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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2012 14:58:50 GMT
Hi - I've been taking Ritalin for a few weeks and during the week at work it's been great. However, at the weekend when I've taken much smaller dosages or no dosage, I've been having huge fits of rage where I hit things/myself, even self harm - could this be linked to the Ritalin and taking less of it at the weekend? I used to this ages ago when I was particularly depressed but haven't done it for months and months
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2012 16:15:15 GMT
you should not be lowering your dosage at the weekends. some people take a day off, but it's not good for you to take more than a day off if you are on it regularly. it increases tolerance to it through conditioning and you will crash hard and need to up your dose sooner in time. you should keep to a routine and to the dose your doctor has prescribed until you get to your optimal dosage. then start doing days of here and there for breaks. Ritalin is not a quick fix, it's a life change and a life drug. it's meant to be taken daily, not when you feel like it.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2012 16:36:26 GMT
Sounds like the Ritalin is allowing you to process better and giving you more control but it's like a dam, it's going to build up and when it goes.... Tbh sometimes it's healthy to let the rage out, god knows what it will do with me if I start on it, maybe need to get the anger levels down first...
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2012 16:58:18 GMT
Sounds like the Ritalin is allowing you to process better and giving you more control but it's like a dam, it's going to build up and when it goes.... Tbh sometimes it's healthy to let the rage out, god knows what it will do with me if I start on it, maybe need to get the anger levels down first... To be completely honest with you, blunt maybe...I don't think stimulants would be the best for you ambly. the crashes are seriously hardcore when you first start out. you think you notice how shit things are now?? fuck mate, once you get them feeling good and you come down or start to taper off your dose and need a higher one. you crash and burn hard. If you have any anger/temper issues to begin with, i don't think it would be wise. xx
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2012 17:16:03 GMT
If taking less is causing problems....take the same!
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Post by christvswarhol on Feb 12, 2012 17:53:17 GMT
Having similar problems myself, except the rage issue and similar hits a lot of days seemingly on and off it; in truth i'm not regularly taking it at a strict time because i can't seem to regulate my life enough for this. Lacking a constant daily activity that i have to do at the moment and lack consistency generally. Which also means i may not take it at all.
Sounds like this isn't the issue for you though. Regularly taking it has been taking it out of me as well as it being a help. At times it can feel like my whole brain hurts, like it's just screaming afterwards.
I think at times i am taking it later, or take less, to try to avoid those daily drops in difficult situations, or if i am going for drinks later i may not want to take it because of the mixing the two, or other. What activities are you doing at the weekend? Are any of these part of your reasonings?
I can't help but think you are wanting to take days off from your meds for a reason at the weekend. Can you think of any reasons why you are wanting the break?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2012 18:06:04 GMT
Having similar problems myself, except the rage issue and similar hits a lot of days seemingly on and off it; in truth i'm not regularly taking it at a strict time because i can't seem to regulate my life enough for this at the moment. Which also means i may not take it at all. I think at times i am taking it later to try to avoid those daily drops in difficult situations, like if i know i have to go somewhere later on. Regularly taking it has been taking it out of me as well as it being a help. At times it can feel like my whole brain hurts, like it's just screaming afterwards. I can't help but think you are wanting to take days off from your meds for a reason at the weekend. Can you think of any reasons why you are wanting the break? you really should not be taking your meds at different times of the day regularly. you're asking for suicidal thoughts, nervous breakdowns, anxiety attacks, headaches and having to go on a different med or not being able to use stimulants all together. If you are avoiding things and not taking your meds because of it, you should speak to your psych about it. it's not safe for you to take your meds the way you are doing it. it's also very dangerous to self medicate and not follow your doctors instructions whilst you are under their care. they advise the doses they do with the instructions they do for a reason. not just to please them selves. these drugs are dangerous if abused, and you are abusing them not taking them as prescribed.
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Post by christvswarhol on Feb 12, 2012 18:25:28 GMT
I have spoken to my specialist about concerta recently.
Its been suggested i have borderline 'triats' and have quite severe anxiety that limits what i do. I have presented to them that perhaps i am being given gasoline and theres no one at the wheel. They suggested psychological therapies. I had gone in there hoping that suggesting a different kind of drug route might draw their attention to the problems i've been having with it as i've been thinking perhaps its not the right time for me to be trying this medication.
I've been thinking maybe the co morbidity aspect should be looked at again. But then that leads us into a big loop as my specialist is appearing to not want to prescribe anything else. I've tried strattera, but it made my rage worse...which they didn't mention can happen.
Everything you are saying does worry me, but again its just a big loop, if i am trying to take it regularly and can't, its for the very same reason i don't take oral contraceptives. If i can't take it regularly i can't take any benefit from it at all to hope to regulate it, that's my thinking anyway, messed up maybe.
I haven't got anyone i could ask to help me regulate my routine or tablet taking at the moment.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2012 19:24:24 GMT
I may have asked this before, CvW, but have you tried Dex?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2012 19:29:40 GMT
With all due respect kameel I would take anything if it gave me just a day of normalcy, I would trade my soul happily for an eternity of roasting for just the chance of being taken seriously personally or professionally. I am aware that there is a danger o suicidal tendencies with Ritalin, u know what scares me? That it might not work, might not give me a teensy bit of relief, not once has it crossed my Mind that it might make me kill myself. Right now I would take that as an effective treatment option.
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Post by christvswarhol on Feb 12, 2012 20:03:24 GMT
I may have asked this before, CvW, but have you tried Dex? Not sure if you have either, no i haven't, i would be willing to try something else tbh. My specialist appears to not want to upset anything i think by changing the meds or is deciding to treat it otherwise. I have heard people having problems with concerta, and although i do appreciate that from what i am saying it is the best option if i am having problems taking it consistently in the first place, but don't want to keep going in there with a set intention as i feel they are shutting doors based on those interactions.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2012 20:09:38 GMT
Ritalin works fine for some people. And despite eventually having problems with it eventually, the first sensation I got was of huge calm.
Emotion for me is like having dual controls in my car, and a really stupid instructor who grabs the wheel and takes over - I go careering off and there's nothing I can do about where you go from there. With ritalin, emotion became a really pleasant companion in a normal car, who I could have a sensible conversation with, but ignore if I needed to. Familiar, present but not rude and intrusive.
Dex is even better for this. Neither one postpones anger or misery or anxiety, just to store it up for later. It just means that a sensible level of emotional content happens as I go along (although when things get extreme, or I get particularly tired and stressed, it can still break through). Things that would have sent me ballistic are still wrong, but I can handle my sense of outrage or whatever, and use it.
I used to hate the feeling of emotional loss of control when the rit wore off (btw, I found concerta worse than rit for crashes, but tbh it was never unbearable). So if you get on with it, Ambly, I don't see why it would compromise you.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2012 20:58:55 GMT
I have spoken to my specialist about concerta recently. Its been suggested i have borderline 'triats' and have quite severe anxiety that limits what i do. I have presented to them that perhaps i am being given gasoline and theres no one at the wheel. They suggested psychological therapies. I had gone in there hoping that suggesting a different kind of drug route might draw their attention to the problems i've been having with it as i've been thinking perhaps its not the right time for me to be trying this medication. I've been thinking maybe the co morbidity aspect should be looked at again. But then that leads us into a big loop as my specialist is appearing to not want to prescribe anything else. I've tried strattera, but it made my rage worse...which they didn't mention can happen. Everything you are saying does worry me, but again its just a big loop, if i am trying to take it regularly and can't, its for the very same reason i don't take oral contraceptives. If i can't take it regularly i can't take any benefit from it at all to hope to regulate it, that's my thinking anyway, messed up maybe. I haven't got anyone i could ask to help me regulate my routine or tablet taking at the moment. maybe going for a combined dosage then of an antidepressant(etc..)/anti-psychotic with the stim? but definitely don't just take it when you think about it. that's got car crash written all over it. Have you thought about getting one of those talking pill boxes? put it by your bed and set it to go off every morning. then take it even if you have a lie in, take it anyway. might help you not stay in bed and get moving Or set an alarm on your phone and keep the tablet in a pill box by your bed. just what ever you do don't rely on remembering to take it out of the pill bottle each time, get a pill box. because you can sometimes wake up, take one go back to sleep and forget if you've had one or not!!! no fun, done that been there, not a good time.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2012 21:03:01 GMT
With all due respect kameel I would take anything if it gave me just a day of normalcy, I would trade my soul happily for an eternity of roasting for just the chance of being taken seriously personally or professionally. I am aware that there is a danger o suicidal tendencies with Ritalin, u know what scares me? That it might not work, might not give me a teensy bit of relief, not once has it crossed my Mind that it might make me kill myself. Right now I would take that as an effective treatment option. The only problem though Ambly is that once you take it, you can't go back. You think your life annoys you now? fuck mate, some days i wish i never took ritalin in the first place. But then i remember how much it's helped me. However, if I had any worse of a temper than I do now, I don't think I could take it. I have a nasty temper and on my off days or when i'm on my period. I'm a bloody basket case. Even on my tablets, when i come down i avoid going out or i make sure i'm in bed. Danger. There are so many other alternative drugs you could try or combinations. I would leave stimulants as your last resort. just my 2p though...
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2012 22:17:02 GMT
...some days i wish i never took ritalin in the first place. But then i remember how much it's helped me. However, if I had any worse of a temper than I do now, I don't think I could take it. I have a nasty temper and on my off days or when i'm on my period. I'm a bloody basket case. Even on my tablets, when i come down i avoid going out or i make sure i'm in bed. Danger. Hell, yeah. I am Jekyll and Hyde. Off meds, my temper is as unpredictable and cataclysmic as a land mine. I can just imagine how it is for people around me. Everything looks lovely, foot wrong, kablooey. But dex is the oil in my detonator. Mostly stops my bombs going off. My nightmare would be to not have access to it. I'm dreading the next appointment in my NHS process - if he kicks me out, and tells me I have anxiety, or a personality disorder, or old age and menopause....I honestly don't know how I would cope.
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Post by mccutcheon on Feb 12, 2012 22:37:40 GMT
tbh, I never quite got what the problem is with taking concerta regularly. the short release ritalin - yes, that was complicated with timing and all that. But since I'm on concerta I just take my pill whenever I wake up/have to get up. Then it lasts me about 8 hours. if I'm having an easy evening I just leave it at that. And if I have to continue functioning or am a bit restless or getting prematurely tired or cranky I supplement with instant release ritalin. then I go to sleep anyway so I don't need any immediate mph dosage until I get up the next morning and take my concerta which is on my nightstand. rinse and repeat. but then again, my comorbid issue are negligible. a teensy bit of depression and that's it. sometimes pms fucks with my system. oddly I do have a hard time remembering to take my omegas though. probably because my inner alarm just doesn't ring three times a day
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2012 23:32:40 GMT
The problem is I am pretty much mr Hyde now all the time, most of what civility I had is worn away and people are seeing the neurotic/psychotic mess that is underneath. To be absolutely honest the ADHD is now the lesser problem the multiple comorbidity, depression, anxiety, personality problems are now the issue. Kameel you see what I am Like, I can't let an argument go I am like a dog with a chew toy, but it's like it all the time with everything and everybody I just want to stand in a mountain and scream FUCK YOU. Told you I was a teensy bit angry.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2012 11:19:40 GMT
The problem is I am pretty much mr Hyde now all the time, most of what civility I had is worn away and people are seeing the neurotic/psychotic mess that is underneath. To be absolutely honest the ADHD is now the lesser problem the multiple comorbidity, depression, anxiety, personality problems are now the issue. Kameel you see what I am Like, I can't let an argument go I am like a dog with a chew toy, but it's like it all the time with everything and everybody I just want to stand in a mountain and scream FUCK YOU. Told you I was a teensy bit angry. Give yourself some credit though, you recognise you have a problem. Have you thought about just being straight up with people you meet or work with? Saying, hey just to let you know I've got some mental health problems that I'm working on and sometimes I can come across the wrong way or a bit sharp. Please don't take it personally, I just get frustrated easy? Just put it out on the table so they don't get so taken aback or take it so personally when you go off on one and lose it. People will understand if you are honest with them. No one is perfect and if you show you are making a conscious effort it mighy help.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2012 12:01:40 GMT
Last time I did that the company promptly started keeping a 'tab' on me and in thecemd basically went and got a load if complaints on paper by going round and saying we know you don't like him we need your help. Hence the reason they wouldn't let me or my HR rep see the file cos it wouldn't last a second in tribunal. And the reason people didn't like me? Because I was more competent and intelligent than them... Damn my IQ.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2012 16:36:56 GMT
Last time I did that the company promptly started keeping a 'tab' on me and in thecemd basically went and got a load if complaints on paper by going round and saying we know you don't like him we need your help. Hence the reason they wouldn't let me or my HR rep see the file cos it wouldn't last a second in tribunal. And the reason people didn't like me? Because I was more competent and intelligent than them... Damn my IQ. so what, keep at it. that wasn't the right place for you. everything happens for a reason. try again, whats the worst that can happen now?
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Post by christvswarhol on Feb 14, 2012 14:38:45 GMT
I have spoken to my specialist about concerta recently. Its been suggested i have borderline 'triats' and have quite severe anxiety that limits what i do. I have presented to them that perhaps i am being given gasoline and theres no one at the wheel. They suggested psychological therapies. I had gone in there hoping that suggesting a different kind of drug route might draw their attention to the problems i've been having with it as i've been thinking perhaps its not the right time for me to be trying this medication. I've been thinking maybe the co morbidity aspect should be looked at again. But then that leads us into a big loop as my specialist is appearing to not want to prescribe anything else. I've tried strattera, but it made my rage worse...which they didn't mention can happen. Everything you are saying does worry me, but again its just a big loop, if i am trying to take it regularly and can't, its for the very same reason i don't take oral contraceptives. If i can't take it regularly i can't take any benefit from it at all to hope to regulate it, that's my thinking anyway, messed up maybe. I haven't got anyone i could ask to help me regulate my routine or tablet taking at the moment. maybe going for a combined dosage then of an antidepressant(etc..)/anti-psychotic with the stim? but definitely don't just take it when you think about it. that's got car crash written all over it. Have you thought about getting one of those talking pill boxes? put it by your bed and set it to go off every morning. then take it even if you have a lie in, take it anyway. might help you not stay in bed and get moving Or set an alarm on your phone and keep the tablet in a pill box by your bed. just what ever you do don't rely on remembering to take it out of the pill bottle each time, get a pill box. because you can sometimes wake up, take one go back to sleep and forget if you've had one or not!!! no fun, done that been there, not a good time. Thank you for your suggestions, it's the only way to go really i think. I have actually thought about setting my alarm to take it so if i do end up falling back to sleep it probably wouldn't be for long anyway
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Post by christvswarhol on Feb 14, 2012 14:40:37 GMT
The problem is I am pretty much mr Hyde now all the time, most of what civility I had is worn away and people are seeing the neurotic/psychotic mess that is underneath. To be absolutely honest the ADHD is now the lesser problem the multiple comorbidity, depression, anxiety, personality problems are now the issue. Kameel you see what I am Like, I can't let an argument go I am like a dog with a chew toy, but it's like it all the time with everything and everybody I just want to stand in a mountain and scream FUCK YOU. Told you I was a teensy bit angry. sounds familiar
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Lame44
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Post by Lame44 on Feb 14, 2012 17:32:48 GMT
Hi - I've been taking Ritalin for a few weeks and during the week at work it's been great. However, at the weekend when I've taken much smaller dosages or no dosage, I've been having huge fits of rage where I hit things/myself, even self harm - could this be linked to the Ritalin and taking less of it at the weekend? I used to this ages ago when I was particularly depressed but haven't done it for months and months Hi Poppyh, Is there a reason why you were taking lower doses at the weekend hon? I know some psychs recommend only taking meds at work etc and to have less or none at weekends....Is that what happend with you or did you just want to try it out for yourself? It's good to get to know what works and what doesn't and if you've only been taking it a few weeks then you're defo still finding your feet. It's normal for some people to rage when the meds wear off or are lowered, especially if you only been on the meds a few weeks. One of the other types of Ritalin may help though if you still find you get rages after a while. One called Concerta XL which is a slow release tablet, it lasts a lot longer than Methylphenidate, and it may be worth telling your psych that you get upset/angry when your meds wear off and ask if you can try one that is a longer release type. Sometimes it can take a fair while to find the right tablet for yourself, and even if you try a slow release one, it might still need tweaking now and again at first, like upping the dose after the initial lower one they may try,and it may work, it may not, but there are still other types you can try of course and your psych will know that. As for people saying you shouldn't be taking them, well I'm pretty sure that some of the people who have said that here have also had to find the right meds for themselves too, and it just can take a little time that is all. I wouldn't worry too much, and you're not alone, on a certain type of Methylphenidate I used to go mad at myself when they wore off, only I didn't realise why until it was pointed out by my girlfriend that my tablet had wore off if that makes sense. Either way, be honest with your psych and they'll try to help you as best they can.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2012 23:01:54 GMT
You sound like you have anger 'issues' too cvw, it strikes me that there are 2 types of people on this forum. Those with straight ADHD that have had a bad time and those with ADHD, several comorbidities and having a really bad time. I am not going to tell you to hang in there cos if your anything like me you are already dangling from your nails. Not a lot I can suggest, what do u do for a living? I already know you have a super high IQ and you are artistic lol
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2012 23:04:52 GMT
And no matter what anyone tells you cvw the anger is justified.
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Post by christvswarhol on Feb 15, 2012 0:44:27 GMT
You sound like you have anger 'issues' too cvw, it strikes me that there are 2 types of people on this forum. Those with straight ADHD that have had a bad time and those with ADHD, several comorbidities and having a really bad time. I am not going to tell you to hang in there cos if your anything like me you are already dangling from your nails. Not a lot I can suggest, what do u do for a living? I already know you have a super high IQ and you are artistic lol Heehee, wanted to comment on your 'invasion of Iraq....' without drawing much attention to the fact i am really pissed off it got locked and like an anarchist decided to place it here No seriously! I don't know very much about why this would be the case for you, nor what you dx is, but interestingly that's what i was like in group therapy, that or completely silent. I think it would bode well to say that some people adhere with certain kinds of therapy and some really don't. Do i have anger problems? Hum..LOL in group therapy (so is linked - see!), not anger management specific however; when i was 18 my anger was compared to that of another member of the group who was a pyromaniac hahahah...but then i was really inattentive and learned to shut my mouth after the first day pretty much. I put myself in anger management last year, just one to one as that 'level' of angry/frustrated is definately much more prominant than it used to be...although an old friend says i am much more angry but have lost my balls LOL thanks hahah What do i do for a living?...i am the female morrissey but even he worked in 'the smiths' an all technically. I am an intercalating (pending complete failure - joke) uni student; arty - YES! Super high IQ??? HAHAHHAAAH ok den....^^ i wish
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Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2012 1:05:33 GMT
Hmm I am a weird combination of super smart, articulate, imaginative and charming and stupid, argumentative, clumsy and irritating, the problem is I don't know what and when it will be. But the seesaw has been tipping more and more to the dark side. Already I got banned today from an ambulance forum cos I just couldnt shut up and allowed myself to be bated. Now all I can do is fantasise about a better tomorrow, in all reality I think I needed treatment and anger management 25 years ago, now I am pretty certain no amount of therapy or medication is going to change the personality issues, they are who I am or rather who I have grown to be. Painful but true, the best I can do is find a niche where I will be tolerated.
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