Methylphenidate and Irritability: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Jak...
• April 2, 2013

Methylphenidate for ADHD "I'm 18 years old and have been taking Concerta now since my sophomore/junior year of high school. I was also taking Zoloft (for depression) along with my daily dosage of Concerta. Now that I'm in college, things have been going better for me, and I don't have to take the Zoloft anymore and only take the Concerta when I feel like I really need to focus throughout the day. However, I've been noticing recently that while on the Concerta, I'm moody, tired, and unmotivated. I also start thinking really negatively about myself and find myself very irritable. I feel like I've taken several steps back and should be taking the Zoloft in order to balance out my emotions."

• Anonymous
• March 25, 2008

Methylphenidate for ADHD "My son is 7 years old and was diagnosed with ADHD. He is on Metadate CD, and he has been taking it for almost a month now. It seems to be helping him at school, but at home, his behavior is uncontrollable and very irritable. He is on only 10 mg, and his appetite is slowed down a lot."

• kco...
• March 11, 2011

Methylphenidate for ADHD "Ritalin made me able to block out everything and focus on reading my boring, tedious nursing books. Take it at least 12 hours before you go to sleep, or else it will keep you up at night with thoughts racing. It suppresses appetite and makes most people lose weight, I actually gained weight because I would be starving and binge eat at the end of the night. I did like Ritalin, but it made me too irritable, so I switched to Adderall. That is much more pleasant and even more effective. Focalin 10 mg is good for people with mild ADHD symptoms."

• Fef...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 24, 2024

Methylphenidate for ADHD "I am 30 years old and during all this time they told me that I had depression and anxiety. I couldn't hold a conversation, it was difficult for me to face daily life even with antidepressants. I set goals for myself, but they almost always fell apart, I couldn't maintain them over time. I started a career at the university and left after a month. I thought I had serious problems, that I was a person with the inability to face professional and social life. By chance, a psychiatrist prescribed me Ritalin... I can't explain the miracle it created for me. I could enjoy conversations, be witty, make friends. I could sustain work over time, have a routine at the gym... The truth is that it saved me from many years of frustration. Unfortunately, I had never been diagnosed with ADHD when I was a child. I love this feeling it generates in me since it takes away my anxiety, and I am 100% in the present. I am currently considering looking for another brand since when I take it long term it makes me ir."

• Anonymous
• October 23, 2011

Methylphenidate for ADHD "I can't say it's bad. I can ace through an assignment on my dosage like an Ariel Atom. But there are some things I did experience, as I was taking it, and in high school, I noticed I didn't care to hang out with anyone. There were times when I did, but I was terrified. The days I'd forget my dose, I was buzzing with charisma. I'd have to say out of all these, the creativity it sucks out of you scares me because I'm a musician. But the worst is the withdrawal effects, they hit you fast in the morning, even before you take your dose (headaches, can't wake up) and irritability. It gets the job done, but there are too many side effects."

• dcs...
• February 24, 2017

Methylphenidate for ADHD "I was diagnosed with ADD in elementary school. I have taken three different kinds of ADD medication, and Daytrana has worked the best by far! Strattera made me feel weird as a child. Adderall was terrible for me! I was mean and agitated easily, got headaches a lot, just an all-around bad experience for me. I had taken Daytrana in high school and liked it, so when I went home for Christmas break from my first semester at college and told my mom I wanted back on medication, I quit taking Adderall, but needed something bad! I went back on Daytrana, have been on it for a year and a half now, and I made the Athletic Presidential Honor Roll for my conference! Daytrana = miracle and a yes for all ADD people!"

• And...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 22, 2021

Methylphenidate for ADHD "I had a horrible experience with Ritalin. At first, it was fine when it was initially prescribed. I only took it during the weekdays or on some weekends when I had grad or teacher work to do. I was prescribed 5 mg. After a few months of taking it, I noticed my heart was racing; I would initially ignore it. But then it started to get worse, and I would get a little more concerned. I also noticed I was super irritable and would get frustrated easily. Finally, after taking it 3 days in a row, coupled with being super stressed about being quarantined and teaching from home, my heart raced super fast. My anxiety was also worse because I was freaking out about my heart rate. I ended up calling 911, and the paramedics wanted to take me to the ER to get further testing done. After a few tests, the cardiology team wanted me to stay overnight. They wanted to check if I had a heart attack at the age of 32; it was negative. I am a healthy female and always have been. That was scary and not worth it."

• Nol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 15, 2022

Methylphenidate for ADHD "I suspect I've had ADHD since childhood. Wasn't formally diagnosed until 5 years ago at 43. Was given 18 mg Concerta and, while it did help, it lasted far too long and made me irritable. I switched to 10 mg Ritalin and it's different. I have no idea why, as they're the same drug, but I feel calm and alert. Just as I feel I should be. I can read books again, complete tasks, and my depression has lifted for the first time in over a decade. I was diagnosed with a panic disorder, and my doctor was concerned that it might trigger it, but I feel very much the opposite of anxious when taking this. I LOVE LIFE AGAIN. The past 2 decades have been a downward spiral for me mentally. More and more antidepressants and mood stabilizers. I'd feel okay for a month or 2, but then slip right back into depression. I haven't experienced any negative effects, though it has decreased my appetite quite a bit, so I'll have to keep an eye on that. (ADHD often makes me forget to eat and stay hydrated). Other than that, I'm happy again!"

• Mic...
• February 5, 2013

Methylphenidate for ADHD "I have mainly taken 36 mg doses of Concerta from middle school through 25 years old. I start the morning with 10 mg Ritalin, then take Concerta 3-3.5 hrs later. Due to its appetite suppression, I come home weak from hunger after 9 hrs of work, but my mental focus keeps me going, and I get irritable if something gets in my way. If I give in to my weakness, I will slump on the couch and think about all the things I need to do. I never fully rest mentally, though it alleviates some of the hyperactivity. I have severe ADHD that affects my friendships, marriage, and helpfulness. My aunt switched to Adderall from this because it helps you initiate tasks, which Concerta doesn't. I will try Vyvanse, which is extended-release Adderall."

• Gri...
• February 20, 2017

Methylphenidate for ADHD "My son is currently on 20 mg once a day. Diagnosed and medicated September 2016. We noticed he does this blank stare where his eyes roll up and makes a tasting motion with his mouth. I notified the doctor and he had an EEG done. Turns out they were seizures. He is doing super well in school, a complete 180, but I don't think it's worth it. He's now on liquid Keppra. I feel like it has just been going downhill. Super irritable, mood swings, which they said was a side effect of being on both. Very disheartening. Waiting for the MD to call back to change his medication to a non-stimulant."

• Kit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 7, 2017

Methylphenidate for ADHD "I am 37 years old and was finally diagnosed with adult ADHD almost 2 years ago, so I was put on 20 mg Adderall XR, and it worked great. But I did start to notice that I would get pretty irritable on it, mostly when it was wearing off. So I wanted to try a different medication to see if there was one I wasn't so grumpy on. So I started Metadate CD, and I was not irritable on that one at all :) But it seemed to wear off within 4 hours and made me so tired. So now I am on Aptensio, and it has been pretty good so far. I have only been on it for about a week, and it really does last a long time, and I am able to stay focused. I don't feel a crash like Adderall. I would just recommend taking it early in the morning so it can wear off before you go to bed."

• A09...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 2, 2021

Methylphenidate for ADHD "I've been taking 18 mg XL for a week and decided to take myself off. I can hardly eat a thing, I'm tense, anxious, occasional blurred vision, really irritable, complete lack of motivation, low mood, headaches, and stomach pain. Feel absolutely horrific and haven't noticed any benefits at all."

• Har...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 26, 2022

Methylphenidate for ADHD "The 5 mg tablets are okay. The first month on it, it wasn’t bad at all, very productive, a few side effects like hunger and sadness. I would say a 6/10 for the 5 mg tablets. The XR/LA was absolutely the worst experience, though. Headaches, stomach aches, constantly frantic feeling, gassy, bathroom trips every time I ate, bloating, anxiety, extremely irritated, I always felt on the verge of a mental breakdown, poor digestion, poor sleep. I would sleep for 10 hours on XR and wake up feeling like I never slept. This should be used to torture people. I have a month supply, and I will be throwing away the medication, I actually can’t take these. I normally run 3x a week and work out 5x a week for my job. I have barely done any physical activity on XR. My life has gone very downhill, very fast. They really aren't addictive, at least the XR isn’t."

• Jim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 28, 2020

For ADHD "Awful! Had no effect on concentration, attention, or decision-making. It made me horribly depressed and irritable all the time. When it was leaving my system in the evening, I was an absolute wreck, couldn’t focus or sit still, random crying for no reason, an all-around bad time."

• fuz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 30, 2020

Methylphenidate for Narcolepsy "I take this med, Concerta, for narcolepsy - 36 mg, 2 times daily, and it works okay - the side effects are troubling. Mood swings, irritability, foggy brain, memory issues. The good and the bad are an even balance at this point."

• dar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 24, 2023

Methylphenidate for ADHD "I'm 23. Was put on Ritalin SR 20 mg to treat ADHD every morning around 8 or 9 a.m. I had adverse reactions. I was shaky, anxious, irritable. Around 2 p.m. every day, I'd be crying and having a panic attack. Around day 3 or 4, I started having suicidal and self-harming thoughts I've never had before. I only took this med for 5 days because it made my mental health worse rather than better. Would not recommend."

• Sop...
• November 14, 2017

Methylphenidate for ADHD "For a while, it was good, I was doing okay in school and focusing more, but the more I increased my dose, the worse the quality of life became. My social anxiety went through the roof. The worst part about it for me was that when my dose was 72 mg, the cutoff or withdrawal was horrible. As soon as it wore off, my face would get a big red rash and would pulsate, and my pores would get huge. This would happen every day, and it was irritating and made me self-conscious, so I took myself off the medication and noticed it stopped. I haven’t been on it since, and I would like to start a new medication with less side effects."

• Chr...
• July 22, 2016

Methylphenidate for ADHD "Daytrana really helped with my ADD, as it is a time-release patch rather than a pill, and the pills don't usually keep me medicated long enough. I process them too fast. So the patches work great. Minimal skin irritation. However, it may have caused some kind of dependency issue. Because I now rely on the Daytrana to help me focus, I find it difficult to focus without it, to the point of being unmotivated and grumpy if I don't apply the patch. But nothing major."

• LHJ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 13, 2022

Methylphenidate for ADHD "Ritalin helped me with doing my homework but also gave me side effects like sweating, increased irritability, and I had come downs. It also affects my appetite, where I will feel extremely hungry but also have no appetite and do not want to eat despite being super hungry. This was all on the lowest dose. I would give this a shot if recommended by your psychiatrist, but this medication is not for me."

• pan...
• July 7, 2016

Methylphenidate for ADHD "18 mg dose, day 1. Was hungover, so I took paracetamol, had taken Ritalin as a kid, and this is the first time I've had meds in years. Had a migraine, was irritable, tunnel vision, extreme anxiety almost brought me to tears, slight suicidal tendencies, hallucinations relating to anxiety, and had a hard time articulating myself as my memory was shot and my thoughts were rapid, and I felt impulsive and dehydrated very easily. However, I feared worse effects from withdrawals, so I took it again the next day, and I played a bit of guitar, and that set my mood for the whole day, constantly euphoric. I've just passed day 3 and hardly felt any effect from the drug, overall, I remained productive and achieved everything I wanted, even on the worst day. Will see how it goes."

• hwa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 2, 2024

Methylphenidate for ADHD "I have taken extended-release methylphenidate ER (Concerta) for about 5 months now, and here is my experience. In the very beginning, I was prescribed 18 mg Concerta generic after being diagnosed with inattentive ADHD. For the first week and a half, I was feeling very anxious and like I didn't want to go all in to being medicated full-time. But after giving it time, it got much better, and school grades and general focus were improving. But there are pros and cons. First, the pros. Pros: improved focus, better grades, better attention span, basically most if not all of my symptoms were being improved with the meds. Cons: frequent headaches, random anxiety, random stomach pains, not eating as much, dry mouth, and the worst con in my experience is the irritability. When I am on this medication, it is so easy for me to get upset over the smallest noises or changes in pace. But overall, it is a good medication for getting things done. There are other side effects, but overall it works."

• Aro...
• November 27, 2011

Methylphenidate for ADHD "What would I give to not take medication! I am 18, and have been taking Concerta for 3 years now. It helps me keep things in order, stop forgetting things, concentrate in class for long periods of time, and do mundane tasks I hate. However, within the first week of taking it, I feel very moody, have tics, etc. I get excited and anxious easily. In the evenings, it is impossible to concentrate, and it often gets me very frustrated or irritable. I have been considering changing medications or stopping because it suppresses my creativity and will have me concentrate on negative thoughts, causing depression. However, the withdrawal effects will make me very lazy, depressed, or even manic."

• Duc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 12, 2020

For ADHD "I've had ADHD my whole life but didn't get diagnosed until recently. I tried Adderall first but struggled with irritability when it wore off and also with trying to maintain effectiveness without having to increase the dose. I would try to have days on and off, etc. I tried Ritalin as an alternative to Adderall. The Ritalin gave me headaches, especially at the end of the day. The last day I took it, my headache was so bad I felt nauseous and was very light sensitive. Also, I am pretty sure it increased my depression. I cried during the day and felt hopeless. I do see how an extended-release formula could be a good thing. For me, though, the side effects I experienced were more than I could handle."

• lmc...
• March 12, 2022

For ADHD "It is effective for controllably managing executive deficits related to prioritizing proactively, persistent drowsiness, avolition, selective attention, processing speed, working memory, sustained attention (i.e., delays onset of mental fatigue, becoming distracted, or falling into a state of perseveration). Likewise, I experienced a highly unfavorable effect on mood that gradually worsened the longer I took the medication. These included a lack of ability to derive pleasure out of the usual stimuli (anhedonia), decreased level of emotional expressivity, reduced suggestibility and amiability, a blunted feeling of intrigue or excitement by the prospect of reward, where together these contributed to secondary feelings of irritability, melancholia, and mild dysphoria. Additionally, I experienced inconvenient (disruptively) strong psychomotor slowing and inhibited creative inspiration and spontaneity."

• Dau...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 17, 2020

Methylphenidate for ADHD "This medication really helps my daughter in the school setting - she is able to focus and do her assignments. Without it, she really struggles and doesn't like school. She is 9 and has been on it since she was 6 years old. She used to have loss of appetite at the very beginning, but she got her appetite back once she got used to the medication. The only negative is that at night, after taking the medication 2x at school, she is moody and irritable at times."