Ritalin

[Cosmobirdy]

Hi Guys...:)  

Has anyone here taken Ritalin for the fatigue?  My neuro gave it to me a week ago, cause the Provigil just wasn't doing much.  The Ritalin helps some, but I'm still dead by the afternoon.  Does it take a while on it to build up to the right level or something?  Anybody notice any weird side effects with it?  I've been getting this freaky feeling of bugs crawling up and down my back for the past week or so.... I wonder if it's from that or from the MS.  It comes in the morning BEFORE I take the meds, lasts 10 minutes or so, and then I will have it off and on during the day sometimes, always briefly.  

Thanks in advance....

And everybody that I'm behind on PM-ing, be patient with me, OK?  Feel yukky, and plus our son is home on leave and is attached to the computer alot of the time, lol.  Bye for now....

Rita  

[Cosmobirdy]

Thanks for the info!  GOtta leave to go to work..... will write later....Sorry this is so short... :)  You and Craig try to have a good day.....:)

Bye for now,
Rita

[Cosmobirdy]

Quix:  
Thank you for weighing in on this one!  The bugs crawling is always in the same place, no matter when I get it.  Just from my shoulders to my waist, only on my back, mostly toward the center.  I've heard of the amantadine, but isn't it usually less effective than the Provigil?  I thought that was the one they usually try first, but God knows I could be wrong.....:)  I have a friend who started on that and then they added the Provigil and now she takes both and it works well for her.  

I have also heard of using Adderall - do you know anything about that and how it compares to Ritalin?  I am feeling a bit better today, so I hope it keeps up.  I will check into the herbal stuff - thanks to you and Elaine for that tip!    

OK, MAYBE I did do a bit too much when I first took the Ritalin.... :)  Were you here spying on me or did someone at my house front me out?? LOL!  I was so excited to feel better those first couple of days.  I went to the gym 3 out of 4 days, cleaned the house, cleaned out stuff at work....hmmmm.... you may be onto something, lol.  I will try to pace myself better - still so much to learn.  You know, they give you this diagnosis, and nobody gives you a maual of how to handle it all and what to look for... :)  Thank God for you guys here - you kind of ARE a big, helpful instruction manual for me.

I ramp up from 22mcg to 44 mcg of the Rebif tonite...cross your fingers.  It has gone well so far, so I am hopeful.  But I seem to be having a rough time emotonally right now - real weepy.  I thought the more time that went by, this would all be easier and for some reason it  isn't.  There seem to be more and more levels and issues to wrap my head around.  But I guess as long as I'm working through it, I'm gonna be OK..

Have a good one...
Rita    

[Cosmobirdy]

T-Lynn:  
So you took it twice a day?  I only am taking it once a day.... interesting.  Do you know how much you took total in a day?  I'm taking 20 mg. in the morning.

As far as our son, he's home on leave from the Air Force.  Going up to a wrestling tournament tonite, so I stand a chance of catching up with everyone tonite or tomorrow, lol.  Between him and our son who's a senior and always needing the computer for homework, my time on it is very brief right now and it's killing me!  

ANd my house is a disaster zone!  I am crazy about that kid, but he's like a human tornado, lol.  Clothes and stuff everywhere, friends in and out all the time, you never know who's sleeping all over the living room when you get up in the morning.  It's chaos and mayhem when he's home, but I miss him terribly when he's gone.... :)

I promise I will PM you soon....:)  You rest up too - no yardwork! lol.  Of course, it's probably raining there too this morning, so maybe that will keep you inside... ;-)  

Rita

[monotreme]

Hi Rita,
   Craig is on Acetyl-L-Carnitine and Alpha lipoic acid.  I didn't buy them for the fatigue..he is on alot of supplements.   But remember I mentioned he is less fatigued this week.  He has been on those supplements for two weeks now.  They are very good for cellular energy.  I didn't know they could cause less fatigue, but you might want to try them.   Life Extension sells high quality supplements and you can buy them off the internet or you could check www.iherb.com for cheaper brands that are just as good.

  Alpha lipoic acid is very good at preventing insulin resistance and that is the main reason Craig is on it.  Remember to take some vitamin D too.

Elaine

  

[Quixotic1]

Yes, the meds used for ADD are also often tried for the MS fatigue.  Also stimulants like Ritalin can cause the skin crawling sensations.  I always get them with pseudoephedrine, the decongestant.  But, that kind of sensation is also common in MS.  If the sensation always occurs in the same place it's more likely the MS.  But really could be either.

Other things used in the fatigue if the Ritalin causes problems are amantadine, Provigil (which didn't help you)  and alternative docs use Acetyl-l-carnitine (not just L-carnitine) sometimes in combo with alpha lipoic acid.  I believe that combo is also being used in Europe.

The Ritalin should help right off, but you need to know about the use of these things.  Sometimes they appear not to work, becasue you do feel better and your do more - too much more.  Then you crash and can never quite get caught up again.  The brain and body are still slowed by the abnormal nerve conductions.  You really have to learn to pace yourself and not do everything you feel like doing on the meds.

When I first started the Provigil, my sister  had fallen, broke the head of her humerus clean off the arm, required two surgeries to get it attatched back and spent two stints in the ICU.   The same week we moved my 83 year old parents up here and suddenly I had to pick up all the slack and do all the driving.  I well like a hell-hound for about 10 days and crashed for about three weeks.

Good luck, Quix

[young at heart]

YES,I HAVE BEEN ON RITALIN FOR FATIGUE,MY DR. HAD ME TAKE IT AT 8 AM AND THEN AGAIN AT NOON.IT SEEMED EFFECTIVE.

THE BUGGY SENSATION , I HAVE HAD OFF AN ON FOR A FEW YEARS,SO I CAN'T BLAME THE RITALIN.

SWEETIE GET SOME REST.

YOU SAY YOUR SON IS HOME ON LEAVE,IS THAT FROM THE SERVICE OR COLLEGE.

I KNOW WHEN MY KIDS ARE HERE THEY GRAB MY LAB TOP,I DON'T SEE IT FOR HOURS.

T-LYNN