Anyone taking Methylphenidate for brain fog or improved movement?

[Sedona]

I asked my neurologist about taking something to help me better focus or concentrate, possibly an ADHD drug as I now feel that I may have always had this problem & now with the PD, my meds & extreme tiredness, my mind is in a constant fog. I have also been diagnosised with OCD & anxiety disorder. She perscribed Methylphenidate, 5 mg tablets, however to take only 1/2 a tablet just once a day in the morning, she said that I could increase to one tablet after a week. She knows that I hate meds, fought taking anything for years, but finally had to in order to function. Whenever she suggests something new, I say no or maybe I'll try just 1/2 of the smallest dose. Anyways, just started taking this 2 days ago & my mind is in over-drive! I sat down to put a few of my thoughts into words as you all suggeted for documentation for social security & practically wrote a book. The next day (after working an 8 hour day, after which I usually just nap or zone out) I decided to try & balance my checkbook by going back through years of statements. My neurologist had said this had been found to be helpful for movement in PD patients, well the past few nights, I have slept much better. I usually constantly awake in pain or because I can't move my arms or legs, no problem the last few nights though. And....no nap needed the past few days, much less yawning (usually constant) & no dozing off when working or driving. Not sure, but think this is an ADHD drug, I am afraid to google it & find out about some horrible side effect. Someone else do it, but break it to me gently, if you find it so.

[froggatt55]

Hi Sedona

I ggogled thiis drug and the following are extracts from Wikipedia

The key points to my mind (and I am a layman with Parkinson's -11 years in June) are that A) It is working for you, B) You are certainly not a CHRONIC user so less to worry about in terms of long term effects, C) Just to be on the dsafe side get your Liver regfualy checked, D) I don't know if you are on anti depressants which are contra indicated (I am on Paroxetine which is contra indicated with Azilect but I was told the risk - of Serotonin syndrome - were small so i started taking the Azilect 5 years ago and it has changed my life completely)

So if this works for you GOOD LUCK and remember the Liver tests,Enjoy life and the nenefis of Methylphnidate which are fantastic from your description

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Although the safety profile of short-term methylphenidate therapy in clinical trials has been well established, repeated use of psychostimulants such as methylphenidate is less clear. There are no well defined withdrawal schedules for discontinuing long-term use of stimulants.[79] There is limited data that suggests there are benefits to long-term treatment in correctly diagnosed children with ADHD, with overall modest risks.[80] Short-term clinical trials lasting a few weeks show an incidence of psychosis of about 0.1%.[

The long-term effects on mental health disorders in later life of CHRONIC USE of methylphenidate is UNKNOWN.[83] Concerns have been raised that long-term therapy might cause drug dependence, paranoia, schizophrenia and behavioral sensitisation, similar to other stimulants.[84] Psychotic symptoms from methylphenidate can include hearing voices, visual hallucinations, urges to harm oneself, severe anxiety, euphoria, grandiosity, paranoid delusions, confusion, increased aggression and irritability. Methylphenidate psychosis is unpredictable in whom it will occur. Family history of mental illness does not predict the incidence of stimulant toxicosis in children with ADHD. High rates of childhood stimulant use is found in patients with a diagnosis of

Interactions

Intake of adrenergic agonist drugs or pemoline with methylphenidate increases the risk of liver toxicity.[90][91] When methylphenidate is coingested with ethanol, a metabolite called ethylphenidate is formed via hepatic transesterification,[92][93] not unlike the hepatic formation of cocaethylene from cocaine and alcohol. The reduced potency of ethylyphenidate and its minor formation means it does not contribute to the pharmacological profile at therapeutic doses and even in overdose cases ethylphenidate concentrations remain negligible.[25][94] Coingestion of alcohol (ethanol) also increases the blood plasma levels of d-methylphenidate by up to 40%.[95] Ethylphenidate is more selective to the dopamine transporter (DAT) than methylphenidate, having approximately the same efficacy as the parent compound,[96] but has significantly less activity on the norepinephrine transporter (NET).[97]

[edit] Contraindications

Methylphenidate should not be prescribed concomitantly with tricyclic antidepressants, such as desipramine, or monoamine oxidase inhibitors, such as phenelzine or tranylcypromine, as methylphenidate may dangerously increase plasma concentrations, leading to potential toxic reactions (mainly, cardiovascular effects).[citation needed][vague] Methylphenidate should not be prescribed to patients who suffer from severe arrhythmia, hypertension or liver damage. It should not be prescribed to patients who demonstrate drug-seeking behaviour, pronounced agitation or nervousness.[40] Care should be taken while prescribing methylphenidate to children with a family history of Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia (PSVT

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[Susie01]

This is an ADHD medication. I have a child with ADHD who takes concerta, a slow release ritalin. She is now 17, has taken it since she was 6. I first did not want to go the medication route but the psychologist who did her testing showed me research that was convincing. I decided to try it over her Christmas break that year and see what happened. It was night and day!

I am not sure of it's interactions with other PD meds, I also take azailect and it is contraindicated with azilect.