The Forums › Forums › Medication › Methylphenidate Generic › My Journey, Input appreciated. › Reply To: My Journey, Input appreciated.
@Cj3w, I’m not an expert, but I know from experience that instant-release methylphenidate only lasts about 4 hours. So 2 doses wouldn’t be enough for 18 hours.
Concerta may be a better choice for you, because of its extended delivery through about 12 hours (at least, for me). But everyone’s different, so finding the right med & dose takes trial-and-error, under medical supervision.
If cost is an issue, Concerta’s manufacturer has a free co-pay plan that can help. And it makes the only generic brand that really is identical to branded Concerta.
Talk to your pharmacist about all this. Often, pharmacists know more about meds than doctors do. Then, you can have an informed discussion with your doctor about it.
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It sounds like maybe your sleep cycle is an issue here, as well as perhaps the gloom of this winter-without-end. When even neuro-typicals are complaining that it has them feeling tired & miserable, you know it’s a bad winter.
Shift-work isn’t good for anyone, because it messes up our circadian rhythm (the “internal clock” that controls our bodily functions). But its effects are really strong on people with mental or physical health issues like diabetes and metabolic disorders.
When your sleep is messed-up, it affects your brain-functions, mood, digestion, blood-sugar levels, metabolism, and (most dangerously) cardiovascular functions.
Like many daily medications, ADHD meds work best when taken at the same time every day. When you switch your schedule, it takes quite a while for your circadian rhythm to adjust. Until it does, you’re essentially jet-lagged. (As I often am.)
Dr. Roberto Olivardia has done a lot of work on the effect of sleep disruption on ADHD. Google him.
There’s also a video download about sleep issues, in the Shop: http://totallyaddshop.com/products/addeep-sleep
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