Methylphenidate for Narcolepsy User Reviews

• Anonymous
• July 5, 2012

Ritalin (methylphenidate) "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."

• SleepyK
• January 10, 2012

Ritalin (methylphenidate) "I've been taking Ritalin for 3 years for Narcolepsy. I was very unwilling to try it at first, but after much research and a push from my doctor, I was finally alert and able to think clearly for the first time in years. I've had to alter my dose at times and currently take 10 mg twice a day. I work part-time and try to alter my lifestyle so I won't need to up my dose too soon. I can't imagine life without it and hope it continues to work for years to come."

• Anonymous
• January 24, 2010

Ritalin (methylphenidate) "I have taken this medication for over 5 years to help me stay awake due to a narcolepsy diagnosis. The drug is very effective and I have not become addicted in anyway although I have developed a tolerance to the medication and have had to increase my dosage to now the highest amount available and now will most likely have to change to another medication. The side effects have also increased including mood swings and and feelings of depression when the drug wears off and now I am convinced that it is time to switch medications. Even with these increased side effects, without this drug I wouldn't have been able to function as a normal human being and I am now nervous that I won't be able to find another medication that was this effective."

• Tonytoo
• April 10, 2011

Ritalin (methylphenidate) "I have been on Ritalin for 20 years. It has worked great. While working full time, I took 20mg twice daily. Now retired and taking only 10 mg each morning, I feel more tired but being retired I function good and can rest anytime I need to."

• Yooji
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 21, 2018

Ritalin (methylphenidate) "I was recently diagnosed with narcolepsy after a sleep study. I was nearly passing out while driving so often that it was hindering my life. I couldn't play with my 3 year old, and I couldn't clean or take care of myself. After a bad experience with Nuvigil, I was prescribed ritalin, and I take 15mg 2x a day. I am happier, I can drive and spend time with my daughter without having to lay down every hour. I'm able to do my college course work without putting it off until the last moment. Ritalin has changed my life."

• Depre...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 22, 2016

Ritalin (methylphenidate) "I have narcolepsy, and have been taking Ritalin for about 20 years. I was diagnosed with depression about 7 years ago, most recently taking Effexor, and citalopram. About 6 days ago I spiralled down fast and hard. Couldn't eat, sleep, reason anything good, was crying hysterically, horrible feelings, felt like I was slowly going crazy. I had stopped taking my Ritalin thinking it would keep me awake. Today I took my Ritalin, went for a nap and woke up clear. I was calm, it's been 8 hrs of no crying, no churning inside, no hysterics, I am sleeping, I can can think things through....absolutely night and day. No one ever told me that Ritalin could be helping my depression too."

• Anonymous
• January 5, 2012

Ritalin (methylphenidate) "I have been taking Ritalin for my narcolepsy for almost three years now. It helps significantly and without it, I don't think I would be able to work or function. However, my dosage has needed to be increased as it seems my body is getting used to it. It's also a great alternative to Provigil because it does not interact with birth control pills as Provigil does."

• Anonymous
• October 17, 2008

Ritalin (methylphenidate) "I really like it. The only thing about the Ritalin is that you get a slight rush and then it seems to wear off before it should. My dosage was doubled and that seemed to work out a lot better. It truly does the job as I don't fall asleep all the time."

• susan...
• June 18, 2010

Concerta (methylphenidate) "I have narcolepsy and OSA along with severe Restless Legs Syndrome. I've been on Ritalin and 2 different non narcotic medicines and they simply stopped being effective after a short period of time. FINALLY my Doctor put me on 54mg of Concerta along with an 18 mg of Concerta, totaling 72mg and it's perfect. I can still take a short nap but I am able to finally stay awake longer then 2 hours. It took 3 sleep studies and about 5 different drugs but I think I finally am beginning to feel optimistic!"

• Dicka...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 11, 2019

Ritalin (methylphenidate) "I started on Ritalin for narcolepsy at 10mg twice a day. Did not keep me awake. Went to 20mg twice a day still didn't work well. 30 mg twice a day is working well. I feel so much better and I'm more active than I have been in years."

• Tobyc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 11, 2016

Ritalin (methylphenidate) "Recently diagnosed with narcolepsy and was given provigal. That did nothing. Given Ritalin and this is doing nothing either. Started at 10mg twice a day. Increased to 30mg twice a day. This is nothing more then a decent cup of coffee. Lasts no longer then an hour. Need better help for my tireness."

• Jecca
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 16, 2013

Concerta (methylphenidate) "My doctor originally put me on this medication because I thought I was ADD on account of concentration and focus issues. After my first dose leveled out and needed to be adjusted we realized I may be narcoleptic since my main complaint was daytime sleepiness along with the focus and concentration issues. I have a sleep study coming up to confirm the diagnosis but this medication has save my life. I can now stay away all day, focus and concentrate, and my moods are even better. This is very important as a wife, stay at home mom of 3, and a college student. It works wonderfully for me! I do find I drink more water and crave cigarettes more but the trade off is definitely worth the benefits I am getting!"

• Jetter
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 26, 2018

Concerta (methylphenidate) "I had difficulty staying awake. I was taking all kind of meds for mood disorders and most of them caused drowsiness and weight gain. In 2016, I did a sleep study test, but didn't qualify for a CPAP machine. So I tried narcoleptic meds but they didn't work well for me. My doctor prescribed Adderall XR which was great for a while until I needed higher dosages to function but the side effects weren't worth taking the med. So I stopped all stimulants. Did a sleep study test in January of 2018 and was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea. The CPAP machine wasn't enough alone for the narcolepsy. Now I take Concerta and feel alert and I usually wake up before 6am. Concerta helps me and I only take 27mg."

• htfloor
• August 27, 2009

Ritalin (methylphenidate) "This medicine is doing it's job. I actually fell asleep standing up in my dining room. Hit my chin on the table (ouch). Now, I don't fall asleep at inappropriate times (after I take my first dose). I do have concerns about it's habitual possibilities, which I must say, my doctor did not warn me about. I will have to keep a close watch on my behavior I guess, but it is working."

• ncos
• July 21, 2018

Ritalin (methylphenidate) "Let me start by stating that I am a 24 year old female with history of Idiopathic Hypersomnia, coarctation of the aorta and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). I was recently in a car accident and received my second concussion. Upon visiting my neurologist for headaches/migraine complaints I brought to his attention my debilitating fatigue I've experienced since the last concussion. I've been to multiple doctors and they pushed aside this symptom. I was almost in tears when my neurologist prescribed Ritalin. Day 3: improved concentration AND more energy!. So far so good. I was worried I would have problems because of my heart conditions but it is anatomic and not rhythmic so I'm okay! He also assured this will help with weight loss which is great! Hope to continue to see great results with this medication."

• Jeane...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 9, 2016

Ritalin (methylphenidate) "Taken Ritalin over 15 yrs for NARCOLEPSY. Provigal to $$. Over the years I have increased to 40mg two times daily. Have not (and won't) increased dosage in over 5 yrs. Retired now so it's easier to adjust mg. If I feel it's not working, I will stop taking it for a week or two (if possible) and then go back 10 mg at a time. May be time consuming but never had addiction. Considering the SR."

• Juliu...
• April 13, 2009

Ritalin (methylphenidate) "I had to quit Ritalin, despite starting on a very small dose, because it gave me tremors and a "wired" (but not alert) feeling. The problems did not diminish within 2 weeks, and that was all I could stand."

• katie...
• March 31, 2017

Concerta (methylphenidate) "I have had narcolepsy my whole life and for the longest time I thought it was because I was lazy. As a straight-A student, I didn't understand why it was so difficult for me to get up, stay awake, and make my body match up with my motivation. Literally the first day I started taking this medication, I could stay awake in all of my classes and I felt the passion and love for learning I always had as a kid. For the past years, watching Netflix was the go-to rather than homework just because I couldn't muster the physical nor mental energy to follow through. While I have been successful in my academics, after concerta, I could study for longer, I could do more things, and I could finish my work faster. A 27 mg dose works all day (100 lbs)."

• Anonymous
• March 4, 2011

Methylin (methylphenidate) "I can't stay awake without it. I was taking 36mg of Concerta at 6am, another 36 at 8am, and then falling asleep at my desk at 9. Now I still take the 6am dose, but I take the Methylin at 8 and then at 10 if I need it. I was falling asleep every day. Now I can actually stay awake! No other medicines have worked for me, and I have certainly tried a lot."

• NotCo...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 7, 2020

Ritalin (methylphenidate) "I was diagnosed with excessive daytime sleepiness in the 90's. I took Ritalin twice a day for more than a decade. I found it was like being on a roller coaster. My first dose was mid-morning and it would take at least 30 minutes before it started kicking in. It "peaked" about 2 hours after consuming the dose where I felt awake, alert and full of energy for a very short time. Then it's effects slowly wore off, leaving me feel completely out of it, depressed, slow, un-motivated. I took the 2nd dose mid-afternoon, and it's effectiveness ran the same course. It was a struggle getting through every day."

• Jaxcie
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 18, 2013

Concerta (methylphenidate) "Although I was never officially diagnosed with narcolepsy, about 10 years ago, I began slowing down, literally my energy and motivation kept going down and down, etc. I longed to be normal and play with my kids like I once had. Finally, we seemed to have found the right medication and now we just need to adjust the dosage. It has been nearly a month and its been a little rocky because of the adjustments needed but I feel like I am becoming the Jackie I once was. I just need to check more about the side effects, etc. So far, so good."

• jezzml
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 4, 2017

Ritalin (methylphenidate) "When I was first diagnosed with narcolepsy at 13, I started with Ritalin and was taking about 40mg per day and definitely helped with my narcolepsy but wasn't strong enough to keep me fully awake and repress my cataplexy. I now take 81mg of concerta and 10mg of ritalin in the mornings and if needed another 10-20mg ritalin in the afternoons or when feeling tired. It's definitely been a life saver especially during class or when I'm out. Didn't have or had any significant side effects and am so glad to have been introduced to it"

• Punky
• October 11, 2020

Ritalin (methylphenidate) "In a single year, I was diagnosed w/intracranial hypertension, narcolepsy + severe sleep apnea. I use an ASV bc My brain forgets to breathe at night. Before Ritalin, my ASV didn't help much. I'm a 35 yr old F + I've tried Provigil, Nuvigil, Adderall, Sunsoni, & only 80mg of Ritalin ÷ in doses of 40mg 2× day has WORKED. My life is back & my apnea scores are lowest EVER. My neurologist can't believe it. Ritalin keeps my brain active so I breathe at night. Push thru the side effects; they WILL GO AWAY!"

• Rick...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 12, 2024

Ritalin (methylphenidate) "I was diagnosed in 1977 at the Mayo Clinic by Dr. Robert E Yoss. It changed my life! No one understood Narcolepsy like Dr. Yoss. He said some doctors will tell you to take a nap around noon for 15 minutes, that's when to look for a new doctor. Dr. Yoss said, 'I don't take my glasses off when I'm in the middle of reading something, so you should not be taking a nap in the middle of the day.' Dr. Yoss retired from the Mayo Clinic and had moved his practice to his home. He would only see people with Narcolepsy. He said most people with Narcolepsy are underdiagnosed and not being treated properly. When he said to take as needed, I asked, 'Well, how much and how often?' He explained that not every day is the same, some days you may be more tired and some days more alert, so take what you need when you need it."

• Sleep...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 29, 2018

Ritalin (methylphenidate) "I have narcolepsy w/cataplexy and was prescribed Ritalin. Doc started me on a low dose to be taken twice day. The first 2 days I felt awake & alert, didn’t nap till 4:30 pm. After that, I just got sleepy. Never had that get-up-and-go like those first few days. Now after being on it for over a month, about 15 min after dosing I’m falling asleep. Literally head bobbing. I nap off and on all day long like before I was on Ritalin or I feel sick. I also notice that my chronic pain is heightened. Everything seems magnified on live wire. My eyes hurt, I’m more sensitive to light & have daily headaches on top of my chronic migraines. I finally see my neurologist tomorrow & hopefully he’ll have an alternative plan for me."