Hi,
I take "NIGHT" classes from 4-9pm and take 10 mg of ritalin(generic) 3x a day. Well, first off, I hate the peaks and valleys, one dose lasts about 3 and a half hours for me and then I'm pooped, and I know I have to take it every 4 hours and I do but I hate to keep popping pills like 3x a day. I know 3x doesn't sound like a lot but I dunno.:D I'm thinking of switching to concerta and my doc appt is on tuesday and I know he's gonna increase my dose cause he told me at the first visit that he's starting me off on a low dose for now. So, from reading alot about all this stuff about meds, concerta sounds like it would be good for me and I imagine it would be 54mg. When should I take it so I can function optimally in class on tue and thur night? Mind you, I HAVE A HEAVY workload this semester, and I'm sorry if I sound all jumbled up right now but I'm very tired, and I have ALOT of studying ahead of me for the rest of the semester and I'm SOOO stressed but that's another story.:o Okay, I'll ask again, What time should I take the concerta during the day so it will work good from 4-9pm? Or do you think I should just increase the ritalin and stay with that since I can "control it." I don't care what you say, criticism or whatever, just your opinion! Thanks:D

I'd take Concerta around noon if I were in your shoes. Gives you a couple hours to do homework, and then peak concentration of methylphenidate while in classes. Concerta is rediculously elegant in its dosing. One pill a day, then forget about it.

Chadwick, what are your experiences with the crash from Concerta when it wears off? What time do you take it in the morning and when does it wear off?