"i have bipolar and add, the antidepressants compromised my ability to focus and think cogently. i tried ritalin and adderall but with little improvement. focalin gives me a good 4 hours of ability to concentrate on cognitively demanding tasks. i&#039;m a college professor and i can vary the dosage slightly depending on the demands of my day/tasks with doctor&#039;s approval. this med. works very well, but wears off after about 4 hours and can leave me feeling drained. overall, it&#039;s really helpful. has not affected or caused any mania."