So i tried taking concerta today, 36mg, and it hasn't affected my mental focus at all. In other words i still have a thousands thoughts rocketing through my head and im grabbing ahold of one and riding it for a while. Anyways i have small side effects. My vision is a lil blurry and my fingers feel like they are quivering but they are more still than they have ever been. I read on here that it could be interacting with caffiene or too much glocuse in my system but i have only eaten cheerios, milk, hot dog, and cottage cheese today. So i think i am moving on to another drug because this has done nothing for my focus and made given me other wierd problems.
I have Focalin to try aswell. Is all this normal? Should i try a different med? Did i take too much Concerta?

Oh btw im 6'3" 215 lbs if that makes a difference.

Welcome! I am curious why you began with 36mgs and how you ingested that (all at once or staggered doses)? In my esperience that's not the way most docs begin a med trial for a new patient.

Milk does interact with the IR part of the Concerta tablet by the way.

Crazy :cool:

It was a staggered dose, a 18mg at about 7 this mornin. And than another at 12 pm.

What happened after the single dose of 18mgs?

Crazy :cool:

Nothing, thats why the second one was taken.

Nothing at all? When I began Concerta I felt something at 18mgs, and then titrated upwards according to my doctor's advice.

Please remember these things can take some time, and that as an ADDer our tendency is to want immediate answers.

Good luck.

Crazy :cool:

Thnx.

I s'pose i was rash with my answer aswell. The only thing i felt with the first dose was a small sense of phantom quivers in my hands. I could tell there was something in my system, but it wasnt doing anything for my concentration.

Thnx.

I s'pose i was rash with my answer aswell. The only thing i felt with the first dose was a small sense of phantom quivers in my hands. I could tell there was something in my system, but it wasnt doing anything for my concentration.Ahah! Did the doc say how many days until you tirate upwards?

I felt very little at 18mgs. I am currently at 81mgs total :o, and it took me time and frustration to get it right. Patience is not my strong suit either, and I am fully loaded with ADHD, severe case.

Crazy :cool:

Well his plan was to stage if it wasnt affecting, like it did. And than the plan was to move on to another drug if i felt concerta was having no affect on my ability to concentrate.

How long did it take before you noticed an increase in your ability to stay focused?

Heh, he asks me that, LOL!

Um...
Ahhhh...:o.

OK I began on 18mgs, felt a small window of clarity during the 3 days I took that dose, titrated up to 36mgs at once, more clarity, larger window, not enough. Titrated to 54mgs at once, relief but rebounding at night. Titrated up to 72mgs all at once, same results as at 54mgs but slightly larger window, still rebounding plus gritty Ritalin side effects becoming apparent.

Began staggering sequence, 54mgs AM then another 18mgs when the "wonk" came on. Not right yet! Changed tablet size to 27mgs, and now take 54mgs AM and another 27mgs when the "wonk" comes on.

Whew! I took about 3 days at each dose I tried and stink at math :o.

Crazy :cool:

dang. See my thing is if these side effects persist than its not worth taking the drug. I am 25 and have functioned.... well decently. I would like to have a better control over my concentration but i dont want all these wierd side effects to go with it.

Please describe the side effects and how long they persist, as well as how disturbing they are to you. Some of the initial side effects passed in time for me. Maybe I can help with that too.


Crazy :cool:

Well they start about an hour after i take it and last for a few hours. The side effects i am getting are as follows. Burry vision, not too bad just seems to take longer for my eyes to focus. And this quivery feeling in my limbs and fingers.... without actually having quivers.

Sounds a good deal like what I call the "gritty ritalin effect". I can confirm that for me this stage eventually passed, although I did experience it every time I would titrate up to a higher dose.

Are you taking notes on this to report to your doc? I would suggest that, it works for me. I can forget the most obvious things sometimes, meds or no meds!


Crazy :cool:

i'm on concerta and it helps me very well!! i'm on 54 mg!! but i might start to go on the new patch!!

Welcome Cassie! Have you posted an introduction in the New Member forums yet? If not click HERE. (http://www.addforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=14)

And for the record? If you have ADHD now, you were born with it ;) just like me and my kids. I have an almost 11 year old girl who is dying to join the forum!

Crazy :cool: