Is taking ritalin (methylphenidate) 3 times a day too much ? the ir ?

Depends: It depends on your lack of focus and how fast you metabolize the medication. One way to know, is if the last dose is taken too late in the afternoon and it keeps you awake at night.

Consult your dr: The proper regimen for you comes from working with your doctor. Usually, sustained release forms of medication are effective, reduce the number of doses you have to take and give a smoother response than taking multiple doses of shorter acting forms. Speak to your prescriber about alternative forms.