"i was diagnosed with add when i was seven, i think. i had behavior issues in my second grade class and i drove my teacher nuts with my constant distractions and my lack of focus. little things like small talk and excessive noises triggered my symptoms and i was put on ritalin la when i was eight. ritalin was awful for me. i didn&#039;t sleep very well at all. i had periods of insomnia and when i would sleep it was very prolonged in hours of sleep i was getting. finally, after a couple of years suffering with this ritalin i talked with my doctor about trying a new medicine called focalin xr when i was 13 and i am almost 18 now. focalin xr has been really wonderful for me. my focus is better. it does cause diarrhea, and mood swings."