Ritalin and stimming/tactile sensitivity

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Hi!

I'm on methylphenidate (not Ritalin but generic Ritalin) for ADHD combined type.

When I was younger my doctor told my mum I had an unspecified developmental delay because of huge meltdowns, problems relating to other people, massive need for sameness, my "excess energy" etc. I've gotten some help with relating to other people and controlling myself when I get overstimulated or upset, but I still take things literally, say what I mean when people don't expect me to (or answer questions literally) and I've never, ever outgrown stimming. (When I was working before I started college I had to go to supervisor meetings and had some nasty experiences with people making fun of me for rocking when I was bored or having a bad day, and I've had people comment on this thing I do with my fingers where I rub the tips together in what my friend who works with LD folks has dubbed "the endless booger roll":p). My doctor figures that ALL of my fidgets are because of the ADHD, but some of them definitely aren't, because while I don't have to swing my feet around or jiggle all the time, some things have actually gotten "worse" with the Ritalin--particularly the finger stimming. Also, I seem to be more sensitive to lights and tactile things than I used to be (like the texture of my clothes).

The ADHD meds actually do help with sitting still and listening to people (although I still take them literally or say the "wrong" things....I just have more time to formulate my "wrong" answers, and I give more of them because I listen more :oP), frustration, reading etc, but like I said they make the stimming more intense and I feel a bit awkward about it--it doesn't bother me, personally, but I wonder if maybe I look really weird? Has anybody else experienced this? Any tips?

My sister takes Ritalin for a (supposed) ADD. Isn't methylphenidate a stimulant molecularly similar to cocaine (I'm not really sure)? You could be feeling a bit overstimulated because your dosage is wrong? Talk to your doctor.

i do take ritalin but i have asperger so its not same thing tey help a lot if i feel hyper and need to sit still+some other things i have

I take Concerta which is basically extended release ritalin. I was originally put on it for ADHD before I was diagnosed with AS, but ironically enough by taking the concerta I was treating my AS and didn't even know it. Out of the two meds I take for my AS my concerta is the one I notice the most, when it wears off I get depressed and if I don't take it I just don't interact well with other people, I'm more likely to take a statment in a negative way or be irritated by it than I am when I have my meds. The other thing I take is genaric Prozac, I guess it helps becuase I would still have meltdowns and stuff on concerta and I don't have those as often now, and my anxiety level is lower than usual. Mostly I think that knowing I have it is the best medication because when I start to have a meltdown I recognize what it is... before, have of the drama of the meltdown was not understanding what was happening to me and thinking I was going nuts.