[Melmo]

So my Dr gave me some to try and the first time I took it I was wired for about 4-5 hours. I was motivated and focused to clean my apartment and I got my packing done because I was moving. When I took it I was lying on the couch, no energy and no motivation.
I'm told this isnt the desired effect but it was great for me, because it helped me do what I needed to do.
So he gave me something else but it only made Mr dizzy and hasn't done anything.

Why being motivated and focused was not the desired effect? What is the desired effect?

[Melmo]

Well apparently just the fact that it made me hyper was apparently not the desired effect.

It's supposed to make you alert. If you were just hyper without alertness, then yes, this isn't desired. But hyper with alertness that's OK, I guess. I took it once, and all it caused me was hard heart pounding. But different medications work for different people.

[Melmo]

I have an appointment with him Monday, I'll mention it and see what he says. I told him it made me hyper and energetic but I don't think I mentioned that it made me motivated and focused. I wonder if he would let me try it again. The thing is that was the effect I had when I tried it for the first time. After that, it didn't do anything.

[Misssy2]

Originally Posted by Melmo

So my Dr gave me some to try and the first time I took it I was wired for about 4-5 hours. I was motivated and focused to clean my apartment and I got my packing done because I was moving. When I took it I was lying on the couch, no energy and no motivation.
I'm told this isnt the desired effect but it was great for me, because it helped me do what I needed to do.
So he gave me something else but it only made Mr dizzy and hasn't done anything.

Melmo I like your end quote.
About another day of war with yourself...hit me just right today.

[-jimi-]

Maybe he started you on a too large dosage. And maybe you should take the extended release or even Concerta (which is even more extended release). Some docs start patients too high.

[alwaysin6thgear]

Originally Posted by Melmo

So my Dr gave me some to try and the first time I took it I was wired for about 4-5 hours. I was motivated and focused to clean my apartment and I got my packing done because I was moving. When I took it I was lying on the couch, no energy and no motivation.
I'm told this isnt the desired effect but it was great for me, because it helped me do what I needed to do.
So he gave me something else but it only made Mr dizzy and hasn't done anything.

What you experienced was the desired effect. Ritalin is a stimulant so it would be expected to result in someone feeling a little jittery or feel wired. But that effect would be much, much more for someone who doesn't have ADD. But in your case the medication did exactly what it's supposed to do. I got the same result when I first took Ritalin, the jittery or wired feeling really didn't bother me, it really faded away after a couple of months. The positive effects out weighed the side effects, which were minimal. You may want to lower the dosage if the "wired feeling" is uncomfortable for you. But it is a side effect which you won't notice after a while. If you were able to make those accomplishments after taking Ritalin then you experienced its desired effect.

[Melmo]

Originally Posted by alwaysin6thgear

What you experienced was the desired effect. Ritalin is a stimulant so it would be expected to result in someone feeling a little jittery or feel wired. But that effect would be much, much more for someone who doesn't have ADD. But in your case the medication did exactly what it's supposed to do. I got the same result when I first took Ritalin, the jittery or wired feeling really didn't bother me, it really faded away after a couple of months. The positive effects out weighed the side effects, which were minimal. You may want to lower the dosage if the "wired feeling" is uncomfortable for you. But it is a side effect which you won't notice after a while. If you were able to make those accomplishments after taking Ritalin then you experienced its desired effect.

No I loved the feeling because I was literally dancing I had so much energy. It was fantastic considering I was used to having 0 energy to do anything. I didt have enough energy to clean, play with my kids etc.

[Melmo]

So I talked to my dr about the dexedrin he last gave me to try, and told him that it just made me dizzy. I also brought up the fact that the Ritalin did make me hyper but that I was focused at the same time. He said it was not necessarily the Ritalin that made me focused but just a side effect of the high energy that gave me the focus to do everything I needed to do. But he still gave me a prescription for 30 tablets and a refill of 60 for methylphenidate sr 20mg. One in the am and one around noon or so if needed. I took the first one yesterday morning and it is definitely working, I love the energy and focus. They did tell me not to take any later in the day because it could affect sleep but of course I didn't think it would be a problem and I took one at 6:45pm tonight because I was getting ready to put my kids to bed and I had a ton of cleaning to do. Well its now almost 2am and I am still awake and not even tired so....don't think I will be doing that again. Plus side, got cleaning done.

[alwaysin6thgear]

Originally Posted by Melmo

So I talked to my dr about the dexedrin he last gave me to try, and told him that it just made me dizzy. I also brought up the fact that the Ritalin did make me hyper but that I was focused at the same time. He said it was not necessarily the Ritalin that made me focused but just a side effect of the high energy that gave me the focus to do everything I needed to do. But he still gave me a prescription for 30 tablets and a refill of 60 for methylphenidate sr 20mg. One in the am and one around noon or so if needed. I took the first one yesterday morning and it is definitely working, I love the energy and focus. They did tell me not to take any later in the day because it could affect sleep but of course I didn't think it would be a problem and I took one at 6:45pm tonight because I was getting ready to put my kids to bed and I had a ton of cleaning to do. Well its now almost 2am and I am still awake and not even tired so....don't think I will be doing that again. Plus side, got cleaning done.

One of the biggest challenges with stimulant based medications like Ritalin or Adderall is trying to decide at what time of day to take it or not take it. It's even a bigger challange when you have a family and responsibilities don't end at 4 or 5pm. The same with students, they need to be focused during class time then homework/studying goes well into the night especially for college students. As you found out sleeping is what suffers. It's a trial and error thing. I work a night shift job so my main goal is to get through my shift, I try hard to get all my other responsibilities done by noontime, I take my last dose about halfway through my work shift and usually that helps me until late morning. Usually by that time I feel tired enough to lie down but falling asleep isn't what happens. Depending on how the day went or other life challenges my mind starts up with the racing thoughts which keeps me from sleeping. The one thing that has suffered since taking meds has been sleep. It's usually 4 hours here 3 hour's there. But without the meds I most likely would have all the time in the world to sleep.

[-jimi-]

Glad it is working. The 10 mgs were too strong for me. But I'm ridiculously sensitive.

[Melmo]

Originally Posted by alwaysin6thgear

One of the biggest challenges with stimulant based medications like Ritalin or Adderall is trying to decide at what time of day to take it or not take it. It's even a bigger challange when you have a family and responsibilities don't end at 4 or 5pm. The same with students, they need to be focused during class time then homework/studying goes well into the night especially for college students. As you found out sleeping is what suffers. It's a trial and error thing. I work a night shift job so my main goal is to get through my shift, I try hard to get all my other responsibilities done by noontime, I take my last dose about halfway through my work shift and usually that helps me until late morning. Usually by that time I feel tired enough to lie down but falling asleep isn't what happens. Depending on how the day went or other life challenges my mind starts up with the racing thoughts which keeps me from sleeping. The one thing that has suffered since taking meds has been sleep. It's usually 4 hours here 3 hour's there. But without the meds I most likely would have all the time in the world to sleep.

I have been continuing to take it around 2-4pm and staying up until 12am-2am. I noticed the one time I didn't take it in the afternoon, by 8pm I was so tired I could barely stay awake. So far I love it, it's also helping me focus so much and my mind isn't bouncing around all the time.

[HopefulBeecee]

My daughter has tried several meds to treat ADHD. Recently after getting more involved tests done found out she has an Executive Functioning Disorder also. The Ritalin is working to keep her alert but not helping with the new diagnosis which is very frustrating to her caregiver. As her mom I feel as if I am a caboose detached from the rest of the train trying to catch up. I know its not her fault but as a senior citizen aiding a 40 plus adult what can I do?