Ritalin and Loss Of Appetite: What Users Say

• Max...
• September 28, 2011

For Depression "I was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder from the Iraq War, which also goes along with adult ADHD and depression. They say it has a lot to do with my mind, having so many thoughts of what happened and what is happening racing through it that I guess it basically just gets worn out like exercising. But once they started me on Ritalin 20 mg three times a day, it helped a lot. I felt more focused, less worried, and in time, just felt more rested and calm. I did have to force myself to eat at first as I lost my appetite until I got used to it."

• Ann...
• March 22, 2018

For ADHD "I was diagnosed with severe ADHD - inattentive type, and Ritalin literally is the difference in me getting through my To-Do list or just wondering what in the world I have been doing all day. Over the years, I have run across multiple medical professionals who will not prescribe this medication. Like an idiot, I listened to them and tried other medications. ALL of these medications had worse side effects and did NOTHING to correct my ADHD. They tried all of the non-stimulant medications and Bupropion HCL - none worked and several had VERY bad side effects. Medical professionals who refuse to listen to their patients should lose their license to practice. You are messing with people's lives here, people! The worst side effects I had with Ritalin were appetite suppression and mild anxiety, specifically if I drank too much coffee with the medication. This is over a period of 15 years on the medication."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 3, 2019

For ADHD "I'm a mid-fifties male that recently started taking Ritalin. I've been on it for about 3 months now and really like the changes. The ability to stay on task is amazing. I take the immediate release 2x per day (10mg/pill). It takes about 30 minutes for the effects to kick in, but it is subtle. Each dosage lasts about 4 hours. I take the first pill around 8:00 am and the second at 1:00 pm. I take it Monday - Friday, and sometimes on weekends, if I have a project I'd really like to get completed. At this point, I haven't experienced any noticeable side effects. Yes, it does kill your appetite during the 4-hour cycle, but it does return quickly thereafter. For anyone looking for the best vitamin/supplement for improved productivity due to ADHD, just go to your doctor and take something that's proven effective and regulated by the FDA."

• Luc...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 16, 2015

For ADHD "I have been taking Ritalin for almost 3 years, and it has been great. I had ADHD in high school and college. I couldn't focus, listen to lectures, read well, or study. I saw a doctor during college, and he prescribed me Ritalin 20 mg 3 times a day (I had long days in college). I was finally able to read well, study, and focus. I love learning now, I'm motivated, and my mood improved. Now I take 20 mg 2 times a day (I graduated and go to bed earlier). It lasts around 4 hours. I never experience withdrawal or major sleepiness when I don't take it. Side effects: difficulty sleeping if taken too close to bedtime and appetite loss (minor). I highly suggest an eating schedule and drinking lots of water so you don't eat too little. I would often forget to eat in the beginning."

• Bai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 2, 2013

For ADHD "I have been taking Ritalin for about a month now. It really helps me focus on things. But a downfall is that it is really hard to multitask. I can only concentrate on one thing at a time, and that makes it very difficult for my schoolwork. Also, I have had a huge loss of appetite. I am not hungry, EVER. During the month I have been on this medicine, I have lost almost twenty pounds due to the fact that I never want to eat."

• Anonymous
• October 5, 2009

For ADHD "For years I had been battling behavior problems with my son who is now 10. He was not a bad child but had no concentration span, would fidget, annoy others, and was falling way behind children the same age as him. Finally, we managed to get him seen by a specialist. He has now been on Ritalin 15mg for 4 months and the change is unbelievable. He is already catching up with his school work, making more friends as he understands them better, and is generally just more content and happy. At first, he was teary and clingy when first put on them, but that soon went. The only downside for my son is that he is not as hungry as he used to be and lost a lot of weight in the beginning, but is steadily putting it back on now."

• FIR...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 18, 2019

For ADHD "Went on Ritalin for the first time today, and I hated it. Took 5 mg at 8:30 a.m. and then another 5 mg at 12:30 p.m. Within an hour of taking both times, I was falling asleep at my desk and had to follow up with a coffee to stay awake. I didn’t feel as though it made me any more alert or focused. The second pill I took after an hour and a half, I felt hot and my heart rate increased. I did notice it suppressed my appetite for 3 hours. In the afternoon, I suffered severe irritability, to the point where I was yelling at colleagues, then suffered what I believe was a panic attack. Felt not in control, was crying uncontrollably. I forced myself to work out so I could work the Ritalin out of my system. Horrible :("

• Dee...
• November 25, 2015

For ADHD "I've been on and off this medication for a few years now. I have mixed feelings toward it. The first 30 minutes to an hour of taking it, I feel a rush and a feeling of I can do anything. That rush motivates me to go to the gym, actually. After the rush is gone, I feel more focused and alert. After the alertness has worn off, I feel moody and irritable. I'm very aware it's the medication making me on edge and try to control it. I get a bit headachy sometimes, and it bothers my stomach from time to time. Always hungry? Not on this medication. Appetite gone, at least for a while until the next pill. Make sure to eat! I would say this medication is addictive and would not recommend it to anyone that has an addiction problem."

• Edd...
• July 11, 2015

For ADHD "Helped me a lot. Been using it for 8 months, and now I'm on a 20 mg, 2 times a day. I never had the power to just sit still and stay on one task. Now I'm able to actually sit down and focus on one task. I'm 16 and was diagnosed at 15. Ritalin doesn't last long enough, though, which is the only downside. Only lasts for 3 hours, but it's good because you could get your appetite back. No side effects, just a little nervous at times and headaches, which are rare. Also, suppressed appetite the first hour you take it."

• Clu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 17, 2016

For ADHD "I am a 28-year-old female. I have been taking 20 mg of Ritalin per day for 8 weeks, first short-acting, then tried the long-acting. By far, the short-acting helped my concentration in school, work, and my social life. When I switched to the extended release, it felt like it wasn't doing jack, even though I was taking the same dose. The only thing I don't like about the short-acting was the loss of appetite. So annoying. But I'm about to start back with the short-acting and with 40 mg per day. I can't wait to have my concentration back!"

• Anonymous
• February 15, 2010

For ADHD "My 8-year-old daughter is on Ritalin at the moment. We find she is getting migraine headaches, she has lost 3 kg due to lack of appetite, and she is very emotional coming off it, and she doesn't sleep much. On the other side of things, she has shown a large improvement at school with her concentration going from the bottom of the class to the top of the class in just 3 months."

• Kad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 26, 2021

For ADHD "I have taken Adderall for years and made the switch to Ritalin. Adderall just wasn’t cutting it for me and was actually affecting me negatively (it only lasted a couple of hours, and the comedown was terrible). It also affected my ability to think after the effects took place 30 minutes prior. Ritalin may not last as long, but splitting the dose into 3 different times lasts me 10-14 hours. With the Adderall, I would take 20 mg twice daily, it affected my appetite, which caused its effectiveness to perish. With Ritalin, I take it first thing in the morning, eat about 3 hours later, take the second dose, eat about 4-5 hours later, then take the third dose (I wake up at 7 am). It starts to wear off around 6-7 pm, which I’ll then eat dinner, and it kind of reactivates it, lasting until it’s ready for bed (which would be after dinner or 1 am, it doesn’t keep me awake like Adderall). Take it 10-15 minutes before a meal for maximum effectiveness. I take 60 mg a day, but 40 mg is just as effective."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 3, 2017

For ADHD "There are some things I love about this medicine, like my ability to focus and get things done. But I really hate the side effect of having no appetite because I'm skinny to begin with. It also increases my heart rate, which can make me feel anxious. It also gives me diarrhea, which my doctor said does happen to some people. It's super effective, but I wish I could get rid of those side effects. It may be better for people who do not need to focus 12 hours a day like I do because I require 3 doses a day."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2017

For ADHD "I have only been on Ritalin for a couple of days now, and the results are great. My concentration and focus have improved, I can get more things done, and I feel more motivated and self-assured. My social life is better, and I can keep a conversation going. The downsides for me were a fast heart rate, which made me feel anxious, a bad headache when I first took it, and a decrease in appetite. Overall, this is working for me so far, and I would say to not abuse this drug, combine it with alcohol or anything else, and to eat well before taking medicine. Hope this helps."

• Hur...
• April 11, 2018

For ADHD "Ritalin works well for ADHD. It is not a long-lasting medication. Most of the time, it’s given in tablet form and does only last about 3-4 hours. So you will need to take it a couple of times throughout the day. I have been on Vyvanse and Adderall as well. Adderall works best for me. Vyvanse also works well, but it lasts for so long-12 hours or more. I can still eat and have an appetite on Adderall and Ritalin, but with Vyvanse, I could go all day without eating. Ritalin is a good medication when taken correctly that will help with ADHD."

• kco...
• March 11, 2011

For ADHD "Ritalin made me able to block out everything and focus on reading my boring, tedious nursing books. Take it at least 12 hours before you go to sleep, or else it will keep you up at night with thoughts racing. It suppresses appetite and makes most people lose weight, I actually gained weight because I would be starving and binge eat at the end of the night. I did like Ritalin, but it made me too irritable, so I switched to Adderall. That is much more pleasant and even more effective. Focalin 10 mg is good for people with mild ADHD symptoms."

• vol...
• May 14, 2011

For ADHD "I've been taking Ritalin (extended release) at 20 mg for almost a year now. I take it for ADHD. (I also have bipolar disorder type I.) This medication doesn't help with me when it comes to being hyper and full of energy all the time, but it does help with concentration. The only side effect I have experienced so far is loss of appetite, but not significantly."

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 18, 2018

For ADHD "It's something that is useful. It helps me focus and gives me energy to help get my day started. The only thing that bugs me is a suppressed appetite and, at times, it makes my depression worse until it wears off. It also makes me have to urinate more frequently."

• Sle...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 2, 2021

For ADHD "I switched from Modafinil to Ritalin this year. Every time I take this medicine in the morning, I stay awake. But with a lot of side effects. Fast heartbeat, morning sickness/nausea, dizziness, exhausted, trouble sleeping during the night, anxiety, decreased appetite, abdominal pain, often migraines or headaches. I try to avoid the medicine if I can. I like Modasomil more."

• Pet...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 23, 2018

For ADHD "I'm 41 years old and just started Ritalin extended release three weeks ago. I have sleep apnea and have a lifelong history of daytime fatigue that wasn't being helped by the CPAP. After talking to my doctor about that and other symptoms, I began treatment for ADHD. The first week, I had some insomnia but noticed immediately that I was more awake during the day and getting a lot more done. I still felt tired at times, but nothing like before, where I was literally ready to collapse by mid-afternoon. It also suppressed my appetite a bit, which I need. I'm only taking 18 mg in the morning. Week 3, I don't feel it's working quite as well, and insomnia has subsided. Pretty sure we need to tweak the dosage."

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 22, 2016

For ADHD "I've been taking Ritalin for about 4 months now, and it has helped me immensely. I'm a college student and suffer from ADD, Major Depressive Disorder, and OCD. I was put on this during a hospitalization because, in the past, I was on Concerta, and it worked wonders. So, being on this medication, I have been able to concentrate better on my schooling and other tasks. The downfall with this med is that it lasts for about 5 hours before it wears off. The other downfall is that I am recovering from an eating disorder, and the loss of appetite makes it hard to want to eat."

• Nol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 15, 2022

For ADHD "I suspect I've had ADHD since childhood. Wasn't formally diagnosed until 5 years ago at 43. Was given 18 mg Concerta and, while it did help, it lasted far too long and made me irritable. I switched to 10 mg Ritalin and it's different. I have no idea why, as they're the same drug, but I feel calm and alert. Just as I feel I should be. I can read books again, complete tasks, and my depression has lifted for the first time in over a decade. I was diagnosed with a panic disorder, and my doctor was concerned that it might trigger it, but I feel very much the opposite of anxious when taking this. I LOVE LIFE AGAIN. The past 2 decades have been a downward spiral for me mentally. More and more antidepressants and mood stabilizers. I'd feel okay for a month or 2, but then slip right back into depression. I haven't experienced any negative effects, though it has decreased my appetite quite a bit, so I'll have to keep an eye on that. (ADHD often makes me forget to eat and stay hydrated). Other than that, I'm happy again!"

• Nor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 11, 2022

For ADHD "I'm not sure if I got prescribed a dose that was too high for me, but while I was on the medication, I experienced derealization, severe depression, anxiety, panic attacks, absolutely no appetite at all, and stayed in bed most of the day. One of the worst medications I've been on."

• Ash...
• April 7, 2016

For ADHD "I take the generic form of Ritalin. I have actually lost weight and appetite with this medication. I also have Bipolar Depression, PTSD, social anxiety, and Borderline/Mild General Learning Disability (formerly called or known as intellectual disability or mental retardation: I use a much more updated, suitable labeling of disability. I am actually too advanced and higher functioning. In some cases, GLD is more proper or acceptable for me.) My medication does, in fact, help. I also take Vistaril. I actually had ADD/ADHD symptoms as a child growing up that might have caused G.L.D., linking it to a chemical imbalance of the brain equals intellectual disturbance. So people may be undersigned for certain conditions."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 3, 2022

For ADHD "My parents put me on Ritalin (long acting) when I was in 5th grade, and it does work, but not without some serious drawbacks. I was able to get all my schoolwork done in class and my memory was excellent, but my appetite was gone. I couldn’t eat lunch without feeling sick, so I had to stop doing so, and as a result, my height is severely stunted even as an adult (about a foot shorter than my 3 other brothers). Additionally, it really did a number on my sleep schedule and caused me some level of insomnia. The worst side effect, though, is that while on it, I would feel “suppressed,” and I very much did not enjoy this sensation. Ultimately, I decided to stop taking it, but if you don’t experience these side effects, I think it’d probably work pretty well."