How long does it take for ritalin to take effect?

Question

I just started taking it yesterday and it does not seem to be working

do you feel something instantly

Answer 1

It takes Ritalin about 30 minutes to get into the blood stream and it peaks at about 2 hours. Of course this depends on a number of factors including:
WHETHER TAKEN WITH FOOD OR NOT.
DOSAGE PRESCRIBED.
HOW LONG YOU HAVE BEEN TAKING THIS MEDICATION.
WHETHER YOU ARE TAKING REGULAR OR SUSTAINED RELEASE TABLET.
THE SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.
THE AGE OF THE PATIENT.
OTHER MEDICATIONS THE PATIENT IS ON.
GIVEN IN DIVIDED DOSES AND ACCORDING TO THE INDIVIDUALIZED NEEDS AND RESPONSES OF THE PATIENT.
ADVERSE REACTIONS INCLUDE LOSS OF APPETITE, ABDOMINAL PAIN, WEIGHT LOSS, INSOMNIA,AND FAST BEATING OF THE HEART.
It is my experience as a Psychiatric Nurse Educator who has worked with children, adolescents, and adults that a trial of 4-6 weeks should be given in order to properly assess blood levels of the medication as well as assess for individual factors such as timing of divided dosages. Give yourself atleast a month before making any personal judgements and also get feedback from family members, friends, etc. Good luck to you.

Answer 2

Generally about half an hour. Unlike antidepressents that can take weeks to take effect, the effects of stimulants on concentration are almost immediate. They start working as soon as they're absorbed into your bloodstream (so think about how long it takes for Motrin or Tylenol to start working). My mom has patients who report taking their Ritalin only when they really need to focus, and that works for them.

Ritalin is fairly unusual in that dosage is not weight-dependent. A 200 lb adult might need only 5 mg, while a 30 lb six year old might need 20 mg. That's fine except it means that your doctor can't just weigh you and know how much Ritalin you should take. So it tends to take a few tries to get the dose right. You're probably taking 5mg, right? Or maybe 10 mg, but most doctors will start with the lowest dose (5 or sometimes 2.5 mg). Give it a few days, then contact your doctor and tell him it's not working. He'll probably move you up to a higher dose. Do not change your dose on your own without consulting with your doctor. You've probably been without it for years, so I'm sure you can surive the week or two until you can get the dosing right.

Answer 3

It takes Ritalin about two to three weeks to get completely into your system. You cannot expect instant relief from just about any psychotropic drug that you may take. It takes time for it to build in the system before it reaches maximum benefit. Give it some time and I am sure that you will be feeling better soon. Good Luck and God Bless you.

Answer 4

It totally depends upon the person. With some it's right away, with others it may take a week or more. Talk to your doctor if you're worried about this.

Answer 5

http://www.pediatricneurology.com/ritalin.htm