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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Angel1 on April 9, 2003, at 9:57:28
I take Ritilan sometimes along with 125mg Desipramine when I feel like I need a boost. The highest dose I've ever taken in a day is 25mg. 15mg in the a.m. and 10mg in the afternoon. What is the highest, "safe" dosage I could take in a day? I think my pdoc said 40mg is the highest I could take and probably wouldn't ever need more than that. Also, what is the half life of Ritilan? And, is there a sustained effect from taking this drug over a long period of time, or is it a day to day type of thing?
I am curious to know if there are withdrawal effects from taking it one day and then not another. thank you for any info. regarding this matter.
Posted by utopizen on April 9, 2003, at 11:29:37
In reply to Highest dose of RITILAN???, posted by Angel1 on April 9, 2003, at 9:57:28
The withdrawl symptoms from Ritalin are similar to those experienced with brocolli withdrawl, but not as much as celery withdrawl and the cravings associated with celery withdrawl. So it tends to be easier to wean from than celery, but about as easy to wean from as brocolli.
As for dosing, it's common to take 20mg twice a day (seeing as how they sell 20mg pills). That's what I took for about 6 months, then moved onto Adderall after realizing how "bored" I felt on it. Although I'm still not sure if I became more and more bored as time went on or I just got sick of it as time went on, boring others on a stim is common... it may be more effective than Adderall or Desoxyn for my ADD, but I felt so bored it wasn't worth it.
I now take Desoxyn (methamphetamine), and its withdrawl symptoms are similar to those experienced when withdrawing from cabbage. Most of the time my biggest problem is not getting myself to take it, if that's any indication of how "addictive" it is. One of those rare drugs that causes addiction by causing you to forget to take it, in the same way carrot addiction functions.
Posted by baracuda on April 9, 2003, at 14:25:58
In reply to Re: Highest dose of RITILAN???, posted by utopizen on April 9, 2003, at 11:29:37
my pdoc has me on 60 mgs of ritalin
Posted by utopizen on April 9, 2003, at 16:23:40
In reply to Re: Highest dose of RITILAN???, posted by baracuda on April 9, 2003, at 14:25:58
> my pdoc has me on 60 mgs of ritalin
wow. lots of R. not toxic or anything, but one doc one time suggested 60mg/day for his patients and wrote about how he scripted that much routinely, and letters responded negatively in the journal to it. I see no prob with it, although I wouldn't need more than 20mg at a time over 4 hrs.
Posted by Angel1 on April 9, 2003, at 20:37:29
In reply to Re: Highest dose of RITILAN???, posted by utopizen on April 9, 2003, at 16:23:40
What was the negativity concerning with 60mg Rit?
What is up with the vegetable analogies?
Posted by mags on April 10, 2003, at 19:12:32
In reply to Re: Highest dose of RITILAN???, posted by Angel1 on April 9, 2003, at 20:37:29
I am on 20 MG twice a day. I was on 10MG and didn't notice anything until it wore off and then it was like a mini crash...a negative reversal really...didn't realize it was doing anything 'til it was gone. Then we tried 20 MG XR and it did NOTHING.
I am finding right now the morning dose seems to work great but with the afternoon dose I am getting tired plus, like clockwork, when it wears off I get a headache.
Anyone else get headaches?
Posted by baracuda on April 11, 2003, at 14:16:22
In reply to Re: Highest dose of RITILAN???, posted by utopizen on April 9, 2003, at 16:23:40
im sorry i meant 20 mgs 3 times a day for a total of 60 mgs per day - not 60 mgs per dosage...
Posted by Festus on April 14, 2003, at 22:24:35
In reply to Re: Highest dose of RITILAN???, posted by baracuda on April 11, 2003, at 14:16:22
After trials with Provogil,Ritalin,Adderrall,and Dexedrine,I settled on the Dexedrine.It seemed to agree with my system and my wallet.If I were asked to rate these meds in order of strength and effectiveness,it would look like this:
Provogil:felt hardly anything from it,the cost is outrageous for what little it does.Rating:poor
Ritalin:did a fairly good job,only seemed to last a few hrs.,I tried the IR tablets,they seemed a bit harsh on the guts.Rating: fair
Adderrall:This is actually an old diet pill,re-marketed as an ADD med.It was pretty strong,made me feel jittery,lasted 6-8 hrs.,3-4 good hrs. and then 3-4 "lingering"hrs.Dries you out.Rating:good
Dexedrine:It was like Baby Bear,s Porridge:just right.Had a smooth,even action,not too hard on the body,and no big CRASH after it wore off.The SR caps lasted 10-12 hrs.,a lot of those were lingering.IR tabs worked best for me,still lasted a good 5-6 hrs.Generic was cheap.Rating:Excellent!Festus
Posted by Rob L. on April 17, 2003, at 3:45:53
In reply to Re: Highest dose of RITILAN???, posted by Angel1 on April 9, 2003, at 20:37:29
> What was the negativity concerning with 60mg Rit?
> What is up with the vegetable analogies?
I am gald I wasn't the only one who questioned that. So, celery addiction is bad stuff aye and momma's little helper really is mind altering. WOW
Posted by Rob L. on April 17, 2003, at 4:11:12
In reply to Re: Highest dose of RITILAN???, posted by Angel1 on April 9, 2003, at 20:37:29
> What was the negativity concerning with 60mg Rit?
> What is up with the vegetable analogies?just correcting subject line
Again:
I am gald I wasn't the only one who questioned that.
So, celery addiction is bad stuff aye and momma's little helper really is mind altering. WOW
Posted by James T. on October 12, 2003, at 21:22:35
In reply to Highest dose of RITILAN???, posted by Angel1 on April 9, 2003, at 9:57:28
I'm taking 108mgs of Concerta at around 10:30am
which works until about 4:00pm and doesn't start working again until around 7:00pm or so.I have the immediate release Ritalin also, which I usually take around 4:30pm when the Concerta isn't helping me much. I find 10 or 15mgs works until the Concerta starts releasing again at 7:00pm or so.
Since no other treatments have helped with my chronic depression of 7 years we decided to try the Ritalin.
It's not a perfect solution, but it gets me out of bed and I'm going out of the house more.
Just built a new PC for my Wife which I'm using now.Before Ritalin I would stay in bed most of the day and cry really bad.
Also, I am now able to work with my Therapist on a better level.
I also take 300mgs of Seroquel at bedtime and 10mgs of Lexapro to help with some mild OCD.I was taking Ambien for about 4 years and finally weaned myself off of that.
As far as Concerta dosages, you usually need 20% more of Concerta as compared to the fast acting Ritalin.
I'm not too crazy about taking this much, but any less just isn't worth taking at all because it really doesn't do much very long and then I crash and feel like crap again.
Please add you experiences with Ritalin for depression.
Also, I would like to know what Dr.Bob thinks about the dose I'm taking and any concerns.
Thanks
Posted by MomofBoys on December 10, 2003, at 10:01:17
In reply to Re: Highest dose of RITILAN??? » Angel1, posted by James T. on October 12, 2003, at 21:22:35
A year ago, I had a bad car accident with head trauma. Before my accident, I apparently had depression and anxiety. When I awoke from my coma, I was just happy! :) I had memory loss and don't remember being depressed at all. I was truly internally happy.
However, as recovery went on, I found that I had trouble remembering to do things, my concentration sucked, organization of my thoughts and environment were nil. And all of the above caused me to sink into depression once again.
I was put on Lexapro, which made a happy difference! I was also tried on Strattera which helped at first but then just made me feel horrible. So I was tried on Ritalin and it really does work. I can take the short-acting Ritalin when I want to work (computer work at home) and am able to sit still and concentrate and actually be productive. I have found that Ritalin works not only for allowing me to focus on my work, but also gives me more energy to get things done around the house. However, if I do take too much of the Ritalin, I get horrible anxiety and am frozen, unable to do much at all. So I agree that the Ritalin has had a positive anti-depressant effect for me also.
I also have chronic pain from the accident and take the pain medication hydrocodone. I cannot function without it. I am physically dependent on the hydrocodone to lead a normal, pain-free life. And as much as I hate to admit it, the hydrocodone also works as a wonderful antidepressant and energizer and does really keep me motivated.
It scares me that I do need these "addictive" substances to lead a normal life but if I didn't take them, I would be in bed, day and night. I couldn't be the happy, productive mom and wife I used to be.
Yes, I have taken drug holidays and its been horrible. Withdrawal is not the issue, so I don't feel good for a day or two. But on drug holiday, I am in pain, my thoughts and thinking are very disorganized, I have no ambition and care about nothing.
It's awful that I must be physically dependent on medication to lead a normal life now but I don't consider myself an addict. I am only addicted to being my normal sense of self again.
My doc diagnosed me as supposedly OCD, but I don't agree with that diagnosis at all. I don't have adult ADD as I didn't have it before my car accident; I had head trauma which changed my personality into a happy person and also took away my chronic daily headaches and made my migraines better :) But I was left with a left arm that still has nerve damage and chronic pain/muscle spasm in my neck and shoulders because of the nerve damage in my left arm, i using the "wrong" muscles to make my arm work normally. Alright, I've gone on long enough now!!!
Mom of Boys
YOU WROTE: Since no other treatments have helped with my chronic depression of 7 years we decided to try the Ritalin.
It's not a perfect solution, but it gets me out of bed and I'm going out of the house more. Just built a new PC for my Wife which I'm using now.Before Ritalin I would stay in bed most of the day and cry really bad. Also, I am now able to work with my Therapist on a better level. I also take 300mgs of Seroquel at bedtime and 10mgs of Lexapro to help with some mild OCD.
Please add you experiences with Ritalin for depression. Also, I would like to know what Dr.Bob thinks about the dose I'm taking and any concerns.
Posted by university on May 16, 2005, at 0:55:21
In reply to Highest dose of RITILAN???, posted by Angel1 on April 9, 2003, at 9:57:28
> I take Ritilan sometimes along with 125mg Desipramine when I feel like I need a boost. The highest dose I've ever taken in a day is 25mg. 15mg in the a.m. and 10mg in the afternoon. What is the highest, "safe" dosage I could take in a day? I think my pdoc said 40mg is the highest I could take and probably wouldn't ever need more than that. Also, what is the half life of Ritilan? And, is there a sustained effect from taking this drug over a long period of time, or is it a day to day type of thing?
> I am curious to know if there are withdrawal effects from taking it one day and then not another. thank you for any info. regarding this matter.I believe the highest daily dose for methylphenidate is widely thought to be something like 1mg methylphenidate per 1lb body weight; one weighing 160lb would have a maxiumum daily dose of 160mg. This is not what Novartis says, nor the PDR, etc. But I have seen this formula concurred by several pdocs (in various online documents). Obviously, I disclaim any intent to espouse this info. as "legitimate." Just an FYI.
Posted by Paulbwell on May 17, 2005, at 8:24:06
In reply to Re: Highest dose of RITILAN???, posted by university on May 16, 2005, at 0:55:21
> > I take Ritilan sometimes along with 125mg Desipramine when I feel like I need a boost. The highest dose I've ever taken in a day is 25mg. 15mg in the a.m. and 10mg in the afternoon. What is the highest, "safe" dosage I could take in a day? I think my pdoc said 40mg is the highest I could take and probably wouldn't ever need more than that. Also, what is the half life of Ritilan? And, is there a sustained effect from taking this drug over a long period of time, or is it a day to day type of thing?
> > I am curious to know if there are withdrawal effects from taking it one day and then not another. thank you for any info. regarding this matter.
>
> I believe the highest daily dose for methylphenidate is widely thought to be something like 1mg methylphenidate per 1lb body weight; one weighing 160lb would have a maxiumum daily dose of 160mg. This is not what Novartis says, nor the PDR, etc. But I have seen this formula concurred by several pdocs (in various online documents). Obviously, I disclaim any intent to espouse this info. as "legitimate." Just an FYI.I have read 1mg/kg for an adult typically, and some Docs will use up to 1.5 and ocassionally 2mgs/kg for troubled kids
This is the end of the thread.
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