Ritalin ? | ADHD Information

Hello, I apologize if this has already been answered elsewhere but I'll ask anyway.

I recently started taking ritalin 10 mg 3 times a day. Originally I was taking Concerta but because of my schedule I asked for ritalin instead. I am a student and have classes in the morning then I pick my daughter up from school in the afternoon (So I have to manage her stuff and mine) then after she goes to bed at 8, I have to maintain the house chores and homework. Concerta does not last 12 hrs for me more like 5, so I figured the ritalin would give me more contol in selective dosage. Take it when I need it. PROBLEM is... I feel like crap when it is wearing off (I think), I don't have any comparrison but I think that's what it is, coming down. I feel almost flulike, cold sweats and chills, super hungry. I guess this is a transitional problem in between pills. Any advice on how to transition better? My current schedule of dosing is at 8:30 or 9, then at 12 and again at around 5 (still not good because it wears off before I need it after 8!). Should I change my schedule?How do I manage drop offs?  Up my dose? HELP!!!

Ritalin lasts longer on you then concerta wow never heard that before but if it dose then I guess you need to stick with that and just take it closer together so you don't start withdrawing from it before the next dose kicks in.

Oh and Concerta doesn't last 12 hours in most people same thing with adderall the drug companies say all day relief up to 12 hours. lol up to is right cus your lucky if it actually lasts aywhere near that long. I take adderall xr which is also an up to 12 hours I get 5-7 hours tops so I have to take it 2-3 times a day. Still better then short acting adderall for me though that stuff lasted about as long as a sneeze lol < ="">

Thanks for the reply- Let me clarify...

Concerta works for me about 5 hours, ritalin about 3 per pill, I need it to work longer I can't double dose concerta (can't afford it), also concerta makes me kindof tired. Ritalin works ok, but if I'm only supposed to take 3 doses than I am forced to have periods of coming down (this is when I feel so crappy) and I would almost have to take 1 at 9, 1 at 3, and my last dose at 8 to function. Yuk!I really need advice to make the drop off easier if this is what I am to expect. I'm just hoping for some options...

I have the same problem crashing down before 5. I get maybe 8 hours from a 30mg in the morning. I plan to ask for morning/early evening dose, I'd like to try 30/30, I wonder if 60mg is too much? I do really love the stuff I am focused and productive like never before.

TR!
I take a 20mg Ritalin SR tablet in the morning and then take the 10mg ritalin regular tablet when I need to concentrate particularly well (an exam, board meeting etc).  I find that the daily slow release dose moderates the steep up and downs of just taking the 10mg by itself.  Yes I also get about 3 hours per 10mg tablet. Talk about impulsive....Quit my job of 20 years, moved to Az. spent my retirement bottomed out and came back home.......Dumb  Dumblol I hear you on price  if it wasn't so damn expensive I'd be on meds 24 hours a day. I even sleep better with them in my system. When money is tight I go down to one pill a day or worse still no meds and it is not fun. Hope things work out for you know how miserable life can be without meds. < ="">