the patience to read past page 1. My doctor prescribes me 60 mg per day. To start my day, I take 1 SR 20 mg with 1 10 mg; then 4 hours later, I take 1 10 mg; then 4 hours later, I take 1 SR 20 mg. The problem is, after the first 8 hours, I know I need a 10 mg for the next 4 hours. But my doctor won't prescribe me over 60 mg per day because he thinks that is the maximum allowed per day. Any suggestions?"

• kim...
• March 27, 2013

"I had taken every form of Ritalin while in elementary and junior high school. It helped me focus, but I felt like a zombie, and my mom always felt like it was not really me. I was always angry when I would start to come down from it at night, so in high school, I started taking Adderall, and it was such a great change."

• Anonymous
• September 26, 2010

"My son was diagnosed with ADHD last week. He has always been super hyper, climbs on furniture, spins, sticks his tongue out, and can't look anyone in the eyes without fidgeting around. I didn't want to believe it, but when my parents and my grandparents, also the dentist, asked about him, I knew things were getting worse. He was seen by three specialists in NH and was given 5 mg of Ritalin, 1/2 morning, 1/2 afternoon. He has already had a profound change in his behavior. He doesn't stick his tongue out of his mouth at all and makes crazy noises. He can sit calmly now and concentrate, he actually played with some of his toys, which he didn't really do before. Only con so far: after 4 hours, he has aggressive behavior and cries over nothing. Just started, maybe that's why."

• Edd...
• July 11, 2015

"Helped me a lot. Been using it for 8 months, and now I'm on a 20 mg, 2 times a day. I never had the power to just sit still and stay on one task. Now I'm able to actually sit down and focus on one task. I'm 16 and was diagnosed at 15. Ritalin doesn't last long enough, though, which is the only downside. Only lasts for 3 hours, but it's good because you could get your appetite back. No side effects, just a little nervous at times and headaches, which are rare. Also, suppressed appetite the first hour you take it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 25, 2013

"I've been taking it for 7 years, and it turned my life around. I am severely dyslexic and have ADD and am on 30 mg to 40 mg a day. However, as of recent, it has started making me slightly disoriented and even slightly sleepy, and my thoughts come faster than I speak (used to happen before I started taking Ritalin with my dyslexia), but it feels worse. I just started interning at an ad company, so not the best of times!"

• Clu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 17, 2016

"I am a 28-year-old female. I have been taking 20 mg of Ritalin per day for 8 weeks, first short-acting, then tried the long-acting. By far, the short-acting helped my concentration in school, work, and my social life. When I switched to the extended release, it felt like it wasn't doing jack, even though I was taking the same dose. The only thing I don't like about the short-acting was the loss of appetite. So annoying. But I'm about to start back with the short-acting and with 40 mg per day. I can't wait to have my concentration back!"

• RPa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 14, 2018

"30-year-old male. Recently diagnosed with ADHD. Been taking 10 mg three times a day. 8 a.m. (with breakfast), 12 p.m. (with lunch), 4 p.m. (with snack). I realized after a week that I cannot mix it with coffee, if I do, it makes me feel very anxious and 'jittery.' However, I don't find the side effects that bad at all without coffee. I do want to keep playing with the doses to tweak it, but off to a good start. Glad I realized it was the coffee making me feel like rubbish before I gave up on the drug."

• o4m...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 23, 2018

"I’ve been on Ritalin for almost a year now, and it hasn’t been great, but at the same time it hasn’t been bad. It helps me study and focus, but once it wears off, it leaves you feeling like you were a zombie the whole day. All in all, it’s okay, but it does have some side effects you should be aware of."

• Anonymous
• February 15, 2010

"My 8-year-old daughter is on Ritalin at the moment. We find she is getting migraine headaches, she has lost 3 kg due to lack of appetite, and she is very emotional coming off it, and she doesn't sleep much. On the other side of things, she has shown a large improvement at school with her concentration going from the bottom of the class to the top of the class in just 3 months."

• 34F...
• August 9, 2022

"Made me feel so horrible, even at its lowest dose. Didn't help, just made everything weird, and then when it starts wearing off, depressive and anxious. I have all symptoms of ADD, but I have anxiety under control through diet and exercise, and I've never struggled with depression, but Ritalin literally made me ADD PLUS anxiety and depression. No thanks."

• Luc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 25, 2019

"After trying Dexedrine and having a few unpleasant side effects, my doctor had me try Ritalin. I was on it for about 2 weeks before I decided I wasn't going to take it anymore. Severe depression, increased anxiety, and worsened general ADHD symptoms were the norm on this drug for me."