Wondering about the difference: Ritalin - Adderall

[123Roberte]

First things first, Hello to all!

I'm a newbie so treat me good for the first few posts. Then do what you may after that.

Back in the day I was a daily meth user, snorting only. My useage was probably on the average of an 1/8 a week. Kept that going for about 2 years, then I got married, got a job, had a few babies. (well my wife did, I did have a supporting role though) then I just stopped. Actually slowed down to a weekend or party type of using. That slowly tapered off in year 3. Cocaine always made me tired and sleepy. It never wired me up. That's why the meth was my choice. The euphoria, the energy, the sex...Y'all know what I'm taking about.
That was 20 yrs ago. Haven't had anything speedy since, 'cept cold medicine and stuff along that line, which was not my intention. In retrospect those years on meth were my most productive. Ever since those days I have had the hardest time getting or having the energy needed (other than the faked kind when the mother in-law came over) to enjoy &/or do even the smallest of tasks...Gardening, garage cleaning, house upkeep, etc. All physicals showed I'm perfectly healthy.

Then in 2001 I got injured and started taking vicodin. That gave me the energy or the gumption to do things. Great, now that I'm injured I get the urge to complete tasks....Figures!

The injury turned serious to where I had to have my knee replaced twice. So now I take methodone and have been for 5 years now. My current dosage is 120mg 3x day. This makes me comfortable enough to accomplish the smaller tasks, but the desire or initiative went south. So now my Psyche gave me Ritalin (reg tabs) to try. 20mg 3x day. It doesn't help.

So my question is this. Did I ruin that internal drive & desire to accomplish because of the meth use? and Why then isn't the Ritalin at that dosage helping restore it? and lastly, should I ask my doctor to let me try Adderall to see if that works? My one fear is he'll take away my access to any drug thinking I'm searching for lost youth. He's cool, but I need to go in there with some knowledge, other than what the websites give. I want to hear from people who perhaps suffer this same problem.

Thanks for the ear, sorry to bend it so much just being out of the gate and all.

[svenghali]

Sure, SWIY should give Adderall a try, in SWISven's experience, the amphetamine salts from Adderall give him a much more focused feel, as opposed to the simply sped-up feel of methylphenidate (Ritalin).

[stoneinfocus]

Since his use as 20 years ago, it´s no crime anymore ;-)

I don´t like ritaline that was prescribed to me because it´s bad on my stoamch, ansd sometimes I feel like it´s most of the worst effects of coke and dexies combined in one drug.

The feeling of loss of energy, it might be true, that in reverse, everything seemed better than it actually was, it´s to me a kind of motor or motivation, which is a good thing, because when you think back, you´ll have all the access to the moment, you didn´t fully get while being in it.

And once you drove ferrari, you want to do it again sometimes, because a
middleclass car doensßt promote the feeling of a ferrari, so is it´s ferraris fault for not likeing the middle class car?-of course that´s bullshittign, idf youßre really lacking energy, but worth considering, that it might be just the impression of lackng energy.

[123Roberte]

Thanks co-incidence for your response. I echo your feelings on the stomach pain. Mine sets in about an hour or so after I take the ritalin. I found your wisdom to be keen, thought provoking & right on the mark. I guess that song by Janis Joplin (words and music by Kris Kristofferson) fit the bill to the gist of your reply.... " I'd trade all my tomorrows for one single yesterday " Although I have mixed feelings about because I came so far from then to now I only say that line to be sentimental. I love where I'm at and what I have now. I just miss the good 'ol days. I know there's something medicinal that can help me with the depression / motivation. I will bring it up at my next psyche appt.
P.S. wasn't there something said about Ritalin and a rat poison similarity??

Oh well,

[IntrepidTraveler]

Not to make you feel old, but SWIM's parents have encountered a similar situation and both use different scripts to deal. Both of them are pharmacists, so they have experimented widely with various perscription drugs to treat their lack of motivation, mild depressions, etc. SWIM's dad preferred adderall, while his mom thinks she gets less side effects from ritalin. Evidently, the choice of adderall or ritalin is just a matter of genetics and personal preference.

For what it's worth, SWIM HIGHLY prefers adderall, and also gets stomach aches, jitters and an overall "sped up" feelng on ritalin that makes it harder to function. You should definitely talk to your doctor.

By the way-SWIM stands for Someone Who Isn't Me, the pronoun that we use here on DF to avoid self-incrimination. The other common variant is SWIY=Someone Who Isn't You. Just didn't want you confused with my swimming. Oh..and welcome to DF