Sorry if this is the wrong place to start this thread, but I am kind of new here...

Anyways....Long story short, I live in the US, but do not have health insurance at the moment, but due to my income (last years) I cannot qualify for any state or federal assistants.

I've been taking generic Ritalin for a few years now. 20MG in the morning, and 20mgs after lunch. This is not time released.

I told my doctor I didn't like the 'crash' of coming down from Ritalin so quickly in the evening since I work until 10PM. He suggested I try the same dose with Concerta, the time released version of Ritalin.

The problem here is that it takes too long to kick in, but once it starts, everything seems fine.

Would it be possible to empty 1/2 of one of the capsules, crush, and drink it down with water for a faster effect, taking the remainder normally?

Also, anyone know of a affordable pharmacy? I have to pay $70 for 30 (1/2months) supply of the time release. The regular release is like $18.

Thanks for any help or suggestions!

I thought I should mention that these extended release Ritalin pills are capsules full of tiny white beads. Very similar to what I have seen of Adderal XR.

Anyone?

Why can't you have instant-release ones in the morning and modified-release ones in the afternoon?

It's a bit dodgy telling someone it's OK to crush MR products, which may explain the lack of replies. All I would say is make sure there is no ingredient in the MR version which could irritate the mouth.

a gelatin capsule melts rather fast in your stomach. heck, saliva will break one down within a minute or so.

i would think that each of the "pellets" in the capsule have a time release mechanism.

i could be wrong...

Right! And if you crush them, I would assume you destroy the time release mechanism. If you do that, the IR would be the same thing.

My daughter had the same crash down thing happen to her. She was one mean kid. We switched to Adderall which lasts longer in your system as soon as we could. She did a lot better and is still on the Adderall XR to this day. The IR and XR should kick in at the same time. Maybe try some caffeine like coffee with the XR till it kicks in? Just a suggestion.

Feel free to PM me, we've been thru the Ritalin ups and downs and Adderall also. My oldest has adult ADD and take Vyvanse.

do you take an antidepressant as well as the ritalin? has the ritalin helped your mood? ive read rit is used in a small dose with antidepressants sometimes. so i thought of trying it. there are several threads of purchasing ritalin.

i take a 20mg time released ritalin in the morning, and i also have a supply of 10mg instant release pills. sometimes if i need to i break one of the 10mg in half and take it with my ritalin sr at the same time.

Concerta doesn't break apart like a "normal" pill.

Just out of interest, do you have an ADHD diagnosis?

Sorry for not seeing this earlier.

You asked "Just out of interest, do you have an ADHD diagnosis? "

Yes I do.

It was just two months ago that my doctor convinced my insurance company that it was ok for me to use ritalin extended release and regular. Apparently the insurance company needed a 'prior authorization.'

Well right after that I was laid off and lost my insurance. So know I can't afford anything.

Ritalin is one of the cheapest ADD/ADHD meds.... shop around...

I bought the CG/AB type, round white pills and they make me feel horrible. I can't see how it could help depression or ADD, unless I have an inferior brand.

i took concerta, which is time released ritalin. i took the 52mg version, i think.

the tabs are solid, the inside is ritalin mixed with a waxy substance, and there is a black piece of foam that expands fitted into one end of the pill. all of this is coated in a hard shell.

one of the reasons that the pill is made this way is that it cant be 'defeated' and abused like the ritalin tabs, which are sometimes crushed and insulfated. it is possible to chew one of these very hard tabs up, but you will get a 52mg dose all at once, or, you could break it in half (you would need a hack-saw!) and you can get half and half, but the weird black piece of foam takes up most of one side of the tab.

it wont work, breaking the tab. it will kick in right away, but it doesnt really work because of the foam thing takes up space on one side, and its hard to half the dose accuratly.

- break open a tab and check it out, its pretty weird!

concerta is crazy expensive compared to reg ritalin too. you can buy the 10mg tabs and do something like dose1 - 7am, dose 2 - 12pm, dose 3 - 6pm. or whatever works for you at whatever dose levels.

Niki, hi, what do you mean by insulfated?

hey soho, hope your doing well. 'insulfated' means sniffed up the nose. i've never done it, dont need to and never will, but its common for university students to do this.

haha, its really good to talk to you actually. i just moved to one of your canadian 'sister cities'. heres a hint, the people speak french and its -40 with windchill in the winter. if your ever up here, drop me a line. i might be going down to nyc next year and maybe i'll check you out.

that sucks that ritalin isnt working well for you. try another variety. honestly, it is the best for me. i took the extended release version (non-concerta) and it made me feel depressed, made my face sweaty, made me feel awefull. now i take the brand name 10mg three times a day- awesome. helps with my focus in work/school tasks and also helps me socially in my day to day life, like i am better able to hold a conversation, better able to be socially engaged. doesnt make me feel crappy/depressed at all.

anyways yo, ttyl!

- to the op, stay at it!

Sent you a message. French, eh? Montreal or west of maybe. But when I was there French was the primary language from Nova Scotia onward. Can't tolerate such cold temps, don't think there's a heater to be found that can warm things up. Maybe steam heat?

Problem with online is that you can't really ask for 'brand' name. Can you? Hope you haven't frozen already....

mmmm, french 'steam heat' hahaha! oui, cest bon pour l'hiver nuits. god, that was terrible!

in nova scotia they are 'accadiennes' and they speak half french half english.

its allll francais where im at.

It's 'insufflated' (asthma sufferers may remember Intal Spincaps, which made a grand job of worsening asthma when insufflated via their Spinhaler). No prizes for guessing: (A)which sites Google churns up for the incorrect spelling; (B)which drug is involved; and (C)who did it.

Answers:

(A)Bluelight, Erowid, Drugs.com
(B)oxycodone
(C)SWIM

thanks neph, your a bloody gem!

Are the extended release pills supposed to work all day?


Also, does anyone notice the difference between Ritalin and Adderall?

Concerta XL, Equasym XL, and Medikinet XL are all supposed to be dosed once a day, in the morning.

Yes. I find a big difference between the two. As Ritalin does next to nothing for me, where as Adderall is very helpful.

I have been on zoloft for 6 years, with increased dosing. I was up tp 200mg a day (4 50mg) and it just wasn't helping. I was also taking Ultram for herniated disks which is a problem due to serotonin syndrome. I supplement those with the hydros to make them all last longer. Anyways, the doc changed me to Lexapro which is not covered 100% by my insurance. I had tried prozac (I was a zombie) and Effexor (made me nauseated). Any input on Lexapro? TIA. She also gave me a rx for 30 klonopin with no refills (for emergencies). I asked about Pristiq and Cymbalta and was told they are like Effexor just labeled different?

Effexor (venlafaxine) and Pristiq (desvenlafaxine) are pretty much identical, and probably could be called the same thing under a different label. They both inhibit re-uptake of serotonin and noradrenaline. Duloxetine does the same thing, but it definitely not the same drug under a different label; it is made by a different company.

Ritalin is a *wonderful* antidepressant, I simply love it. I like it better than the amphetamine class stimulants strangely enough. It's just important to balance it with a SNRI so your tolerance doesn't explode.

Also, do not crush and snort it. It contains talc which will eventually cause talcosis/silicosis and chronic lung disease. You can get it even many years after. If you absolute must do it this way, use a liquid solution. The dust is harmful.

Ritalin is good but there are stimulants that make both this and adderall look like thin coffee. And consider how expensive ritalin is...

At least this piece of advice sounds like it is coming from your actual, personal experience with this drug.
But, your education about the comparable properties of stimulants versus antidepressants should have clued you into the specific clinical differences between seratonin and norephenephrine inhibition and dopamine acceleration.
You must have some arcane reference you've discovered that underscores your theory about Ritalin and depression. Would love to see it.
And I'm sure everyone appreciates your thoughtful advice about the alternative to snorting the drug by dissolving it in a liquid first.
You seem to be two distinct personalities when I read the stuff you post. Are there actually two of you? One consistently warns about the risks associated with prescription abuse and the other looking all over to buy drugs on the Internet.
Or is it some kind of undiagnosed split personality or bipolar disorder?

One of the main side effects of Ritalin use can be depression and extreme anxiety. Maybe you should chat with your doctor about a safer option.

really believe treating depression is so very different depending on the individual.

i cannot take any anti-depressant without horrible side effects. my dr. gave me ritalin for add and had taken it for a few years with good and some troubling results. i stopped all meds for almost a year -- but this year i've had too many tragedies and got so depressed i can hardly leave my home. finally saw my shrink and i am back on ritalin.

i feel better -- however, i know it won't last, better than wanting to throw myself in front of a train, though. and he did tell me it works as anti-depressant on some.

i have discovered that i am now allergic to ritalin and was hoping someone could help.

my face is a mess with a rash and my eyes are swollen. i am sure it is the ritalin and i have to stop taking it now. would like to know if adderall has this side effect as i can get it from the shrink -- but do not want to spend the money if this will happen to me.

my doctor is useless as far as side effects -- he is only useful for prescriptions that he thinks you qualify for. i definitely do.

sooooooooo -- can anyone help?

thanks....