Posted by Libby on July 14, 2000, at 10:59:47
In reply to Re: Does Ritalin cause tension? Karen, Noa, etc. » Libby, posted by Sara T on July 13, 2000, at 22:02:30
Thanks Sara! I am currently taking generic methylphenidate, 10 mg 3X/day. I'll definitely ask about the name brand.
I have some other questions... if any of you more experienced ADD-er's could help me out, I'd appreciate it.
1. What I'm taking keeps me alert well into early evening, which gives me time to take care of things around the house as well as at work. I'm worried that if I change to a longer-acting drug, it will poop out by late afternoon. That would still allow me to function at work, but would make me pretty much worthless at home. I have a huge house & lawn, a teenage daughter, and a disabled mother & sister to care for, so I often need MORE horsepower at home as at work.
2. My doc has already told me he'd like to try other stimulants. He seems to like prescribing Adderall. Can anyone tell me if the the extended release form of Ritalin and Adderall really last all day?
3. Also, I've noticed that a dose of my current med lasts for about three hours. Since my doc has instructed me to dose every four hours, with NO adjustments, I spend a couple of hours a day crashing... but I haven't complained about that because two hours of crashing is way more tolerable than the eight hours of mental fog I'm used to. Is this pretty much typical of everyone who uses short-acting Ritalin or is it a dosing issue?
4. My sleep has improved. My brain is working better. My moods are stable and good. My productivity and social activies are way up.
My only complaints are the crashing and occasional headaches. This week, I went for a massage when the tension got unbearable and that kept me relaxed for days... so I guess I could
just look for ways to relax and maybe I could learn to deal with the tension... Sara's suggestions about dosing late & being tired might help, too... I feel so much better than I ever have before that a part of me wonders if I should just keep my mouth shut and be happy... Have any of the rest of you felt this way and what did you finally do? I guess what I'm asking is whether it's likely I could do much better than I already am...Any or all suggestions are appreciated. Email is welcome if you don't want to post your answers.
Thanks again for all the help...
L.
poster:Libby
thread:40071
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000708/msgs/40422.html