Focalin...

[Ophelia]

so here is the deal...

my brain is *shot* and I am at crunch time at the end of my semester, so my brain is forced to go here and there, left and right....

with that said, I have a question that is possibly a bit ridiculous, hence the disclaimer. Also, I usually always just research something to hell until I find my answer and never actually *ask* med questions. I'm all into finding it yourself and all that. right now, though, i just do not have the strengh. i have looked at a few sites and in reality got an answer to my question, but i was wondering if i could get an answer told to me in... well... english... lol

here it goes:

in really simple terms, what is the actual difference between Focalin and Ritalin? How does it alter the effects of the drugs?

thanks a lot and sorry if i am being a douche....

:::sigh::::

[null0trooper]

here it goes:

in really simple terms, what is the actual difference between Focalin and Ritalin? How does it alter the effects of the drugs?

Probably from the same info you have - Ritalin/methylphenidate is a mixture of two structural forms of methylphenidate: one right-handed, one left-handed. It's believed that the right-handed version may be more responsible for unwanted side effects and less responsible for the desired effects. In its place, Focalin/dexmethylphenidate has been formulated to contain just the "good" stuff, while also extending the patentable lifespan for the manufacturer.

Whether that's how it works out for the user ... YMWV

[LikeMinded]

I'm not sure if you're thinking of taking Focalin or Focalin XR (plain old Focalin is available as generic dexmethylphenidate now).

I used to be on Focalin XR, but as my body got used to the stuff, I suffered the "double crash" effect.

You see, the normal dosing regimen for instant-release dexmethylphenidate is once in the morning, and once in the early afternoon. This regimen would cause a spikes in blood levels in the late morning and afternoon (each spike being followed by a crash). For some reason, FocalinXR's manufacturer decided to emulate the instant release version's kinetics, and made a product that crashed on me twice a day.

This explains why I switched to Concerta (an extended-release form of standard methylphenidate), which maintains the same blood level throughout the day, crashing about 12 hours after you take it.

Though, once I realized I could approximate the same effect with 4x/day dosing of regular cheap generic methylphenidate, I switched over to the generic. (I do my med-taking 4 times a day as it is, so I rarely forget my Ritalin.)

[Ophelia]

thanks for both of your replies. my doc just put me on it and i was curious....

[KG85]

How would you all describe the differences between the effects of ritalin, and focalin or focalin and adderall? What about the differences in the 'crashes' of the different drugs?

[LikeMinded]

How would you all describe the differences between the effects of ritalin, and focalin or focalin and adderall? What about the differences in the 'crashes' of the different drugs?

My experiences on Ritalin (well, generic methylphenidate instant-release) are that I can avoid crashes by taking 2x10mg when I wake up (8-9AM), 1x10mg at around 1PM, and 1x10 around 5PM. (I go to bed around 12-1AM).

(Note that 'standard' methylphenidate is actually two chemicals, both mirror images of the other. null has already stated the possible differences between "levomethylphenidate" and "dexmethylphenidate", the latter being sold in pure form as Focalin. It is common for drug manufacturers to sell the mixture first, then, as the patent expires, purify the mixture and sell the more active/benign drug in pure form, since the latter will actually have a different FDA patent!).

My experience with FocalinXR is described above (it would crash on me once during midday and again around 6PM).

I also have tried Concerta, which is an XR form of standard methylphenidate. Concerta would work for about 10-12 hours and then crash on me. Meaning, say I take it at 8 AM, it'd crash on me around 6-8PM. This was disadvantageous due to the fact that I stay up another 4-5 hours, and this "crash" wouldn't make me sleepy, just tired and depressed.