What Does Ritalin Feel Like?

[penta]

Swim has taken many different kinds of stimulants before ranging from caffeine to adderall, but swim has never had the chance to try ritalin before. Swim was going to get prescribed ritalin a few months back, but instead swim was diagnosed with depression and anxiety (so no no to stimulants).

Anyway, how are the effects of ritalin comparable to adderall? Is it generally the same, or is it more/less powerful? Is dosing for ritalin the same as dosing on adderall?

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[staples]

Originally Posted by penta

Swim has taken many different kinds of stimulants before ranging from caffeine to adderall, but swim has never had the chance to try ritalin before. Swim was going to get prescribed ritalin a few months back, but instead swim was diagnosed with depression and anxiety (so no no to stimulants).

Anyway, how are the effects of ritalin comparable to adderall? Is it generally the same, or is it more/less powerful? Is dosing for ritalin the same as dosing on adderall?

Less powerful, it seems. From what I understand, ritalin/concerta (methylphenidate) blocks re-uptake of some dopamine receptors, while adderall does this plus triggers the release of dopamine. Adderall also affects serotonin I think, not sure what this means in terms of how you feel (someone else might be able to explain)?

Overall, adderall is regarded as more euphoric and stimulating than ritallin

As for dose: it's hard to say. I've heard some people estimate that 30mg ritalin is about equivalent to 10mg of adderall in terms of how concentrated it makes them feel -- be careful though, as they are two different drugs and the relationship is probably not linear.

[kfoot73]

swim thinks the ritalin feeling is similar to adderall, however ritalin works better for swims adhd. from what i know adderall makes people a little more twitchy than ritalin.

[yumpop00952]

swim thinks ritalin is stronger than adderall, but swim knows it affects each person differently

Swim thinks Ritalin and Focalin are used for both the euphoria as well as the sped up thought process.

[Xeraphim]

SWIM thinks methylphenidate feels like a buzzing in one's head, it streamlines thoughts into one train, great for concentration, not so much for multi-tasking. The mechanism which they effect is very similar. Both are dopamine receptor agonists, I beleive methylphenidate works by inhibiting the breakdown of dopamine, therefore increasing synaptic levels. Adderall (6 different formulations of amphetamine, dirty stuff) works by stimulating release mechanisms and releasing an above baseline amount of dopamine into the synapse, a riskier approach to affecting the dopa system if you ask me.
SWIM recommends watching out for the anger, depression and frustration that results in the down from these chemicals. Remember that its only temporary and whatever is bothering you will pass. The down (after approx 7hrs for concerta and ~6 for adderall see wikipedia for more accurate half-lives) is a good time to relax and recooperate. SWIM stopped taking his ADHD medication b/c of the down, it didnt seem worth it. SWIM returns to it every once in a while if superhuman output is required (15 page paper due the next morning O_o)

[Dark_Man_Of_Peace]

Ritalin is a more relaxed but focused and adderal in a twichy uppity feeling.

[doggy_hat]

According to SWIM concerta tends to be more mellow and euphoric, while adderall tends to be more hyperactive, and twitchy. When SWIM doses with Concerta he might lay down, blare some great music and enjoy an intense body high. Whereas when he doses with adderall he tends to be more active, paranoid, and not have as much of a body buzz. Keep in mind this is at Recreational Levels so SWIM wouldn't be able to tell me how lower, non-recreational doses affect him. Also keep in mind that this can vary from person to person greatly. SWIM also tells me that by his personal experience that adderall tends to be stronger by weight, but it also might just be because concerta has a very difficult Time Release mechanism. So dosages for Concerta might be a bit higher.

[highganja99]

Ritalin is like being on the summit of mount everest for the first 5 seconds after insufflation says SWIM. After then its all downhill, excessive stimulation and distorted thought patterns coupled with insomnia. This would be SWIM's negative view of it.

Positively, Stimulation = increased productivity over short periods of time, euphoria for the first 20 minutes after IN administration although the initial 20 seconds are the most euphoric of the experience, the stimulation brings about and increased sense and awareness of gameplay and conformity to it, making menial and seeming hypocritical tasks bearable.

[tranquillike]

The easiest way for SWIM to describe how methylphenidate affects him is to compare to to caffeine. Methylphenidate provides more concentration and focus than caffeine, and with less of an edge to it. Methylphenidate makes SWIM feel very focused, slightly more confident, and SWIM finds himself getting much more accomplished as opposed to wasting all his spare time. Keep in mind that SWIM does not abuse his pills, and only takes them as prescribed. Occasionally, it does also seem to cause increased anger and irritability while under it's influence. Such as if SWIM is focused on getting something accomplished, and something else is preventing him from doing so. SWIM is allowed up to 3 doses per day (instant release formulation). Each dose will take effect within 30 minutes on an empty stomach and last a maximum of 6 hours. SWIM finds that if he takes more than 1 dose per day there will be a bit of a comedown, which could be described as a period of 1-2 hours where everything just seems to slow down and SWIM feels very tired. After this period passes, SWIM is back to normal and feels fine. Since SWIM typically does take 2 doses per day... rarely 3, the comedown is a nice time to just sit down in front of the T.V. and relax after a busy day.

Basically the only reason SWIM takes methylphenidate is because very simply, it has greatly increased his academic performance. SWIM is working on a dual major and probably wouldn't be able to handle the workload without it. SWIM is often troubled by the looming question of "am I being treated for ADD?" or "am I just being given a performance-enhancing drug?"

As someone else stated in an earlier post:

SWIM returns to it every once in a while if superhuman output is required (15 page paper due the next morning O_o)

The difference it has made in SWIM's performance academically has been nothing short of amazing.

If you asked this question with pure recreation effects in mind, well SWIM when he was much younger and before he was prescribed to it, treated it as a recreational drug. One methylphenidate binge in his youth was enough to deter repeat attempts. While it had a very speedy feel to it, sort of like coke but with redosing required less frequently. Problem is and was that even when you take it as prescribed, a headache is a common side-effect... well, when you just up and spend a night insufflating methylphenidate, it leads to not just a speed crash, but a very very bad headache.

[no-go]

Ritalin (methylphenidate) is a good mental high. Lots of euphoria, someone like cocaine, but without the scattered thought or thoughtless states of contentment cocaine can induce. It does not give a great deal of physical energy like amphetamines, though it is a CNS so there is some. Excellent for concentration. So, the mind feels ready to go and do things, but the body does not. Can be used for studying and mental chores, but it is much more effective for things the user is already interested in thinking about. Again, this is unlike amps which seem to make you like what you're doing regardless of your predisposded interest in the task. However, there is a much more intense incredibly happy and social feeling with MPH.