Posted by IsoM on September 12, 2002, at 1:02:26
In reply to Re: Uptight on Ritalin... what should I add? » utopizen, posted by Ritch on September 11, 2002, at 22:48:56
Mitch, don't get the spansule caps. The way the time release works is half the dose is released immediately & then the other half 4 or 5 hours (I forget which) later. It's to make it easier to do one pill for 2 doses. It doesn't give the sustained smooth release you might think.
As for anecdotal stories of Dex being better than Ritalin, it's true. But I don't think they're just ancedotal.
I went to my doctor after even the Provigil pooped out (I'd started with adrafinil), & said I was starting to feel desperate in my quest to stay awake & alert. He believes I have narcolepsy without having to go through the long wait & trouble of a sleep lab test (he has 2 other narcoleptic patients & knows what it's about). When I asked him if he'd prescribe Dexedrine for me, I expected stubborn refusal. But he just said "I thought you didn't like it?" I told him it was Ritalin I didn't like for its quick ups & sudden drop after it wore off - that & the slightly jittery feeling on it. He said that was very normal with Ritalin & was one reason he didn't like it. So he seems to be aware of the difference between the two.
Happily, now I've finally got Dexedrine AND doing it legally. It's a bit of a nuisance to take but much, MUCH better than fighting trying to stay awake & alert. I take half my morning dose on an empty stomach when I first wake up, & then the other half about 45 minutes to an hour later. When the morning dose is wearing off, I repeat the same thing in the afternoon. It gives me the best sustained, smooth alertness. I would still love to have another dose in the later afternoon to keep me alert & stop the yawning that starts as the afternoon dose wears off, but I'm not going to push my doctor initially. I'll let him know when I go back for a followup & see what happens.
poster:IsoM
thread:119322
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020906/msgs/119604.html