Ritalin User Reviews & Ratings (Page 2)

• Anonymous
• November 7, 2018

For ADHD "I'm 54 yrs old and recently started taking 10mg once a day, 5x a week (usually weekdays). After years of talking about projects and ideas, it is now quite easy to get and stay on task. It's not like I didn't get things done before, but now I am motivated to complete tasks. In the past, most projects that required any substantial amount of time to complete would immediately be put on the back burner. Now I feel motivated to see them through. In the past I would self-medicate with large amounts of coffee, but that only lasted for so long. Now, I have switched to Decaf and take medication once I get to the office. My dosage is minimal at this point and have a follow-up to see where I'm at in regards to possibly changing the dosage in a couple weeks. With my dosage (immediate release) I can tell the medication is kicking in as I start to feel warmer. That takes about 30 minutes. As others have stated, this dosage last about 4-5 hours. So far so good."

• SleepyK
• January 10, 2012

For Narcolepsy "I've been taking Ritalin for 3 years for Narcolepsy. I was very unwilling to try it at first, but after much research and a push from my doctor, I was finally alert and able to think clearly for the first time in years. I've had to alter my dose at times and currently take 10 mg twice a day. I work part-time and try to alter my lifestyle so I won't need to up my dose too soon. I can't imagine life without it and hope it continues to work for years to come."

• Crit
• December 13, 2012

For ADHD "I have been on Ritalin for 5 months now and it works great for my ADHD. I wish I would have been on it when I was in high school; maybe I would have finished high school. I am 25 years old and I'm going for my G.E.D. so I can go to college. I am so happy now; I can concentrate and do things that I was never able to do. The only con is that it is not lasting as long as it did when I first got on it. I really believe Ritalin saved my life."

• Oldish...
• March 1, 2020

For ADHD "I'm 56 year old male. 87kg. Recently diagnosed ADHD as Im easily distracted & can't concentrate easily. I'm in good health, and successful & don't get depressed. Unfortunately Ritalin has NO effect on me at all. I have no feeling of it coming on or wearing off. All I get is a dry mouth at higher doses. I began fast release 10mg @ 8am & 10mg @ 1pm. The upped to 20mg am & 20 mg pm. Then 30 & 30. Nothing. No affect or change in how I feel. Then tried Slow release SR 40 mg am & 40mg arvo. Still nothing. Then tried 20mg Fast with 40mg SR in morning. But was distracted on phone & mistakenly took same dose 15 min later. So 120mg in one hit. I expected to have heart racing & some sort of 'buzz', but NOTHING Very disappointing Would like to try Adderall or similar"

• Anony...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 31, 2018

For ADHD "This drug has been nothing but a miracle for me. After years of suffering with concentration/attention problems and a string of failures this drug has allowed me to achieve what I want and excel in my academics and life. I take 20 - 30 mg/day 3 - 5 days a week with regular drug holidays. If you have ADHD and are suffering because of it with a history of failures in your life you won't regret getting treatment."

• Rey
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 10, 2019

For ADHD "(18 M) I recently got diagnosed with ADD and was given ritalin. 5mg per day as a start up dose. I have dabbled with other drugs in the past, like cannabis, LSD, mushrooms and morphine. I took ritalin for two days before deciding to quit. Never in my entire life have I ever felt this level of addiction, nor have I ever crashed this bad on any drug. I have suffered with severe depression, OCD and anxiety for some years. The crash gave me a rebound to my past psychosis."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 9, 2012

For ADHD "I'm 28 yrs old and just started taking this 2 months ago. I abused meds in my teens & for the past 6 yrs have turned down prescriptions for fear of addiction & losing my personality and control. I gave Ritalin a shot at 10mg 2/day, 5 days/week none on weekends. I wish my parents would have taken me to a doctor to get checked out about 20 years ago. In 2 months I have been able to focus and concentrate on things like never before. I went from being an average student and poor test taker to above average and testing well. I don't snap at people as much as I did prior to taking. And still feel in control of who I am. The downside is I had to cut back on my coffee consumption. It's a good cause!"

• Jpo
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 17, 2022

For ADHD "After taking this medication extended release concerta at 36mg for roughly two years here's a review. What this medication helps with: * Being more organised. *Being more physically and emotionally resilient to stress. *Less easily startled or flustered when curve balls occur in life. *Better memory, retain information more quickly, in fact, in several instances absolutely flawlessly. *Higher libido (baseline was quite low). *Higher energy levels. *More talkative and outgoing. *Less inhibited socially, and less fearful of consequences, less fearful of others manipulative behaviour, better able to defend myself from it. Now the not so good stuff: *Angrier. *Muscle tension. *One track minded. *Irritated if pulled away from an important task. *Create unrealistic expectations of others, become disappointed when they cannot live up to them. *Organisation borders on obsessive compulsive behaviour at times. *Less kind. *More serious. Less human, more shark."

• Ketap...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 11, 2019

For ADHD "I've been taking methylphenidate (Ritalin) for years and it helps but l must take Tylenol with it or l get a headache. I'm more focused and energetic. Not wiping away my ADD 100% but it works on many levels."

• Anonymous
• January 24, 2010

For Narcolepsy "I have taken this medication for over 5 years to help me stay awake due to a narcolepsy diagnosis. The drug is very effective, and I have not become addicted in any way, although I have developed a tolerance to the medication and have had to increase my dosage to now the highest amount available. I will most likely have to change to another medication. The side effects have also increased, including mood swings and feelings of depression when the drug wears off, and now I am convinced that it is time to switch medications. Even with these increased side effects, without this drug, I wouldn't have been able to function as a normal human being, and now I am nervous that I won't be able to find another medication that was this effective."

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

For ADHD "Went on Ritalin for the first time today and I hated it. Took 5mg at 8:30am and then another 5mg at 12:30pm. 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 anymore 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 on control, was crying uncontrollably. I forced myself to work out so I could work the Ritalin out of my system. Horrible :("

• Lucyx
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 16, 2015

For ADHD "I have been taking Ritalin for almost 3 years & it has been great. I had ADHD in high school & college. I couldn't focus, listen to lectures, read well or study. I saw a doctor during college & he prescribed me Ritalin 20mg 3x/day (I had long days in college). I was finally able to read well, study & focus. I love learning now, I'm motivated & my mood improved. Now I take 20mg 2x/day (I graduated & 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 bed time & 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."

• Bailey...
• 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, it is really hard to multi-task. I can only concentrate on one thing at a time, and that makes it very difficult for my school work. Also, I have had a huge loss in 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."

• AdamC
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 12, 2014

For ADHD "I have been using Ritalin 10mg for the past 3 weeks now. I am 28 years old and i suspected for a long time now that I have ADHD. Not being able to concentrate or focus, prioritise tasks and having depression (i am not taking medication for this) caused a lot of anxiety for me over the past 4-5 years. Ritalin has helped alot with my studies and kind of calms me. I am pretty quiet when i take it also. Its great for if you need to use it for work or study , but for everyday use I wouldn't like it. - In the first 45mins it gives me a slight euphoric feeling. - Makes me want to do productive activities. - Causes slight headaches if i don't drink plenty of water. I would recommend it. (I have tried adderall in the USA and that was even better)"

• Tonytoo
• April 10, 2011

For Narcolepsy "I have been on Ritalin for 20 years. It has worked great. While working full time, I took 20 mg twice daily. Now retired and taking only 10 mg each morning, I feel more tired, but being retired, I function well and can rest anytime I need to."

• Omaha
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 26, 2019

For ADHD "I am a 25 year old Male that works in the Health Field. I have had ADHD my whole life and started taking this medication to help get my life in order and to help get all of my thoughts together. This pill is amazing for organization and for getting tasks done that need to be completed. I have no complaints with this medications regarding how effective it was at treating my ADHD and increasing my focus. The reason that I scored this medication on the lower spectrum is because when I was taking this medicine I would get severe headaches. The headaches would happen 30 minutes into taking the medication. The headaches were not ordinary headaches. It felt as if I was going to have a brain aneurysm. Highly recommend this medication to people that do not experience severe headaches while taking it."

• 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."

• Yooji
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 21, 2018

For Narcolepsy "I was recently diagnosed with narcolepsy after a sleep study. I was nearly passing out while driving so often that it was hindering my life. I couldn't play with my 3 year old, and I couldn't clean or take care of myself. After a bad experience with Nuvigil, I was prescribed ritalin, and I take 15mg 2x a day. I am happier, I can drive and spend time with my daughter without having to lay down every hour. I'm able to do my college course work without putting it off until the last moment. Ritalin has changed my life."

• Dirty...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 12, 2013

For ADHD "I find Ritalin allows me to focus. With my ADD and bipolar I couldn't even read a book. My doctor says though its a stimulant, Ritalin tends not to push bipolars into mania. I was self medicating my ADD with caffeine which made me anxious so I'm glad the Ritalin replaces that. I'm on a low dose now and hope to increase to where the positive effects last longer, as they are short lived now."

• Chicago...
• August 31, 2016

For ADHD "I've been taking methylphenidate (Ritalin) for years. I started during my professional career, because according to my psych, I am "too smart to sit still", and that because of that, my brain gets bored easily then my attention span fades. With Ritalin I can focus like a laser on tasks, get much more done, stay organized, and it also helps with that afternoon sleepiness. Added bonus is it revs up your basal metabolic rate, and reduces appetite so you can lose weight easily. Downside, it increases BP. If you have high BP you may want to avoid it. I take a 20 mg pill 3-4 times a day, never after dinner if you want to sleep."

• Bjh
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 7, 2023

For ADHD "I took my first dose around 8 am May 8th, 2023 and I’m calling my doctor in the morning. I absolutely hate this feeling. For hours I have just been angry, irritated, and I have a headache that will not go away. I have not been able to get any tasks done. I feel like all I can focus on is the fact that I feel irritable. Also, my stomach has been in knots since taking it. I’m praying it just wears off soon so I feel semi-normal again."

• Anonymous
• October 23, 2009

For ADHD "I'm a 40-year-old male who didn't have the benefits of medications when I was in school. ADD wasn't as well known back then. I was diagnosed with hyperlexia. I always thought that it was strange because I didn't see letters backwards, but I just accepted it. I was officially diagnosed with ADD in my mid-20s. I have taken most of the medicine options over the past 12 years, including Concerta, Strattera, Adderall, Ritalin, and Ritalin LA. Couldn't sleep on Concerta, I was out of my mind with Strattera, Adderall was like popping caffeine pills, and Ritalin was too high maintenance as it neutralized after 2-3 hours. Then I found Ritalin LA. It's not the magic bullet, but it's the best that I have found so far. It costs me 10X generic but worth it."

• cookinD
• March 16, 2009

For ADHD "Diagnosed with ADHD at 53. Who knew there was a reason for my quirky personality. Tried Stattera and slept 15-18 hours a day, was switched to Ritalin and thought this was it. I really like how I feel, calm, focused. My friends noticed. I did great for a couple of weeks and then became extremely impulsive and inappropriate. I was focused, but on warp speed. I gained 10 lbs in a week, because I could not stop eating once I started, I went on shopping sprees, driving jags, blurted out without the think before you speak button. Once I started a task I had to finish, my kids were late to school, you get the picture. This was definitely not the drug for me. I stopped taking it a couple of days ago, I am still feeling the effect."

• Marni...
• April 13, 2009

For ADHD "My 7-year-old son has shown ADHD symptoms for about 2 years or so, but due to many changes in his life, I was unsure of the reason for this behavior. Now we've been settled in for over 9 months, and he has not improved; we have decided to medicate (after dietary changes and omega 3 gave no help). He has been taking Ritalin 10mg for 12 days now. The first week he had only a morning dose at 8 am. This wore off around 1 pm. This week I've dosed him 4 hours later as well. From the first day, the change was amazing. He was attentive and followed instructions throughout his swim lesson, and his school teacher found great improvement in attention span, concentration, and finishing tasks. He is not as angry or frustrated now. The only negative is that I find he gets emotional and 'teary' as it wears off."

• AaronjS
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 23, 2015

For ADHD "Wow, I'm really surprised with the reviews of this drug. This drug should not be taken for ADHD. There are many (safer) alternatives. I don't know, maybe I was just unlucky...I was prescribed Ritalin at around the age of 5-6, and from day one I had extreme fatigue, weren't interested in any other activity but sleep. It made learning from not interesting to impossible. After a couple of months taking it I had lost a lot of weight...by that time the doctors had to take me off Ritalin. It has caused me to be underweight ever since (I'm 20 now). If your child(ren) are hyperactive you should really consider cutting of the high amounts of sugar that they are exposed to in this day of age. Don't drug them, they will soon develop in a mature being."