Effect of Ritalin added to long-tern Xanax to aid in concentration.

[muttlry1]

I received a closed head injury many years ago, resulting in one sided weakness ,short-term memory issues,  PTSD, severe migraine...enough already...anyway, I have been on several drugs for instance Topamax, Inderal, Lyrica,  Xanax at length .Presently, due to some unresolved short-term memory issues I am having some difficulty memorizing, concentrating, and focusing on a required project at my job. Obviously frustrated, we/my doctor has decided to try Ritalin. Have you seen this work before? Or do you have any pro's or con's for the idea? Obviously I will try what my doctor orders. I am just curious at my odds.

[nursegirl6572]

This is a difficult one, because your cognitive issues are directly caused by your head injury.  

Really, it's going to be a trial and error kind of thing, but like Paxiled mentioned, be cautious moving forward, because some people without true ADD/ADHD that take a stimulant really end up JUST "stimulated" to the point of being hyper and "up".  

Have you gone through cognitive (brain) therapy?  Have you tried those online cognitive exercise programs?  I would recommend that kind of approach (if you haven't done it already) FIRST, to see if you will see some improvements.  Sometimes, unfortunately, a person is just left with certain deficits, and ultimately they have to kind of get creative to contend with those.  Hopefully you'll find something that improves your cognition...let us know.

[Paxiled]

There was another post either here or on another forum about someone who took speed to counter the downer effects of his drug regimen.  I can't say I find it a "healthy" way to proceed, but if you've tried everything else ... I would ask, though, if your rehab included any thought control processes, such as meditation and breathing exercises and doing complicated mental games.  Meditation might also even out your blood flow, as does exercise and yoga, which can help control migraines.