Request for comments - Ritalin, Focalin, micromanagement of effects and side-effects

[no-go]

Swim has determined therapeutic use of methylphenidate Hcl (Ritalin and generics immediate release) is best achieved by oral administration, and now will only dose through this route, for lately its CNS is needed, not the high.

However, oral administration has always been ... complicated, the effects unreliable. Until recently (since 2 months ago). Swim controlled the first wave, now suffers a second wave of separate side-effects.

Swim is asking for anyone with any pertinent knowledge or similar experiences to comment on the following, to determine whether permanent MPH cessation is necessary.

For the following, the dose is 20-40mg of generic IR ritalin, taken orally. No other drugs present, never taken within 4 hours of Vitamin-B, occasionally taken within 2 hours of 500mg vitamin C.

1. Swim always had a (welcome) bowel movement when it kicks in. Since the side-effects, the bowel movements stopped, replaced by mild abdominal pain.
2. Swim began to sweat profusely, temperature increased by up to 1.8 degrees F.
3. His urine smells sulfurous for the whole day *following* the dose.
4. Little to no CNS or DRI-induced mental energy and focus
5. Visual distortion (mostly things seem brighter)
6. Blood sugar spike if taken with a few glasses of coca-cola.
7. Shaking, twitching
8. itching/crawling skin.

To mitigate against these, swim began taking the pills along with saltines (6-12). The result: Saltines therefore mitigated against 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, leaving 3, 5, 8 as acceptable side-effects. In other words, saltines make Ritalin work again.

Swim suspects therefore that sodium-Dependant neurotransmitters have been disturbed OR liver enzymes are not functioning correctly. Upon reading that the l-isomer *may* disrupt metabolism of the d-isomer of MPH, swim this month (third month of enduring side effects) switched to Focalin, 10mg twice a day, taking just the d-isomer.

The result:

1. Inflammation of the nasal passage (excessive mucuous production). Doctor just prescribed steroids alleviate this problem, beginning next week.
2. Virtually no CNS or DRI effect, even after attempted re-dosing. No therapeutic effect at all.
3. Visual disturbance NOT TOLERABLE.
4. No sweating.
5. Blood pressure increases. Never happened w/ Ritalin.
6. Urine never smells odd
7. Digestion slowed, weight gained
8. No itchy/crawling skin
9. Shaking/twitching persists
10. Troubling drowsiness within two hours of dose

Overall, Focalin feels like Wellbutrin. The blood pressure issue is alarming, swim suspects the d-isomer, without the l-isomer, gives more adrenergic response. Saltines or sodium-rich foods do nothing to alleviate any of these side-effects of Focalin, as they do with Ritalin.

What is going on here? Tia