6 ms·

I have been diagnosed with ADD about 6 months ago (of course, I knew it for much longer time, but adult ADD only recently started to be recognized in Switzerlan

I have been diagnosed with ADD about 6 months ago (of course, I knew it for much longer time, but adult ADD only recently started to be recognized in Switzerland, where I live). I started taking Ritalin immediately after. Here are my observations: — The first day on Ritalin, you feel like you have superpowers. You are cold, calm, Spock-like, having laser-like focus. Unfortunately, brain adapt to this new state quickly. — Later, you return to your baseline, but something changed. You can now actually learn things that you read in these countless self-help books while trying to understand what's wrong with you. Meditation? It works now! (Before treatment, I couldn't sit still for 2 minutes). GTD? Sure! It doesn't come naturally, you have to work to learn hundreds of things that were obvious for non-ADD kids, but now you can. — You'll keep your insatiable curiosity and desire for new things. Otherwise, I wouldn't agree to the treatment. If you have any more questions, I'll happily answer them.

spookthesunset 12y ago
If you are literally taking Ritalin, I highly, highly suggest you get your doctor to prescribe long acting variants such as Adderall or Vyvanse instead. Short-acting Ritalin has awful side effects--it lasts maybe 2 hours, you can feel it kicking in and leaving in a very harsh way, you get all the nasty dry-mouth, etc. Vyvanse lasts 12-16 hours, you don't feel it kicking in or leaving, minimal side effects, etc. Honestly, I would rather go without meds than have to take Ritalin every day. That stuff is plain awful. The long-acting meds are where it is at.
- atemerev 12y ago
  Not literally, of course. I tried Focalin-XR and Concerta, settled with Concerta, as it really smooth.
- djokkataja 12y ago
  Side effects vary significantly from person to person, but adderall and vyvanse are different drugs from ritalin, not simply long-lasting variants. The longer-lasting variants of ritalin are Concerta (brandname) or methylphenidate ER (extended release--generic): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concerta#Extended-release https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concerta#Extended-release When I was first treated they started me on regular ritalin, and I didn't have any negative side effects, but it wasn't very helpful simply because it only lasted about two hours. Switching to Concerta worked much better for me because it lasts steadily throughout an entire day. As far as the mechanism of action and side effects, I have the impression from talking with psychiatrists and my own reading that Adderall tends to be a bit stronger in effect than Ritalin. Ritalin is a dopamine reuptake inhibitor, which means that dopamine remains in the synaptic cleft and continues to stimulate dopamine receptors. On the other hand, Adderall (amphetamine) is both a reuptake inhibitor and a releasing agent for dopamine, so it stimulates the release of dopamine into the synaptic cleft and blocks the reuptake of dopamine, which causes dopamine to remain in the synaptic cleft for a longer period of time as with Ritalin. The wikipedia links on the mechanism of action for each drug are helpful: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylphenidate#Pharmacodynamics https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylphenidate#Pharmacodynami... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adderall#Mechanism_of_action https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adderall#Mechanism_of_action Some knowledge of how synapses work may also be helpful: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synaptic_cleft#Structure https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synaptic_cleft#Structure Basically, neurons secrete specific chemicals to transmit specific messages to other neurons, and other neurons have specific receptors that bind to those specific chemicals. Increasing the release of messaging chemicals like dopamine will increase the strength of the "message", and preventing the chemicals from being reabsorbed back into the neuron that originally sent the signal allows them to bind repeatedly to the receptors on the neuron that receives the message, which also effectively strengthens the message. Dopamine itself plays a number of roles in cognition, which makes me suspicious that ADHD medications that operate on dopamine release and reuptake are probably a little more of a "shotgun" approach to dealing with ADHD symptoms than would be ideal, but their effectiveness in dealing with the symptoms is very well established. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dopamine#Attention_deficit_hyperactivity_disorder https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dopamine#Attention_deficit_hyp... This is a really simplistic way to describe the mechanisms, but the impression that I've had is that Adderall tends to be a stronger drug because it acts on more than one mechanism (both stimulating dopamine release and blocking its reuptake). For me the extended release methylphenidate has been extremely helpful, so I haven't been concerned about trying any other ADHD medications. Disclaimers: YMMV, consult a psychiatrist for actual medical advice and explanations of the mechanisms of these medications, etc...
duney 12y ago
What's the bad?
- githulhu 12y ago
  Potential for side effects, like increased heart rate, poor appetite, and panic attacks.
  - atemerev 12y ago
    Unfortunately, my appetite wasn't affected (I hoped). :)
- atemerev 12y ago
  I have to sleep a little more (paradoxically for a stimulant, but this is how it works). Occasionally I feel more irritated (when I do, it's better to use half-dose or skip the meds the next day). But the benefits are much more numerous.
thefreeman 12y ago
Random question, do you / did you drink much coffee before you started on your meds? If so, how did the effects of caffeine compare to ritalin in relation to your ADD symptoms?
- tseabrooks 12y ago
  As a child I was diagnosed and took Ritalin for a while. My parents didn't like the way it altered my behavior. However, they then tried coffee twice a day - Breakfast and Lunch (I was in 2nd or 3rd grade). The coffee worked well. Entering highschool I couldn't stand coffee and didn't do anything to address the ADD symptoms. In college I powered through on other caffeinated beverages. I now enjoy the occasional cup of coffee (1-2 cups a week) and can definitely tell the difference in my ability to focus when I've been drinking coffee and when I haven't.
  - 1qaz2wsx3edc 12y ago
    I have a similair story, as I child I never liked taking meds or how it effected me, I refused to take a blood test one day and was removed from treatment, I'm now 26, recently I tried matcha (green tea powder) and found it to be much better then coffee as it's a stimulant & relaxant (no crash, very calming and alert). I also found as I got older it got easier to manage, it also left me with the ability to hyperfocus when I'm in the zone working.
- atemerev 12y ago
  Yes, I did (around 5-6 espressos per day). After the program started, I am happy with a single espresso in the morning, or occasionally just skip the coffee at all. Caffeine effects are somewhat different — Ritalin gives me the ability to think clearly and plan more long-term, caffeine just makes me more alert (a good thing, too). I am far from being cured, though.
- JohnBooty 12y ago
  Adderall user here. Tried Ritalin in the past. Adderall and Ritalin are very similar in my experience. Compared to coffee, they're less addictive and there isn't really a "crash" when Adderall/Ritalin wear off.
hoggle 12y ago
I've also just been diagnosed at age 30 (constantly been labeled "lazy" / "dreaming" when I was younger - you believe it after a while - ADHD diagnosis still seems to be something novel here in Austria as well). What you write really gives me hope, for now my neurologist put me on Wellbutrin mainly to treat my depression but he said he really wants me to try Ritalin soon. I'm one of those people who rather meditates and works out regularly than to take any drugs - I don't like to mess with my brain - but I'm so fed up with my ADHD and the Wellbutrin alone already helps not only with overcoming my fail(ed-potential) derived neurosis but also a little with focus. Do you feel as if Ritalin might help with getting to where the ADHD recovery group managed to get themselves even when not on Ritalin? "Plasticity of the brain" yadda yadda...
- atemerev 12y ago
  It would be better to ask your doctor. If he's willing to try, I think it worth a shot. Ritalin is not a panacea, it makes miracles for some people and brings nothing but side effects for others. For me, it was something in between. ADHD is a recognized neurological condition, and I believe it's better to remedy it with drugs than try to live with unadjusted brain. It's not our fault.
  - hoggle 12y ago
    I guess one really has to try it to know for sure, thanks.
- JohnBooty 12y ago
  I'm on Adderall, which is very similar to Ritalin - they're both stimulants. I have tried Ritalin in the past and it worked decently; I went with Adderall because it was cheaper. > I'm one of those people who rather meditates and > works out regularly than to take any drugs - I > don't like to mess with my brain I wasn't diagnosed until my 30s. Like you, I didn't like the thought of messing with my brain but eventually got fed up. Meditation, exercise, diet, getting lots of sleep... these help me more than Adderall. BUT, the Adderall does help too. So I think you are a very good candidate. It sounds like you are thinking of the big picture and not just relying on Ritalin to be a "magic pill." Probably the best thing about trying Ritalin/Adderall is that you can always stop them if they're not helping you. Just reduce your dose slowly over the course of 3-4 days. Good luck!!
tindrlabs 12y ago
I had the exact same story until - I started to constantly feel nauseous - I started to feel vary anxious about everything - I had a hard time eating or wanting to eat anything - I started to feel overloaded by my environment Got off of it and lost some of my super powers, but gained my sanity. Which was worth it. Converted over to understanding my strength and weaknesses, eating better and getting out.
- atemerev 12y ago
  Looks like you took higher dose than needed. Ritalin is really dosage-sensitive, you'll have to calibrate it carefully with your doctor. I'm taking the dose determined after some experiments (27 mg/day) for the last 6 months, and I don't feel particularly insane. Anyway, like I said, it works differently for different people.
  - tindrlabs 12y ago
    I'm glad to hear that. For myself, I became more afraid of the side effects then the ADD.
- mtdewcmu 12y ago
  It also sounds like you probably have some degree of anxiety that was being amplified by the drug. Most of the time it's probably beneath conscious awareness or latent. I imagine that when you're always disorganized and getting in trouble for things outside of your control as a kid, it sets you up to develop an anxiety disorder.
  - tindrlabs 12y ago
    Maybe - I'm not going to self-diagnose myself as a calm individual. But this kind of anxiety was more like stage fear then some continual anxiety. Hands tingling, stomach upset, nervous. In the 8 years since I stepped away from the drug option, I've never again felt that sort of reaction.
    - 12y ago
jamesbritt 12y ago
Some additional acencdata: When I started Ritalin (in my 30's, I think) I also become somewhat "Spock-like." This was a problem when talking with my girlfriend about some sensitive matters, as I was kind of detached and lacked empathy. I also noticed that I no longer had a soundtrack running through my head. Usually I would have assorted self-invented tunes and riffs playing in my brain. That stopped and it really bothered me. Before too long I became more adapted to the drug. The empathy and soundtrack returned. I eventually stopped taking it, though, because it didn't seem to make much of real difference as I became more acclimated. Even taking "drug vacations" didn't seem to make a difference. I took Adderall some years latter and the positive effects lasted maybe a week. Very disappointing. Immune to speed; what a let-down. At this point I just accept it as a fact of life that I have to work at managing attention and motivation and not get too depressed when I have a million unfinished things. Life is too short, and I have a dance-party in my head.
mindancer 12y ago
Interesting.. I briefly attended HSG for a Master's program but left shortly because I was treated during undergrad for ADHD in the USA, and not having the same treatment options in Switzerland, I couldn't begin to learn how to focus again and hope to pass the courses. One day while walking the streets of Zürich, I saw a protest with many people against ADHD medication and signs advocating banning Ritalin.

spookthesunset 12y ago

If you are literally taking Ritalin, I highly, highly suggest you get your doctor to prescribe long acting variants such as Adderall or Vyvanse instead. Short-acting Ritalin has awful side effects--it lasts maybe 2 hours, you can feel it kicking in and leaving in a very harsh way, you get all the nasty dry-mouth, etc. Vyvanse lasts 12-16 hours, you don't feel it kicking in or leaving, minimal side effects, etc. Honestly, I would rather go without meds than have to take Ritalin every day. That stuff is plain awful. The long-acting meds are where it is at.

atemerev 12y ago
Not literally, of course. I tried Focalin-XR and Concerta, settled with Concerta, as it really smooth.
djokkataja 12y ago
Side effects vary significantly from person to person, but adderall and vyvanse are different drugs from ritalin, not simply long-lasting variants. The longer-lasting variants of ritalin are Concerta (brandname) or methylphenidate ER (extended release--generic): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concerta#Extended-release https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concerta#Extended-release When I was first treated they started me on regular ritalin, and I didn't have any negative side effects, but it wasn't very helpful simply because it only lasted about two hours. Switching to Concerta worked much better for me because it lasts steadily throughout an entire day. As far as the mechanism of action and side effects, I have the impression from talking with psychiatrists and my own reading that Adderall tends to be a bit stronger in effect than Ritalin. Ritalin is a dopamine reuptake inhibitor, which means that dopamine remains in the synaptic cleft and continues to stimulate dopamine receptors. On the other hand, Adderall (amphetamine) is both a reuptake inhibitor and a releasing agent for dopamine, so it stimulates the release of dopamine into the synaptic cleft and blocks the reuptake of dopamine, which causes dopamine to remain in the synaptic cleft for a longer period of time as with Ritalin. The wikipedia links on the mechanism of action for each drug are helpful: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylphenidate#Pharmacodynamics https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylphenidate#Pharmacodynami... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adderall#Mechanism_of_action https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adderall#Mechanism_of_action Some knowledge of how synapses work may also be helpful: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synaptic_cleft#Structure https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synaptic_cleft#Structure Basically, neurons secrete specific chemicals to transmit specific messages to other neurons, and other neurons have specific receptors that bind to those specific chemicals. Increasing the release of messaging chemicals like dopamine will increase the strength of the "message", and preventing the chemicals from being reabsorbed back into the neuron that originally sent the signal allows them to bind repeatedly to the receptors on the neuron that receives the message, which also effectively strengthens the message. Dopamine itself plays a number of roles in cognition, which makes me suspicious that ADHD medications that operate on dopamine release and reuptake are probably a little more of a "shotgun" approach to dealing with ADHD symptoms than would be ideal, but their effectiveness in dealing with the symptoms is very well established. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dopamine#Attention_deficit_hyperactivity_disorder https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dopamine#Attention_deficit_hyp... This is a really simplistic way to describe the mechanisms, but the impression that I've had is that Adderall tends to be a stronger drug because it acts on more than one mechanism (both stimulating dopamine release and blocking its reuptake). For me the extended release methylphenidate has been extremely helpful, so I haven't been concerned about trying any other ADHD medications. Disclaimers: YMMV, consult a psychiatrist for actual medical advice and explanations of the mechanisms of these medications, etc...

duney 12y ago

What's the bad?

githulhu 12y ago
Potential for side effects, like increased heart rate, poor appetite, and panic attacks.
- atemerev 12y ago
  Unfortunately, my appetite wasn't affected (I hoped). :)
atemerev 12y ago
I have to sleep a little more (paradoxically for a stimulant, but this is how it works). Occasionally I feel more irritated (when I do, it's better to use half-dose or skip the meds the next day). But the benefits are much more numerous.

thefreeman 12y ago

Random question, do you / did you drink much coffee before you started on your meds? If so, how did the effects of caffeine compare to ritalin in relation to your ADD symptoms?

tseabrooks 12y ago
As a child I was diagnosed and took Ritalin for a while. My parents didn't like the way it altered my behavior. However, they then tried coffee twice a day - Breakfast and Lunch (I was in 2nd or 3rd grade). The coffee worked well. Entering highschool I couldn't stand coffee and didn't do anything to address the ADD symptoms. In college I powered through on other caffeinated beverages. I now enjoy the occasional cup of coffee (1-2 cups a week) and can definitely tell the difference in my ability to focus when I've been drinking coffee and when I haven't.
- 1qaz2wsx3edc 12y ago
  I have a similair story, as I child I never liked taking meds or how it effected me, I refused to take a blood test one day and was removed from treatment, I'm now 26, recently I tried matcha (green tea powder) and found it to be much better then coffee as it's a stimulant & relaxant (no crash, very calming and alert). I also found as I got older it got easier to manage, it also left me with the ability to hyperfocus when I'm in the zone working.
atemerev 12y ago
Yes, I did (around 5-6 espressos per day). After the program started, I am happy with a single espresso in the morning, or occasionally just skip the coffee at all. Caffeine effects are somewhat different — Ritalin gives me the ability to think clearly and plan more long-term, caffeine just makes me more alert (a good thing, too). I am far from being cured, though.
JohnBooty 12y ago
Adderall user here. Tried Ritalin in the past. Adderall and Ritalin are very similar in my experience. Compared to coffee, they're less addictive and there isn't really a "crash" when Adderall/Ritalin wear off.

hoggle 12y ago

I've also just been diagnosed at age 30 (constantly been labeled "lazy" / "dreaming" when I was younger - you believe it after a while - ADHD diagnosis still seems to be something novel here in Austria as well). What you write really gives me hope, for now my neurologist put me on Wellbutrin mainly to treat my depression but he said he really wants me to try Ritalin soon. I'm one of those people who rather meditates and works out regularly than to take any drugs - I don't like to mess with my brain - but I'm so fed up with my ADHD and the Wellbutrin alone already helps not only with overcoming my fail(ed-potential) derived neurosis but also a little with focus. Do you feel as if Ritalin might help with getting to where the ADHD recovery group managed to get themselves even when not on Ritalin? "Plasticity of the brain" yadda yadda...

atemerev 12y ago
It would be better to ask your doctor. If he's willing to try, I think it worth a shot. Ritalin is not a panacea, it makes miracles for some people and brings nothing but side effects for others. For me, it was something in between. ADHD is a recognized neurological condition, and I believe it's better to remedy it with drugs than try to live with unadjusted brain. It's not our fault.
- hoggle 12y ago
  I guess one really has to try it to know for sure, thanks.
JohnBooty 12y ago
I'm on Adderall, which is very similar to Ritalin - they're both stimulants. I have tried Ritalin in the past and it worked decently; I went with Adderall because it was cheaper. > I'm one of those people who rather meditates and > works out regularly than to take any drugs - I > don't like to mess with my brain I wasn't diagnosed until my 30s. Like you, I didn't like the thought of messing with my brain but eventually got fed up. Meditation, exercise, diet, getting lots of sleep... these help me more than Adderall. BUT, the Adderall does help too. So I think you are a very good candidate. It sounds like you are thinking of the big picture and not just relying on Ritalin to be a "magic pill." Probably the best thing about trying Ritalin/Adderall is that you can always stop them if they're not helping you. Just reduce your dose slowly over the course of 3-4 days. Good luck!!

tindrlabs 12y ago

I had the exact same story until - I started to constantly feel nauseous - I started to feel vary anxious about everything - I had a hard time eating or wanting to eat anything - I started to feel overloaded by my environment Got off of it and lost some of my super powers, but gained my sanity. Which was worth it. Converted over to understanding my strength and weaknesses, eating better and getting out.

atemerev 12y ago
Looks like you took higher dose than needed. Ritalin is really dosage-sensitive, you'll have to calibrate it carefully with your doctor. I'm taking the dose determined after some experiments (27 mg/day) for the last 6 months, and I don't feel particularly insane. Anyway, like I said, it works differently for different people.
- tindrlabs 12y ago
  I'm glad to hear that. For myself, I became more afraid of the side effects then the ADD.
mtdewcmu 12y ago
It also sounds like you probably have some degree of anxiety that was being amplified by the drug. Most of the time it's probably beneath conscious awareness or latent. I imagine that when you're always disorganized and getting in trouble for things outside of your control as a kid, it sets you up to develop an anxiety disorder.
- tindrlabs 12y ago
  Maybe - I'm not going to self-diagnose myself as a calm individual. But this kind of anxiety was more like stage fear then some continual anxiety. Hands tingling, stomach upset, nervous. In the 8 years since I stepped away from the drug option, I've never again felt that sort of reaction.
  - 12y ago

jamesbritt 12y ago

Some additional acencdata: When I started Ritalin (in my 30's, I think) I also become somewhat "Spock-like." This was a problem when talking with my girlfriend about some sensitive matters, as I was kind of detached and lacked empathy. I also noticed that I no longer had a soundtrack running through my head. Usually I would have assorted self-invented tunes and riffs playing in my brain. That stopped and it really bothered me. Before too long I became more adapted to the drug. The empathy and soundtrack returned. I eventually stopped taking it, though, because it didn't seem to make much of real difference as I became more acclimated. Even taking "drug vacations" didn't seem to make a difference. I took Adderall some years latter and the positive effects lasted maybe a week. Very disappointing. Immune to speed; what a let-down. At this point I just accept it as a fact of life that I have to work at managing attention and motivation and not get too depressed when I have a million unfinished things. Life is too short, and I have a dance-party in my head.

mindancer 12y ago

Interesting.. I briefly attended HSG for a Master's program but left shortly because I was treated during undergrad for ADHD in the USA, and not having the same treatment options in Switzerland, I couldn't begin to learn how to focus again and hope to pass the courses. One day while walking the streets of Zürich, I saw a protest with many people against ADHD medication and signs advocating banning Ritalin.