Ritalin Sr 20 Mg Tablets (Top voted first)

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I was told by my pharmacist today that brand name (Novartis)-ritalin 20 mg tablets sr (sustained-release), have been discontinued. I cannot find anything on the internet to confirm this. He filled one-third of the prescription and said to contact the doctor to decide what to do. He said ritalin capsules, 20 mg la (long-acting) is still available from novartis. Has anyone out there had any similar difficulties? This may cause problems with my insurance plan...or delays. And I don't have transportation to go from pharmacy to pharmacy looking for ritalin tabs 20 mg sr. Would appreciate any feedback. Thank you in advance.

19 Replies

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13

Late reply but hope this helps. I've been chasing Sandoz SR 20's for years. Sandoz is a subsidiary of Novartis. Both Novartis and Sandoz methylphenidate 20mg SR are discontinued. I'm guessing it's a profit thing? Looks like Mallencrap is still producing it.

As an aside, I did learn that the reason there's such a big difference in how Sandoz versus other generics work is because the sustained release method is basically a wax layer, so some product gets immediately released and the rest waits for the wax dissolving. The Mallenkrodt falls apart in the bottle, looks different than Sandoz/Ritalin, so makes sense to me that it is such a poor substitute. I may have to take 10mg generic immediate release and try to dose multiple times a day, which is pretty problematic for me to remember to take. LA uses a different delivery than SR, and I don't know if the generics use the same "bead technology" that's in Ritalin LA. Sounds like it's not a great substitute anyway due to the longer delivery time.

Seems the best choice, other than multiple immediate release doses, is Concerta. My insurance of course requires generic. I have a dr appt tomorrow and going to try to figure out what to do. Ritalin SR remained in my body longer than the 8 hrs estimated, and since Concerta is meant to last longer (I think 12 hours) I'm not sure it's going to be feasible for me. I may end up with a 27mg Concerta and then 5/10mg ritalin thru out the day (I usually take 3-20mg SRs first thing in the morning).

Be aware that there is only one generic version of Concerta blessed by the FDA. Because Concerta uses a unique patented delivery system, the other generics (which didn't use the same method), delivered the medication in a different dose/manner throughout the day. Same thing we all have known about Ritalin generics for years, but appears a couple of drs took the task of documenting Concerta generic issues to FDA until they finally took action. (BTW moot point now but turns out Sandoz was the only "generic identical" not "generic equivalent" for Ritalin so it's not just in our heads that it did work more effectively than Mallenkrodt.)

The "generic identical" Concerta is made by Jannsen, the same manufacturer as name brand Concerta, and is marked under the company name of "Actavis" (Actavis used to be Watson). The two brands that were nixed by the FDA are Mallenkrodt (of course!) and Kudco. Here's a short FDA note: fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm422568.htm. On the FDA website I also read the chemical composition/etc for both Ritalin SR and Concerta and it appears that Concerta reaches a peak plasma concentration between 6 to 10 hours, so definitely seems to remain in your body longer than Ritalin SR which I believe peaks around 4.9 hours and starts an immediate decrease.

Hope this is a bit of help - looking forward to any other suggestions.

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16

Hello, I was also on brand Ritalin SR-20 for several years until it was discontinued. I struggled without it for a long time. I've tried all generic versions and decided that Sandoz 10mg IR twice daily gives me as close to if not better than the SR20 effects...this I only get by taking a half pill sublingual and let it dissolve, about every 2 to 3 hours. In the last two years of taking this it has changed my life and I feel back in control like I haven't felt in years. Mallinkrodt extended release is like a recreational high and made me lazy but I use that every few months to decrease tolerance to the Sandoz. There are two NEW methylphenidate extended release forms that have been released and one I believe at the end of 2016. That one is County Line Pharmaceuticals and the other is KVK tech...modeled after Ritalin SR20. Also Teva has a 20mg sustained release. I haven't tried those yet but I may this week. Hopefully not sustained remorse!

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7

It is true. Novartis and my psychiatrist confirmed it. However if you go to CVS, there is a 'copy' generic version of it. Its supposedly identical (or close to identical), even made by the same identical formula/capsule etc. Its called Sandoz Methyphenidate SR 20.

One thing I'm trying to confirm however is whether this Sandoz medication itself is going away. One person at Sandoz told me they were considering discontinuing it in 2015. Its hard to believe though a company would just pull the plug on a medication that works so well for many.

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10

I called Sandoz, because of lack of availability of Methylphenidate 20mg SR. A Sandoz representative on the phone told me Sandoz has discontinued production of 20MG SR. I feel it was the most effective version on the market. Not much alternatives, Malinkrat's version is 60% as effective and makes my stomach ache. She told me it was Sandoz's Marketing teams decision. I'm struggling to find a replacement with a similar effect, currently unsuccessful.

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14

Sandoz is a Subsidiary of Novartis. So Ritalin SR Was manufactured by SANDOZ and IS now Discontinued. I called Sandoz and the customer service person i talked to said that Sandoz's Marketing Team discontinued Ritalin SR from their line up. Sad, this formulation worked the best for me, by FAR.

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15

Now it is 2017. Has anyone found a med that worked like the name brand Ritalin sr20? I've been on Adderall since 2014 and my life has suffered ever since. Any help??

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18

Re: Chum (# 16) Expand Referenced Message

Hello, Sandoz Methylphenidate IR has been discontinued now. Wondering if you have any recommendations on what works equally as well with limited side effects.

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1

Sunday night, and my Rite Aid pharmacist called to tell me the same thing. He said any pharmacy (Rite Aid, Walmart and more) that orders their pills from McKesson will not have Ritalin SR available to them. He suggested I call other pharmacies to see if they have a different supplier, and will still be able to get it. I don't think Novartis has stopped making it, McKesson has just stopped carrying it. Personally, I don't want to switch to something new (like LA), so I start pharmacy 'shopping' in the morning. I wish us both luck!

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2

Thank you for responding Joanie. I called the Novartis Manufacturer...it appears that the Rit SR was discontinued in August 2014. Of course there are still supplies in some drugstores left, but they won't last forever. Those on the SR form will have to switch to a different formulation. I was told that the long-acting form is 2x stronger than the sustained-release form. hmm...Does anyone have any anecdotal or other evidence to substantiate this claim? Thanks in advance for any information and help in figuring this out.

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3

Hello, Deanie and Joanie! How are you both?

No, unless the dosage is doubled, then they are the same in strength. The LA, SR, XR, CR and etc. actually all mean the same thing, they designate it as being time released. The only different might be if one was intended to be taken every 12 hours, so it releases the entire dose over a 12 hour time period and another was meant to be taken every 24 hours, so it takes that long to release all of the dosage.

Otherwise, once a day is once a day and they both release the same amount, if the dosage is the same, as I stated.

As listed by the FDA, this medication carries the risk of being habit forming and may cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, headache, irritability, anorexia, insomnia and weight loss.

Is there anything else I can help with?

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4

Hello there Verwon: I appreciate your response and tend to agree. I wonder why my pharmacist insists that the 20 mg long-acting capsule is 2x as strong than the sustained-release form and advises that my prescription count be cut in half? Example: Instead of #40 sr tablets s/he recommends #20 la (long-acting) capsules. The doctor did not change my dosage, but if it is filled the way the pharmacist insists my dose will be significantly decreased. I am trying to get in touch with the doctor to straighten this out. What a mess.

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5

Is there a chance that you can switch pharmacies?

I've never heard of such a thing.

The only way it would make sense, as I said, is if one of taken every 24 hours and the other every 12, or some such.

Can you ask them about that? It might be what she's thinking about regarding this.

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6

I'm trying the LA version twice a day. It doesn't work as well for me as the SR tablets. Did anyone out there experience bad headaches and/or short duration with the LA capsules? Would appreciate any feedback. Thank you.

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8

Novartis and my psychiatrist confirmed Ritalin SR 20 is gone. However if you go to CVS, there is a 'copy' generic version of it. Its supposedly identical (or close to identical), even made by the same identical formula/capsule etc. Its called Sandoz Methyphenidate SR 20.

One thing I'm trying to confirm however is whether this Sandoz medication itself is going away. One person at Sandoz told me they were considering discontinuing it in 2015. Its hard to believe though a company would just pull the plug on a medication that works so well for many.

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9

LA doesn't work at all for me.... see below though.

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11

Hello there; I just saw some replies to my questions. I am really struggling with the LA form but have to wait until next month to see my doctor. I am going to change to something different. I am tired of trying to make things work. The 'bead technology' of LA ritalin doesn't work for me...probably due to absorption problems. Problematic side effects also. Have tried most, if not all, of the generic 'equivalents' of ritalin. They don't work well at all.

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12

As I am reading the above, I am in the same boat. My doctor suggested we try CONCERTA. It is not working at all. Does anyone have any suggestions of what else to try. I was talking methlphendiate SR. 20mg twice a day for years. Kept me from sleeping all day and helped with concentration. Looking for ideas before my next nap. Thanks in advance

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17

Chum, if you try any of these new methylphenidate extended release forms please post your experience. Thx

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19

Ritalin from different companies affects people differently. You sometimes have to shop around. I have been taking it for over 10 years. I have been switched to different manufacturers 4 or 5 times. Two of those times the switch was horrific. Once a pharmacist gave me a substitution that was totally useless. Just recently, a pharmacy I have been using for two years suddenly changed their supplier and their product was not only useless; it was like taking a placebo. Hopefully, I am back in the groove now as I am taking KVK 20 mg tabs. They are wonderful for me. I noticed another post was blasting KVK. That is the basis of my post. You have to find what works for you.

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