Does anyone have any experience with Ritalin LA? They just switched my 4-yr Meds from Focalin XR to this and was wondering if anyone has any advice or experience with this drug as in if has worked for them or didn't work for them....
He had been on the Focalin XR for about 3 weeks and we didn't noticed much of a change in his hyperness, but he was really emotional and moody and sensitive to Noise
I had to read it about 5 times... but I get it now!lol
So what is Concerta then?
[QUOTE=Cindy]So what is Concerta then?
[/QUOTE]
Ritalin
I know that!!!lol But how is it different from Ritalin LA?
[QUOTE=Cindy]I know that!!!lol But how is it different from Ritalin LA?[/QUOTE]
The release method is the difference...Concerta is an all day slow release...Ritalin LA is a bi-modal release where you get 50% at the start as a boost, the the other 50% at some later time...or something very similar to that...
Deep_Diver38574.8269560185WHAT??? Did anyone get that???LOL...Well I sure didn't!!!
It would seem that some people w/AD(H)D need the boost provided by the initial release...seems to work for some people...I guess it is the same reason that some people can take Concerta and others need Adderall, Medatate, etc...
That is my limited understanding anyway...
Ah!!! That is would explain why my son's doctor didn't want to put him on it when I asked!
Next question, why take Ritalin La when you can take Concerta?
I'm on Ritlain LA, and found it much better than Regular Ritalin. I don't forget to take the subsequent dosages. As for the effectiveness, it is a very good med for me. Focalyn XR is the dextrorotary enantiomer of methylphenidate. Dextromethylphenidate. (as dexidrine is to methamphetamine) A less active form of Ritalin. Ritalyn is a racemic mixture (dextro & levo rotrary) of methylphenidate. As organic chemistry is geometrically dependent, some spacial orientations "fit" thier receptor molecules better/faster and therefore produce different behavior. Good luck! BTW, ADDerall is a mixture of Dexidrine and amphetamine, and is now considered the most active of all ADHD CNS stims. I couldn't handle it way back when, I think cuz I abused it during the Viet Nam War. Methylphenidate works, but I don't notice it's working (like an engine room in the bilges), get lots of power, but don't notice the production of it or where it come from. My BP this morning dropped to 130/85. Better, but no cigar. [QUOTE=scattered&fun]I'm starting Ritalin LA tomorrow. My doctor took me off the fast release today. I went for a new rx and my bp was up. (130/85) That is A LOT higher than my normal bp. I have been on it for about 8 months. He thinks that the up and down of the four hour pill may be helping to elevate it. He did a quick search while I was in his office before deciding between the Conerta and Ritalin LA. In layman's terms, he said that the Ritilan LA lasts longer than the Concerta XR. Concerta lasts about 12 hours and the Ritilan LA should last AT LEAST 12 hours. We'll see.[/QUOTE]Hmm, I heard the opposite. RitLA lasts 8-10, and ConcA 10-12. It has to do with the semi-permeable membrane and the amount of quick release coating that doesn't go through the oroficial processing.I'm starting Ritalin LA tomorrow. My doctor took me off the fast release today. I went for a new rx and my bp was up. (130/85) That is A LOT higher than my normal bp. I have been on it for about 8 months. He thinks that the up and down of the four hour pill may be helping to elevate it. He did a quick search while I was in his office before deciding between the Conerta and Ritalin LA. In layman's terms, he said that the Ritilan LA lasts longer than the Concerta XR. Concerta lasts about 12 hours and the Ritilan LA should last AT LEAST 12 hours. We'll see.
[QUOTE=Davidornado][QUOTE=scattered&fun]I'm starting Ritalin LA tomorrow. My doctor took me off the fast release today. I went for a new rx and my bp was up. (130/85) That is A LOT higher than my normal bp. I have been on it for about 8 months. He thinks that the up and down of the four hour pill may be helping to elevate it. He did a quick search while I was in his office before deciding between the Conerta and Ritalin LA. In layman's terms, he said that the Ritilan LA lasts longer than the Concerta XR. Concerta lasts about 12 hours and the Ritilan LA should last AT LEAST 12 hours. We'll see.[/QUOTE]Hmm, I heard the opposite. RitLA lasts 8-10, and ConcA 10-12. It has to do with the semi-permeable membrane and the amount of quick release coating that doesn't go through the oroficial processing.
[/QUOTE]
My son (7 years old) first was on Ritalin and had a very hard time once the meds stopped affecting him (around 3-4 pm). Then he was on Concerta which was not effective enough (calmed him down a bit but not enough for a long period of time). Concerta is said to be good for adolescents and adults but not for kids. Now he is on Ritalin LA and this has been the most effective med for him. Its effect lasts less long than Concerta (8-10 hours) but while it lasts it is effective. The side effects once its effect ceases are much less drastic than Ritalin.
Side effect: less appetite and problem with falling alseep (e.g. if he takes it at 7 am he won't fall asleep before 9 pm and the later he takes it the later he falls asleep).
Hope that helps.
[QUOTE=Benjaminsmom][QUOTE=Davidornado][QUOTE=scattered&fun]I'm starting Ritalin LA tomorrow. My doctor took me off the fast release today. I went for a new rx and my bp was up. (130/85) That is A LOT higher than my normal bp. I have been on it for about 8 months. He thinks that the up and down of the four hour pill may be helping to elevate it. He did a quick search while I was in his office before deciding between the Conerta and Ritalin LA. In layman's terms, he said that the Ritilan LA lasts longer than the Concerta XR. Concerta lasts about 12 hours and the Ritilan LA should last AT LEAST 12 hours. We'll see.[/QUOTE]Hmm, I heard the opposite. RitLA lasts 8-10, and ConcA 10-12. It has to do with the semi-permeable membrane and the amount of quick release coating that doesn't go through the oroficial processing.[/QUOTE]My son (7 years old) first was on Ritalin and had a very hard time once the meds stopped affecting him (around 3-4 pm). Then he was on Concerta which was not effective enough (calmed him down a bit but not enough for a long period of time). Concerta is said to be good for adolescents and adults but not for kids. Now he is on Ritalin LA and this has been the most effective med for him. Its effect lasts less long than Concerta (8-10 hours) but while it lasts it is effective. The side effects once its effect ceases are much less drastic than Ritalin.Side effect: less appetite and problem with falling alseep (e.g. if he takes it at 7 am he won't fall asleep before 9 pm and the later he takes it the later he falls asleep).
Hope that helps.[/QUOTE]Concerta
also comes in various dosage concentrations. Perhaps the earlier
prescription was for not high enough dose for a longer term effect, but
too high a dose for the side effects. Sounds like RitLA has improved
his benefits, so congratulations. RitLA also comes in various doses,
and can be supplemented by regular Ritalin at the end of the day if
necessary. I'll be suggesting this treatment to my pshrynque when I see
him next week.
BTW, once I worked the caffeine
out of my system (only two cokes, no coffee in two weeks!), my BP
torpedoed (90/60) for a while, then rebounded to a normal 110/80, but
on Indural, a high bp treatment. I've been on Indural for 3 years, but
it didn't hold the bp down while on caffeine. Too bad, cuz I love the
stuff.