methylphenidate

[RuLu]

I'm due to start methylphenidate once I have my private prescription.....anyone able to share experiences of starting it? My anxiety levels are even worse since I was diagnosed & I'm so worried about starting to take it but I know I need to just get on with it!

Mine massively sorted out my anxiety. Quieted my brain of all the negative chatter and enabled me in focusing plus less procrastination. It does dull your appetite though so be aware.

Thank you! That's definitely what I need! Fingers crossed.

I'm ok with the appetite thing as I eat far too much anyway so that's an added bonus!

I usually love Easter weekend but it means a delay in getting my prescription so I'm keen for Tuesday to arrive!

My experience is similar to @Mabelface. I can focus so much easier because I don't feel so anxious. I also felt more anxious after I was diagnosed, my anxiety had never been so bad!!

It also dulled my appetite which is brilliant for me as before meds I used to eat a lot of carbs/chocolate/cake for dopamine. I don't even crave it anymore. The meds have been a life changer!

I hope all goes well with starting them.

Thank you!! I'm totally on edge at the moment waiting & your reassurance has massively helped! I have to admit, the idea of not being able to have a glass of wine worries me as everyone I know drinks but I'll get over it.

I have more questions.
How long did it take you to feel like it was working?
& did it make you feel odd to start with?

I had a bad experience taking venlafaxine a couple of years ago & am worried about it being like that!

Hello! I just have started too; I'm on 18mg of delmosart and on day 2. I had severe insomnia last night; didn't sleep until 6am then my toddler woke up at 7.15am... today i have been so hungry which I'm slightly disappointed with as I could do with losing a bit of weight 😂

Just did a search for this. I'm starting methylphenidate instant release tomorrow, to be taken 3x a day, and am also anxious about starting.

This is coming after 3 months on non-stimulants that had zero effect on me.

I'm mainly concerned about nausea and insomnia, so PP's post above me has me 😬

Can I ask for those of you who commented earlier, @Mabelface and @Dinobooklover, how long have you been on these meds and have you found any of the effects faded over time?

I'm nervous but also excited to begin, any improvement will be gladly welcomed.

Hey. The only side effects I got from concerta XL was dry mouth and dulled appetite. Mine are slow release which means no peaks and troughs throughout the day. I take it as early as possible in the morning.

I have no issues with sleeping at all as my brain is quieter. You can also drink a glass of wine!

You may need to try different meds, I'm lucky in that the first ones tried worked for me, particularly after titration to 36mg. Once you're settled on meds that suit you, prescribing will be transferred to your gp. I note see the psych annually.

Meds aren't a magic bullet, mental health issues will still need to be dealt with, but my god, they help so much.

Did you start on 18mg first?

I'm on XL, also take it early in the morning. I have dulled appetite, no other side effects.

I'm still in the titration stage and just started 54mg, after starting at 18mg. Due to increase dose again in 2 weeks if needed.

I also used to take velafaxine (none of my antidepressants worked, but that's another issue!) and have had none of the same effects with Concerta.

I've also been doing adhd coaching through Access to Work and tbh I'm not sure if meds alone would help, but my anxiety is not as severe now (almost certain it was triggered by undiagnosed and untreated adhd as I never felt anxious as such, more chronically overwhelmed) and I feel much more emotionally level.

I've also managed to bring my blood pressure down since starting them, possibly because I'm no longer drinking ridiculous amounts of caffeine or binging on carbs/cake/chocolate. And they were worried my BP was too high to even start!!

I was on venlnafaxine a few years ago and that drug is awful, both starting it and coming off it.

I've experienced nothing like that with taking concerta. First time I took concerta I couldn't believe how calm my brain was and asked my DP if this is what NTs feel like all the time 😂

Good shout mentioning coffee - you'll need to seriously limit your caffeine intake on stimulants, as it'll make you irritable and anxious. I have one caffeine coffee in the morning, plus one decaf mid morning.

@Dinobooklover that's so helpful, thank you! I'm a fan of Coke Zero so I guess I'll need to get the caffeine free or stick with squash. Luckily I don't drink coffee. I'm climbing the walls as my prescription hasn't arrived yet....I'm so desperate to start as want to feel (dare I say it?!).....normal!

Ooh thanks for this advice. I normally only have one coffee in the morning anyway

I was put on the non stimulants first due to high BP and brought it down, so will need to monitor closely with these meds. Yes I know that I’m not going to get a miracle, but am hopefully to experience the ‘calm’ that a lot of people talk about. Sometimes, especially at bedtime, my mind is racing and I sometimes find myself thinking the same series of thoughts or words over and over again and it’s exhausting.

Also hoping that GP will take over prescribing, I’ve heard stories of many whose GPs decline.

I’ve heard about Access to Work, but don’t think it would be of much use to me. I’m a nanny and actually think in some ways that the nature of the job suits ADHD! It would also be helpful if the meds calmed the overeating, I get a real dopamine hit from food.

The first few weeks of non-stimulants I experienced low appetite and it was amazing how I just didn’t crave grease and fried foods crisps constantly. But then it wore off and I went back to my bad habits

An update if anyone is interested: I'm on day 3 of methylphenidate IR (5mg 3x a day) and the first night I slept only 1 hour. I'd taken the last dose at 6pm which I realise could be why, but I'm doing this blindly as doctors don't give any advice on how many hours should be between them.

So yesterday (which was a horrific day) I took the last one at 3. I also took something to help me sleep abs luckily had a late start today so I got enough sleep.

Hoping tonight goes ok considering I slept in late today 😬

I'm noticing a dulling of appetite but not much else yet. Next week I increase the dose so might notice more of a change

I'm on day 2 of Concerta XL 18mg. I woke at 4am & couldn't get back to sleep but I feel great. I've done so much work today, I can't believe the difference

I can't stop eating though!!

All day I'm fine. The evening arrives & I'm eating everything in sight!

Hello! I thought it might be good to join and share experiences. I've started day 1 of Medikinet 10mg (extended release so it's really 5 + 5 I think).

Doctor said this level probably won't do anything, but I'm already feeling something - sort of "whizzy" in my head - could be placebo.

I was on an off-label antidepressant for a couple of years previously and had what I now think was probably a placebo effect from that so it will be interesting to see if there's a placebo effect from a low dose already.

Sorry I'm typing without reading thread as true to form I'm trying to do about 3 things at once. I will come back and reply!

How is everyone else getting on? I have also had very little guidance from docs!

Are you drinking your normal amounts of coffee etc or avoiding?

What time are you taking in the morning? Do you have to take it at the same time every day?

I'm on day 10 of Concerta XL although day 3 of 36mg. The double dose is far better. I've got so much work done, I can't believe the difference. I just wish dieting could become my new hyper focus!!!! I don't miss wine at all, I'm sleeping fairly well but am exhausted. I've massively reduced my caffeine intake as well.

Oh wow this is so great to hear. I haven't yet experienced anything, but I increase my dose again next week so fingers crossed

Ok so that's also methylphenidate, which I'm on but instant release version. I take mine 3 times a day, at 7, 11 then at 3.

I also felt like I didn't get much guidance, it was only after I reported the insomnia on my feedback form that I got the reply 'we don't recommend taking it past 3/4' well that would have been useful to know before!

Yesterday I skipped a dose as I slept in. I was setting an alarm to wake me early to take it to then go back to sleep (funny work pattern) but I figured there wasn't much point as I would start work until after the second dose anyway so might as well get my rest and take it when I need to work.

Now I'm on 10mg 3 times a day, still not noticing an effect but I move to 15 next week.

Oh and re the caffeine, I only have one in the morning anyway so have continued with that.

I feel very very tired in the evenings but I can't make myself actually switch off and go to bed any sooner!

So on that first day it was really clear headrush and kind of rollercoaster effect, I almost felt like I was seeking more stimulation than normal.

I've taken it with food today and yesterday, and that's much better. Doesn't feel like I'm "on" something. It doesn't really have any effect either, but that's more what I was expecting, so OK.

What I am finding is that I'm not brain-meltingly exhausted by the kids' dinner/bedtime like I usually am. I'm still tired, but it feels like normal end of day tiredness.

From what I understand, it's expected that it will have worn off by bedtime, so probably unlikely to help with getting to bed on time. What I have found to help with this is to make myself a little bedtime routine kind of thing. I am always on my computer in the evening so I have a google calendar notification that will pop up at ten and remind me it's wind down time. I realised that the things that tend to make me want to stay up are:

• Interesting music
• Getting into a dramatic MN thread, or one where I want to explain things/give advice
• Computer games
• TV series

So, after 10pm I switch my playlist to one I've called Wind Down if I'm listening to music, I don't start new episodes of TV programmes after 10 (but can finish one), I stop playing computer games, and I use that 10pm cue to go and get a drink. When I'm away from the computer, then I can actually decide if I want to go back to it, or come off it and read in bed/play guitar/do a puzzle which are my lower stim or time limited activities - I get fed up of guitar after a while because it's physically tiring. I can't make this decision when on the computer, though. That's why I have to trick myself by pretending I'm just getting a drink and can be right back. Most days I do go back to the computer but I don't get sucked into complicated threads.