Ritalin and insomnia?
Question:
Heather – I agree with John Clarke. I take an evening dose of Ritalin, and I used to the same with Adderall when I was using that. It tends to quiet all the noise, racing thoughts, and spiraling downward (if that’s the direction the racing thoughts were taking me). Highly recommend it! Good luck, — Dan Sowers Now I guess I’ll have to tell ‘em That I got no cerebellum – Joey Ramone website: http://minor7b5.home.mindspring.com
Response:
Hello!
: Hi… you’ve all been great with my questions, and I realize that I’m asking a : lot more than I’m giving back — I apologize for that, and I thank you for your : responses. : I’m being referred to neuro for ADD testing, and my therapist mentioned : Ritalin, today. My only concern is that Ritalin will exacerbate my insomnia — : which I’ve suffered with (in varying degrees) my whole life. I realize that : most ADD meds are short-acting, but I’d still like to hear from insomniacs : who’ve not had their sleep-problems worsened by Ritalin. Well, you have already got replies from people whose sleep problems actually got better after they started taking Ritalin. 
I’m not one of them; as a matter of fact, I hardly slept at all during the first night after I started taking Ritalin. However, I haven’t had problems since. After that first night I immediately complained to my psychiatrist (from whom I got the prescription), and we worked out how long the effects of Ritalin usually last for me (nearly five hours – it may be more or less for you, though), and I take care not to take any Ritalin too shortly before I want to go to bed. For me that usually means that I have to take my last dose before 6 p.m., so I’ll have no trouble falling asleep between 11 and 12. Fortunately I usually don’t need to take Ritalin so late in the day anyway; only once a week, when I have this evening class… HTH, Julia 
— Julia Simon — Hypp
