OT~ I NEED SERIOUS HELP WITH RITALIN

I posted this on the main board but I need all the help I can get. My doc put me on ritalin for ADD. I love the stuff, or used to. It does help me concentrate so I can work better. And for the first time in my life I feel like I can do anything I set my mind to. But it is seriously making me aggrevated and anxious. Angry to the point that I can throw something. And jumpy. Anything sets me off such as loud music, tv, lights, talking. Shoot, I get so that when I want something done I want it done yesterday. I am very impatient now. Yesterday Dan was driving the car and even though we were only 5 miles over the speed limit, it was like slow motion to me and I wanted to get home. I refrained from telling him to go faster but I just wanted to tell him to pull over and I'll drive. Today my son was going to do some adding for me on his calulator, and for me, it took forever for him to get ready. I KNOW IT WAS ALL IN REGULAR TIME TOO. I wanted to snatch the calculator and do it myself. I went off the pills for a while cause of this and I didn't get aggrevated but then I couldn't concentrate, work, or accomplish anything. Is there anyone out there on this and had a reaction like this? What did the doc say? Is there anything to counteract the side effects? I have an appointment with my doc but that is, not sure when, a couple of days maybe. I need help asap. Joanne Only good side effect was I wasn't hungry. That side effect went away.

Hey girl... we have something in common... I got on Adderal last year. I work where I need all my senses for details in school situations. Have had ADD but didn't know the *name* of it all my life...was dingy and couch potato type ... Inattentive ADD so he put me on Adderal and I love it. I dont want to nibble.. and its not a "speedy high" like i use to do with diet pills. It just gives me more energy and attention is better. Maybe you could mention trying adderal and see if that would help.... Great link for others who always wondered if they had either HyperActive ADD or Inattentive ADD is: amenclinics.com/ac/ the above site can test you to see if you or a loved one has ADD.... was given a ADD test by a school counselor that was the EXACT same test as this online one so its a good test... not a dingbat afterall

THAT was me...couch potato. Sleep all day, up at night, hated doing anything. With the ritalin, I would be up cleaning (which as you know, people with ADD uncontrolled don't have the gumption to clean) Only problem I have now with cleaning while on ritalin is the ritalin doesn't last long enough cause I get too into detailed cleaning. But Girl, I need something that doesn't make me angry. I can noe see how some have been driven to do some things (violent) while on the pills. I am 41 and now just getting it under control. Joanne

I'll look up the concerta. I have not heard of that one. My new monitor for my computer almost ended up out the window cause I am just getting real pissy. Just took a lorazapam to calm me down. Then in a few minutes, a trazadone to help me sleep. I am a walking drug store. Joanne

The other drug I believe is Strattera. My daughter has ADD and has problems with concentration and attention. We tried her on the Strattera and it did not work for her at all. Concerta is an extended release so you may need a higher dose to work since the extended release medications supposedly don't work on us. Adderall comes in extended release as well as regular tablets. Concerta lasts 12 hours and the Adderall ER lasts 8 hours. (I used to do medical transcription for a psychiatrist who specialized in ADD/ADHD.) Anyway, there are other drugs out there but you may need to see a specialist like someone who specializes in ADD (psychiatrist). Anyway, I hope this helps some.

Joanne, My son had problems with straight ritalin as well. He now takes Concerta, which is ritalin in a capsule taken once a day. It isn't what you would call time-release, but it has a known diffusion rate from a tiny hole in one end of the capsule. It takes away all the ups and downs in the day when the ritalin is in full-swing and then tapers off. He is also able to sleep at night. Strattera does work better for some people who have the side-effects you're talking about with the ritalin. My son thought it made him feel drugged, though, and didn't like it. It looks like you're going to have to try a few different things and see what actually works for you. Every person's body chemistry reacts a little differently, so (I know it's hard) try to be patient while you and your doc work this out. My son was also taking Zoloft for a while along with the Concerta. He doesn't need the Zoloft anymore, but still takes the lowest dose of Concerta and does ok. He might be better off on a little bit higher dose, but he doesn't want to, and if he takes it on a regular basis he's so much better off than he was before. Linn

Definately , you must talk to a doctor who specializes in managing these mmeds, NOT a family practice doctor. ( I learned the hard way on that one) These are not good side effects and there is a better way to manage them than taking a lorazepam to calm you down. Actually, my SON had a reaction like this to Ritalin, wound up in the hospital for 2 weeks with an acute manic episode. Very scary and dangerous. Talk to the doctor today!

Joanne, I am on Strattera! and because this is a time release medication, my doctor wrote the prescription for 2 doses of 25mg instead of the usual dose of 45mg (i think) It does seem to work for me, and my house has not been this organized in forever. I take the first dose with breakfast and the second with dinner. I hope this helps. Donna 277/150 ish

Donna, My surgeon said we couldn't take time released meds. anymore. It will not be effective anymore. Maybe you need to talk to your doctor about this. Jeannie

Please let us know how your doing.... I use to do diet pills.. Ionimin... made me a super ***** I have never had anything like it ... finally went to other meds fastin ..weaker but made me nice again...and then phentermine which was my drug of choice lol wahoooo but ionimin definately made me the wicked witch of the East Texas area lol.. good luck and tell us what doc said and did for u.. *hugs* BTW I do take Adderal XR (Time released) and it works fine with me... time release may be like other things and down the road ... your body adapts .. dunno but time release definately works fine on me... He did up my dosage 10grams.. due to the time release thing...tho deb