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Ritalin (methylphenidate)
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Overall Rating
7.00
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Rating:
7
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Side Effects
6.33
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Pricing
5.80
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Average Price: $14.00
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Recommended By
73% of reviewers
(of 11 reviews)
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advertisement
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Ritalin®
Generic Name: Methylphenidate meth-il-FEN-i-dayt
Drug Class: Amphetamine-like Drugs | | Contents | Description | This medicine is used to treat narcolepsy, attention deficit disorders (ADD, ADHD). Your doctor may prescribe this medicine for other conditions as well such as narolepsy (difficulty staying awake).
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| | General Information | | This information is for educational purposes only. Not every known side effect, adverse effect, or drug interaction is in this database. If you have questions about your medicines, talk to your healthcare provider. Top of page
| | Proper use of this medicine | Follow the directions that your doctor has given you. This medicine is taken orally and may be taken with or without food. Do not abruptly stop taking this medicine before talking to your doctor. Do not break, crush or chew sustained-release forms. This medicine may cause a patient to have difficulty sleeping. It is recommended that this medicine be taken several hours before going to sleep or in the morning. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the best time to take this medicine.
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| | Missed Dose | Take your next dose as soon as you remember. If it is time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not double doses.
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| | Storage | Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture. Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed.
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| | Possible Side Effects | - nervousness, fast heart beat, excitement
- insomnia
- reduced appetite
- More severe side effects may include:
- growth suppression in children
- chest pain
- seizures or involuntary movements
- If you experience any of these severe side effects, talk to you doctor immediately.
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| | Warnings/Precautions | - Talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if you have a history of:
- high blood pressure
- seizures
- substance abuse issues
- Do NOT take this medicine if you have severe depression.
- Methylphenidate should NOT be used in patients with Tourette's syndrome or patients with a family history of this condition.
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| | Overdose | Seek medical attention immediately. For non emergencies, contact your local or regional poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
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| | Drug Interactions | - Possible drug interactions may occur with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO), increasing the risk for irregular hear beat (arrhythmias), seizures, or high blood pressure (hypertension). Talk to your physician or pharmacist if you are taking other medications.
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| | Pregnancy/Nursing | If you are pregnant, or thinking of becoming pregnant, talk to your doctor about the risks versus the benefits of taking this medicine during your pregnancy. For nursing mothers, do not take this medicine while breastfeeding.
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| | More Information | For more information about this medicine, talk to your healthcare provider.
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| Copyright) 2004 PharmClips, Inc. All rights reserved. www.pharmclips.com | | This information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions, or adverse effects. This is general information and should not in any event be construed as specific instructions for individual patients. The publisher does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the information or the consequences arising from the application, use, or misuse of any of the information contained herein, including any injury and/or damage to any person or property as a matter of product liability, negligence, or otherwise. No warranty, expressed or implied, is made in regard to the contents of this material. The reader is advised to check with their health care provider before making any changes in their drug regimen. |
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eskielover
Magnate
Registered: October 2004
Posts: 2486
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Review Date: Thu September 14, 2006
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Would you recommend this? No |
Total Spent: Not Indicated| Rating: 3
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Positive aspects of this (pros):
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Negative aspects of this (cons):
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anxiety increased & caused a feeling of hyperactivity
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Another medication that was tried on me while being hospitalized. After taking it, I got the feeling of bouncing off the wall. My anxiety level increased & felt like the churning inside couldn't stop. I asked how I could be experiencing this when it is used to calm down hyperactive children. I was told that is can have the reverse effect on adults like me but they don't know until they try it.
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darkeyes
Wise Elder
Registered: May 2001
Posts: 9655
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Review Date: Fri September 15, 2006
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Would you recommend this? Yes |
Total Spent: Not Indicated| Rating: 10
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Positive aspects of this (pros):
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It's excellent for ADD/ADHD,as well as depression. The form I use is, Concerta,it is time release and will not work if tablet is broken,which also eliminates the chance of someone abusing it(crush and snort) plus it doesn't jump start you too high in th
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Negative aspects of this (cons):
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It is a med.,comes in different forms,and his highly abused just like many meds of stimulant nature.
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I take Concerta for mild ADD and it doesn't interfer with my other disorder,Bipolar-II(mild).
It is time released and that is why my pdoc finally let me take it,now that the Bipolar has been addressed and I take a mood stabilizer (Lamictal) which has been working fine for about 3 or more,years.
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terry
Junior Member
Registered: April 2007
Posts: 8
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Review Date: Tue April 24, 2007
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Would you recommend this? Yes |
Total Spent: $5.00| Rating: 9
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Positive aspects of this (pros):
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motivation, feeling good, energy
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Negative aspects of this (cons):
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anxiety, insomnia
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I really like this medication, but the fact that it is expensive, that I have to order it from overseas, and the insomnia is a drawback. But these drawbacks are far outweighed by the positive attributes that it has.
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nibbanalice
Visitor
Registered: May 2007
Posts: 10
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Review Date: Thu May 24, 2007
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Would you recommend this? Yes |
Total Spent: Not Indicated| Rating: 9
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Positive aspects of this (pros):
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Makes you feel less tired. concentrate, calms down
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Negative aspects of this (cons):
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wears off real fast. habit forming
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One of the very best if and only if you know that your illness/condition is
Adult ADD. Don't know if it's good for children. I like the fact that I don't have to take the same dosage everyday. Sometimes you only need one or two of
5 mg. But it seems to be habit forming and when it wears off, you'd feel very tired and can't fall a sleep till you take another one. Cured my nausea too.
I wish to be back on this medicine again but my doctor doesn't like it.
She says this is presciption 'street drug' like, ice. Will eventually get hooked. And she also told me it is stronger than cocaine. (I don't know, I never took Cocaine in my life. I wonder if she tried both.) I like it though.
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Taonuviel
Veteran Member
Registered: May 2004
Posts: 427
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Review Date: Mon July 23, 2007
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Would you recommend this? Yes |
Total Spent: $23.00| Rating: 10
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Positive aspects of this (pros):
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Works for deepest darkest suicidal depression, too!
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Negative aspects of this (cons):
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Insurance won't cover it for off-label use
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Absolutely saved my life. I tried EVERYTHING for depression, and in a little miracle a young, fresh out of med school doctor decided to try it with me when he substituted a week in the psych hospital. It's effect on me is night and day different, aside from a low week or so last October, I haven't been suicidal since - major difference from being suicidal every moment of every day. Why isn't it commonly prescribed this way? It could save more lives!
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stockboy
Visitor
Registered: July 2007
Posts: 2
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Review Date: Fri July 27, 2007
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Would you recommend this? Yes |
Total Spent: Not Indicated| Rating: 10
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Positive aspects of this (pros):
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concentration, focus, eliminates irritability,
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Negative aspects of this (cons):
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timing can be tricky, but otherwise none
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This drug is nothing short of a lifesaver. I had a major depressive episode four years ago (mostly due to work). Pdocs were misdiagnosing my ADHD and depression as Bipolar. Tried everything, then switched pdocs; he tried me on concerta and the effects were life-changing.
I always thought everyone dealt with "white noise" in their head. I found that, when I was stressed, I couldn't concentrate on the simplest of tasks. I was frustrated, irritable, and my mind was incessantly "changing the channel" on me. I would start projects and never finish; then snap at my wife when she brought that to my attention.
After being on it for 1-1/2 years, I abruptly stopped - not sure why. Needless to say after another year or so, I am back on it. Again, life's stresses have proven too much for me and I find that concerta allows me to have a normal life.
Concerta brought an uncanny focus to my life. I could actually read a book whereas before anything more than a one-page article was difficult. I would actually see a project through to fruition versus moving on to a more exciting one. My only gripe is that I was not diagnosed sooner, I would have prusued at least a baccalaureate.
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elubee1
Visitor
Registered: August 2007
Posts: 1
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Review Date: Wed August 1, 2007
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Would you recommend this? Yes |
Total Spent: Not Indicated| Rating: 6
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Positive aspects of this (pros):
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helps with focusing and with hyperactivity and irritibility
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Negative aspects of this (cons):
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gets headaches, motor ticks and insomnia
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My daughter has ADHD and Asperger's and for the most part Concerta's benefits have outweighed the risk. It helps her function in school and makes her more cooperative and less irritable, however, she gets headaches from time to time and began motor ticks that sounded like she was grunting and another that seemed like she was sniffing with her nose all the time. To help with this condition her physician put her on guanfacine which eliminated the motor ticks and helped her with the insomnia.
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pyewacket
Member
Registered: October 2007
Posts: 22
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Review Date: Mon October 22, 2007
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Would you recommend this? Yes |
Total Spent: Not Indicated| Rating: 7
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Positive aspects of this (pros):
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im productive, productive, productive
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Negative aspects of this (cons):
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highly addictive
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good, only damned addictive
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jenniferaddbeans
Visitor
Registered: November 2007
Posts: 1
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Review Date: Fri November 16, 2007
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Would you recommend this? Yes |
Total Spent: Not Indicated| Rating: 9
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Positive aspects of this (pros):
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helped focus, moody
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Negative aspects of this (cons):
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nervous, shaky, sometimes stomach pain
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I was diagnosed with ADD in middle school. After being prescribed Methlyn ER which is the time relesed formula my grades went from C's and D's to A's and B's. My teachers noticed an imediate difference. Instead of daydreaming and turning around to talk to the person behind me I would focus on my work and want to get it done. I was taking 30mg a day, and I remember one downfall was I would be moody. My hunger was completely surpressed and I didn't eat most of the day, which was probably why I was moody. Insomnia was a big issue, and I disassociated myself from others, I wanted to be alone.
I am in college now and have decided to get back on the medication after a 1 1/2 year break from it, as well as a complete meltdown from my disorganization and forgetfulness to complete assignments. I am slowly getting better, I'm handeling the symptoms much better, probably because I've gained 20lbs since high school.
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Barbarian
Visitor
Registered: November 2007
Posts: 9
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Review Date: Fri November 30, 2007
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Would you recommend this? No |
Total Spent: Not Indicated| Rating: 2
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Positive aspects of this (pros):
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Very cheap; a well-studied ADHD drug; for a very FINITE amount of time (about 2 or 3 hours for me) is it effective for ADHD symptoms; quick acting on ADHD symptoms.
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Negative aspects of this (cons):
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The worst of all ADHD medications; very addictive; very short effectiveness time; has the WORST up-and-down effect of any ADHD drug; after effectiveness wears off, you'll get depressed.
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In a nutshell: the WORST ADHD drug on the market! Sure it's a well-studied ADHD drug. However, it is just plain terrible! In the initial 2 to 3 hours of taking this drug, you'll experience a great deal of anti-ADHD effects. However, the time thereafter is just pure suffering. You'll get depressed and start to worry about the effectiveness of the drug. You'll probably get addicted because you'll feel the need to take more to combat the depressing effects of the med.
Trust me, stay away from this medication for ADHD...period! I would recommend Adderall -- which in some cases can be more addictive than Ritalin -- and or Concerta over this drug. For your own good, stay away from this medication!
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djmojo
Visitor
Registered: February 2008
Posts: 4
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Review Date: Sat February 16, 2008
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Would you recommend this? No |
Total Spent: Not Indicated| Rating: 2
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Positive aspects of this (pros):
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short term ADD relief
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Negative aspects of this (cons):
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qwick start and fall, not smooth at all, made me sleepy, but it works great for my sister, go figure
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pretty rude ride, up and down, zombie mode if not right on top of second dose of the day
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