I've also posted the following on the general medication discussion but since it concerns Concerte I will post my question here as well. If this is not allowed the please moderator feel free to delete one of the two .

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Hi there!<O:p</O:p

Ok here's the story.<O:p</O:p

I am taking methylenidate for just about a year now. At first I started on Ritalin, then I switched over to Concerta 36mg and about three months ago I switched over to 54mg Concerta. 54mg really does the job I have to say.<O:p</O:p

Now here's what I am dealing with at the moment. I go to college and I work 4 days a week, two nightshifts and two dayshifts, I've noticed that these irregular hours have been causing a disturbance in the force: my biorhythm (sorry hooked on sci-fi here). I have never been a troubled sleeper in my life: meaning that if the lights go out, and I am in my bed, sleep always follows within 20 minutes or so. What I do lack is discipline and I like to pull an all nighter occasionally. Now unfortunately the lack of sleep seems to be catching up with me and now when my meds start working I become completely lethargic. All I do is a lot of NOTHING and I am even more glad when it works off. Now do not get me wrong here because the meds do make me calm of mind and in no way I am easily distracted but... Not being distracted from being lethargic is starting to frustrate me now!<O:p</O:p


It is like the meds do make me calm of mind but are draining my natural energy causing my meds to backfire on me: lethargic. <O:p</O:p
<O:p</O:p

I know this is a long story but has anyone had the same (or similar) experience? And does anyone have some advice? I sure need some now… <O:p</O:p

I take concerta too, but at 36 mg... I found that after like 6 or 8 hours it starts to wear off and I get realllly groggy.

I have really bad insomnia.. I think part of it was because I was prescribed benzodiapines from when i was 13 until i went into rehab for coke in january (i'm 21)... so my body really doesn't know how to sleep. I went on trazodone when i finished rehab because it isn't addictive.. but it sucks that i need to take something to sleep.. and something to function during the day it makes me feel like i'm a robot..

Well me found the answer!

This subject kept me busy (ADD-trait) and I wouldn't let it go until I would come up with an answer. Well.... I came up with 'the answer'. 2 Months ago I started using melatonin and the quality of my sleep went up so during the day I would have lots of energy to make my meds count. So I went on the internet to find out the details about melatonin and after some clicking I read about delayed sleep phase syndrome. I could not believe what I was reading! No, I never had problems with sleeping but yes I never went to bed before twelve and, even though I would sleep ok, I would always wake up more tired (sometimes even stressed) than I was before I went to bed. This would cause me problems during the day: fatigue attacking me on the most unwanted moments during the de day. My meds would only aggravate this feeling of being tired/lethargic. I never knew I was a person whose neurobiology would start making melatonin 2 hours later then the average person! But since I use melatonin my life (plus concerta) improved lots!

There are a bound to be more (ADD)people with this DSPS because ADD and sleep are connected since serotonin also regulates sleep (melatonin is mostly produced out of serotonin). So check it out: delayed sleep phase syndrome. <O:p

Me is very happy for months now :-)

you "use" melatonin...excuse the ignorance but I thought your body made that. You can buy it in the stores?

You sure can. It's usually next to the vitamin supplements, etc.

you "use" melatonin...excuse the ignorance but I thought your body made that. You can buy it in the stores?