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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by University on May 15, 2004, at 23:40:12
Hi all,
I went from 40mg Ritalin/day for a year and stopped (no taper) to go on Adderall 40mg/day. My pdoc and the pharmacist didn't seem to think I needed to worry about any withdrawl from Ritalin.
However, the Adderall seems to have NO effect on me (been on it for three days now). Also, I began smoking again (had quit for 2 months). I didn't see the connection (duh) until my boyfriend said "what a coincidence."
Anyway, maybe I'm self-medicating with the smoking to compensate for the dopamine deficiency? I felt that I just had to smoke. Could this withdrawal be dangerous? I have an appt. w pdoc on Monday, and he's going to write a script for Focalin, which I'm sure will be good since Ritalin worked well (I became too tolerant, though).
My main concern is that stopping the R cold turkey could F me up some how--even if it's only five days without it? And could my resumption of smoking really be connected? I felt as if I couldn't get any work done at work unless I could smoke...
TIA,
UNI :)PS, my other "withdrawal" symptoms are pretty much what you'd expect: fatigue, malaise, sleepiness, and inability to motivate.
Posted by Keith Talent on May 16, 2004, at 1:00:27
In reply to Ritalin 1 year directly to Adderall: Withdrawal?, posted by University on May 15, 2004, at 23:40:12
It just sounds like your dose of Adderall is way too low. How much are you taking per day? The problem with Ritalin and Focalin is that they only last about two hours - there's no Concerta version of Focalin yet. I remember someone posting here saying that an amphetamine (prescribed for something else) had actually enabled them to quit smoking.
Posted by Caper on May 16, 2004, at 3:52:08
In reply to Ritalin 1 year directly to Adderall: Withdrawal?, posted by University on May 15, 2004, at 23:40:12
Hi,
Just wanted to say that it sounds to me like Adderall just isn't the med for you. Focalin may be, but be aware it is just Ritalin without one isomer (the one that didn't do much good anyway). Basically it is just a more efficient form of Ritalin I think. They took out the part that didn't really help much anyway- that's why the dosages of Focalin are usually about half of what Ritalin's are.
As far as withdrawal, I'm fairly certain that withdrawal from any kind of stimulant is not medically dangerous- it's just very unpleasant psychologically. I've been through it myself and what you described sounded very familiar. But if it relieves your mind any, generally the withdrawal advice for stimulants is simple: you just have to sleep it off. You may crave some psychologically, but physically you'll just be tired and distracted.
I've never heard anything about smoking and stimulant withdrawal but it does make a LOT of sense. Seems like since nicotine is a stimulant too, that the lack of Ritalin combined with the lack of response to Adderall could very well be what led you back to smoking. Simply replacing one stimulant with another.
Hope the Focalin works out for you. Could you post when you know whether or not it does work, and what dosage was comparable to your 40mg of Ritalin? I'm curious about this Focalin stuff.
Thanks and good luck.
Caper
> Hi all,
>
> I went from 40mg Ritalin/day for a year and stopped (no taper) to go on Adderall 40mg/day. My pdoc and the pharmacist didn't seem to think I needed to worry about any withdrawl from Ritalin.
>
> However, the Adderall seems to have NO effect on me (been on it for three days now). Also, I began smoking again (had quit for 2 months). I didn't see the connection (duh) until my boyfriend said "what a coincidence."
>
> Anyway, maybe I'm self-medicating with the smoking to compensate for the dopamine deficiency? I felt that I just had to smoke. Could this withdrawal be dangerous? I have an appt. w pdoc on Monday, and he's going to write a script for Focalin, which I'm sure will be good since Ritalin worked well (I became too tolerant, though).
>
> My main concern is that stopping the R cold turkey could F me up some how--even if it's only five days without it? And could my resumption of smoking really be connected? I felt as if I couldn't get any work done at work unless I could smoke...
>
> TIA,
> UNI :)
>
> PS, my other "withdrawal" symptoms are pretty much what you'd expect: fatigue, malaise, sleepiness, and inability to motivate.
Posted by University on May 16, 2004, at 11:21:18
In reply to Re: Ritalin 1 year directly to Adderall: Withdrawal?, posted by Caper on May 16, 2004, at 3:52:08
> Hi,
>
> Just wanted to say that it sounds to me like Adderall just isn't the med for you. Focalin may be, but be aware it is just Ritalin without one isomer (the one that didn't do much good anyway). Basically it is just a more efficient form of Ritalin I think. They took out the part that didn't really help much anyway- that's why the dosages of Focalin are usually about half of what Ritalin's are.
>
> As far as withdrawal, I'm fairly certain that withdrawal from any kind of stimulant is not medically dangerous- it's just very unpleasant psychologically. I've been through it myself and what you described sounded very familiar. But if it relieves your mind any, generally the withdrawal advice for stimulants is simple: you just have to sleep it off. You may crave some psychologically, but physically you'll just be tired and distracted.
>
> I've never heard anything about smoking and stimulant withdrawal but it does make a LOT of sense. Seems like since nicotine is a stimulant too, that the lack of Ritalin combined with the lack of response to Adderall could very well be what led you back to smoking. Simply replacing one stimulant with another.
>
> Hope the Focalin works out for you. Could you post when you know whether or not it does work, and what dosage was comparable to your 40mg of Ritalin? I'm curious about this Focalin stuff.
>
> Thanks and good luck.
>
> Caper
>
> > Hi all,
> >
> > I went from 40mg Ritalin/day for a year and stopped (no taper) to go on Adderall 40mg/day. My pdoc and the pharmacist didn't seem to think I needed to worry about any withdrawl from Ritalin.
> >
> > However, the Adderall seems to have NO effect on me (been on it for three days now). Also, I began smoking again (had quit for 2 months). I didn't see the connection (duh) until my boyfriend said "what a coincidence."
> >
> > Anyway, maybe I'm self-medicating with the smoking to compensate for the dopamine deficiency? I felt that I just had to smoke. Could this withdrawal be dangerous? I have an appt. w pdoc on Monday, and he's going to write a script for Focalin, which I'm sure will be good since Ritalin worked well (I became too tolerant, though).
> >
> > My main concern is that stopping the R cold turkey could F me up some how--even if it's only five days without it? And could my resumption of smoking really be connected? I felt as if I couldn't get any work done at work unless I could smoke...
> >
> > TIA,
> > UNI :)
> >
> > PS, my other "withdrawal" symptoms are pretty much what you'd expect: fatigue, malaise, sleepiness, and inability to motivate.
>
>THANKS, Caper and Keith! I will keep you informed. Now I remember how Focalin is really just a "leaner" Ritalin. But sometimes even a little, seemingly irrelevant change like that will yield a new, better response. So I'm hoping.
I've been taking the Adderall anyway, because it if it does anything at all, it does tend to make me feel less tired/lethargic/malaise-y than with nothing at all. My appt. is tomorrow morning, basically just to get the Rx for Focalin. Thanks for your advice. I suppose the main thing I've been worried about is this situation triggering a depression--that's the main reason I'm taking the Adderall right now--just to stave off any decline like that until I can get the Focalin.
Posted by Festus on May 18, 2004, at 21:56:01
In reply to Re: Ritalin 1 year directly to Adderall: Withdrawa, posted by University on May 16, 2004, at 11:21:18
Just goes to show you how individual we really are.Adderrall is a more potent amphetamine combo made up of 3 different salts and,usually,is"a step up"from Methylphenidate(Ritalin).Festus
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