Double dose of Ritalin LA | ADHD Information

This morning had me in for scare but everything turned out okay.

Thirty minutes after ds, 17, took his morning dose of RitalinLA, he accidentally took another dose. So that means that he took a total of 120mgs of RitalinLA this morning!  He accidentally took the second dose when he forgot that he was putting pills in his backpack and swallowed them instead.  I had been fearing this day for years.

I was nervous, but mad that he did this on today of all days. We were just about to walk out the door so that he could take his AP exam.  He has never had a double dose before and knowing his sensitivity, I was worried.

In less than ten minutes we were at the emergency room (one mile away).  to my surprise, after checking with poison control, they thought it should not make that much difference because he has taken it for so long and due to his adult size.  Said he might have a few heart palpitations not to worry about.  Dr further emphasized the safety in Ritalin (which ds' doc has said for years, but I still worry about).

 They were great about wishing him luck on the exam and if there were any problems he would write a letter if it would help.

Ds thought he did well on the exam with the only difference in med effect being slightly tired.  So let's hope he learned some kind of lesson about packing your backpack the night before!

wow - I'm glad all turned out ok.

The doc is right - the meds are so safe that even double the dose should only cause potentially in some an anxiety and palpitations.  I'm glad it was ritalin and not another more hazardous drug.

I've sometimes taken my dexedrine in the morning then had to search my mind on whether or not I did or not later.  It's scary when it's a foggy-brain day but generally my memory is so much better now that it's not an issue.  Besides I take 20mg and 40mg just would make me a chatty kathy and probably annoy my whole work area if it happened lol. 

My gf's nephew has ADHD and they have one of those monthly pill holders for his ritalin and some epilepsy meds.  Every day has four compartments and he can't make a mistake of taking anything twice as it's set up so rigidly.

I hope he did well!!

It is for just this reason of accidents like this that I took him off clonidine in the evening to help with sleep.  I'm glad that one is out of the house.

We used to use those monthly pill holders when there were more pills to take. Now he has two weekly pill cases.  A different color to differentiate between morning and afternoon doses.  Even with that he forgot what he was doing. Kind of like an automatic pilot that suddenly switches to the wrong track.

Ds usually takes his ritalin as soon as he gets up so that by the time he finishes a shower and dressing it has started to kick in.  Today was different and he was joking around a lot, inattentive and very short memory still.  Hopefully going to ER on the morning of an AP exam made a great enough impact so that in the future he'll be sure to put it in his backpack the night before.

Joking with the doc we thought he might be super focused and rip through the exam or maybe sleep through it.  He said it went well though.  He had 5o% extended time plus use of the computer for the written part.  He aced the class final getting the third highest grade out of 66 students, so I feel confident that he'll be fine.

Thanks for your thoughts, Glen 


Glad everything turned out o.k. Our problem is my son forgets to take it if anything unusual happens that morning. I have gone up to the school 3 times this semester to give it to him - it is such a hassle! Maybe I should try your dollar trick.  The dollar trick is still working. This last week or so if he remembers two days in a row without a dollar, on the third morning he gets if he remembers.  So far so good.  Except like what happened above on an oddball day.  Hope that doesn't happen again. 

I used to end up going to school too about forgotten doses, but this year is pretty good.  I do give the school a small supply of meds in case he forgets or doesn't have any on him.  The school used to contact me before dispensing.  On occasion he would forget that the office has some, and not bother with an afternoon dose until he gets home.  Period six teacher , who is great, has said that a coup;e times he was really bouncing off the walls.   jfla238843.8741666667