How do I know if Ritalin is not right for me

How do I know if Ritalin is not the right medication for me or if it has stopped working? My doctor put me on Ritalin 5 mg 3x a day about 1 month ago. Last week I called her and told her I was worse than without the medication, so she increased it to 10 mg 3x a day. I feel good at times but other just gittery and worse than non-medicated. Should I continue with the Ritalin, try a different Medication, or just give up on meds all together???? Help...I'm scared.

Tell your doctor you don't like it and maybe try something else. It often takes time to match with a med that works for you. One size doesn't fit all :-)

I'm working with my doctor with my thyroid med, not liking it. They try different things, see what works, it's not an exact science. Sorry you're scared.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publi...reatment.shtml

I agree with Perna you have to work 'with' your Dr in this. He/she will know what to do to either increase again and try the higher dose or to change meds altogether and try somthing else.

You cant stop at the first hurdle you have to keep plugging away at it for a while to see what works for you.

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IslandMedic said:
I feel good at times but other just gittery and worse than non-medicated.

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What I find interesting in this statement is that you feel good at times and worst others.

Do you suffer from any other health conditions such as anxiety, panic disorders, or even other physical health conditions? Are you on any other medications? Has the increase in dosage had any + or - impact on these adverse symptoms? When you say that you feel good sometimes, what are you feeling? If you are taking it 3x/day, I assume it is not the extended release version. Are you eating anything before you take it? Do you remember to eat at regular intervals throughout the day? (I work through lunch and often have to force myself to eat a little something during the day. When I don't eat during the workday suffer mild symptoms from not eating, not from the medication. )

Don't feel like you have to actually answer these questions here on PC. The reason I asked about other mental health issues is because ADHD is often associated with other mental health conditions. During my ADHD evaluation my physician suggested that a stimulant medication could exacerbate symptoms of anxiety etc. I don't know how open you are with your doctor, but if you have any issues that you haven't disclosed-- now might be a good time to reassess this decision. Also, maybe it is how you are taking it, the type of Ritalin you are taking, or something else that you are doing that could be causing your symptoms.

I think writing down a more accurate description of what you are experiencing would be very helpful. I would recommend carrying a little note pad with you so you can briefly record what is happening. Log the times that you took each dose, briefly describe your day/mood/whatever, if you experience any adverse symptoms record them including the time. This will be important in figuring out if you symptoms are related to how the medication is metabolized by your body. If you are really scared about your symptoms, you could also borrow a electronic HR/BP monitor and record a few measurements at different times throughout the day. I would bring your notes to your next doctor's appointment so you have accurate information to share with her. Be proactive and make sure you ask and she answers all of the questions you have.

I don't know about what others have experienced, but the neurologist who is writing my Rx, doesn't seem too informed about ADHD nor does he seem to really be interested in assessing how the medication is affecting my symptoms. Our meetings are like 5 minutes long, he asks ME if I want a higher/ lower dosage, and really has few questions about anything. It is kind of like if I'm happy, he's happy, and I get scripts to cover me for the next few months. Honestly, I feel like I am treating myself. In some ways I like this but... medically ... I know this does not meet my definition of quality care. I did mention this with my Primary Care physician in hopes that he would take a closer look at what I was doing. The bottom line is with ADHD, the patient needs to be their own advocate. With other medical condition you can assume your physician has adequate training and experience in dealing with your medial condition. My experience with ADHD, suggests they either don't know or don't care enough to ask probing questions to insure that you are getting the best possible care.