Posted by Steve P on August 07, 1998 at 02:27:12:
In Reply to: RITALIN STOPPED MINE posted by Steve P. on August 06, 1998 at 01:46:00:
Ritalin (methylphenidate) as I understand it has been used to treat a wide variety of medical conditions including; but not limited to, narcolepsy. ADD, depression in post-stroke and cancer patients and in combination with slow release morphine, to treat severe cancer pain. My experience follows.
The first full day of Ritalin therapy I was incredibly anxious. I had missed two expected attacks and still had what felt like a strong shadow ( perhaps it was as much a very sore head from almost seven weeks of hair pulling, head banging etc. ) My episodes generally have lasted 9-12 weeks with a gradual tapering at the end and shadows lingering for another week or so. Fearing that perhaps the Rx. was not strong enough to kill the episode I upped my intake to a total of 50mg. by 7pm. Think that was a mistake. My G.P. had recommend 5-10 mg. 3 times daily. The next 36 hrs. I experienced the following: sweating episodes, blurred vision, swollen glands in the neck, constipation and mild stomach cramps. Within 12 hrs. of returning to the recommended dosage I felt like a new though very cautious person. I suspect that had I taken as prescribed I may still have experienced some of the side effects though not as strongly. But simply the complete absence of attacks and shadows by day 3 made the side effects scarcely objectionable. Today after 5 full days of Ritalin therapy I feel 85-90% of my normal self. Past post-episode experience was 90% after 2-3 weeks. I admit to feeling more anxious than I would like to. Chalk some of that up to returning to the full expectations of daily life. Some to having lost a lucrative contract because of the C/Hs. A bit of anxiety I can cope with. The recent episode of C/H would have been far and away more hellish with out the support of this fantastic Internet resource!
Will post more follow ups as days go on.
Painfree days ahead.
Steve Prosser