Ritalin with schizophrenia?

Thinking of trying Ritalin. Is it dangerous to take with schizophrenia?

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It goes well for some and terrible for others. There are some users here who are on adhd meds.

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I take it under a doctor’s extremely close guidance. I would not recommend taking it recreationally or as a self-medication method because it is EXTREMELY risky. I take it to correct my low blood pressure.

What happens when it goes terribly?

It will lead to a bad pychosis episode.

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Uou shouldnt just “try” ritalin, im assuming this post will get locked for the wording. Ask your dr

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Yeah. The type where police are involved and your friends refuse to speak to you for years after.

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Do you know the Tasmanian Devil cartoon character? He’ll look like a saint compared to you after your relapse blows over.

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My doc is willing to put me on vyvanse which is an amphetamine used for adhd. I can tolerate it and it would most likely help with weight loss. But it does eventually break me down a little mentally. Extreme stimulants are not good for sz. Chances are most of anyone taking adhd meds with mh would have bipolar or subtype.

I should also add that I take a VERY tiny dose. The minimum PEDIATRIC dose, despite being the size of four children.

My brother is on ADHD medication unnecessarily

He takes it because he says it makes him more productive.

Ritalin is a dangerous drug if you ask me.

But certain people may benefit from taking it

Not really good for psychotic patients.

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Repost re my stance regarding stimulants. As relevant to this discussion I have tried ritalin. It definitely has the propensity exacerbate psychosis even when used in low doses 5-10mg.

To me through my personal experience it is undoubtedly clear that stimulants work. At the same time the research shows that there is no clear and or lasting effect. You need to be super careful with these medications and honestly you have to have a risk tolerance which includes playing with fire. Ultimately the same argument for taking stimulants can be made as those for not taking antipsychotics but still experiencing symptoms. If they help you to enjoy a life that is more meaningful, away from the sedation then it’s really a personal choice but not necessarily the right one for everyone. Still definitely an option. It isn’t often considered but it should be, even so amphetamines ect are really a last resort.

Psychiatry is a bit of a grey area that includes a lot of guess work. Ultimately what you’re looking for isn’t necessarily a sole agent treatment but a certain construction of cognition. In search of a more ethereal therapeutic effect polypharmacy can have advantages as opposed to more risk adverse medicine.

One could argue that the use of polypharmacy is just an extension of personalised medicine. However combinations of stimulants and sedatives can quickly flatline your mood and personality. Not great by psychiatry if you don’t have much of a say in what you are taking. In this way a combination like an antipsychotic and ritalin/amphetamines can work pretty aptly as as a chemical restraint.

If you are already taking a sedative and have to, then adding a stimulant can definitely make you more animated, but yeah you’re definitely less organic as a person on this kind of combination. That said I personally feel more productive and effectively when my Bupropion and others minor stimulants are balanced well with my antipsychotic.

I wouldn’t recommend ritalin as the place to start and I would dissuade use of amphetamines.The ethics of stimulants in patients taking antipsychotics aren’t great to say the least.

As a DNRI Bupropion would be my personal preference you can find relevant papers on it’s effectiveness on negative symptoms in schizophrenia. It is also used off label for adhd. Pretty commonly used amongst the community and a lot lighter then ritalin. Dosing on ritalin general population vs schizophrenia isn’t a great overlay which is where I feel most people make their mistake. Ritalin doesn’t really have a mood component so you are focused but have less motivation. I also personally fund I sleep terribly taking the long acting forms of ritalin.

5mg redosed 2-3 time a day with a 3-4 hour spread, with the last dose ending ideally before 11am works. It’s just annoying and tricky to have good medication hygiene with something like ritalin.

My overview for others is ‘you’re going to be more effective at the cost or parts/times or periods of your sanity’. Fair chance you could loose track of your marbles on ritalin.

Still I’ll probably go back on when I go back to school.