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Ritalin LA User Reviews & Ratings

Ritalin LA has an average rating of 7.9 out of 10 from a total of 19 reviews on Drugs.com. 72% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 11% reported a negative experience.

Condition Avg. Rating Reviews Compare
ADHD
7.9
19 reviews for ADHD 44 medications

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Reviews for Ritalin LA

  • tro...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • May 29, 2017

For ADHD "At 55 years of age, I am diagnosed with ADHD. It was something I always knew about myself (have BSc Psych). However, historic issues of sexual abuse at school caused issues, depression, and PTSD. I was first given Citalopram and diazepam. I cannot say with certainty it helped a lot. However, once diagnosed with adult ADHD, I was prescribed Ritalin LA. It has been nothing short of a miracle for me. Up early, happier, and getting on with life as best I can. Some minor side effects went away as I continued. Also changed to a decent DECAFF coffee. Caffeinated makes me anxious and cancels the positives. Was easy to do. I see Ritalin LA as a positive for my depression."

9 / 10
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39 Report
  • Red...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • February 27, 2016

For ADHD "This medication is truly life-changing. After 30 minutes of taking the medication, I become a different person. My laziness goes away and I feel so focused to do tasks. I've seen a friend at school go from almost a washout to a hardworking student, and everyone started feeling different about him. Best medication in the world!"

10 / 10
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36 Report
  • Moj...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • December 12, 2017

For ADHD "The first month on LA 20 mg was horrible. Anxiety and way too focused. I nearly quit taking it but decided to persist. I am very glad I did. I now feel fantastic and not so anxious. I would definitely recommend. I have tried all types of Ritalin and Concerta, and so far this is the one that works for me the best. It also works great with my antidepressant. Double win :)"

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24 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • Mar...
  • Taken for 10 years or more
  • April 25, 2023

For ADHD "I would love to be able to comment on the prescription that I'm used to getting, but unfortunately, the entire nation seems to be out of all of the name brands and generics, including regular strength and extended release or long-acting. The nation would like to know when we are going to be able to get our medication, because at this point no one has it! I think about the children that need it, and those of us that have acute ADHD are suffering because somehow the ball got dropped. I am writing the medicine a 10, that's when we can actually purchase it."

10 / 10
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8 Report
  • Anonymous
  • June 30, 2011

For ADHD "I take Ritalin for ADD. I have found that Ritalin LA offers all of the concentration with none of the nasty side effects of the SR form of the pill. The only downside is if your dose is too high, that it doesn't wear off as quickly. Makes for a jittery day. Start low and move up."

10 / 10
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32 Report

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  • bro...
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • December 10, 2015

For ADHD "I have been using Ritalin for 5 years. At first, it helped me in social situations. Now I use it to concentrate. The 40 mg capsule with release holds for 7 hours. The only downside is that I lose my appetite for those 7 hours. I went from being an almost dropout in elementary to a high achiever in high school. Now I am in university, and Ritalin definitely helped me."

10 / 10
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  • db1...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • November 21, 2015

For ADHD "Was put on this drug roughly a year ago, started at 20 mg. It literally turned my life around. It gave me great symptom relief all day with little to no side effects. Unfortunately, after 6 months, this medication slowly lost its effectiveness. I am now on 80 mg a day and only get roughly 2-3 hours of symptom relief, which is disappointing but expected due to tolerance, so I will be changing medications soon. But I have to say, while it worked, Ritalin LA was the best medication I have been on yet, with very little side effects."

7 / 10
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23 Report

More FAQ

  • Anonymous
  • April 13, 2009

For ADHD "Worked great from day one. Unfortunately, it does not come in a generic form, so it can be very expensive. My doctor recently switched me to Methylin ER since it comes in a generic form and is much more affordable. Sometimes I can't even tell I have taken the Methylin ER, the performance is so substandard to the Ritalin LA. I am starting to think a normal life might just be worth the extra $60 a month my insurance doesn't cover on the Ritalin LA."

10 / 10
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32 Report
  • Mar...
  • October 10, 2019

"I have been taking the long-acting methylphenidate for about five years now with great results for my treatment-resistant depression! Nothing, I mean nothing, helped in the past! I've had ECT and every treatment possible. The regular Ritalin caused me severe ups and downs, but the long-acting was just a steady control."

9 / 10
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13 Report
  • Sun...
  • May 15, 2011

For ADHD "I've been taking this drug for almost a year now, and I find it to be extremely helpful. I only wish I had been taking this medication since middle school. I feel no side effects, and it has really helped me focus on my day-to-day tasks."

9 / 10
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26 Report
  • CDa...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • August 3, 2019

For ADHD "Trialed Ritalin dosages of 10/20/30 mg LA over the course of 4-5 months after trying various doses of IR. Preferred that it was less extreme than IR in terms of ups and downs and increased energy, but sadly, it negatively impacted sleep, heart rate, anxiety, and worst of all, I had less tolerance for people and conversation. Would only take this as a last resort as the cons outweighed the pros, but appreciate everyone has different chemistry."

5 / 10
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  • Use...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • October 12, 2020

For ADHD "I am a woman in my early 40s, and I take Ritalin LA for ADHD. I had no idea I was so over-stimulated all the time before I started taking it; now that there isn't overwhelming sensory 'noise' all the time, anxiety is much decreased, and overall mood has improved dramatically. Sleep quality is also higher (I am more likely to fall asleep faster AND sleep through the night). People close to me say I seem like a different (more mellow and relaxed) person. The LA formulation keeps me from having to remember to take it multiple times per day, which helps with adherence. Vitamin C seems to flush it from my system, so I always wait an hour or more after taking daily supplements before taking it. I didn't know until some time after starting this medication, but I am also autistic. Apparently, this co-morbidity is common."

9 / 10
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9 Report
  • Xav...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • April 11, 2018

For ADHD "The day I took Ritalin LA, I could channel all I needed to do within a day. I felt extremely happy and open-minded. Socially, my anxiety was cured and my energy focused on what was most important to me. It is good to take it daily and withdrawing dosages for a while to achieve the same dopamine release/combat tolerance."

10 / 10
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12 Report
  • Ken...
  • October 24, 2016

For ADHD "I found out about 5 years ago I had a sleeping disorder. I would fall asleep driving, sitting at red lights, and even at work. I never wanted to do anything but sleep. But now my Dr. has me on Methylphenidate ER 24 hr 40 mg once a day and also Ritalin 20 mg once a day. And now I can drive and work and not be scared to fall asleep. So now I can get on with my life and do things with my wife and sons and not want to sleep. It has changed my life for the best."

9 / 10
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  • Ell...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • August 30, 2017

For ADHD "Thinking that there has been a misdiagnosis, as Ritalin had the opposite of that promised. Violence, aggressive tendencies, and amplified mood swings, far worse than before. When not screeching, behavior was 'loopy,' super-happy, and still unfocused. Ceased 4 weeks into a 6-week trial - by necessity."

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  • Nel...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • March 17, 2018

For ADHD "I like to take this medication because it gives me the energy to do what I have to. I am unable to walk without a walker. Doctors haven't found the cause. I have tried opiates, and they only work for a short time. Now I found that, for unknown reasons, this medication makes me feel so much better. For whatever reasons, it just works for me. I tried the dissolving pills, and now I was able to get the Ritalin LA."

9 / 10
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  • Pez...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • July 24, 2022

For ADHD "Have had a horrible experience with this med. I did well with Vyvanse except I notice when on it it gives me bad acne, switched to Ritalin LA in hopes the acne would lessen. Started out on 20mg, increased to 40mg. I have felt terrible since starting it, even with increasing the med too. Have had exhaustion, so unmotivated, muscle aches, always feel so off, like I’m off balance, don’t want to talk to anyone or go anywhere, have had a raging appetite and feel like it’s just sucked the life out of me, and an obsession of face picking. All of it is so unlike me even when I would go off my Vyvanse I was never like this. I have talked to my Dr and he agrees to go back on the Vyvanse. I’d rather deal with the acne then feel like this."

1 / 10
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  • Zaf...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • January 5, 2025

For ADHD "Doctor switched me to Ritalin LA from instant release - and have no symptom relief with LA formulation, with the additional (totally new) side effect of nausea. The instant release worked much better with no side effects. Due to addiction concerns in general, doctors are cautious of prescribing an effective drug and would rather take a chance on the long-acting versions that don't work for some."

5 / 10
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  • Kad...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • January 30, 2015

For ADHD "Ritalin, excellent medication. Boosts ability to focus (minus out thoughts which bounce off each other at 0-60 second speeds). Quite calming."

9 / 10
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  • Omk...
  • January 15, 2018

For ADHD "I have tried it for 2 months one day I took it I couldn't feel anything (like helping me concentrate) all of what I just felt was the side effects"

2 / 10
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2 Report
Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.