Ritalin SR - HELP

Crazy Carrie · 09-11-2003, 05:22 PM

I was just recently diagnosed, at age 31, with ADD, innattentive type. I have always had a problem with feeling less than normal motivation as well! my question is: If I am taking 20mg. of Ritalin SR why am I soooo sleepy? I cannot stop yawning! Does anyone else feel this way? I tried taking 2 doses this morning (my own decision) to see if it was the dosage not strong enough, yet to no avail, I am still sooo sleepy! I dont know what to make of it! Any suggestions are appreciated... Thanks in advance!

------------------
Carrie

WildAngel · 09-11-2003, 05:50 PM

Carrie, By what you have said I am assuming that you know that ritalin is a form of "speed" and that you were expecting it to have a mild speed like effect. The thing is that for most people who have ADD/ADHD ritalin acts as the oposite of what it is. It is speed, but acts as a downer. This may be why you are feeling so sleepy. You may want to ask your doctor about adding wellbutrin. It is good for innatentive type ADD and should help you not be so sleepy. Another option would be to switch to adderall. Ritalin is more of a mental stimulant for people with ADHD/ADD, calms them down, makes them able to think more clearly. Adderall also does this for most who have ADHD but for people with ADD innatentive type many times it gives them a physical boost. Talk to your doctor about it. Also, instead of trying a higher dose, try taking a LOWER dose and see if that works any better. It is not supposed to have a speed effect. Please keep this in mind. If what you need is a physical boost then it is possible that you dont have true ADD, you have co-occuring depression, or many other things could be going on. Please look into it. Talk to a specialist.

[This message has been edited by WildAngel (edited 09-11-2003).]

Crazy Carrie · 09-11-2003, 06:14 PM

Thanks for the reply, I am pretty sure I am a true ADD sufferer, looking back on my childhood, school and social life. All these things were taken into account before given the dx by my DR. I cannot focus long enough to take care of everday necessities, including ensuring the well-being of my children. I think I was able to build enough coping mechanisms as I matured and coped the best I could. Now as an adult with 3 small children (Who COULD Focus??? LOL)I find that at time I have put their lives in danger by not paying attention, being forgetful, and so on.... I consider myself a very loving, caring mother, and it hurts me to see the things I do, for no obvious reason (until now!)

I am being treated for depression, as I was dx with acute depression at age 18 and have not been successful without medication since then. I currently take 40 mg. of Prozac daily, which I have no side effects from, but keeps me from going into a deep depression.

I do question my dx, as I had stereotyped ADD so much in the past and assumed it was for hyper little boys. It was a shock to think this was ME!! But now doing research, All the peices fit, everything I could not understand, finally is beginning to make a little sense. I am embarrassed to have an ADD lable (my hang-up) but I am more than willing to seek treatment. I never want to risk anyones life again, because I cannot retain, focus or remember important details.

I am not expecting to get a speed like affect.... But I certainly didnt expect it to make me sleepy either!!! I have noticed improvement in being calm, more focused and more relaxed, but with 3 kids around I cannot accept being sluggish all day either.... I hope I make a little sense, I seem to ramble sometimes...sorry!

Have a Beautiful Day!!!

------------------
Carrie

WildAngel · 09-11-2003, 06:35 PM

It makes sense but the fact is ritalin and stimulants do make many people with ADD sleepy. Sometimes lowering the dose can fix this. SSRIs can also cause sleepiness. Wellbutrin is a good choice for antidepressants and works for most people. Maybe switching from prozac to wellbutrin will be helpful. If not, like I said adderall has a more physical boost (this is what my doctor told me) So you may want to try that. Most adults respond better to adderall than ritalin anyway. Also you probably already mentioned this and I just didnt notice lol but what type of ritalin are you on? Ritalin LA?? or a different form? Sometimes switching forms can take care of unwanted side effects. Regular ritalin seems to have a lot of ups and downs with mood and activity level. LA seems to make some people spacey or sleepy. So far from talking to people on different types of medications the type of ritalin usually most helpful is concerta. It has a special release system and lasts all day. There are usually no ups and downs and less side effects. Of course everyone responds to meds differently. The fact that you really believe you have true ADD and are treating it for the safety of your family is great. Some people need medications, it doesnt make you wrong. I would urge you to try some natural things as well to see if anything besides medication works. And I know I have repeated this a few times (ya I do that rambling thing too lol) I think you should talk to your doctor about trying wellbutrin. As an anti depressant it could get you off the prozac and if it works well enough for focus then you wouldnt even need to add another med for ADD symptoms. If not then you could add a low dose of a stimulant and hopefully get the desired result.

Crazy Carrie · 09-12-2003, 12:41 AM

Thanks for the reply... I have allready tried wellbutrin for the Depression Ive had over the years. The last round with it About 6mos. ago, I became very angry, irratable, and impatient! It wasnt me at all! I did like that it didnt have any sexual side effects and left me without cravings for cigarrettes... but since I was taking it for depression and it didnt seem to help in that sense, I went back to "old faithful"...Prozac.

I would like to try Adderall but my DR wont prescribe this to adults, as he says it is very addictive and not approved for adult use.... From what I hear on the boards it sounds like it is fairly successful. I may end up switching docs. so that I have more options with the meds. I dont want to be sedated all day. I will try first of all to lower the dose, maybe 1/2 pill will work better.

Thanks again...

------------------
Carrie