Ritalin Works For Me!

I have the diagnosis of ADD. I am now on Ritalin and it is superb at helping me on a daily basis. I still have a distracted mind, but I'm assuming if I didn't have that, than possibly I would have a wrong diagnosis. Anyhow, I'm doing better overall and am so happy that Ritalin works for me.

Hi Quiet Girl
I was diagnosed with ADHD last year, but its taken up till last week to get an NHS Consultant to agree to treat me. The stumbling block has been that i'm a manic depressive and former (very occasional now) user of cannabis. I tried to get help from a specialist NHS ADHD service. The consultant refused due to the mental health issues.

I dabbled with the idea of private treatment and paid £295 for a 40 mins (approx) consutation. Before sending a complaint citing discrimination against the NHS for refusing to treat me due to having a mental health condition. I sent the complaint to the NHS commisioners (I think this is where the complaint went) and a little while after submitting the complaint, I had an appointment with an NHS Mental health triage service. From then onwards the NHS have treated me very differently. Showing much more understanding, and willingness to help

So I've taken my first two doses of Methyphenidate/ritalin today, and it seemed to work pretty well. It calmed/slowed me down quite a bit. So rather than trying to butt in on conversations and monopolise. I was able to stop and listen. Felt miraculous in many ways, as I've always been quite full on most of the time.
Ive been given a prescription of 5mg to be taken twice per day. So I'm supposed to take the first around 8am, and the next at midday. I've not been given a third as the psychiatrist is trying to avoid me becoming an insomniac. I'm still very easily distracted, but I'm very hopeful this treatment will improve my life.

Cool!

Semi-Interesting wrote:Hi Quiet Girl
I was diagnosed with ADHD last year, but its taken up till last week to get an NHS Consultant to agree to treat me. The stumbling block has been that i'm a manic depressive and former (very occasional now) user of cannabis. I tried to get help from a specialist NHS ADHD service. The consultant refused due to the mental health issues.

I dabbled with the idea of private treatment and paid £295 for a 40 mins (approx) consutation. Before sending a complaint citing discrimination against the NHS for refusing to treat me due to having a mental health condition. I sent the complaint to the NHS commisioners (I think this is where the complaint went) and a little while after submitting the complaint, I had an appointment with an NHS Mental health triage service. From then onwards the NHS have treated me very differently. Showing much more understanding, and willingness to help

So I've taken my first two doses of Methyphenidate/ritalin today, and it seemed to work pretty well. It calmed/slowed me down quite a bit. So rather than trying to butt in on conversations and monopolise. I was able to stop and listen. Felt miraculous in many ways, as I've always been quite full on most of the time.
Ive been given a prescription of 5mg to be taken twice per day. So I'm supposed to take the first around 8am, and the next at midday. I've not been given a third as the psychiatrist is trying to avoid me becoming an insomniac. I'm still very easily distracted, but I'm very hopeful this treatment will improve my life.

Hello Semi-Interesting, so sorry for the late reply. I hope you will still read this. I am also manic-depressive. I have bipolar I. Did you further inquire about why the consultant refused to treat you. Bipolar is a mental illness. But I have both and I have read that you can have both. So I don't see the logic to that information.

I am much more focused and my mood feels great. I still get distracted when talking or writing, but it is easier to get some work done now with Ritalin. My energy is better diverted, it seems. But overall, I feel this improvement with mood.

I take 10mg twice a day. One in the morning and one midday like you do. I want to ask the pdoc what they think, if I can use another dose or just stick with two. I also get easily distracted. My mind gets overwhelmed at times and you don't even know if it's the ADD or the bipolar that is causing this symptom.

For me, ritalin has helped so much. I know that for some people, medication does nothing for them, but that is not always the case. Wishing you lots of luck.

Thank you Mitmit!