I was diagnosed about a month ago, and the first med they put me on was Ritalin, 20 mgs. twice a day. I took the first one in the morning and within an hour, I was getting randomly emotional (just tears in eyes, choked up, not really crying), and physically I was slowed down tremendously (I could sit there and watch my hand move in slow motion, and I couldn't move it any faster), and felt nauseous and kept breaking into a sweat and felt shaky. I had to leave class because I felt like I was going to be sick and had a hard time just walking down the hall because I felt so strange. I didn't actually get sick but later, right after class, I started crying for no reason (no emotion, just a physical thing) and I could not stop for almost 45 minutes. My professor let me call the college health services from his office and they did not understand the reaction. They still don't. The thing is, mentally I was so much better! Not really like where I think normal people are, but much better! It was so exciting, at least mentally. They put me back to 10 mgs twice a day and that lessened the phyiscal reaction considerably, but the mental part I did not notice much of anything positive. So, they changed me to Strattera and while that is better than nothing, I want the mental part from Ritalin back. Has anyone else had this reaction, and does anyone know if there is any way I could get that clarity of thinking back from Ritalin without going through the physical stuff?
was diagnosed about a month ago, and the first med they put me on was Ritalin, 20 mgs. twice a day. I took the first one in the morning and within an hour, I was getting randomly emotional (just tears in eyes, choked up, not really crying), and physically I was slowed down tremendously
Hi Distracted...the side effects you were experiencing from 20 mil of ritalin indicates the dose was too high. At the proper dose, you should not experience such a reaction Normally, the patient is started on the lowest dose of ritalin, that being, 5 milligrams and increases are made based on effectiveness and reaction. Apparantly, 10 milligrams was too low as you saw no benefits My son at 5 milligrams and 7.5 milligrams saw no benefit and then the doctor increased it to 12.5 milligrams and he had the exact same reaction that you did. It was then lowered to 10 milligrams and that dose was right for him. There were no more emotional outbursts or any other adverse side effects. Perhaps you should be speak to your doctor about a dosage change starting at more than 10 but less than 20. Unlike stimulant medications, Straterra can take up to 6 weeks before the full effect is experienced when it is right medication for that particular person so hang in there