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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jim Bob on September 14, 2002, at 18:26:09
Hi group,
I was recently prescribed Ritalin LA, 20mg to be taken in the morning. This is my first time on a stim., and the doctor wanted to be careful with dosage. However, my concentration/focus problems are only improving for a period of about 2 hrs., starting about 1 hr. after I take it. I can tell that it has completely worn off after 4 hrs.
So my question is: when speaking to my doctor, should I encourage him to increase the dosage on the sustained release Ritalin LA, say to 30 or 40 mg., or should I ask about supplementing the sustained-release with a standard immediate release dose of Ritalin? I really need something that will carry me through an 8 hour work day. The medicine works wonderfully for calming me down and bringing me "back to earth," and has done wonders for my mood overall, but I really need it to last through the day. Any opinions, experience, or suggestions??
Thanks,
Jim Bob
Posted by utopizen on September 14, 2002, at 19:06:02
In reply to Ritalin Dosing Question, posted by Jim Bob on September 14, 2002, at 18:26:09
Desoxyn tends to be better for dosing at longer periods.
Posted by Jim Bob on September 14, 2002, at 19:15:04
In reply to Re: Ritalin Dosing Question, posted by utopizen on September 14, 2002, at 19:06:02
Man, get off the meth. I'm trying to get a real answer to a Ritalin question here. Besides, what pdoc. in the US is ever going to prescribe Desoxyn??
Jim
> Desoxyn tends to be better for dosing at longer periods.
Posted by Phil on September 14, 2002, at 19:15:38
In reply to Ritalin Dosing Question, posted by Jim Bob on September 14, 2002, at 18:26:09
I've done both with Ritalin, increase the dose and take immediate release also. Time released Ritalin, in general, sucks. Also w/ Ritalin, it's best to stay w/ name, not generic.
I switched to Adderall then Adderall XR @ 90mg a day. I think the Adderall is better overall..smoother. I never get after lunch yawning fits! I'm not familiar with Concerta and some of the others.
My pdoc didn't want me to go over 60mg on the Adderall and said to just take the second dose whenever I had to to make it thru the day. After going back a second month complaining about my 5 pm bedtime, she wrote it for 90. Worst thing is to take stims that work half a day..what about night, life?
Posted by Jim Bob on September 14, 2002, at 19:58:45
In reply to Re: Ritalin Dosing Question, posted by Phil on September 14, 2002, at 19:15:38
Out of curiousity Phil, are you on stims. for ADD/HD or narcolepsy? (You mentioned sleepiness). I don't think I'll switch to Adderal since I just started the Ritalin. Do you think that it's enough to just increase the dose on the sustained release, or for you was it necessary to get immediate release as needed? Maybe it's my ADHD, but do you ever get impatient with your pdoc - it takes so damn long to get anything done in terms of med. changes, and I feel like such an ass calling repeatedly when something's not working out right... oh well.
Thanks,
Jim
> I've done both with Ritalin, increase the dose and take immediate release also. Time released Ritalin, in general, sucks. Also w/ Ritalin, it's best to stay w/ name, not generic.
> I switched to Adderall then Adderall XR @ 90mg a day. I think the Adderall is better overall..smoother. I never get after lunch yawning fits! I'm not familiar with Concerta and some of the others.
> My pdoc didn't want me to go over 60mg on the Adderall and said to just take the second dose whenever I had to to make it thru the day. After going back a second month complaining about my 5 pm bedtime, she wrote it for 90. Worst thing is to take stims that work half a day..what about night, life?
Posted by utopizen on September 14, 2002, at 20:09:58
In reply to Re: Ritalin Dosing Question, posted by Jim Bob on September 14, 2002, at 19:15:04
I talked to Ovation, and they said they're putting up sales people across the country to pitch it to doctors. Right now they only have a handful of drugs, and they're going to zone in on selling meth. It's just been under-marketed, they think.
It should at least outpace Adderall in the next few years, since its considered more effective.
> Man, get off the meth. I'm trying to get a real answer to a Ritalin question here. Besides, what pdoc. in the US is ever going to prescribe Desoxyn??
>
> Jim
Posted by Phil on September 14, 2002, at 20:33:56
In reply to Re: Ritalin Dosing Question, posted by Jim Bob on September 14, 2002, at 19:58:45
When I told my pdoc at the time that my brother had read an article on ADHD and thought of me. This doc says' "That's a diagnosis right there."
My first appt he put me on Paxil and Ritalin and that combo worked for several years.
I always stayed with immediate release, usually around 40mg a day. Sometimes I would split the pill and take 5mg every hour and a half or so. Kept it pretty smooth but some docs think that will lead to addictive behavior. My doc at the time said it was good to take it that way if you can. He was on Ritalin too...he needed it.
I'm sure I've had the daydreaming and sometimes hyper ADD my whole life. I'm on Adderall now for ADHD and to augment my AD's. People who need stims know it within a very few days taking them.
I've never abused them; they work so well at therapeutic doses.
I don't get impatient with my pdoc but I've been on meds and at this site so long that we can cut thru the crap pretty quick.
Traffic is another story.
Posted by Jim Bob on September 14, 2002, at 20:39:15
In reply to Re: Ritalin Dosing Question » Jim Bob, posted by Phil on September 14, 2002, at 20:33:56
Thanks Phil, you've been really helpful. I'll talk to my doc about supplementing with immediate release. And you're right about knowing right away if the diagnosis is correct. My first day on Ritalin, even at a low dosage, I suddenly felt like a cloud was lifted and for once I was living in the "real world." I'm just so much more calm, focused, and "there" when it's working that it's like a breath of fresh air.
Thanks for your help,
Jim
> When I told my pdoc at the time that my brother had read an article on ADHD and thought of me. This doc says' "That's a diagnosis right there."
> My first appt he put me on Paxil and Ritalin and that combo worked for several years.
> I always stayed with immediate release, usually around 40mg a day. Sometimes I would split the pill and take 5mg every hour and a half or so. Kept it pretty smooth but some docs think that will lead to addictive behavior. My doc at the time said it was good to take it that way if you can. He was on Ritalin too...he needed it.
> I'm sure I've had the daydreaming and sometimes hyper ADD my whole life. I'm on Adderall now for ADHD and to augment my AD's. People who need stims know it within a very few days taking them.
> I've never abused them; they work so well at therapeutic doses.
> I don't get impatient with my pdoc but I've been on meds and at this site so long that we can cut thru the crap pretty quick.
> Traffic is another story.
Posted by Phil on September 14, 2002, at 21:42:10
In reply to Re: Ritalin Dosing Question, posted by Jim Bob on September 14, 2002, at 20:39:15
Posted by rainbowlight on September 17, 2002, at 1:11:10
In reply to Ritalin Dosing Question, posted by Jim Bob on September 14, 2002, at 18:26:09
Frustrating isn't it? I have been on the extended release for a few weeks now. The first 4-5 hours are great, then I get really tired and depressed. I am wondering how to resolve it too. Hope more people post with some ideas.
Posted by Phil on September 17, 2002, at 6:39:01
In reply to I'm having the exact same problem, posted by rainbowlight on September 17, 2002, at 1:11:10
Try the archives, it's full of posts on this subject.
This is the end of the thread.
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