It raises mine and I have to take Norvasc 5mg/day to keep my diastolic under 90.

Concerta can raise blood pressure. The only way I can see this effect being minimized is by taking the lowest effective dose possible. For example, if you function on 27 don't take 54, take 27. That's the only help I can give as other than stopping the med the only other logical thing is to minimize the dosage... good luck.

Andy.

I'm sorry to hear that it is raising your BP. I think this tends to be a fairly common occurance with some people taking methylphenidate. I know it used to do that to me too.

Might I suggest that you consider talking to your Dr about the drug Focalin as a possible way to reduce some of those negative peripheral nervous system (PNS) side effects. Granted we each respond differently to these drugs, but almost every report I have read concerning Focalin's side effects have ranked it to be much safer than traditional methylphenidate. It was certainlly that way for me.

The reason for Focalin's smoother ride per se, is due to it being dexmethylphenidate, compared to Concerta that is methylphenidate. The methylphenidate molecule can be divided into two halves, or isomers. Dexmethylphenidate is the d-isomer, or the right handed side of the methylphenidate molecule. The left handed side of the methylphenidate molecule is the l-isomer.

The l-isomer of methylphenidate is associate with causing many more PNS effects like raising BP, or rapid heart beat, etc. The d-isomer of methylphenidate is is associated with many more central nervous system (CNS) effects like mental clarity, focus, attention, euphoria, etc.

This is similar, if not exactly the way the amphetamine isomers are considered to function. The drug Dexedrine is the d-isomer of the amphetamine molecule, and it has considerably more CNS stimulation than does the l-isomer of the amphetamine molecule which tends to provide more PNS stimulation.

It certainlly would not hurt to discuss this with your Dr.

Again Lars, let me congradulate you on an excillent post. I never thought of this at all. Where did you find this out?

After I started taking Concerta my BP went up too. It's gets dangerously high when I exercise...well, it used to. I'm on 25mg of some BP med just to make it safe for me to exercise.

I found out that this wasn't helping as well as I wanted so I also reduced my sodium intake and try to make it less than 1200mg per day. Since then my resting BP has gone from 130/90 to 120/76. The BP of 130/90 was the best the BP meds would get me down to from 139/97 before I reduced my sodium intake.

Again Lars, let me congradulate you on an excillent post. I never thought of this at all. Where did you find this out?I'm glad that you liked the information.

To answer your question about how I found this out, I guess it's from simply having an over sized appetite for knowledge concerning cutting edge medicines & any current research in that particular area of medical science for many years. I have always been fascinated with what is known & what is not known about the processes involved with the alteration & or removal of perception or pain.

I remember that when I learned that the Greek word "anesthetic" literally meant "without perception," and that the Greek word "analgesic" literaly meant "without pain," there was instantly a cord struck somewhere deep within that made this subject very intrguing to me from then on. I began to think about how many times I had seen the word "analgesic" on an asprin bottle over the years without ever really understanding what the word literaly meant. I guess it just started to snowball from there. :o

Lars,
thanks for your input but I just went to the FocalinXR site and it says under side effects that it does effect your blood pressure. I will bring it up with my doctor next time I see him. If FocalinXR does not raise my blood pressure as much as Concerta and its cheaper I will definitely want to switch.

the FocalinXR site and it says under side effects that it does effect your blood pressure. I will bring it up with my doctor next time I see him. If FocalinXR does not raise my blood pressure as much as Concerta and its cheaper I will definitely want to switch.Here is what I said in my post: "Might I suggest that you consider talking to your Dr about the drug Focalin as a possible way to reduce some of those negative peripheral nervous system (PNS) side effects. Granted we each respond differently to these drugs, but almost every report I have read concerning Focalin's side effects have ranked it to be much more therapeutic than traditional methylphenidate. It was certainlly that way for me."

I made it a point to use words like "some" & "differently" due to the possible side effects that due occur. :o I probably did not word it as well as I should have, but I was referring to this in terms of a person who appeared to have fairly evaluated their own response to methylphenidate and reported experiencing negative PNS side effects, compared to the lowered rate of negative PNS side effects typically found in Focalin. BTW, a d-isomer has some limited PNS side effects, as does some l-isomer have some limited CNS side effects.

Peace, Lars

A jump in BP is normal for someone exercising. In fact, a runner may see BP go to 200/90.

But it should return to 'normal' levels shortly after one stops running.

I'm on Concerta 36 and when medicated, my resting BP is 135/90, or so, and my pulse is around 95.

Before Concerta, my BP was 120/80 and pulse around 80.

I'm 41 and have trained most of my adult life.

That said, my doctor checked his 'big book' and concurs that Concerta does elevate BP/pulse during use.

Rather than load up on BP drugs, I'm cutting the sodium and cranking up the exercise routine.

Will report back in 30 days.

HB, that sounds like the smartest approach--crank up the exercise and lower the sodium.

My problem with the BP spike when exercising was that I went way over.
I took a cardio stress test and hit 207/119. Granted, once I stopped the test my BP dropped fairly quickly...but I would hate to blow a gasket while I was exercising. I haven't checked my BP while exercising since my resting BP has dropped...maybe it's time for me to do that.

With respect to blood pressure, this is a constant worry for me when taking Concerta. Has anyone seen a different result with Adderall XR? Does it make BP higher than Concerta?

Has anyone seen a different result with Adderall XR? Does it make BP higher than Concerta?Adderall XR was not available when I was taking Adderall, but I saw a much different result with Adderall compared to Concerta. In fact, the Adderall made me feel very sedated, which no other stimulant had ever done before.

We all respond to these things in our own way, but for the most part it appears that Concerta seems to have harsher side effects for most people than Adderall does.

Adderall XR was not available when I was taking Adderall, but I saw a much different result with Adderall compared to Concerta. In fact, the Adderall made me feel very sedated, which no other stimulant had ever done before.

The history of Adderall is a bit clouded in my mind right now, but instant release Adderall has changed from pure dextroamphetamine to the amphetamine salt combination as it is known today. I'm curious as to the formulation that was used at the time you were taking Adderall, which would probably make a difference in outcome.

From my own experience, Adderall (both the XR and IR, in their current formulations) does raise blood pressure noticeably, but as to how much, I have yet to determine. I don't think it has much of an effect on myself, as taking my blood pressure in the same exact scenarios (resting) can yield similar results (often being in the normal range (below high/normal). The blood pressure effect has seemed to diminish over time though.

I've read stories of others finding a significant difference between Adderall (current formulation, with l-amphetamine) and Dexedrine in this respect. That's why I wonder.

Adderall has changed from pure dextroamphetamine to the amphetamine salt combination as it is known today. I'm curious as to the formulation that was used at the time you were taking Adderall, which would probably make a difference in outcome.The formulation that I used was the one that came out in 1996, and it is the same formula used today. I have never heard anything about a transition from a formula of pure d-amphetamine to the present day formula. I was always under the impression that Adderall was a renamed stimulant that used to be called "Obetrol," and that it was used primarily in the treatment of obesity. From what I remember, there was a subtle difference between Adderall and Obetrol, but everything that is in the current Adderall formula (active ingredients only) was present in the Obetrol as far as I can recall. Perhaps the Obetrol had a tiny amount of biphetamine in it in addition to the current Adderall formula, I really am not sure at the moment.

Are you certain about a pure dextroamphetamine formula switching to the present day formula? I am very curious to learn more about that.

The formulation that I used was the one that came out in 1996, and it is the same formula used today. I have never heard anything about a transition from a formula of pure d-amphetamine to the present day formula. I was always under the impression that Adderall was a renamed stimulant that used to be called "Obetrol," and that it was used primarily in the treatment of obesity. From what I remember, there was a subtle difference between Adderall and Obetrol, but everything that is in the current Adderall formula (active ingredients only) was present in the Obetrol as far as I can recall. Perhaps the Obetrol had a tiny amount of biphetamine in it in addition to the current Adderall formula, I really am not sure at the moment.

Are you certain about a pure dextroamphetamine formula switching to the present day formula? I am very curious to learn more about that.

Ah, you are correct on that. My sources are obviously incorrect. It seems that many have incorrectly referred to Adderall as dextroamphetamine [sulfate]. I also suppose I was under the assumption that the mixture of Adderall was a recent invention to combat rebound, as opposed to being an idea originating from the 1920's. That really puts some perspective of it's use as an ADHD medication and Shire's stance of it vs. Dexedrine. Thanks for the clarification.

That's right. Obetrol and Adderall I learned are the same drug. Isn't dexadrine the d-amphetamine isomer and adderall have the d and l isomers?

A jump in BP is normal for someone exercising. In fact, a runner may see BP go to 200/90.

But it should return to 'normal' levels shortly after one stops running.

I'm on Concerta 36 and when medicated, my resting BP is 135/90, or so, and my pulse is around 95.

Before Concerta, my BP was 120/80 and pulse around 80.

I'm 41 and have trained most of my adult life.

That said, my doctor checked his 'big book' and concurs that Concerta does elevate BP/pulse during use.

Rather than load up on BP drugs, I'm cutting the sodium and cranking up the exercise routine.

Will report back in 30 days.
Did your doctor have issue with 135/90? I would think the diastolic would be of issue here. I am in the same boat you are in, and am also 41. My doctor tells me to stop worrying so much. My BP is 118/69 and pulse 61 with no meds and with Concerta the number changes to an average of about 135/83 and pulse 77. I am a runner, and running is out of the question when on the meds. I have to slow my mileage time by 2 minutes a mile to keep the heart from hitting 100% of maximum. But I think I may have found the culprit. CAFFEINE.

I have noticed that caffeine from coffee or soda greatly increases my blood pressure while on Concerta. I drink a coffee or diet pepsi (or three this is my vice) and my BP goes up a bunch.

Did your doctor have issue with 135/90? I would think the diastolic would be of issue here. I am in the same boat you are in, and am also 41. My doctor tells me to stop worrying so much. My BP is 118/69 and pulse 61 with no meds and with Concerta the number changes to an average of about 135/83 and pulse 77. I am a runner, and running is out of the question when on the meds. I have to slow my mileage time by 2 minutes a mile to keep the heart from hitting 100% of maximum. But I think I may have found the culprit. CAFFEINE.

I have noticed that caffeine from coffee or soda greatly increases my blood pressure while on Concerta. I drink a coffee or diet pepsi (or three this is my vice) and my BP goes up a bunch.
Thats Right! CAffeine will always raise your bloodpressure. I save coffee and junk food for the weekends when I dont really need to take Concerta. If I need a "pick me up" i just settle for a nap.