[kate]

I've been taking Ritalin for 4 months now. Normally, before all this, (I'm a 15 year old girl) I was creative, shy, quiet, I loved writing short stories and poetry and I loved watching movies. I was sad alot, but I could deal with it. Now, theres not alot of pleasure out of reading and writing and listening to music, I feel really depressed and sometimes I cry in my room for hours, esspecially over weekends when I don't take the pill, I feel lonely and upset and everything seems like a huge problem. Ritalin worked miracles for me, but only for the first week. Now I just feel dull when I take it, and when I don't take it I feel really upset. I'm really scared that my brain shrunk or if I'll be depressed for life. Can taking 40mg of Ritalin (I don't have ADD, I just daydream alot. I can't even daydream anymore) can taking it for 4 months cause permanent damage? Should I stop taking it?

[Beez]

See your doctor immediately and tell him or her the med is not working for you. Don't worry about it shrinking your brain or being depressed for life. In the meantime, take less Ritalin.

[laraby9]

I'm so sorry you're going through this. Try going to a different doctor (one who might not be so quick to prescribe drugs to you) and get a second opinion. Also, that new doctor can tell you whether or not you can stop taking it. With some drugs, you're not supposed to just stop taking them cold turkey, because it could cause severe withdrawal problems. So it's best to go see another doctor ASAP. You should not be this depressed.A friend of mine also became less like herself when she took Ritalin. You're not alone. Whenever you do feel depressed, make sure you talk to yourself correctly and remind yourself that it is the drug making you feel this way, not anything really real. Good luck.

[Astrid]

Methamphetamines can turn people into real zombies, that's why it's so sad when little kids get prescribed to it.That being said, here are some things you can do to minimize the adverse effects of ritilin:-don't drink caffiene when taking it. A can of monster combined with my adderall makes me speed so much I feel like I'm on cocaine. It also will heighten feelings of depression or isolation. Instead, drink orange juice. It kind of counteracts with methamphetamines and will weaken the side effects.-if you take a tablet as opposed to a capsule, cut it in half and take one when you normally do and the other half later in the day. Also, try talking to your doctor and ask if you could be prescribed a time release version, which spreads out through the day and is easier for your body to handle.-perhaps try getting prescribed to any of the following: concerta, focalin, or adderall. Adderall will likely have the same effects on you as ritalin does, they are most chemically similiar, but concerta and focalin may help you focus without those bad feelings. I myself got very depressed on concerta, but switched to adderall and I was fine. I know other people who were the opposite. it's worth a try.Lastly, ask yourself why you're on it. It's an easy drug to get addicted to, and if it's hurting you more than it's helping, ditch it. I used to get really sad to think how dull my thoughts had become because of adderall. I couldn't think creatively and I lost all passion for writing. After getting my dosage adjusted from 40mg a day to 30, i felt a great deal better.Hope this helps

[dobby]

oh my gosh! my son was/is supposedly diagnosed withadd, because he is not doing well in math ( seriously that is how it was explained to me) he is very slow at doing his homework and I am told he has trouble paying attention in school, he admits to daydreaming a little in school, but I also have daydreams in class especially if the teacher is boring, and math was my worse subject too. but I don't have add or adhd. the doctor did a test and decided my son should be on ritalin but I refused because I heard report from other parents that it will stunt your growth, and the children that were on it stopped eating, their appetites decreased and they got really skinny. I asked the doctor about this and she agreed that it can stunt your growth but she said that's only if you stop eating. but they go hand in hand loss of apetite and growth stunt. anyway getting to your specific question the doctor then informed me that you should not be on ritalin for more the a few months and when you are taken off of it everything will return to normal, your appetite will return and you will continue to grow again. so I assume if what you say is true then once you are off ritalin everything should return to normal. by the way I refused to put my son on ritalin, so the doctor suggestion fish oil or primrose oil for the fatty acid and omega 3's but she is still pushing me to try ritalin everytime I go for a office visit. my son is 10. I don't like to see the over use of ritalin or any drug on children I prefer to try something more natural like glutton and casien free diet and fish oil as well as b12. she also suggested ginko herb. thanks for telling me how its affecting you, its another reason for me to question using ritalin.

[Sonshine74]

U should talk ta yor Doc about all of this, explain it ta him/her.If it's the kind a Doc that does't really take much interest in what's goin on wit u, then search fo another Doc! Do Not have fear! Fear NOT KNOWING and bein in the dark about options that can really help U U U!!! It's yor body, yor mind. U make yor own decisions. But I would not go off the Ritalin until the Doc takes U off or another Doc has U in his care.Your Sonshine!

[1024]

If you don't have ADD, then why are you taking Ritalin? If you were prescribed it without a formal ADD diagnosis, then I don't wonder that you're feeling this way! Stiumulants affect non-ADDers MUCH more differently than those with it. I certainly hope no one prescribed it to you without testing you first, but if they did, then either get tested or stop taking it right away.Are you inattentive type ADD? (Is that what you mean by"daydreaming"?)If you do have ADD, then you have to take your meds consistently, not just on school days. If your doc says otherwise, get a new doc!"Coming down"into that ADD fog when your meds are no longer in your system must be awful...you've got to take your pills every day.If Ritalin isn't working well for you, then there are other options. Talk to your doctor about switching.

[Sharon H]

Obviously this is not the drug for you. No drug should cause you those side effects. My advice- go back to your personal physican and ask to have the drug changed to something you can tolerate. The whole idea of medication is to help you feel better and function better. If it does not do this, then it is simply not working. Recently I asked to be taken of Paxil. The drug my doctor prescribed was a different form of the same drug but slow release format. I had similar feelings as you are having now. I would weep uncontrolably for no reason, become withdrawn and almost suicidal when the drug started to go out of my system. Its definitely not for you.Four months is not long for drugs given for the treatment of depression. It takes about 6 to 8 weeks for the drug to even begin to start to reverse your feelings of depression. I am pretty sure it will not cause pernament damage because of the short time you have been taking it. Some doctors will even argue that you have not been on it long enough to know what it will do because it is not yet up to its full potential in your system. Bottom line here...... if you are unhappy with the drug and find it is not helping then get off it and don't take it anymore. Tell your doctor you want something else instead. It is not them that has to suffer with these symptoms and discomfort, its you.And,no your brain hasn't shrunk and no you are not going to be depressed all of your life. You will get through this. The numbness mentally is normal. Its the drug! That's what it does. All drugs for depression are the same in its effects. It is like one walks around in a fog all day long, when the drug weakens in your system it is not as effective in the numbing process and you feel weepy. You will go through that. It could be a combination of depression and a side effect of the drug itself, either or, or both. Hang in there you will be fine. Give yourself the time to recover, try not to worry over little things. Depression is not easy to go through. Its devastating to your self esteem and some days are just plain difficult to get through irregardless of what drug you take. If you are not happy with what you are taking ask to be put on something else. I was put on five before I found something that worked.Don't get discouraged keep trying to find the drug that is right for you Depression is often the cause of all these things you are talking about, the lonliness, feeling s of being upset, no interest in anything, isolation and the tearful feelings etc. I was the same as you in many ways. You are okay. Don't start to worry and be fearful, it will only upset you more emotionally. Howeever if you are concerned with what you are feeling and don't feel it is helping then get off the drug. There are people who when they find the right meds feel happy and are able to function with hardly any side effects to the drugs they are on. Tell your doctor you want it changed for you- also tell him what you are feeling. If you are adamant he will change it for you. As a footnote..... depression usually has a lifespan of two years and then it is over. Take heart, nothing last forever. You will be fine. If you need someone to stand by you feel free to email me. I am here for you.