Has anyone taken Ritalin for cognitive issues
 

or other meds like it? Did it help? How long have you been taken it? I have been to two neurologists who have suggested trying Ritalin or some type of meds like it to help with cog issues. Just wanted to hear if anyone has tried any of tthese meds.

Doc gave Ritalin to my husband. he took one pill, one day. It took away all intelligent thought. Made the guy sit home and do nothing, and he's lucky I didn't kill him in the meantime it was so bad.

Doc then gave him Provigil. It helps a lot. he is much more himself when he takes it, and I can tell when he hasn't. Problem is, when it wears off, it seems to wear off suddenly, and he just crashes. Doc changed dosage to take 2 a day now, one in morning (about 9), one about 4 hours later, the overlap seems to work, he no longer falls off his feet at 4pm, and it seems to soften the wearing off, happens more slowly, not a sudden crash.

He is 19 months post concussion, doc started the meds this spring.

Nuvigil for cog issues
 

I have tried Nuvigil twice now - once at 150 mg daily, more recently at 50 mg daily, and both times I've had to stop because of the depression that I notice around 3 weeks into it. Eventually I become an emotional wreck, sobbing at the slightest thing and feeling detached and kind of vacant. I won't say that it did nothing to help my focus, but any improvement was definitely not significant enough to outweigh the depression.

I've never heard of ritalin being prescribed for injury. Ritalin is supposed to work on the frontal lobe and executive functioning which although it may seem related to TBI, the mechanisms are different - comparing neurotransmitter action to neuronal stress.