day 2 of ritalin and i have questions. | ADHD Information

Here are the problems with insufflating Ritalin:

1) It feels "too" good and its hard to stop
2) It can permanently damage your nasal cavity and mucous membranes
3) You will burn through your prescription VERY fast as it is only effective for 1/2 the time
4) It feels "too" good and its hard to stop

If someone were to do it from time to time without making it a habit I don't think it would be a problem. But its a very slippery slope. Have I tried it? Yes. Did it feel good? You better believe it. Will I ever do it again? Nope. It actually feels better for me to take it normally.


I am on my first day of ritalin.
- 10mg up to 4 times per day.
I have been unmedicated for 2/3 years, but need to get back on track (hate to admit I need help...especially when unmedicated!)

I have taken 4x 10mg today, trying for 2/3hours between doses.
I am functioning with great clarity, my hearing marvellous, and I am productive.

But as the day has gone on, the time between doses has become shorter, and I am becoming 'all over the place'(normal)again.

Tomorrow, I would like to try 2 x10mg in the morning, with top ups during the day, but I am afraid I will take too much in one go.

Should I persist with today's regime rather than go too much too soon.

Anybody with their thoughts??

There isn't any need to take Ritalin on a schedule, it's more effective to take it when you need it. Ritalin speeds everything up so you get tired faster (as far as your body is concerned you)

Ritalin will make you tired and sleepy sometimes. No one knows why, maybe you used up all your dopamine for that day, or you have taken too much or taken to little etc. At times where I sense the drug will be less effective I let it dissolve on under my tongue (you will not be acquiring a taste for Ritalin, believe me) I don't believe this is abuse but someone might.

Lastly 5MG is a small dose it takes about 30MG for me.

so the first evening i took 5 mgs of ritalin i felt happy and outgoing, maybe a placebo effect?

the next day i go in two doses and the first one was just fine and the 2nd one made me feel ok and the 3rd one made me feel tired and lazy and i slept like a log that night and woke up today feeling kind of grumpy.

got up anyways, took a shower, ate, and had my first dose at 8:00 a.m.  my head feels pretty clear, as if the voices that always confuse me with what to do where to do, blah blah blah have all been put to sleep.

my next dose is at 12:00 then 4:00.  i'm worried about this 4:00 p.m. dose as i have to go to work this evening from 4:30-11:00.

i still do not feel very productive but i am definitely less scattered brain thinking though i am still confused feelnig about what to do first on my list and i have been doing the usual driving around trying to make up my mind only to get distracted again and off to something else that seems more exciting or interesting.

is it suppose to feel this way?  what else can i expect down the road?  what good is  making a list when you cant even follow it yourself?

You may also want to ask your doctor about Concerta.

Concerta is a Ritalin-based medication that comes in a time-release form. You can take it once a day as it lasts for 10-12 hours.

However, if you work rotating shifts or something of the sort, you may be better off with the flexibility of something that is not long lasting.

I don't know if you drink coffee, but I found the meds to be more effective when I slowly kicked the caffiene habit. I had less of a tendency to "crash and burn".

I don't know if disolving pills under your tounge counts as abuse if you are not consuming more than your prescribed diagnosis, but my gut reaction is that it may not be a great idea.

Well in my opinion so long as I don't go over my daily allotted amount, I feel I can take it anyway that I want. Of course insufflation is a dangerous place to go, especially with Ritalin.

I sometimes will chew it and let it dissolve under my tongue but it seems to be the same as chewing and swallowing right away for me.

I have found that when Ritalin has made me tired or "zoney" its usually because I took too much. I find that 40mg at a time works perfect. Well here's my current regiment:

8:00am - 20mg Ritalin / 20mg Ritalin SR
2:00pm - 20mg Ritalin / 20mg Ritalin SR
6:00pm - 20mg Ritalin

[QUOTE=brimelow] Of course insufflation is a dangerous place to go, especially with Ritalin.
[/QUOTE]

I've always wondered why though and I've never found an answer. (I'm not advocating snorting your Ritalin because, among other things it's a waste of Ritalin as it only last 30 minutes that way) I'm that just curious. The lung issues often quoted comes from injecting not snorting.

Thanks so much Lee. talking to the doc tomorrow.
monk.

Hi Monk,

What works good to for me is to use a Ritalin SR along with the short-acting variety. That helps to smooth out the peaks and valleys throughout the day. Mention it to your doctor.

Lee