Drug Blog

We have recently had a change in our financial situation, and purchasing my son’s Concerta is difficult. I have just found out the Ritalin has a generic equivilent. I would like to know if anyone has had any experiance with this medication, and how it worked. Also, why are generic medications for ADHD frowned upon? Thanks in advance for your input.
We do have insurance, but even so, the co-pays are pricey.

By: Mcmommy

I have been taking generic Ritalin (Methylphenidate) for many years. I always get the generic, which on the bottle says ‘Methylphenidate’
The color changed a couple times when they switched manufacturers but it at least always said ‘Methylphenidate’ on the bottle.

BUT today I got my normal refill, which comes out to the same price insurance wise and I looked up the cash value and it is exactly the same to the cent. But on the bottle it says ‘Methylin”.

I looked it up online and can’t find a straightforward answer really. Some people say that it is ‘a generic form of Methylphenidate. But isn’t Methylphenidate actually THE generic form itself of brand name Ritalin? I’m confused here.

I want to be sure I’m not taking something else entirely by accident. My pharmacy is closed today, and I’m out today because I didn’t plan ahead for once, and of course it is confusing this time Could anyone clarify this and let me know what the difference is between Methylphenidate & Methylin? Thanks!
I forgot to add that I know there are long extended release versions of Ritalin, and also wanted to make sure this isn’t one of those instead. As the prescribed dose I took before would be way too much if that is the case I think. Either way, I just don’t know and an explanation would be really appreciated!
thanks so much for any &all help!!

By: someoneoutthereishere

I really want to stop taking Ritalin and in the last three weeks of school I refused to take it at school.

The nurse called my mom and she told me that I was not allowed to stop taking it.

She told the school nurse that if I don’t take it that I am not to go to class.

I am 16, shouldn’t I be allowed to decide not to take this drug that makes me feel like crap all the time?

Ritalin makes me feel tired.
But if a drug makes me feel like crap cant I refuse to take it? Some times I feel like I want to vomit because I gag on my food.
I am not hyperactive any more they only think I am hyperactive.

By: Justin

I have a ritalin prescription for my adhd. My psychiatrist said that I could adjust my daily dosing it to fit my school schedule, such as taking one dose a day instead of two if I have less work to do, or taking extra if I want to stay up late and still focus on studying for a test.

He did not tell me, however, how long I could do this for.

Thoughts anyone??

By: lovecarolinablue2010

I have prescriptions for Adderall, Dexedrine and Ritalin. I have not been taking any of these for a while but I could get them refilled if I wanted. Could this disqualify my at Meps? WOuld it be impossible to cover it up at meps? Also, when they say that you need to be “off the meds” for a year do they mean when you last took it, when you last had it filled or when you last had a prescription for it? Can I simply terminate a prescription and if so, how? Will Meps know when the last time I had it filled or prescribed to it was even if it doesnt show up on the piss test? And are there waivers for Adderall, Dexedrine or Ritalin?

By: edwardfowler25

Now I have a script okay? So with that said, recently my cvs pharmacy did not have name brand methylphenidate, which to my knowledge is Novartis, formeryly Ciba-Geigy. I am really regreting it, it has similar effects because I know the fda regulates the active chemicals in the drugs but I am not satisfied with this generic “methylphenidate.” I have read some articles complaining about generic methylphenidate being crap all over the place on the net. For example it being inferior in a couple ways.

see : http://www.nickh.org/add/addopin4.html

Does anyone think I am right and believe that the name brand novartis ritalin would be better? I am convinced I am.

Problem is I purchased generic from the pharmacy and have been taking it for the last 3 days. What options do I have?
options as in can i exchange this generic crap for the brand name and pay the difference?

By: camronphil

I need any help or advice i can get, my grandaughter is 9 and has been on adhd drugs since age 3 she is now on 60 mg ritalin(metadate) a day and when i have her on the weekends i do not give it to her they say you don’t have to on the weekends when she is not on the medication she eats she is hungry she will not eat when she takes the drug she says she is hungry but if she eats she has stomach pain when she eats at my house on the weekends she wakes up the next morning with severe cramping and vomiting .I would like some advice on this matter if anyone has been down this road with there child Please help,her mother does not like discussing it with me i try to talk to her about other methods of treatment but she gets mad at me I am at a loss about what can be done here,Nana
she has taken every single drug out there for her so called adhd she even tried the patch Daytrana but could not wear it if broke her out horribly , it would make horrible rashes on her so they took her off of it,she started on 25mg of ritalin then the school said they could not control her so they uped the dosage to 60mg her mom gives her 30mg before school and the school gives her 30 mg after lunch everyday my daughter also has another drug that is supposed to help her sleep i looked it up and it said it was for the control of schizophrenia??I told my daughter not to administer it she sleeps just fine at my house witout it but does not at her home?
I can not speak to the physo that precribed the meds she told my daughter it was none of my buisness

By: maxine101

I suffer from severe anxiety along with ADD and for years have suffered living with myself. Recently I was able to try a natural alternative. I didn’t know the affects would be beneficial to me… rather it was accidental as I consumed some edibles (unknowingly).

Afterwards, I realized what I really deal with everyday. My anxiety levels are indeed extremely high and my ADD is crazy. When my doctore recommended Ritalin and some other Anxiety prescriptions, I refused because those drugs are chemical based and the Medical industry can only “practice”. I don’t want to be practiced on by consuming some man made chemical.

I use herbal care for everthing else, why not my anxiety?

By: pluto

Please Don’t Post Anti Medication Comments On Here.

I have ADD (and dyslexia)
I have been taking 20mg of Dexedrine for the Last 10ish years. (was in grade 8 or so)
Before that I took 15mg of Ritalin (I was in grade 4 I think so age 9ish)

I have been noticing lately that my focus is the worst it had been since I started taking meds.

I want to try taking a different drug (I have been googling Adderall) or Raising my prescription dose.

I would just go to my family doctor but she admits she knows nothing about this stuff. She once even wrote me a prescription for 20mg of Ritalin and when I got to the pharmacy they told me that that dose does not exist.

I went to a Specialist for this when I was a kid who put me one all my ADD meds. but he is a pediatrician so I can no longer go to him. Now my family DR just prescribes what I need.

Basically I just want to tell her the name of Dose of the drug that I would like to try. (she will google it then tell write me the prescription) So what should I ask for 25mg of Dexedrine or the try Adderall? If adivan what dose should I start out with? 20mg? Have you tried either?

Thank-you
forgot to mention. I think I need something that lasts longer through out the day.
ok Herbalzone I am listening. I am open to trying a ‘natural’ or alternive approaches. Where can I get more infor on this. Is this avalible in health food stores or do I have to get persriptions for this?
I am 21. I don’t have to much trouble getting to sleep now, when I was a younger I did. Not depressed maybe when I was young a bit. A few mood swings but I am a girl so… I am a bit sleep during the day but I don’t think too much more then anyone else.

By: Leah

I’ve been diagnosed with ADHD/predominantly inattentive. So i’ve been on concerta for a couple weeks now. The first couple days i felt that it worked, but only for a short while - a few hours. Now it seems to not have a real effect at all. There hasn’t been any real side effects, but a while ago I had tried adderall and it seemed to be a lot more effective. i thought concerta would be like adderall, perhaps milder, but it really just isn’t working. I’m on 36 mg a day. I’m thinking of calling my doctor and asking him to up my dosage or perhaps switch me to something else.

I’m new to all of this… is the trial and error thing normal?

By: David