I've never felt anything resembling mania on Ritalin. I have though on SSRIs. One really made me manic. That risk seems not to exist with me and Ritalin. If anything as long as it's in my system it makes me MORE in control of my emotions. The hard part for me is when it wears off. I chose not to take Ritalin anymore but that is based on other things, I feel it messes with my creativity.

A lot of people who get manic take stimulants and most tolerate them well, especially if they are on a stabilizing med also. Some of course do not tolerate the med and get sort of hyper. But just strictly personally I have seen hyper people calm down on Ritalin instead of the opposite.

It's always hard to know how to tell a doc that you tried pills prescribed to someone else. I have wanted to as well, but I know how it will look and I don't want to risk losing other "narcotic" meds in the process. So if someone has a suggestion how to say this in a good way to a doc I'm also interested in hearing...