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[jimispier]

Hi..
I'm Jimi and I have ADD and been taking Methylphenidate for about 2 years now. But I feel that the ADD is worse than its ever been..
Since being honorably discharged from the Navy in 98. I have been strugling to keep a job. I typically last 6 to 9 months before I get canned for low productivity, getting distracted, or "inappropriate behavior" (I'm a Sailor..).

I'm just wondering if anyone else has had this or similar issues.. Its kind of freaking me out. My wife has had the same job for like 5 years, I get a new job every 5 months. However now I am taking a break and playing Mr. Mom for a while until I can figure out what I can do to keep a job..

So if anyone has a similar story or any ideas on how to help I'd be open to anything..

Thanks in advance

Jimi

[MelissaNC]

Hi, Jimi! Methylphenidate is the generic form of Ritalin, and one big thing with Ritalin is that you often need to adjust the dosage with it. It can also wear off after a while as your body gets used to it. I'd suggest talking to your doctor about upping the dosage or changing to another medicine. The Ritalin LA (Long Acting) also seems to work a bit better, though it comes with a much heftier price tag...if you don't have good insurance, I'd just try upping the dosage of the regular Ritalin/Methylphenidate. I can relate to where you're coming from with the job changes...I've always been that way, too. The longest I've kept a job (two of them, actually) was 2 1/2 years. Other than that, I averaged 9 months on the others. It's like after a while all the new & exciting stuff is gone or already learned, and you get bored with it. I'm currently a stay at home mom because I haven't found a job that A) continually interested me, and B)could work around my childrens' schedules. Maybe one day when they are grown, or at least older, I'll find something I like. Good luck!

Melissa

[afarrell]

I would not recommend upping your dosage until you know what the problem is. To begin with, your dosage may never have been correct. It may well be too high. Ritalin works great at first, but it will not help you for long if you don't alter the way you do things every day. It will also make you fatigued if you are taking too much over a long period of time. By fatigued I'm talking about a general state, not specific to one particular day. You might have slept fine, 7 hours, just woke up and took your ritalin. You're definitely not tired, but you may still be fatigued. It means that you are generally weakend. Try this: don't take any ritalin one day, and note how you feel right before you go to sleep. If you feel more tired than usual, (specifically, if it feels really GREAT as you drift off to sleep) you are probably fatigued. Reduce your dosage by half and take it twice a day only. Wait at least 5 hours between doses, and eat a full lunch a half an hour before taking the second dose. Do not take any ritalin after 1PM. at 6pm or so, do some sort of aerobic excercise, like running, stairmaster, swimming, etc. for at least 20 minutes. Do this for a week and see what happens.

(NOTE: if you cannot go a day without taking ritalin you have a dependency problem. Don't listen to anyone who tells you this can't happen with ritalin, it can and does. Seek help immediately and do NOT increase your dosage.)

And remember, if you are not making a day plan, WRITTEN, every single morning, and at least attempting to follow it, ritalin will NEVER help you, in any dosage, and may well ruin your life.

[addprogrammer]

jimispier

Read, reread and read again afarrell's post. Best advice you'll ever get.

addprogrammer

[dialingfordonna]

Hi Jimi...I think what Afarrell said was good and also don't forget to check with your doctor.