Ritalin User Reviews & Ratings

• M Y
• February 6, 2020

For ADHD "I'm 24 y.o male that self diagnosed ADHD about 6 months ago. From as far back as I remember I was restless, inattentive, depressed and forgetful but I didn't know that what was wrong with me. I thought that everybody has a unique behaviour and mind and so this "unusual type" is mine and I should control it by myself! From childhood I was the kid who study hard but gained little, who is forgetful, who is weak in math! Who is lazy. Anyway, now I'm medical student and I found that I have ADD after a long story. I told this to my attending physician and he confirmed that I have ADD, then prescribed ritalin 10mg per day and increased that to the dose 10mg ×3 a day. The best word I can tell you about Ritalin for ADD patients is "Miracle". Now for the first time in my life I understand the meaning of being calm, being happy, being focused, being organized and many other good 'Being's'. It was a huge change in my life and I'm happy for that. The side effects for me was very mild and gone with the time and I want to continue it."

• Susan
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 17, 2019

For ADHD "I've always known that I battled with either ADD or ADHD since childhood. I never bothered to get formally diagnosed, but if left untreated it results in severe anxiety and depression. Due to this I lost my job and realised that it was affecting the quality of life. I got assessed and diagnosed at the age of 43 with Adult ADHD - severe. I was really scared to take the Ritalin because of the bad reputation it has but the difference was immediate. I feel calm, at piece, no more anxiety, can focus. It is life changing. Side effects minimum. I think this med is demonized unnecessary. I have my life back."

• kevjam
• September 20, 2019

For ADHD "35 year old adult male, undiagnosed ADD my whole life, depression and anxiety as well. This drug has completely turned me around. 20mg in the morning, 10 mg in the afternoon. When on it, I don't feel high, just alive. I'm awake, alert, focused and most importantly out of my shell. I don't dread work, I welcome it, I hunger for tasks. I almost immediately go from insecure introvert to confident extrovert. Unfortunately, it's very difficult to function now without it. I refuse to abuse it so I am very strict with my 30mg per day. When it wears off, I completely revert back to my old self."

• Cogito...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 7, 2019

For ADHD "I am a 33 y.o. male. After years of cycling through pretty much all antidepressants on the market, including SSRIs, SNRIs and tricyclics, I was starting to get desperate and hopeless and ready to give up on my life. I was stoked to encounter a diligent psychiatrist who concluded that my suffering was caused by untreated ADHD. I have been prescribed with Ritalin. This medication saved my career, my relationship, and my life in general. My mind is clear, my anxiety and depression resolved. I am no longer hopeless about my future, and I finally managed feel joy of living. Compared to my experience with antidepressants, I feel very natural and "myself". I can experience a full range of emotions again. The side effects are minimal, especially compared to antidepressants. Looking in retrospect at my life and getting a bit more educated about ADHD, I have realised that all my past struggles made perfect sense - I was misdiagnosed and treated with wrong medications for a very long time."

• marci...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 22, 2022

For ADHD "At 48 years old I was diagnosed with severe ADHD/combined. I started on 10mg of generic Ritalin four days ago. This is the closest thing to a real miracle that I have ever experienced. For my ENTIRE LIFE I believed that I suffered from major depression and social anxiety disorder. Every last thing in life was difficult. My memory was terrible - forgetting every single day what I was talking about mid-sentence, forgetting why I went into rooms, forgetting goals that I had set just a day or two prior. Years of undiagnosed and untreated ADHD left me with a nervous breakdown and unemployed (after a 23 year, very STRESSFUL, career as a public school teacher). I never thought I would ever work again. That was almost two years ago. Now that I am on the medication? 1) My anxiety is GONE. 2) My depression is GONE. 3) I can remember what I am doing - whether that be in a task I am performing or in a conversation that I am participating in. 4) I feel calm. AMAZING!"

• Anonymous
• July 5, 2012

For Narcolepsy "I struggle with the Lethargic-type Depression. The Symptoms: lack of motivation, laziness, apathy, a-sociability (not caring about having others or relationships; NOT the same as anti-social), flat effect, low energy, excess sleeping, difficulty processing and connecting-the-dots; like when reading things for example, poor concentration, lack of drive, staying at home all day doing nothing, not getting a job, lack of determination and perseverance, giving up easily, low attention-span, etc. Ritalin works great for "Lethargic Depression", and even MORE so when combined with my Cymbalta (60mg once-daily). I take 20mg in the morning, and I have a lot more energy. Just cleaning the dishes doesn't seem like an exhausting burden anymore. My facial expressions and effect don't seem flat, zombie, stiff and mask like. I can process what I'm reading more clearly. I CARE more and FEEL more. I feel motivated, and more active, no longer just sitting and watching TV all day, letting the house turn into a pit. I'm being productive, I can keep many things at the front of my head without forgetting. Overall I've gone from the walking, living dead -to- a living, happy, productive person. Overall, I take 90-120mg of the regular Ritalin (methylphenidate) in divided doses throughout the day."

• Jadey
• June 28, 2019

For ADHD "First off, it was horrible for me. I will never go back to Ritalin ever again. I was on 10mg of Ritalin and it lasted around 2 hours. It was the weirdest experience. I felt simultaneously euphoric, jittery and stimulated, but also lazy and just wanted to sleep (???). It did give me a strong boost of energy which lasted throughout the day. After 2 hours was when things got really bad. I guess this is the 'crash'. It made me horribly depressed, anxious, and filled with rage. The anxiety was so bad that every single thing I set eyes on would trigger me, like looking at the laundry basket filled with laundry. I also felt extremely anti-social and didn't want to talk to anyone, not even my husband. Finally towards the end of the night I would return to my normal self again, but you can imagine the emotional roller-coaster I experienced the entire day. I tried to brush it off and chalked it down to stress. But looking back now, I am 100% certain that it was all due to the Ritalin."

• Ranger
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 4, 2019

For ADHD "39 years old. Battled with ADHD unknowingly my entire life. Turned to alcohol before getting diagnosed as this would help me deal with constantly being wired for sound! Unfortunately this also caused my liver enzymes to go out of whack. Stopped drink, this led to depression which lead to psychological treatment and ADHD was diagnosed. So gutted I have been so late to get diagnosed and get treatment. Ritalin has changed my life. I am focused and organised for the first time ever."

• Bebel
• March 12, 2021

For ADHD "39 y/o female that was first diagnosed in my early 20's, but I'd been being treated for anxiety for so long that I assumed it was a misdiagnosis. After a slew of failed benzos, every class of reuptake inhibitor, and a horrible experience with a low dose antipsychotic, I accepted the ADHD diagnosis, and Ritalin is nothing like I feared it might be. 10mg 2x/daily doesn't give me energy or euphoria, it simply makes me more aware. I have better comprehension skills, move more deliberately, and I don't talk over people. I pay closer attention while driving, haven't even been pulled over for speeding since starting this medication (previously an almost monthly occurrence), I'm patient, and I sleep better. The only side effect I've experienced is drowsiness when it wears off, which is extremely inconvenient mid-day, but that's what calendar reminders are for. Combined with therapy, proper diet and exercise, it allows me to be authentic with myself and others."

• Flosa
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 17, 2014

For ADHD "My son has been taking Ritalin for around 6-8 months and the difference in him is just unbelievable, he's school work has improved, he's spelling and comprehension has gotten a lot better and he has excelled in maths and can actually remembers what he has learnt. He socially gets along better with other children and is less destructive when in a group setting. I was very hesitant to put my son on meds but now realise I made the best choice for him."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 4, 2021

For ADHD "I have been taking Ritalin since 8 years. It worked great for the first 5 years. Then I switched to Vyvanse which was a massive mistake and damaged my heart. So now I'm back on ritalin since 2.5 years. My dosage at the beginning was 10-20 mg ritalin/day. It increased over the years to 60-80mg/day. But 2 years ago something weird happened and I got more sensitive to it again. So now I'm back at 20 mg/day and it works great. Some side effects I got are tachycardia and slight dizziness in the evening. But I really have to say: this drug is a life changer. Without it I would have never been able to go to medschool and become a doctor now."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 29, 2013

For ADHD "I'm in my mid 30's & was diagnosed with ADHD approx 4 months ago. I started on 10 mg 2x a day & am currently on 20 mg 3 x a day. I tried Daytrana, the Ritalin patch, but it made me aggressive & hungry! In less than a month I had gained 20 lbs. I'm back on the pill & so far I love it! I wish I had this back in school! Unfortunately my mom wasn't a believer in ADHD. I am calmer, can think rationally vs going straight off emotions, the racing thoughts have ceased & I can complete tasks I start now. It's also given me more motivation in my life. Before Ritalin I was ready to give up on life & did nothing. I can now take care of responsibilities! My mood has even improved & my patience with my children & people in General has vastly improved."

• Morte
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 20, 2013

For ADHD "This medicine is incredible. I've had ADD for about 20 years, as long as I've been alive and college has exacerbated the condition, so my neurologist prescribed Ritalin to me. This starts to wear off after about 2.5-3.0 hours, but it works absolute MIRACLES. The whole time before, whenever I tried to work, it was like I was seeing the world through warped glasses and my mind was just foggy, like it was full of ice and cotton, but now the entire world is beautifully, wonderfully clear! This is truly an amazing medicine, but be sure to follow your doctor's orders with it, as it can have side effects."

• eleven
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 13, 2019

For ADHD "22, Male, ADD, Anxiety-disorder Ritalin (Methylphenidate) is amazing. However, there's a catch: - it enhances focus but does not direct your focus towards a subject that you're not interested in - I experience extreme euphoria/confidence/optimism for about 1 hour (it builds up gradually, peaking at 2 hour mark with 10mg - if you use this daily, tolerance builds up quickly after every 2 weeks (for me) -when I stop taking it I feel depressed for days but it will wear off as "naturally occurring chemicals" reach equilibrium again I suggest cycling it according to your productive days: - 3/4 days a week and the rest off (avoiding tolerance and dependence) - it enhances your CURRENT focus, so start working/studying for 15/30 min THEN take it (I've researched the most irrelevant topics which excite me the most for hours, only to find that within 30 min the Ritalin's effects are going to wear off)"

• Patty
• April 23, 2015

"I'm a 58-year-old female and I've taken Ritalin for about 16 years. This drug changed my life. It wasn't until the 80s that it was determined that you could have ADD without being hyperactive. Consequently, growing up I was considered an under achiever. I dropped out of college and worked low-level management positions until I was diagnosed. My life changed when I was prescribed Ritalin. I became focused and organized. I set goals and followed a plan to achieve them. I returned to college and graduated helping me secure a wonderful job where I excel. If you have been prescribed this drug do not hesitate to try it. It's never too late to be the person you always knew you could be."

• Meg
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 12, 2021

For ADHD "I’m a female (I think ADHD affects us a little differently) and I was diagnosed 4 months ago at the age of 26. I always kind of knew I had ADHD although I was always a good, quiet kid so that bit didn't add up. I now take 15mg of Ritalin in the morning and 10mg in the afternoon. I haven’t noticed any “life changing” things although I am so much more talkative and confident, as if my social anxiety is gone. My head is also a lot quieter. I have energy to do things now but this is all so exciting I end up doing the wrong things (finally buying new clothes instead of my uni work)."

• Princ...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 9, 2019

For ADHD "I'm 47 year old female and I was diagnosed with ADD and a few other illnesses after my only child was murdered. I am on 20mg 3 times a day, I have found that Ritalin works the best for me on staying focused and keeping my head together and not all over the place. It's not a 100% cure all but I can tell a difference for the good. The only bad experience I had was when I ran out and didn't have them for 3 days and it caused me to go through withdrawal. That wasn't a pleasant experience so I make sure I fill them on time and take them like I'm supposed to."

• marie
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 13, 2023

For ADHD "I had ADHD for many years. It already saved my life. Clarity, concentration, memory, work, focus, I stopped drinking, began to work, be stable, organized, serious, focused, had good work, and could pay my bills. A month ago a doctor I didn't know removed my life saver saying I didn't have ADHD and never had... which is false, multiple doctors in the past have confirmed I have ADHD. This random doctor ruined my life. I'm not functional, have apathy, anhedonia, memory loss, depression, can't drive, can't concentrate, can't focus, trouble paying things, narcolepsy, feel depressed, cant work, cant find initiative. I look forward to finding my Ritalin back. Depression sucks. Just need it to live. It was my lifesaver. Good luck."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 3, 2019

For ADHD "I'm a mid fifties male that recently started taking Ritalin. I've been on it for about 3 months now and really like the changes. The ability to stay on task is amazing. I take the immediate release 2x per day (10mg/pill). It takes about 30 minutes for the effects to kick in, but it is subtle. Each dosage lasts about 4 hours hours. I take the first pill around 800am and the second at 1pm. I take it Monday - Friday, and sometimes on weekends, if I have a project I'd really like to get completed. At this point, I haven't experienced any noticeable side effects. Yes, it does kill your appetite during the 4 hour cycle, but it does return quickly thereafter. For anyone looking for the best vitamin/supplement for improved productivity due to ADHD, just go to your doctor and take something that's proven effective and regulated by the FDA."

• Anna...
• March 22, 2018

For ADHD "I was diagnosed with severe ADHD - inattentive type and Ritalin literally is the difference in me getting through my To Do list or just wondering what in the world I have been doing all day. Over the years I have run across multiple medical professionals who will not prescribe this mediation. Like an idiot I listened to them and tried other medications. ALL of these medications had worse side effects and did NOTHING to correct my ADHD. They tried all of the non stimulant medications and Bupropn HCL - none worked and several had VERY bad side effects. Medical professionals who refuse to listen to their patients should lose their license to practice. You are messing with people's lives here, people! The worse side effects I had with Ritalin was appetite suppression and mild anxiety specifically if I drank too much of coffee with the medication. This is over a period of 15 years on the medication."

• Maximus
• September 28, 2011

For Depression "I was diagnosed post traumatic stress disorder from Iraq war and also which goes along with adult ADHD and depression. They say it has a lot to do with my mind, has so many thoughts of what happened, what is happening, etc. racing through it that I guess it basically just gets worn out like exercising but once they started Ritalin 20 mg three times a day it helped a lot. More focused, less worried and in time just felt more rested and calm. But did have to force to eat at first. Lost my appetite until I got used to it."

• Sherie
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 22, 2019

For ADHD "30, female, ADD, 95 lbs. Just to share what I have experienced for starting on Ritalin (5mg) today for the very first time. I did not feel anything on the first pill (at 1:10pm) and I took the second one around 7 hours later (around 7:50pm). The second one kicked in around 2 hours later. I was alert and could stay patient at one task before jumping onto the next one. I also felt talkative so I responded a couple of emails efficiently ( it usually takes me a while to draft an email) and got on the social media to greet friends (I do not chat on social media much I am never good at keeping in touch with people.) It was until 4am and I felt my body needed rest but my brain was still alert. I put myself to sleep but then I woke up with a fast heart rate just 1 hour and 10 min later. At this moment, I finally feel it is wearing off as I am typing. I know this because has taken me 20 min so far to write this comment - I am reverting to the attention-deficient and anxious myself."

• net
• December 13, 2019

For ADHD "I have ADHD and today was my first day on Ritalin and it sucked! The effects lasted for an hour and when it did work I felt like a zombie and didn't want to move. It also made me tired and kinda sensitive to sound. And, it didn't even make me feel focused so really, whats the point?"

• Suzxcy
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 27, 2021

For ADHD "(F35) Like many others I went through many different antidepressants and mood stabilizers, even EMT and nothing would help me with depression, lack of attention and energy. When I was finally diagnosed with ADD, I was worry because I am bipolar, that the medicine would make me hypomanic, but quite the opposite, it makes relax, focus, I don't need to spend the afternoon in bed like I used to. I can finally go back to work full time. For me, is best to not take it in the morning when I am more fresh, and wait until I have the afternoon crash, that happens between 12 and 2. I try to do a single dose of 10 mg, unless I have to work after 5, in that case I take the second. I also try to take it only 3 or 4 days a week, to avoid tolerance and become too dependent. It does increase my anxiety a bit in the nights, but nothing too serious."

• Richd...
• May 5, 2009

For ADHD "I love Ritalin. I have a wonderful peace that I never had before. I am 61 years old and have just started taking it for the last few weeks. I can actually concentrate now. I am not so fidgety. I wished had this about 55 years ago and one thing I noticed, I am dreaming where I don't remember dreaming in years."