Medication switch and a bad mood for weeks

[fanglorious]

Has anyone switched from Adderall to Ritalin and found that their mood fell and just didn't get better? I've been on ritalin for about 3 weeks and I just kind of hate everything. I'm already prone to depression and this mood shift makes me nervous because I don't want to go back down this rabbit hole. Should I just give it more time? Any input is appreciated.

[Hidden]

I take Concerta and at first, I didn’t see much improvement, but once I got on the right dosage I did. I never was in a bad mood, I just didn’t see lots of improvement. I’d recommend talking to your doctor about it.

[RCJH8610]

I am currently experiencing the same with my recent medication switch. I was on Concerta for almost 2 years and it was my saving grace. The only problem was that after being on the highest dose for almost a year it was no longer lasting the full 7-8hrs. So I was recently switched to Vyvanse and have been more agitated than normal and emotional/depressed as it wears off. I definitely do not like this feeling and am wondering if this means it just isn’t the right med for me or if I need to give it more time. With Concerta I was instantly 100%... no negative effects other than a mild head ache that only lasted the first three or four days.

[IgnoranceWasNotBliss]

My husband has tried Adderall and Ritalin. He didn’t like the Adderall much but I find him CRANKY on the Ritalin! He’s thinking of trying something new. I am on Adderall and my dr choose it for me because I was on the depressed side. I’m pretty sure Adderall has more of an effect on serotonin than Ritalin. I didn’t feel depression tendencies get better until I was on the right dose (which is pretty high) for about 2 months. It took time.

But these meds are so subjective. Adderall made my nephew crazy. Concerta was far superior for him. Perhaps neither are the best for you.

Oh also, my husbands crankiness with Ritalin is exponentially worse if he has a coffee!!!!!! Like, big time! Make sure you’re not mixing. Up the dose instead of trying to supplement with caffeine. For sure.

Hope this helps.

[fanglorious in reply to IgnoranceWasNotBliss]

I absolutely was mixing coffee with it! That's good to know, and I'll have to wean off the coffee. I may go back to Adderall because ritalin makes me feel dead inside, but I probably don't need caffeine with that either.

[IgnoranceWasNotBliss]

Oh yeah! Definitely watch out for that caffeine!

Also on a side note, there was one specific Adderall generic I was on that was awful! I will never take it again. It made me feel like it dulled my senses so badly that there was nothing left for me to process. It was extremely weird. These drugs are supposed to have the same active ingredients but that one generic was so drastically different.

Something to also keep an eye on. Which generic you’re getting and if others feel different.

Good luck.

[Love-cats in reply to IgnoranceWasNotBliss]

You are spot on about your body reacting differently to a generic regardless of the fact it's supposed to be equivalent chemically.My Mom absolutely cannot take the generic version of Lipitor for her cholesterol as it totally messes up her body. The brand name doesn't do that.