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The Ritalin... it does... what?
Lewisham
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I recently moved to California from the UK, and I've been seeing a counselor about certain behavioral aspects I have. He has suggested that I might well have ADD, and doing the hypochondriac Googling, I think I would now agree. I've tried coping mechanisms and self-reflection as ways of dealing with various problems related to attention and forgetting things, but that hasn't worked. If I actually do have ADD, then I am eligible for medication. At this point, it seems the logical step is to try this avenue out, to see if it helps.
I am seeing a specialist this week, who I expect will diagnose me and offer me something like Ritalin. Are there any major differences between the different ADD medications? What does it feel like to take them? Do you notice them having an effect, or is it just when you think back at the end of the day and say "Oh hey, I concentrated harder in class today than usual, that's pretty cool".
I know a lot of people here have tried these sorts of things. I also know some of you will remember that I am wary of drugs like this, but if a specialist says I should try them, then I will. At this point, it seems anything to help my attention and memory is worth a shot.
Thanks guys.
I am seeing a specialist this week, who I expect will diagnose me and offer me something like Ritalin. Are there any major differences between the different ADD medications? What does it feel like to take them? Do you notice them having an effect, or is it just when you think back at the end of the day and say "Oh hey, I concentrated harder in class today than usual, that's pretty cool".
I know a lot of people here have tried these sorts of things. I also know some of you will remember that I am wary of drugs like this, but if a specialist says I should try them, then I will. At this point, it seems anything to help my attention and memory is worth a shot.
Thanks guys.
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If you're worried you won't notice any effect, I'd wager that people breaking the law (un-prescribed Ritalin is a Class B I think) to use it would speak pretty highly that it'll have some impact.
I'm more worried about me actually feeling effects. I'd rather just not know I'd taken it, but have the benefits, you know?
I don't want to take a pill and get high, I want to take one and do better at the things I do poorly because I can't concentrate.
It will wake you, for about 3-4 hours you will be highly focused, motivated, clear thinking, etc. After 4 hours, not so good. I find the crash is too sucky to warrant taking it more than once or twice a weak (and in very low doses).
It dehydrates you (drink a lot of water during and after), and it makes you feel like you aren't hungry (but you can still eat, you just don't feel like you are hungry).
I couldn't imagine taking it on a daily basis because of the after effects, which boils down to fatigue which will vary based on your metabolism.
This is technically true, but affects those with ADD differently. If you don't have ADD see above.
Ritalin composes an alternate effect in ADD people, it centers them and allows for concentration. Same way benadryl has the opposite effect of making little kids sleepy. Give a 4 year old benadryl, and watch out.
Your specialist will have more informative answers, and will definitely take time to speak with you. If they don't find another doc.
When you’re on ADD meds, you might just interpret your ADD being shut off as a weird side effect and get nervous. So be careful, keep a journal, and make sure that your friends and coworkers know whats going on and are giving you feedback. And discuss it all with your doctor and other people who have been through the same stuff (ask the specialist about group therapy or support groups!).
Yes, you will be focused while it's in your system. Truthfully, you'll be a VERY different person when your taking it. A lot of times, you don't feel like you. (Which makes sense, the drug is designed to make you stop doing what you consider normal)
If the ADD or ADHD is affecting your grades or your job performance, then it's worth trying it. If the Doc just thinks you have ADD, and it's not negativley affecting your life, DON'T TAKE IT.
Best thing to do is find something that you can focus on, and try to figure out why you can. Most the time it's a physical activity that demands your utmost attention. Boxing and MMA helped me, a lot.
Edit:
If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?
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This is good advice here. I've had minor ADD problems since middle school that never really got in the way of my schoolwork. Tried a number of different medications (including Ritalin and Adderol) and never found anything I could stand. I would suggest not using either of those two if you have an alternative.
He's completely right.
Don't assume this is a like a line, with the drug affecting you more or less depending on how ADD you are (or aren't).
Brain chemistry is so complex that different people with different problems react in very different ways. The differences are qualitative not quantitative.
For example, someone close to me was put on Prozac years ago, and I was very worried about the effects (when Prozac was new) so I asked for one and took it. It was horrible for me - like bad speed. However, the person took it and found it very helpful. The depressed person's brain was affected completely differently from mine.
I think this is something only your doctor can help you with.
I feel much better informed for when I go to the doctor now, and hopefully we can try and find something that works for me.
Cheers everyone
He stopped taking it because it turned out he hasn't ADHD, but a form of mild Tourettes, which can be very similar. He's on different drugs now and is feeling a lot better because of it.
https://twitter.com/Hooraydiation
I'm one of those people that, when listening to someone, it just goes in one ear and out the other, but if I read something I basically memorize it. Both Ritalin and Adderol helped with that, making it a lot easier to pick things up in class, but the improvement wasn't significant enough to justify the side effects. (To me, at least)
1) made me not as interesting to talk to,
2) made it far harder to think up witty comebacks and stuff
and 3) Made be lose a ton of weight, which is kinda bad when you're 12 and at the perfect weight for my hight.
What they didn't do was make my grades better (they got worse)
It doesn't help your memory, it helps you sit still and listen. And yeah, it killed my appetite too. My folks would take me off of it during the summer so I would grow and gain weight.
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Also, being 12 is a whole different ballpark.
https://medium.com/@alascii
I can distinctly remember an instance in 4th grade when I forgot to take my medicine, my mind was going about 500 miles a minute and I couldn't sit still let alone process any incoming information. The post-medication crash is not fun at all, especially when you are younger.
And of course there is always the fear of getting the wrong medication. I was given the wrong perscription one time (a much higher dose) which resulted in me being comatose followed by being in the hospital for three days (and much later a lawsuit). I can safely say I was the only 10 year old I'd ever met who had OD'd.
Bad. Bad Ritalin.
It's funny because this is what my brain has always been like, except when I was on Ritalin or Adderall. Perhaps because I actually have the condition it is intended to treat.
When I took Ritalin I didn't really feel anything at all, except a strange and unfamiliar compulsion to actually take notes in class and get work done ahead of time rather than at the last second. Didn't really impact my appetite, and honestly it wouldn't keep me awake for shit either (people had told me it would, so I tried using it to stay awake once and promptly fell asleep in ten minutes).
I was only on it for about a year and a half, then I didn't have insurance anymore and couldn't afford it. I didn't see any real comedown. I did start smoking more and drinking more espresso about then for a bit, but that's all.