Ritalin

Hi Everybody,

Came to work late again...tuff time sleeping..utter exhaustion. Last week, (I think??)someone mentioned ritalin for energy. Anyone being treated with that? I am seeing my GI on Friday, I get the impression thus far that he believes you just have to bear with the symptoms..which may be so..but I am interested in all possibilities. I am only on my 3rd shot of Peginterferon, Friday will be my 4rth...and I have been late for work way too much and also feel serious brain fog. Any and all suggestions are totally appreciated. Thanks!

[doxzee]

Hi, I  know I am on wellbutrin 300xl & my Dr. suggested it my help with fatigue which I believe it has helped me. I am on wk. 6 with pegesys & 800 riba. I have not had any sx. to say , I am a geno 2b . Take care & hope you start feeling better. Karen

[LadyY]

Hi Karen
My name is Yvonne I am Genotype 1a (48 wks tx). Why were you prescribed wellbutrin? That is good to hear regarding no sx...wow! I sure hope that continues. SIncerely, I say..may God continue to Bless you!

[Forseegood]

I'm ashamed to say this, but I only tried ritalin once or twice, they called it the "poor man's coke" back in the eighties...it certainly speeded me up...didn't like it at all...but of course I'm talking about it in a completely anecdotal way...

[doxzee]

Hi, my  reg. Dr. said it would maybe help me quit smoking. But my G.I. told me that it helps with fatique. BTW  I haven't been able to totally quit, but still trying. Take care hope you can find something to help.

[APKhaos]

Hang in with the quitting. Its easier during tx, because you feel so rough that quitting can;t make you feel much worse. The Wellbutrin works. I kicked it during tx after 25 years adn several abortive attempts.

[LadyY]

I want (so bad!) to quit smoking...but am hangin' on to these things (at this juncture) as if they were life savers..pfffffhh. What a lie I'm telling myself! Anyway..I am gonna ask for this Wellbutrin..4 sure. I don't know if you heard of madbrad who writes and encourages people on this site...but he quit...after his church had a meeting about disobedience...he had nowithdrawal effects...none!

[GoofyDad]

they called it the "poor man's coke"

I thought that was Royal Crown Cola? Maybe we ran in diffrent circles :)

[doxzee]

Thanks for the encourgement I will continue to try, Yes I have noticed Madbrad good to know someone is strong enough to quit. Well gotta go watch baseball I am a Cardinals fan . Karen

[bobbyullc]

i was perscribed ritalin for fatigue after i had hep and was told it would not hurt my liver? google it and see.

[nygirl7]

Wellbutrin is an AD and the thinking is less stress = easier time not smoking.  It didn't work for me because stress has nothing to do with my disgusting habit.........for me it's an addiction just like the other things were. AMAZING how easy it was to give them up compared to smoking!

Most all of us have felt exactly like you are - the lethargy is one of the hardest parts of treatment there is.  I decided not to take the ritalin because honestly...I had taken it once before (like Foreseegood had nothing to do with treament though ;) and speeding to me is worse than  being tired. I HATE that speedy feeling more than anything (odd how much in the early 80s I loved it though?).

It's not easy to make it through but if you try you WILL.  It's just a horrible part of treatment.  Believe me Yvonne....I am one of the babiest chickenest lazyheads in the world.....and for72 weeks I felt like laying down in the middle of the sidewalk every day just trying to get into my building from the parking lot at work.  But I made it.

And if I can...........you can too.

Honestly, I think if you don't HAVE to add another drug to the regimen it's better off not to.  Nobody on earth can GUARANTEE it does not work AGAINST the riba or interferon you know...so it's just not worth the chance at all.

A few months of sacrifice for SVR...it's worth it.  Try to think of it that way.

Good luck,
Debby

[jmjm530]

Both Ritalin and Provigil were suggested to me during treatment to increase energy levels. Wellbutrin as well. Of the three, I only tried Wellbutrin but it agravated my GERD so stopped within days. All three drugs are worthwhile to discuss with your doctors in terms of increasing energy levels during treatment.

-- Jim

[Forseegood]

funny, how when some people are really young, they like that speedy feeling, I absuolutely hate feeling speedy now, when I see these Meth Heads on TV, and they are in their 50s (well, maybe they are actually in their 30s but they just look like they are in their 50s, ha ha, gallows humor) I can't believe that anyone would enjoy that speedy feeling where you feel all jumpy and paranoid, seeing around corners....what a nightmare! and sorry, I think that anything that speeds you up to that extent, can't be good for you, on treatment or not, just my opinion and i'm no doc of course...

[saphira]

hello Lady,I have just finished 52 weeks very long haul.It soungs to me like you are having very normal symptoms,went through them also.I dont think ritalin is your answer it could cause more fatigue and sleepless nights.