Can Ritalin help for concussion? (I have ADHD)
 

I am about 1 month after my concussion so 4 weeks (is that still early in the recovery process?)

So one week I felt a lot better and the headaches got better and got my appetite back and then I got my headaches back but in a diffrent place than origanly it was on the top of the head now it's like in the temples and the sides of my forehead so maybe that could be something(I think my glasses needed to be updated so that could be something) and I kind of lost my appetite again but that could be from the stress and aniexty again which leads I my next question

So my question is that I read some where that Ritalin could be prescribed for a concussion and I have ADHD and was diagnosed when I was 6 and I started taken Ritalin from Kindergarten to 7th grade. So I was thinking about going back on Ritalin way before my concussion because I struggled with staying focused and almost failed a couple of classes In 9th grade..so I'm asking if I go back on for Ritalin for ADHD, could it also help me for my concussion like the mental part because it would get my mind on school and stuff..Ritalin helped me for ADHD so much so that's why I don't mind going back on it..

If no one knows about the Ritalin I understand but also could it be my glasses...

THANK YOU!

I was taken off my ADD meds when I got my concussion... not sure why but I think it was because it is a stimulant...

Yeah but I need it to focus, I couldnt focus like last year at school BEFORE the concussion...

Thank you!

you are very early in the recovery process and the fact that your symptoms aren't terrible is a great sign at one month!! I dont know about the Ritalin part but I have a strong feeling this concussion will be a distant memory in a year or maybe less. Anxiety is a side effect of tbi. Ask you doctor about what medications could help you get through the hard times.

You will find both sides of the Ritalin after concussion concept proposed by doctors. There is inadequate evidence either way.

Have you started the Vitamins and Supplements regimen in the sticky at the top ? It would be worthwhile. Good brain nutrition helps the brain when under stress.

There is no reason to not get your eye glass prescription tested.

And, YES, you are still very early in your recovery.

Shady, I was put on a stimulant like that my second month in. Was a bad idea at least in my case.

Although, after my neuropsych test its deemed that I have a severe impairment in attention. They want to try stimulants again but are skeptical because the two different types I tried did nothing

Thanks everyone!!!

Kev,
Ritalin really helped for my ADHD so I know it works for that..

Mark,
I have not tried the vitamins yet, but I will look into that and talk to my doctor...thank you!

Markneil1212,

I hope I can forget this but this is all that is on my mind and that leads to aniexty and that leads to me feeling worst (that normal?) and when I first got my concussion I didn't know that aniexty and depression were a side effect and that made me feel worst

I do believe you will be fine, but you need to consult with a doctor to get you through the tough times. Take the advice given on this board also. Just tell yourself you will be ok in time. What you are experiencing is not unique and it will pass in due time, I know its tough, you are not alone.

Markneil,
Thanks! I just noticed that I gained my appetite back when I didn't worry as much and now that I'm back in school and it's hard to focus so that gives me headaches and leads to stress and loss of appetite so, I feel a lot better when I'm on here and knowing that I'm not alone, I would talk to my parents but they never had a concussion so it's hard.

You're not alone and you WILL be fine. It will just take time and you don't need to suffer without any help. See your doctor to get you though the hard times.
Someone will always get back to you in time on this board. And some time down the road you will be on the list of those who got better and left the board!! and that will make me happy.

Thanks! And yeah I gotta talk to the Doctor and about going back on Ritalin...I just make myself crazy thinking that I should be better and that I'm never gong to get better and I will be making myself crazy forever, and it's not even like a painful headache but I got the loss of appetite back again (prob because if aniexty) and that really bothers me and now I feel cold in my legs and feet and my forearm sometimes so that makes me wonder what that is

Also should I still be resting a lot? Like I mean I have school but other than that like at home

yes, you should be resting still.. .you are still early on...

Okay thank you!

Another question

I read that taking Motrin,Ibuprofen,Advil can make concussions worse, I was taking Motrin for the headaches after the injury and I took it for a while then stopped and started again....could that of made my headaches worse and make it take longer to recover. I stopped taking it now because maybe it made it worse

I've never heard that ibuprofen can make concussions worse. I use it for head aches. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is not good for the brain.

I just found a comment about ibuprofen, concussions and rats. No references were given.

Mark,

I read that taking Tylenol was better because ibuprofen (isn't it the same as Advil and Motrin) could cause bleeding and bruising because it Is a blood thinner

Advil is bad the first 48 hours.. this is because advil can thin the blood and if you have a bleed it can make it more serious.. after they have ruled that out you are fine to take advil...

I think I took ibuprofen in the first 48 hrs and at that time I didn't know that I had a concussion just thought it was a headache...so I have no idea... They never scanned my head or nothing because I went to the doctor like a week and a half later.,..... So can taking that early on of made it worse

only if you had a brain bleed... if your doctor thought that was the case it would have ordered a scan...

Yeah they never even said anything about doing a scan or anything