FWIW, Ritalin is not actually a form of "speed" or amphetamine. It is closely related, but is not actually an amphetamine. Adderall and some of the other ADHD meds are forms of amphetamine. However, both Ritalin and Adderall are controlled substances, so you have to pickup a written prescription from your doctor or pay to have it overnighted to you every month and have to hand carry it to the pharmacy every month. If you don't live close to your doctor, it can be a real drag having to do it every month.

I have taken Ritalin and Focalin for ADHD and find that they do calm and focus me, but they also tended to kind of take away the highs and lows in my emotional state. I just kind of feel like a robot going about my day. Obviously, as stated by others, the stimulants do affect folks like me with ADHD differently than they do others, but it is something to keep an eye on if you start taking it. The only reason I am not on them now is that I can't afford to have to see a psych doc every couple of months and pay out of pocket to "checkup" on my ADHD in order to get them to keep writing the scripts.

One other thing you can do to keep from developing tolerance and needing a higher and higher dose is take med "vacations". I used to take mine only on the weekdays when I really needed the focus for work. On weekends I would not take it and just kind of suffer through...albeit with alot of help from my wife.

Yes, and I noticed that my new doctor in Chicago had noted next to my Adderall on the chart that it is for ADHD. I hadn't really thought about that until you wrote this here. When I am there next time this month, I'll have then correct it in my record. Although, when I was a kid, I definitely had some symptoms of ADHD, but I haven't been officially diagnosed with it.

I take Ritalin for MS fatigue. I have been on it for at least. 6 months. It does help but then I have to take clonazapam to go to sleep. Sometimes I do not take it because I wake up around 10, 11 or even 12 and they warn that it will keep you up all night if you take it that late. Recently I have had really bad attacks of fatigue...it comes out of nowhere and I feel like I have to immediately go to sleep. I haven't taken the Ritalin regularly so that might be why. I hope this help and that you get to feeling more energized soon.

Yeah, having to get a written new script you hand walk in every time is a pain in the butt! I kept forgetting to ask the doc for it--finally got the script but the pharmacy had to order this past Monday--said it would be there Fri. But it never came in so I spent 2 hours trying to find a pharmacy that had it.

I wonder how different Ritalin feels compared to Adderall XR? Since I had a delay on the Adderrall and ran out I went back to Provigil. I forgot how much I love it but I just can't sleep on it. I swear it keeps me wide awake for 18 hours straight! Yikes. Finally got the Adderrall but when I went back on it I got a headache. :(

I need the uppers to function and the downers to sleep. Hate having to use all these drugs sometimes. :(