User Reviews for Focalin oral

I use this for my adhd. DO NOT GET THIS! i dont care what the oth reviews say!!!! it makes you get anxious and depressed... and it helps you focus.... ON THE ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION!!!!

Taking Focalin for more than a year, I take it as needed. It helps me focus.

My son and I both take this medication for our ADD and I have to say that it is wonderful. I have only been on it for a year and my son has only been on it for 6 months and we have no problem with keeping on task any more. The only problem I have found is that you should not miss a pill or only use it if you need it.

Focalin has worked much better for my child than other ADHD meds.Have had problems with the pharmacy unable to get & keep Focalin in stock. Dr. changed to Adderall then Ritalin & neither worked.

My son is 22. He was on 15 mg Dexedrine span. He moved from Miami to San Diego, Cal. and the new neurologist change medication to Focalin Xr. He felt terrible. dry mouth, deppression, nausea, stomach pain, heart pressure, bran pressure, anxiety, sweating, tremmors, cramps. arm pain,numbness of arm and fingers. He went to another neurologist and he order him to throw that poison that was killing him.

I started taking Focalin for my ADD almost a month ago in place of Vyvanse, and prior to these I took Adderall. I am aware that our bodies’ can react differently to certain medications; luckily, being an adult allows us to better vocalize our reactions to these medications. With that said, of the three ADD medications, Adderall (hands-down!) worked best for me. However, my doctor has stopped prescribing Adderall due to its "street value". Therefore, I started taking Vyvanse instead and though it served its purpose, it simply wasn’t the same. Each day I had to take half of a capsule in the morning and the other around noon because taking all of it at once presented anxiety (which I was not accustom to) and when that would finally pass, I was left feeling exhausted. Although I was able to accommodate to Vyvanse, I felt as if my body (and wallet!) needed a change, so I did some research and talked to my doctor about Focalin. My doc didn't know much about Focalin, but was intrigued by its description and prescribed it to me. I thought it would be OK at first, but I have come to realize that it is not. Much like my initial Vyvanse experience, I receive more jitters/anxiety side effects than I do actual concentration. Not to mention the intense urge to “break in” the nearest toilet... I honestly feel this medication is doing more harm than help. Like I previously said, I know certain people react differently to medications than others; however, I can't help but feel concerned for those children taking Focalin and are experiencing similar side effects, but are unable to express them properly. With this, I would simply like for parents to be aware.Read More Read Less

I am 19 years old and I suffer from anxiety and depression and ADHD. For my family this was a huge burden. They did not like how hyperactive I could be, but being energetic and creative is who I was. They had me take Focalin, for ADHD when I was 16, even though if you have anxiety you shouldn't take it. I told them I didn't like how it made me feel but they kept me on it anyways. They were desperate to calm me down and improve my grades. My grades improved but my mood plummeted. I had panic attacks every other day, became suicidal, cried in the hallways and was mean to my friends. When I tried to tell my parents this they said that I was behaving fine at home. I was a zombie at home! I sat around in bed and I slept, I lost fifteen pounds (to weigh a whopping 95 lbs at 5'5)They told me that my friends liked how hyper I was and that's why my friends agreed that this drug changed me. I told my doctor I no longer wanted to take it, and when he said that was okay my parents became very angry and suddenly decided he didn't know what he was talking about. I finally stopped taking it after six months. I have a lot of problems but I try to handle it as it comes. Talking to my doctor helps. But this medication was not for me. I had all the emotional side effects, but my parents were more concerned about what they considered my "behavioral problems". They wanted a zombie kid but I didn't want to be one, it made me want to die. I now live away from home and though I still have panic attacks now and again, and I still obviously get easily distracted, I understand myself and what I need better than they do. I do not recommend this drug for kids who are overly creative along with hyper, because it kills your creative abilities and turns you into someone else. I'm sure it works for some people and that is fantastic, but listen to your kid too. If they don't like it, try something else.Read More Read Less

to expensive without insurance

Helps alleviate depression. Calms me down and helps me focus on what I need to do.

night and day difference in my 8 yr old son. He can now get an education at school and this is what we want and required by law and for his own good.

can this med be given to a five year under weigh and small for his age.

My 12 year son has been taking Focalin XR for about year for his ADD/ADHD/Aspbergers along with Zoloft. Thus far, we've had good luck his attitude and attention in school is better.

My husband started this medication 4 years ago and it completely destroyed our family. It made him get angry and short tempered. It totally through him into terrible ADD where he was not able to show for any committments or stay till the end of anything. His brain was speeding so much he forgot what a loving father he was and avoided his adoring children. When he was with them he would tell them to "Hurry, hurry" with everything. The real person was lost. He couldn't have a normal conversation about anything important. He would always respond in a sarcastic or aggressive manner. He stopped this medicine one week ago after 4 years. I hope he can stay off of it. I also went to his doctor and doctor's boss' over the years and pleaded with them to stop prescribing it.Read More Read Less

I have been through Adderall, Dexedrine Ritalin, Adderall SR and by far, Focalin has been the most pleasant, controllable med I have used yet. Granted I am 55 and have a large pool of experience to draw from. Other that any negative effects, I highly recommend this drug.

My 5 year old nephew is taking this medication, and I hate it. This pill does exactly what it's supposed to do, but he's a completely different child. He used to love to play and was always happy and smiling. Now, my husband and I only see him this way in the morning when he wakes up, and if we keep him up past his bedtime since the medication has worn off. He's a zombie. He doesn't smile much anymore, he can pay attention to you, but he looks empty. It's so heartbreaking. The only difference with him than the things I've read is that he doesn't have trouble sleeping, there are days he sleeps for 12 hours at night, and takes a 2 hour or more nap. I think if it were my choice, he wouldn't be on this. I miss the little boy that's locked up inside of him after he takes this. Read More Read Less

My 8 yr old daughter was on 5mg for a month & I began to notice she was having hard squinting/blinking tics. I guess I thought it would pass once she got adjusted to the next dose but when she began 10mg it got very, very bad. She also has epilepsy so I was quite concerned. The day I called the Dr. abut it, she changed her immediatly to Intuniv. Praying for the best!

We have been using Focalin for an 11 year old female. She is never hungry. When she eats she's very irratated and settles for bread, pasta and butter, and sweets. Waking up in the middle of the night as times to eat these terrible foods. This has gone on for two year; we just found our she has lymphoma hodgkin's cancer. I have not done any research. It is my understanding that without the proper nutrition the body doesn't function properly and could it be possible that this medication assisted the cancer to grow. It obviously makes one lose appetite, therefore, it seems that the lymps don't function properly causing low immune system.Read More Read Less

The Psych had put my 11 yr old son on Focalin (15mg). I was afraid so only gave him 1/3 of the capsule the first day; he complained of a mild (2-5) headache throughout the day, but he was happy cause he could focus and complete his work. The next day I gave him 1/2 of the 15mg pill. This caused pressure in his head (8 on a 1-10 scale), pressure in his chest, weakness in his left arm and hand. I immediately rushed him to the ER. On our way day, he was telling me that he was seeing the civil war, Abraham Lincoln, the buildings on fire; he recognized that it could not be real, but they looked real to him. When we arrived at the ER, they kept him 12 hrs under observation and sent us home with instructions not to take the Focalin anymore (of course). The ER Doctor told me that had I given my son the full 15mg, he could have had a heart attack. His EKG was normal and my son has no history of heart problems. Read More Read Less

The medication makes me feel sad and I cry a lot and can't explain why I am so emotional. I also feel aggravative quite often. Could any of this be side effects of focalin?

I'm 16 years old and was diagnosed with ADHD around age 7. I started taking Focalin around the time I was diagnosed and immediately noticed a difference. I became withdrawn, depressed, unable to carry a conversation with others, it became hard for me to sleep well, eat well, stay asleep, and so on. When I was younger I hated Focalin so much that I would spit it out before I left to catch me bus. Also, because it would ware off by the time I got home my parents never believed I was like a zombie. One day I decided to prove it and take it on a weekend so they could see. They were so concerned for me that they held a little intervention at the end of the day. At that intervention I told them that I took my Focalin and they didn't make me take it anymore. Around age 14 I decided I wanted to take it again. I hated Focalin more than anything else, however, my grades had slipped immensely and I needed help paying attention. After taking the Focalin for a month I was able to pass the classes I had been failing before. Now I'm getting straight A's. Still, after all of this, I find Focalin to be torture. An extremely effective form of torture. And now, I feel as though I NEED Focalin to function properly in society and be a better version of myself. Please, if your child is having any similar symptoms, find a new drug, or a new tactic. Don't let them end up like me.Read More Read Less