Focalin XR: Side Effects | ADHD Information

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I'd like to take a moment to share some of my (and my friend's) personal experiences with the medication Focalin XR. This is taken from one of my blog entries.
Focalin XR (Dexmethylphenidate HCl): This is an extended release CNS (central nervous system) stimulant. Each capsule contains both a short acting and a long acting dose of dexmethylphenidate (DMP for short). DMP “helps increase attention and decrease impulsiveness and hyperactivity in patients with ADD/ADHD” (courtesy of a Focalin XR pamphlet).  This much, I can vouch for. I’m 18, and I’ve been taking this for a total of 3 1/2 years. It does work, and it does make a difference. But what about side effects? Here are a few from the pamphlet. The most common side effects (in children over 6) were “upset stomach, nausea, decreased appetite, headache, and anxiety”.The most common side effects (in adults) were “dry mouth, dyspepsia, feeling jittery, dizziness, anxiety, and throat pain”.Other side effects seen include vomiting, dizziness, sleeplessness, nervousness, tics, allergic reactions, increased blood pressure, and psychosis (abnormal thinking or hallucinations).

Response

Okay, I have a few comments on the listed side effects. First off, the tics are a pain in the ass. Finger twitches seem to be the most common, both in myself and in other people who take XR as well. It’s usually tolerable, but sometimes it can get out of hand. My advice to anyone taking this or thinking about having a family member take it: Have breakfast. The side effects are less extreme if you take it with something in your stomach. Now for me, the most common side effects are tics, headache, suppressed appetite, sleeplessness, dry mouth, and upset stomach. Again, nothing too severe. It can all be dealt with.

Those were the listed side effects. The ones they mention. There are more, especially when you count in the rebound effect as the drug leaves your system.

Inattention: Yes, the very thing it works against. As the DMP level drops in your blood, you can often find yourself “zoning out” and losing the ability to control your focus. This usually lasts from 30 minutes to an hour.Muscle weakness and twitching: Aside from the loss of focus, you can sometimes get the “shakes” or find yourself to have reduced muscular control in the arms and legs. You feel tired and weak, and you can’t move as quickly or as well as usual. This can last between 10 and 30 minutes on average.Sudden fatigue: The central nervous stimulant works well while it’s in your blood, but when it filters out, you crash the same way some people crash after a sugar rush. So that’s about it for now. This is everything I know, everything I’ve experienced, and everything my friends have experienced. These are all common side effects,  of any stimulant med, not just Focalin XR. but not experienced by everyone.. Well, no denying that. The purpose of this slightly biased post was merely to explain that any of my friends who have ADD report that these side effects are more common in the use of high dose Focalin XR than in the use of Concerta and other CNS type drugs.