Hello everyone:-)
This is sort of connected to the controversy discussion.
I've been taking a small dose of Ritalin for a few weeks now. I've mentioned it in numerous discussions about exhaustion and fibro fog. I was asked to report back with the results so here it is!
The first couple of weeks were a bit rough. I felt agitated and anxious but I also noticed that the simple things like showering(which was such a chore before)started to come easier. I take 5mg in the am and at noon. I was suppose to increase to 10mg but when I did,for me, it was too much. But after sticking it out I found that i was spending less time in bed and getting more done. It also helped with my mood. The depression is A LOT more manageable and if I break down , it doesn't take me the rest of the day to recover. I'm better equipped to pull myself together and keep on truckin'. I also find that I can better organize my thoughts. This has been very positive for me as the depression I was in was extremely resistant and with this diagnosis it was even harder to cope.
The reason I say this is connected to the controversy is it is an amphetamine and doctors are reluctant to prescribe it. A member mentioned that at the hospital(?I think) where she works,the doctors use it with elderly patients with good results.
I notice myself laughing more...I'm interested in conversation more,so socially(even if it is just family) it's shown to be very effective.
Much Love and many Hugs
Carolyn:-)
I’m so glad it is working for you. How long did you feel agitated ? I mentioned it to My doctor he is not sure if he wants to start it for me, so he didn’t. I may mention it on my next appointment.
Glad to hear this, keep us posted 
hugs
Hi Carolyn
I am glad you are having positive results and doing better.
Hi ladies
In response to the agitation...to be safe I would have to say probably 2 to 2 and a half weeks approximately. There might have been other contributing factors so it's hard to be specific. For example,I had discontinued Lamotrigine(Lamectil) which is an inticonvulsant commonly used as a mood stabilizer. I since discovered that it is in the same class as Gabapenten and when I looked into it's off label uses, it's also listed as being used to manage neuropathic pain. So I started taking it again(gradually). Also,I take Wellbutrin for depression and about a month ago the pharmacy switched to the generic brand. I didn't think much of it but a friend of mine was having great results for over 2 years on Wellbutrin and when her pharmacy switched to the generic she went into a downward spiral and I hadn't seen her like that in years. Her doctor made the connection and told her that a lot of people taking the generic were running into the same problem. you get the medication too fast and crash later in the day. When she switched back it only took about 3 days and she was feeling better. She said the generic made her feel very "on edge"(her words). I refilled my prescription 4 days ago to the actual Wellbutrin after I heard what her doctor said.
When I looked into using ADHD meds for the fatigue and fibro brain,I was reading other people's reviews. A lot of people preferred Adderall over Ritalin or the generic form of Adderall but it's much more expensive so I had to stick with the Ritalin. From what I gathered overall,the Adderall is doesn't give you that Jiggy feeling.(Jiggy...my description)
All that being said, there were days when I debated whether or not to continue with it because of the anxiety but now I can honestly say that I'm glad I didn't give up on it. I'm a lot more stable now and it's helped my depression immensely.
Just listen to your body. Just because you have more energy,doesn't mean you don't still have to pace yourself.A friend here advised me about this but I was so excited , feeling alive for the first time in so long that I went right to town and ended up paying for it...3 days in bed in immense pain. So it didn't take me long to catch on to what she had told me.
If your doctor thinks that it's right for you , I hope and pray that you have as good an outcome as I have. My doctor told me not to get my hopes up too high,it only works in about 17% but I sad "HEY...WON'T KNOW UNTIL WE TRY".
So good luck , I'm sending hugs to all of you.:-)))
ps It's refreshing to hear some positive eh?:-)
pss...I can never seem to keep it short.lol