Insight needed...2nd wk on Ritalin

Hi,

New to this board (1st post) and recently diagnosed as ADD (I've known it for several years...just felt it was something I could completely take care of through compensating and organizing------ some of the very freaking core deficits in ADD!! So I have been spinning my wheels.

Anyway, I am the inattentive type---takes a miracle to get me going and moving and perform my best work when under the gun. My dr. put me on ritalin 20 mg 2 x's per day. I was mess when I took the 1st dose---it seemed to GIVE me ADHD the hyperactive type. I couldn't stay still, talked constantly, much more impulsive, couldn't stay still. I was at work! I found myself clenching my hands behind the desk so that my client couldn't see how fidgety I was -- Oh I was also moving both feet (I took my shoes off so they could not hear it !!) After it wore off there was like a crash. I felt sooo depressed- I literally wanted to cry and I couldn't understand why I felt this way. The crash was worse than I felt before taking the drug in the 1st place. Oh yeah- I didn't sleep that whole night.

I am so disappointed because I was so excited that this might help me get it together. I thought I would finally have the focus to keep a deadline at work and keep myself out of hot water...finally organize my life and complete the goals I have in mind. Although he said to reduce the dose (5 mg tid) it still makes me crash afterwards and so now I just don't take it because I want to avoid the downward kick it gives me.

Anyone ever go through this? Any ideas as to what I could do. I don't want to continue to live as this hypoactive, inattentive adult who can't follow-through.

Thanks

Hi...

I was diagnosed 3 months ago and on Ritalin too...3 times 10 mg a day...
When you start on Ritalin it can be quite a shock...I got way more anxious and I started clenching my hands as well...I even had to cut my nails more often to stop me from hurting my palms. I recognise the depression when it wears off...
Most of the time the side effects wear off after 4 to 6 weeks....Mine did...But it numbs your emotions a bit too after that time...Still does not help much for us inattentive types...What I need is some kind of cognitive or behavioral therapy to help me get more structure and organisation in my life. From age 11(when I left for 'big school' after even skipping a grade at 6) I was told I was slacking and underachieving and drawing negative attention towards myself...
I had some therapy last year and it helped me get conscious of my behavior but that still does not change me much...How can you learn to start and organise things when new things are my biggest fear?? I can't do this on my own but I don't want them to interfere with my (even private) life too much...
But it seems like they have to because I haven't had a steady job for longer than 2 years and I am 39 now. I hardly had any relationships because they couldn't handle my moods. All these years of hearing you are not good enough made me depressed and anxious. I hope that improves soon.

Anyway, I hope you find the path that is right for you and I wish you luck,

Brrrt

Sorry:) I read the end of your post to quickly and didn't pick up what you said:(

Have you tried Ritalin long acting? It is one pill that lasts 12 hours and you take it once a day.

I don't know anything about Concerta just yet... But your experience has motivated me to learn about it! I am from Canada, and our government has tighter restrictions on medication that they do there. Stratera and Concerta are not avalible to us.... or at least the people in my province.

Hi Cindy and Brrt,

Thanks for the responses. Yes Cindy, you're right. I'm not sure if you read the end of my post, but after I described those symptom to my doc he decreased it from 40 mg daily to 15 mg daily---to be taken in 5 mg dosages. That has made a tremendous difference with regard to those nasty hyper/ jump out of my skin side effects. My real issue now is the little crash I get as I feel the drug wearing off. It seems to do a nice job when it is there, however once it is fading I get blue and dysphoric (not nearly the same degree as when I took the horrific 40 mg dose). My question was basically does one just have to cope with the little "dysphoric crashes" and accept it as the downside (no punt intended) of Ritalin OR does this side effect also vanish. I have basically stopped taking it for the past few days, because I have no desire to feel sad.  I would rather be disorganized than sad....but then again I have tons of work due and I can't get my hypoactive butt in gear! Ughhhhhh

I've read a great deal about Ritalin too....I thought it would have me prepared for when I would finally use it. I have been reading about Concerta...... as I understand it does not cause the drastic mood changes---- do you have any personal experience with that one- would love to know.

Thanks again.......

Clenching fists, teeth, and being unable to sit, or stop talking are things Ritalin is not supposed to do. Your dose is to high, or you are on the wrong med.  Make sure you tell your doctor how you feel, and if he says it is ok.... get a second opinion!!! Ritalin is addictive and the people that abuse it, use it to feel the way that you are feeling when you take it.
When you are taking the right dose for you, those symptoms should not be there:) I don't want to come off as a know it all, but I have done TONS of research on this drug and I am all for it! But if you keep using it the way you are, you are going to become dependent on it.

I am begging you to please talk to your doctor or get a second opinion. It is probably something as simple as changing your dose:)