Posted by Ritch on July 22, 2002, at 21:33:22
In reply to How much Ritalin in a day to simulate Concerta?, posted by rainbowlight on July 22, 2002, at 19:52:01
> I am finding I really like the Ritalin. It's nice to feel awake for once (the Zoloft makes me soooo lethargic). By far it has been the most tolerable, I don't really get any peaks and valleys with it. I would like to try out the Concerta. Does anyone know how much I would have to take of regular Ritalin in one day and at what time of the day to get the feeling of how I would feel on Concerta? I would like to try it out before I go through the hassle of trying to get the insurance to cover it. It would be alot easier to take only 1 dose a day.
When I took Focalin (d-methylphenidate) it lasted about 1.5 hrs. that's it! It had some lingering effect for about another hour, but not much. It cracks me up that they actually call for twice daily dosing on the package insert (!) If it is true that a 5mg of immediate release methylphenidate is *too* much for you at *any* time of the day.. well you would have to probably take 2.5mg.. say 8x daily for a total daily dose of 20mg. Concerta is supposed to have a peak blood level at approx 6 hrs post dosing, with a smooth letdown. You probably could approximate it simply by taking 2.5mg first thing and then the minute you feel an energy reduction take another 2.5mg, until you are out of 20mg of medication for the day or it is within a couple of hours of bedtime. Christ! That would be far worse than trying to dose Neurontin all day! :) You can try and see. It might be easier to just get the insurance company to go for a month's supply as a trial (30x 18mg tabs). It's either going to work for you or not...Mitch
poster:Ritch
thread:113109
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020718/msgs/113357.html