How many focalin should i take to get high

Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Focalin XR dexmethylphenidate hydrochloride is an oral, extended-release stimulant approved for treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD for children ages 6 to 12, teenagers, and adults. Focalin XR begins to work an average of 45 minutes after it is taken. ADHD is a disorder of the brain that can cause inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

The most common treatment has been prescription-strength stimulant medications, which are believed to maintain alertness and help people with ADHD concentrate and focus. It is believed that there may be a combination of genetic and environmental factors that lead to ADHD, and that stimulant drugs may reduce some of the symptoms by increasing neurotransmitter activity in certain regions in the brain.

The idea behind Focalin is that the dexmethylphenidate HCl isomer may have a more potent therapeutic effect than the methylphenidate in Ritalin and may produce fewer side effects. Because of this difference, Focalin is often prescribed at half the dose of Ritalin with equivalent therapeutic effects. Long-acting or extended-release stimulants have been considered advantageous because they can be taken fewer times per day, reducing the risk of missed doses or symptom fluctuations throughout the day.

However, when you consider that Daytrana, Ritalin LA, and Concerta are all long-acting forms of Ritalin methylphenidate , the number of choices is not quite as extensive as it appears in terms of the pharmacological action of these medications. At this time, there have not been convincing studies proving that Focalin is better or safer than Ritalin, Adderall, or other stimulants.

Focalin XR is available in 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and mg capsules. For example, if you or your child has taken Focalin 10 mg twice per day, then the Focalin XR dose would be 20 mg once per day. Focalin XR, as well as Ritalin LA, are capsules composed of 50 percent immediate-release beads and 50 percent delayed-release beads, trying to mimic twice-daily dosing.

If you or your child is given a prescription for Focalin XR, it should be taken in the morning. What special dietary instructions should I follow? What should I do if I forget a dose? What side effects can this medication cause? What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication? Brand names. Other uses for this medicine.

What special precautions should I follow? Before taking dexmethylphenidate, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to dexmethylphenidate, methylphenidate Concerta, Metadate, Methylin, Ritalin , or any other medications. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take dexmethylphenidate until at least 14 days have passed since you last took an MAO inhibitor. Be sure to mention any of the following: anticoagulants 'blood thinners' such as warfarin Coumadin, Jantoven ; antidepressants mood elevators such as amitriptyline Elavil , amoxapine, clomipramine Anafranil , desipramine Norpramin , doxepin Silenor , imipramine Tofranil , nortriptyline Aventyl, Pamelor , protriptyline Vivactil , and trimipramine Surmontil ; decongestants cough and cold medications ; certain diuretics water pills ; guanabenz; guanfacine; medications for high blood pressure; medications for seizures such as phenobarbital phenytoin Dilantin , and primidone Mysoline ; methyldopa; selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs such as citalopram Celexa , fluoxetine Prozac, Sarafem , fluvoxamine Luvox , paroxetine Paxil , and sertraline Zoloft ; and venlafaxine Effexor.

If you are taking the extended-release capsules, also tell your doctor if you are taking antacids, or other medications for heartburn or ulcers. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Also tell your doctor if you have glaucoma, or feelings of anxiety, tension, or agitation.

Your doctor will probably tell you not to take dexmethylphenidate. Also tell your doctor if you have recently had a heart attack and if you have or have ever had a heart defect, high blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat, heart or blood vessel disease, hardening of the arteries; or other heart problems.

Your doctor will examine you to see if your heart and blood vessels are healthy. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take dexmethylphenidate if you have a heart condition or if there is a high risk that you may develop a heart condition. Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had circulation problems in your fingers or toes; depression; mental illness; seizures; an abnormal electroencephalogram EEG; a test that measures electrical activity in the brain ; or thyroid disease.

If you become pregnant while taking dexmethylphenidate, call your doctor. Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet. Dexmethylphenidate may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away: nausea heartburn weight loss dry mouth dizziness drowsiness nervousness or jitteriness headache Some side effects can be serious.

If you experience any of the following symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately: excessive tiredness slow or difficult speech dizziness weakness or numbness of an arm or leg changes in vision or blurred vision seizures believing things that are not true feeling unusually suspicious of others hallucinations seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist mood changes depression motor or verbal tics swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, or eyes rash hives itching purple blotches under the skin fever blistering or peeling skin joint pain frequent, painful erections erection that lasts longer than 4 hours numbness, pain, or sensitivity to temperature in the fingers or toes skin color change from pale to blue to red in the fingers or toes unexplained wounds on the fingers or toes Dexmethylphenidate may cause sudden death in children and teenagers, especially children and teenagers with heart defects or serious heart problems.

Combining alcohol and stimulants can also increase the risk of abuse, dependence, and overdose. The potency of a stimulant depends on the dosage prescribed, other drugs you may be taking, and your overall condition. Adderall is a stimulant medication that contains a combination of amphetamine salts. Other short-acting stimulant medications that treat ADHD include:. Focalin is a CNS stimulant. Focalin may be prescribed to help improve focus and alertness in those with ADHD.

Because of its stimulant effects, it may also promote wakefulness. However, it is not FDA approved to treat sleep disorders, such as narcolepsy. Skip to main content Search for a topic or drug. Focalin vs. Adderall: Differences, similarities, and which one is better for you. By Gerardo Sison, Pharm. Updated on May. Want the best price on Focalin? Want the best price on Adderall?

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Search now! Type your drug name. Initially, 2. Doses should be taken 4 hours apart with or without food. Doses can be increased by 2. Children 3 to 5 years old: 2. Dosage may be increased by 2. Adults and children 6 years and older: 5 mg once or twice daily. If any problems are found, your doctor may recommend discontinuing treatment.

Some patients report developing a tolerance to Focalin XR after long-term use. If you notice that your dosage is no longer controlling your symptoms, talk to your doctor to plan a course of action. This side effect usually wears off with time. If side effects are bothersome, or do not go away, talk to your doctor. Most people taking this medication do not experience any of these side effects.

Report to your doctor any heart-related problems or a family history of heart and blood pressure problems before beginning any new prescription. Patients with structural cardiac abnormalities and other serious heart problems have experienced sudden death, stroke, heart attack, and increased blood pressure while taking Focalin XR. Stimulants can increase blood pressure and heart rate.

Physicians should monitor these vital signs closely during treatment. Call your doctor immediately if you or your child experiences warning signs such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or fainting while taking Focalin XR.

Also disclose to your physician all mental health issues including any family history of suicide, bipolar illness, tics, or depression. It can cause psychotic or manic symptoms in children and teenagers. Call your doctor immediately if you or your child experiences new or worsening mental health symptoms including hallucinations or sudden suspicions. Report to your doctor any new blood-flow problems, pain, skin color changes, or sensitivities to temperature while taking Focalin XR.

People with a history of drug abuse should use caution when trying this medication. Taking the medication exactly as prescribed can reduce potential for abuse. The above is not a complete list of potential side effects.

If you notice any health changes not listed above, discuss them with your doctor or pharmacist. Store Focalin XR in a secure place out of reach of children, and at room temperature. Sharing prescription medication is illegal, and can cause harm. If you are thinking of becoming pregnant, discuss the use of Focalin XR with your doctor. Animal studies indicate potential harm to a fetus. It is not known if Focalin XR is passed through breastmilk, so it is recommended that mothers do not nurse while taking it.

Before taking Focalin XR, discuss all other active prescription medications with your doctor. Tell your doctor if you are taking seizure medications, blood thinners, blood pressure medication, antacids, or any medication containing a decongestant. Share a list of all vitamin or herbal supplements, and prescription and non-prescription medications you take with the pharmacist when you fill your prescription, and let all doctors and physicians know you are taking Focalin XR before having any surgery or laboratory tests.

The above is not a complete list of all possible drug interactions. The first ADD medication we tried for my daughter was Vyvanse. Her concentration improved, but her emotions were right on the surface and she would frequently burst into tears over the most insignificant things. We switched her to Focalin XR and had much better less emotional results, but by the time we got to homework the medication had worn off and it took 90 minutes to complete 2 workbook pages.

We have switched to Intuniv over the summer; we will see how she does once school starts. My 13 year old switched to Focalin last year from Concerta, which he was on since he was 6. His doctor switched him because, even though the Concerta worked fine, he had horrible insomnia and the doctor said the side effects were better with Focalin.