Ritalin caused sudden caffeine sensitivity? Interesting story...

My name is Justin and I'm 20 years old.  For my entire conscious life I could drink an infinite amount of coffee or energy drinks with out feeling anything more than a slight buzz.  Nothing uncomfortable about it, ever.  I would literally joke about it stating how I could drink a gallon of coffee or multiple large size red bulls and easily go to sleep right after.  Now to my problem...
  In high school it wasn't uncommon for kids to take adderrall (without a prescription) for times when there was a lot of work that needed to be done.  Well that habit kind of stuck with me now out of school. It was never a problem (as far as addiction) but in times of great stress or when a lot of work needed to be done I would take 30-60mg that day.  Well about a month ago, I was on an overnight sleeping schedule and I needed to be on a day time schedule.  Since going to sleep earlier wasn't working I decided to stay up through the entire next day and go to bed that night at a reasonable time.  The last time I had wanted adderrall all I could get my hands on was Ritalin, which is from what I was told was pretty much the same as adderrall, as well as similar dosages.  When I took the 40mg ritalin I concluded that it was pretty much equivalent to a 30mg adderrall.  So anyway back to that night!
  I decided I was going to need help staying up for that long, I took two of the 40mg Ritalin.  These alone would have probably been fine, but I made a foolish mistake afterward.  Monster creates an industrial size can (slight exaggeration but it is huge) that I was used to drinking every now and then.  I bought three of them in planning on also helping me to stay up.  This may sound foolish to someone who knows they have to limit themselves on caffeine, but like I said, I never noticed any effects from drinking caffeine in excess.  Upon getting 2 1/2 of those cans down my world crashed.  I suddenly felt like I was dieing! I was panicking, pacing around my house and outside.  I was trying to make myself throw up because it was the only thing I could think of in my mind that might stop my heart from feeling like it was failing and pounding out of my chest.  Of course at this point I had no idea that it was only the beginning!  This horrible feeling lasted for almost 2 hours.  At its worst, I was on the ground physically unable to move.  My hands and feet were numb and I thought that for certain I was dead (especially since I couldnt even get up to get the phone).  For hours after this episode I still had trouble walking.
   People tell me I should have went to the hospital, but I would never want my family to think I was taking prescription drugs, or assuming that I had a problem with them which they probably would.  Also, we dont have health insurance and are struggling enough as is.  An ambulance ride and treatment would have cost thousands of dollars.  Anyway, for a while I was convinced what I had was a heart attack.  Turns out almost every single symptom of a heart attack correlates with the symptoms of a panic attack (Weird isn't it? Check it out).  Since Ritalin is known to cause panic attacks in higher dosages I'm convinced that it is more likely this is what happened.
  Finally, to the point of this topic.  Since then when I drink a single cup of coffee I feel extremely anxious, occasionally with feeling my heart race but always with a heavier chest.  I race mentally and I find myself panicking over the silliest things.  I also feel the need to limit myself like "whoa, I definitely can't drink another coffee!".  I never had this feeling before ever, and now I cant even comfortably drink more than one cup.  Reading a bit about caffeine sensitivity, it says that people who suddenly develop it usually have had a weakened immune system, usually from age.  Did I permanently damage my immune system that day?  I did get sick twice, but I usually get sick around this time of year...  Panic attacks are not anything I am familiar with, yet I feel like I get mini ones all the time now, especially from caffeine.  Will I pay for those horrible mistakes for the rest of my life?  Have I permanently damaged essential systems in my body?  I sure hope not :(.  I am very physically fit and exercise a lot, although I do smoke cigarettes.  If anyone can give me any information on any of this I would be grateful and love to hear it.  Also if anyone had a similar experience I would love to know how it turned out for you.  Thanks!
- Justin

[AbramJ]

By the way I haven't had an energy drink or an adderrall/ritalin since then and I don't think I ever will.

[AbramJ]

That was a complete waste of time not a single comment

[tolani]

Hi justin, I've been on concerta for about 3 years now and my dr recently perscribe me with 5mg of ritalin. I take 2 18mg of concerta a day and 1-2 mg in the evening if I need an extra boost to do my hw. Ur story sound almost identical to what happened to me this past november. I took my 18mg like I usually do in the morning. that evening I planned to go to a friends house to get some hw done. Around 5pm I took 4 5mg of my ritlin. Big mistake. I left the house about 5min after I took my medication, and 10min later I had a full on panic attack. I was panicing, and swerving my car, my heart was skipping beats,and it was beating so fast I thought for sure I was going to die. I started praying to god asking him for forgiveness. Like I really thought my life was about to end. I even almost peed on my self. instead of driving to my friends I got off the freeway and drove to the hospital. Once I got there I couldn't even move. I couldn't open the door because every time I made any sudden movement my heart would have a palpitation. I tried to call my mom but was unble to even talk. After about 10min of waiting in the hospital parking lot I finally got out. My chest was extreamly tight and I had chest pain. They checked me in and said I was having a panic attack. I never told them I took too much of my medication because I didn't want them to think I was abusing it or something. Anyway,till this day I still have slightly high anxiety and I'm scared to have coffee or anything like that. I stopped my medication for a while. I'm now on it again and hesitate to take an evening dose. I really want to get off concerta forever lol I'm just so over it. But every day I thank god that I'm still alive. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one that's had this problem.

[MultiFocused]

Much like you guys I used to drink coffee throughout the day and fall asleep without a problem. In my case, coffee would help wake me up but I also thought that it helped me to fall to sleep too, which doesn't really make sense. Then I started taking Concerta, which has been awesome for my studies and my ability to concentrate on one task at a time.

I've come to realize however that Concerta and my normal dose of coffee creates something akin to anxiety, or just general nervousness or perhaps a degree of panic. Now I know that if I am going to have a meeting over coffee during the morning (I still love coffee) I shouldn't take a Concerta before and I should wait to take it later in the afternoon.

[MultiFocused]

Much like you guys I used to drink coffee throughout the day and fall asleep without a problem. In my case, coffee would help wake me up but I also thought that it helped me to fall to sleep too, which doesn't really make sense. Then I started taking Concerta, which has been awesome for my studies and my ability to concentrate on one task at a time.

I've come to realize however that Concerta and my normal dose of coffee creates something akin to anxiety, or just general nervousness or perhaps a degree of panic. Now I know that if I am going to have a meeting over coffee during the morning (I still love coffee) I shouldn't take a Concerta before and I should wait to take it later in the afternoon.

[falam]

Same story with me dear.... i was a Ritalin addict for 5 years, i was taking 60mg/12 hours... same panic attacks, anxiety depression.. but now i stopped taking Ritalin. i am taking anti depressants but my studies are badly affected. i cant sit for more than 1 hour. And now i have got Ritalin phobia, i cant even think of taking  Ritalin again.  probably it was a big mistake of my life. and one more thing i am suffering from narcolepsy after quitting Ritalin.

Falam
PHARMACIST BY PROFESSION