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3.7 Overall Rating

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63 People found this comment helpful

I was just reading through some of these comments about Ritalin, and I wanted to add my experiences. I was diagnosed with ADD my senior year of college (over 10 years ago) and had been taken Ritalin ever since. I agree with all the comments about experiencing the jitters and how you can operate with little sleep. Despite the side effects, it was a miracle! I had always taken the max dosage 20 ...

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12 People found this comment helpful

ritalin

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RanMart | 65-74 | Male | On medication for 2 to less than 5 years | Patient
12/19/2023
Condition: Other
Overall rating 3.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

First I’m 71 years old and I finally diagnosed myself about 4 to 5 years ago. At an appointment I told my Doctor that I think I have ADD. I told him my symptoms and he agreed with me. I started on Concerta 35 mg twice a day. Then I increased to 2 35mg tabs in the AM and 1 more mid afternoon but that soon wasn’t enough. I did learn that the generic forms didn’t work as well. The only thing that worked was the name brand. After a few years I switched to Ritalin. While I felt different it seemed to help a lot. After a few weeks I noticed that I was following thru on projects & chores. My biggest problem was putting things off and it makes me wonder how different things would have been if I started taking this back when I was in school. I always put off homework or reports and by High school I didn’t get very good grades. I say that I had ADD because I wasn’t hyperactive at all.Read More Read Less

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Brian | 35-44 | Male | Patient
10/27/2023
Condition: Depression
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Ritalin (Methylphenidate) is the only drug that relieves my (Treatment Resistant Depression) TRD, I had an Rx for 60 mg Daily, then I switched to Concerta 54 mg, Focalin 10 mg BID and Focalin ER 20 mg Daily. It was comparable but not the same. Now I’m on Vyvanse 70 mg, it helps me concentrate but does nothing for my TRD. I have to go back on Methylphenidate or Dexmethylphenidate.

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Trebor | 55-64 | Male | On medication for 10 years or more | Patient
7/31/2023
Condition: Other
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I Narcolepsy & have been taking Methylphenidate (AKA Ritalin) in 20mg pill form for over 40 years, since 1982. These have helped a great deal, especially during my USAF career. I've never had any problems with this medication, though it takes a bit to get use to the first time using it. It's not bad, a little rush feeling, but that goes away after about a month. For me it was controlling talking or explaining projects, like others I tend to over explain or talk a lot in conversations using this medication, I had to learn to control that or tell the person I was explaining a project to, to stop me if I was going overboard, that it wouldn't hurt my feelings and told them not to feel bad because it was the medication I was taking. It is one of the minor side effects you need to get use to. But I found that people are usually good about it when I tell them how the medication effects me and it is okay to tell me they got it and I can stop. After Leaving the USAF I had one great Doctor over at the VA that told me this was about the best and least expensive med for my condition. He told me the newer meds all use Methylphenidate but are combined with other meds that do basically the same thing but will have a time release, or could cause other problems, or work on different parts of the brain. Thing is they are more expensive to do basically the same thing Methylphenidate does. I have been on some of these other medications and for me they don't work half as good. In fact I had major problems sleeping at night with the 12 hour time released ones, another one gave me depression and one spiked my blood pressure. So for me this works better than anything else I've tried. Every time I see a new drug on the market or another Doctor tells me there is a better medication I should try, I get suspicious. When I look up the side effects, they are always worse that the plain meds I'm taking now. So after the experiences I had with a few of the newer meds for Narcolepsy, I will not take them and I tell the Doc "If it works, don't fix it". To me the Drug Corporations are always looking for something new to push, some are fantastic and others are nothing more than a rebranding of the meds that have been out for decades, at a higher price to try and make more money off of something that costs less and does the same job. Over the years, I've learned not to trust drug corporations or Doctors that push somethng new, especially the younger Doc's. I always question, get a second opinion and research the medications they are giving me. If the Doctor doesn't like that then they are in the wrong profession and I consider them dangerous. If any drug company doesn't like what I wrote, that is their problem, because they gave me good reason not to trust them. Well that's my 5 cents worth. But always listen to your Doctor and your gut. It is a good thing to get a second or third opinion if something doesn't feel right or the medication is giving you problems. Do some of your own research too so your are better informed, can ask the right questions so you and your Doctor can make the right health decisions that are best for you.Read More Read Less

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Robyn | 45-54 | Female | On medication for 6 months to less than 1 year | Patient
6/3/2023
Condition: Cognitive Impairment following Traumatic Brain Injury
Overall rating 4.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

It took a bit of trial and error to find dosage that worked for me and I almost gave up after trying higher doses and that made me agitated. When we got the dosage right it was almost as if someone had flicked a switch and turned my “old brain” back on! When I take it I’m able to cope with noisy or busy environments and can function almost as well as I did before my injury. Without it I still struggle with fatigue after short bursts of focus and find noisy/busy environments overwhelming. My function has continued to improve as I’ve continued taking it.Read More Read Less

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Johan | 7-12 | Male | On medication for less than 1 month | Caregiver
5/25/2023
Condition: Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
Overall rating 1.0
Effectiveness
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My son, then 9 years, was forced on Ritalin by the school and who also gave it to him without my consent. I tried to stop them. but just keep on giving it to him. After about 3 weeks the package was finished and ask me to get another packet. I refused for by that time the child had lost almost 3 kg in weight, no appetite and in a complete zombie state. No interest in anything and very low response. Not sure what the Ritalin strength was what they gave him, but taken the effects in consideration, it was too strong for him. I took him out of that school and start to feed him vitamins to build up his strength which took almost a year to take effect. He never gained weight and never had a good appetite in his life which ended 5 years after the insident after developing scrilose at age of 13. He died of lung and organ failure at age 15 which test results close to what serious effects that can be caused by Ritalin. Pretty sure he showed a serious allergic reaction to the drug for he was never tested if he can take the drug. Seems the drug buggered up his health and he never recovered from it. Now nobody wants to take the blame for it and I'm just told that it couldn't have been caused by Ritalin. Just take his health before the drugs and after and anybody will agree what caused it. Read More Read Less

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#mamabear2012 | 25-34 | Female | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
12/17/2022
Condition: Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
Overall rating 3.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Ritalin 20mg was the first ADHD stimulant medication I tried after my re-diagnosis in Oct 2022. It didn’t really work very well for me. It kicked in quickly but only last 3 hours. The crash after wear off was awful. I had headaches, vision disturbances, lack of appetite, restless sleeping patterns, and mood swings. So after a month, my ADHD meds were changed. The good did NOT outweigh the bad.

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Anon | 13-18 | Nonbinary | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
10/15/2022
Condition: Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
Overall rating 2.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
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I’m 15 yo trans male. Been on Vyvanse for 1 year or so. Switched to Ritalin 3 weeks ago, 30mg. No change other than being unable to focus and tics were worse. Moved up to 40mg a few days ago and my depression is worse, anxiety is worse, I’m simultaneously emotionally drained and unstable, constantly hungry, gaining weight, and having frequent breakdowns and meltdowns. My parents don’t believe me so I’m f*cked until my follow up appointment.

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Peanut | 25-34 | Male | On medication for less than 1 month |
9/12/2022
Condition: Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

i am 32 years old and have a very strong case of ADHD i had never taken Ritalin before today and i have never felt better in my life, i have notice a lot of thing that feel better in myself than i have whlist taking ritalin, i wouldnt turn back to not having them as its made life much better and more focused and made me feel more comfortable to be me

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Narf | 25-34 | Female | On medication for 2 to less than 5 years | Patient
7/5/2022
Condition: Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
Overall rating 4.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I self administer Ritalin according to my needs. When I take the drug I’ll be able to accomplish in 45 minutes what would normally take me al day to work through. I am not a fan of the come down as it makes me crabby and extra hungry so I don’t medicate every day, only when I really need a boost of productivity for work. My lifestyle allows me to be unproductive and distracted a lot of the time, so I am lucky to not need to take it every day, but when I was working a standard 9-5 and when I was at school I took it regularly, and the difference in my ability to concentrate and work was noticeable - when I take it people make comments how peaceful and relaxed I am. Just having time moving at a consistent, steady pace makes all the difference in the world. Dry mouth and loss of appetite were the most common side effects for me. Read More Read Less

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Larry | 45-54 | Male | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
1/22/2022
Condition: Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
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I keep reading reviews talking about how bad Ritalin is. Let me just put it this way. I am 48 and was recently diagnosed with ADHD/combined. The Ritalin has resolved ALL of my mental issues (including anxiety and depression). What were 48 untreated years like? I was in a constant state of anxiety. My mind constantly raced with self-hating thoughts. Every. Last. Task. Took. So. Much. Emotional. Resolve. To. Start. Or. Complete. The past few years I have contemplated suicide just to stop the emotional pain. I now struggle with serious regret over what my life could have been had I been diagnosed and treated many decades ago. The risks if NOT treating ADHD are far worse than the potential dangers of the medication itself. I have only been on Ritalin for 4 days - but they have been the best 4 days of my entire life. I LOVE feeling calm, cool, collected, and with enough energy to do anything. I do not miss being constantly tired, apathetic towards everything, chronically forgetful, and clinically depressed with severe social anxiety disorder. This medication is a MIRACLE for me.Read More Read Less

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Chris M | 55-64 | Male | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
12/30/2021
Condition: Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I have ADD and ADHD. I am on Lexapro for anxiety and take 20mg of Ritalin per day. I must be one of the lucky ones, as Ritalin has worked well for me so far after having been on it for 3 months. It has made a huge difference to my daily functioning- concentration, calmness and sense of well being. My family (wife and 4 adult children) have all commented on how much better I seem. I don't have an addiction problem, and if I thought I was becoming addicted, I would stop taking it immediately. But, I understand why some users report an addictive quality to the drug. It does sometimes produce a slight euphoria, which is very pleasant. I am fully aware of this and to counter this, I usually take half a dose (5mg) four times a day rather than 10mg twice a day. To help with tolerance to the drug, I usually take one or two days off from the ritalin. I don't really like it, but I do it to keep me 'unaddicted' as well. I grateful that a drug like this exists. There are no signs of the 'meltdown moments' I constantly used to experience. Looking back at some of my texts over the years remind me I don't want to be that person ever again! I feel like more functional person now...my true self. Read More Read Less

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Kapi madan | 19-24 | Male | On medication for 10 years or more | Caregiver
10/24/2021
Condition: Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

People with Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity (ADHD) are suggested with Drugs like Ritalin in the name of Medications, at a very small age like 7. Where it is not their choice to accept it or not, because of this they get addicted to it for their whole life. It should be stopped because we can stop this in initial phase only, once it become the need of the patient, it is very hard for anyone to leave this. I better suggest this to parents to not give this drug to their kids, better go for some other treatments. And the one's that are addicted should break their dosage from time to time to get rid of this. I know how it feels to live your life on some drug.Read More Read Less

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Annette Ahrend | 55-64 | Female | On medication for 5 to less than 10 years | Patient
9/2/2021
Condition: Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Ritalyn has helped me so much with my ADHD and helped me function much better in all aspects of life

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AW | 35-44 | Male | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
6/25/2021
Condition: Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I'm on day 5 of this medication. Ritalin 10mg in the morning. From next week I start 20mg in the morning so I'll update this review as time goes on. I was recently diagnosed with attention deficit disorder with classic symptoms. From day 1 I noticed about an hour after taking the medication it felt like a fog lifted from my mind. I could focus more clearly and actually get things done, my memory seems better, I can recall people's names and my vocabulary improves as before words were just lost sometimes in my head. I take the medication around 9am. By about 6pm I feel the fog starting to settle back in. So far the only unsettling side effect is racing mind when I'm trying to sleep. But it hasn't made me any more tired even though I'm getting less sleep. Next week my dose goes up to 20mg and 2 weeks after that it'll be 20mg in the morning and 10mg in the afternoon. I'll keep you posted...Read More Read Less

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Skylar Wray | 19-24 | Female | On medication for 10 years or more | Patient
6/23/2021
Condition: Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
Overall rating 1.0
Effectiveness
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I was put on this as a child. Like 4 or 5 and stayed on it for many years till my middle school years. When i stopped taking it i started going mentally insane, crying, screaming, hurting myself, throwing myself around. It was just got a good experience for me or my family during my high school years. I was never told i was on this till recently and now i am a 19 year old with a bunch of problems that i never knew why they existed. I still have depression to this day, my body cannot fully pump blood to the rest of my body so i get cold arms/legs and or cold fingertips and toe tips. I still get anxiety every day to even go outside because my body is discolored because of my low blood circulation it’s literally purple and red and pink in random spots on my body. I do not recommend giving this to anybody for anything. It needs to be taken off the market for everyones safety . THIS DRUG IS DANGEROUSLY ADDICTIVE I HAD WITHDRAWALS FOR 5 YEARS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL . i never got a choice in the matter because i was so young and they are just shoving drugs in a 4 year old kid to make her “calm down” .Read More Read Less

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Anonymous | 25-34 | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
1/23/2021
Condition: Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
Overall rating 1.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
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Day two, 10mg in the morning, 10mg at lunch. BOY do I hate this. Upside: my mind is quiet and Im not bouncing off the walls-for the first time in my life.( Im 27 and I only recently sought help for my ADHD and OCPD because it is all so out of control now.) Downsides: cold sweats, cant concentrate, aggression, irritability, I have to force myself to drink water, lock jaw, depression is Way worse. Its a saturday so I couldnt call my dorctor. My pharmacist told me to stop taking it and go in if things get worse. I just feel terrible. Like many others reviewing this, I would not recommend it to anyone, unless you are interested in everything I just said sucked. Obviously drugs are different for everyone, im hopeful about trying Adderall. the reviews seem to be better. I dont have an addictive personality and dont see how anyone could abuse this, but I can see from my research its a very real thing. advice-do your research!Read More Read Less

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Thoguh | 35-44 | On medication for 10 years or more | Patient
12/9/2020
Condition: Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
Overall rating 4.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I am a 44 year old male who was diagnosed with ADHD at age 8. I've taken 10mg Ritalin off and on since then on an as needed basis. Basically when I need to sit and focus on something tedious. I don't take it daily, though I might if I had an office job. It has never really had any adverse effects on me. It does what it is supposed to do. I can focus mentally on one thing without my mind wandering or trying to multi-task. It allows me to be productive and allows me to get things done. This actually improves my mood as I feel accomplished. I don't have any negative mental or physical side effects that I notice. Again, I understand that things effect different people in different ways, and I see some crazy stuff from other people in these reviews, but I've never had a problem with it and it works for me. This is also why I've never tried anything else. Read More Read Less

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Someone... | 13-18 | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
10/20/2020
Condition: Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
Overall rating 3.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

So far, so good. Kinda. I’ve been able to get a lot more work done and I feel happier when on it. I do feel pretty physically weird though, I don’t know how to explain it. Just a bit nervous cuz a lot of people are saying it causes depression. Not really a good thing considering I self harm already and have attempted suicide twice.

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Saleen | 13-18 | On medication for 2 to less than 5 years | Patient
11/19/2017
Condition: Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
Overall rating 4.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
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It worked certainly for my ADHD. I take 20 mg daily. And definitely notice changes in my mood and concentration. Only thing is. I was on concerta for a while till I tired to overdose on it that's why I switched to Ritalin because Concerta made me sick after I tried to OD. One big difference is the side effects. I experience lots of side effects with this medication and my boyfriend notices it too and absolutely hates that I take this medication because it completely alters me. I can't sleep when I am on this medication because I shake to much and am way to focused on things like now as I am writing the review I know I am only writing it because I have nothing to focus on right now. Another issue is how addictive this is. I had to give my boyfriend the pills because I took them for a week and became addicted. Addiction runs in my family and never in a million years did I think I'd get addicted to Ritalin but I did and I had to stop taking it which means I was more moody and just awful to be around but getting off it was fairly easy for me just not anyone around me. But Ritalin works a lot better than concerta did but the side effects I feel aren't worth it. My anxiety gets worse. I can't eat when I'm on it or I feel physically sick. I can't sleep while on it because my brain I still working to quick. I can type like crazy though obviously. I stutter when I'm on it. And overall I think it's great for school work or exams but I can't do normal everyday things while on it because my brain works faster than I do and it only concentrates on one thing. It also affects my vision and I am not able to drive while I am on it. Read More Read Less

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Chandler | 19-24 | Male | On medication for 5 to less than 10 years | Patient
10/26/2017
Condition: Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
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After failed attempts with Adderall, Vyvanse, and Dexedrine due to horrible side effects. I was experiencing Severe anxiety, Tachycardia, and felt like a zombie. Ritalin has changed my life for the better. 20 MG IR 3 times a day has worked amazing for the past 5 years. I'm 20 now. Before Ritalin treatment for my ADD, I couldn't finish a task, I was looked down on as stupid. I also take this med for depression and it's helped it too. The only side effects that are bothersome are complete loss of appetite, mild mood swings, and euphoria. But compared to Vyvanse or Adderall it's a big change. I take Ritalin for my ADD And Depression, Klonopin, Xanax for PTSD, panic disorder and GAD, along with Lisinopril for my hbp. I have seen no interactions in the 5 years of taking this medication. Read More Read Less

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