Narcolepsy Forum Posting

Posted by gone2bed on February 25, 2004 at 18:27:29:

Hi All,

Glad to see the forum is still going strong! :)

Just wondering if any of you can relate....

I've been on Ritalin now for about 4 years. I find this stimulant makes me feel REALLY anxious. At certain times of the day, it may feel like the world is about to end! Still, this is a side-effect I've chosen to try and live with (they all have their side effects!). However, I have a specialist appointment next month, and I'm thinking of asking to switch to something else. I have a theory that I may have been on this drug for too long and the constant anxiety is starting to take its toll on my immune system. In the past 4 months, I have been sick 4 times. 2 of these occasions required antibiotics. Although I'm in a stressful school program, I live a healthy enough lifestyle that the amount of times I've been sick this winter (and yes, I did get the flu shot) just doesn't add up. Vitamins, eating right, nap schedules - you name it, it doesn't make a difference because I still get sick. I've been told before that if you're a person who is constantly fatigued/stressed, you are more likely to get sick. Well, I certainly fit the fatigue part - and I think Ritalin might be contributing to the stress part. Not only do I get sick easily and often these days, but I also seem to get these unexplained "pangs" of pain in various parts of my body now and then. Sometimes it's in my fingers, at other times, it's in my head. It's very weird. I'm sure if the pain lasted longer than a second, I'd be doubled over....

Do any of you find that stimulant remedies such as Ritalin make you more susceptible to getting the flu? Any strange aches and pains?

Thanks for your posts!

gone2bed.

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