After trying various anti-depressants, and Straterra with no
improvement,I have now been prescribed Concerta, I am somewhat reluctant to start the med.as I had bad experiences with the others.I would love to hear of anyone who has had a
good experience with this medication and welcome any advice given to make my start a good one!.

I've tried those. i like Adderall, occasionally. Full time it keeps me from sleeping.

i resisted trying different drugs for a while. After less than positive reactions to more than a few I changed my tune... now its "try 'em all," but with spaces in between.

Good luck.

Hey Ashley -

I've been on Concerta for about 2 months now. It's working pretty well so far! I've had problems holding onto jobs, but I think it's helping me stay on track!

I haven't noticed any side effects, aside from feeling a bit jittery when I was first getting used to the dosage.

I hope this helps!

Take care :)

Thanks Kelly!, I too have trouble holding jobs, at the present I'm
a waitress @ a Sports bar and I've done well so far but I have alot of flexibility there and while it's definitately not what I want to make a career of, It seems all I can do @ the present!.I so hope the meds. will allow me to focus on a more productive job.

I find it incredible that the ADHD, unlike some other portions of the population perhaps, have a strong number who desire fervently to be used and challenged to the extreme extent of their ability, in spite of truly disabling difficulties.

What a built in work ethic!

Where do the loafers come from?

I have also been taking Concerta for about two months and so far it has been absolutly great.

Its enabled me to plan my jobs and available time. I get the jobs done i wanted to do mostly now, as aposed to vertually never.

I am more calm and less impulsive, i havent made a single impulse purchase since i started it (hubby breathing huge sighs of releif).

Had one off day and now i know it was because it was the first day of term and everyone was rushing about and i forgot to take the Concerta. That day i actually forgot my daughter entirly and had to be called and told i should have collected her from pre-school half an hour ago. That is just one thing that went completly wrong that day, i wont bore you with the rest.

I managed to enjoy being mothers help at the pre-school today. 12, 2 to 4 year olds full of high spirits and chaos. I didnt lose my train of thought once and managed to diffuse several potentially difficult situations. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the children play with paints and play dough. My daughter finished the morning with a pink sleeve(it started out blue) and soaked shoes from the puddles.

Last time i did mothers help i endd the morning early with a storming headache brought on by sheer stress. The noise was too much the mess drove me mad and instead of helping resolve disputes i made them all worse.
I could only "wind up" the children and no matter how hard i tried i couldnt calm one of them down. I had to work so hard on not screaming at them all to just "shut up and stop moving" that i was nearly physically sick.
i only lasted half of the 2 and a half hour session before i had to go home and lie down.

The Concerta helps me to filter unwanted stimuli and concentrate on what i want to, whilst not making me "stuck" on one thing.
I can think before i speak (mostly) and i dont butt in.
I can suddenly get an idea of how people are fealing from body language and social cues as well.
I am more able to use planned strategies in dealing with my two ADHD children and not just lash out verbally.

Basically my life is a different place and i am even starting to concider going back to higher education, to finish what i started 10 years ago, now i know i can follow through.

i could be a sales rep for the drug,looking back at that, couldnt i.
Still it is all true and only a small part of the possitive changes i have made.

Having said all that, It didnt work for my son. So i geuss even in relatives the effects can be totally different.

I just started Concerta today.
It is my first ADD med.
I am hoping for some of the results I read here.

AMEN!!!!!!!, yesterday was my first day of Concerta and though
on the low-18 mg. dose, I can tell this is the one for me!!!!!!.I had
to work last night, and It was an" AWESOME" night for me,as usually, I'm so scattered mentally that I spend so much time back-tracking,second questioning my customers,etc........ In a nut shell, I was definately on task!!!!!!!.I got to bed around 2:00am. and up at 7:45am. which is less sleep than I normally get, but I feel good, and looking forward to planning the rest of my day!.

That is great Ashely....(pretty name by the way)....

I was going to say in response to your first post -- that the undertaking of a new drug is scarey -- esp. when others have failed....But I always remember that that NEXT drug -- may be the one that works....and you can always just brainwash yourself into thinking it's the first one you're trying....:)

Glad you're feeling better:)

Thank you Joan!, I couldn't agree more!.What's even more amazing, is that I've been sick with a bad cold/Flu, the past couple
of days and despite all the rotten symptoms, I feel GREAT!, things
seem so clear for a change, and not all fuzzy and overwhelming!!!!!!.

I just started 54mg Concerta yesterday.. The initial side effects knocked my flat on my butt (I managed to get all the non-threatening potential side effects at the same time).. I think the Dr should have started off with a low dose.. So far day 2 I only have a slight headache, eating is the least appealing thing on earth, and I can't sleep..
I have noticed that at I haven't been bored yet since I took it yesterday morning... which is bound to be some type of miracle, it seems like im always bored..
At least I'm not jittery and dizzy anymore, and my stomach hasnt started to hurt yet... I don't think dizzy is the right word but I just can't find a better one other than "dizzy on the inside" which probably wont make sense unless you had the same prob. lol
I might be capable of going to work now (darn)
*making myself go get ready*
Has anyone else ever had a major problem with side effects? Or maybe it was because of the high dose? I'm not familiar with medicines, so I don't know if the dosage even has anything to do with it lol..
Ok, I swear I'm goin..
edit: Oh and despite the miserable effects, I was happy.. So strange..

yep.

The "usual" practice is to titrate up to an effective dose.

Too much stimulant in the ADHD can have the effect of making them sleepy.

Too much is not better than too little...

Wow!, I can't believe they started you out on such a high dose,my
Dr.only prescribed the 18mg.for me and as I stated before, it was working well for me until I had to take a break from it last week due to other temporary illnesses.I hope to restart myConcerta in
a few weeks,but will also continue on the same dose until I need a refill,and @ that point Dr.will determine if I need to be moved up to the higher dose.I must say I didn't experience any stomach
problems whatsoever(Thankgoodness)but I did notice the coming-down effects in the evenings,which consisted of being tired/cranky.Aside from the above mentioned,people said I was more quiet and not as out going as I am usually while on the meds.Anyway looking forward to getting back on track soon!.If you continue to experience problems,talk to your Dr.,you may need your dosage changed.Good luck to you!

take methylphenidate sr 20mg bid and it works well for me.Its not what Id call "even" in its efficacy but it does work.Wish you luck:)

Are talking about Concerta or some other sustained release?
Does it affect your sleep? ?Side effects?


Originally posted by mctavish23
take methylphenidate sr 20mg bid and it works well for me.Its not what Id call "even" in its efficacy but it does work.Wish you luck:)

My original post was concerning Concerta,so far I have experienced mild side effects:(stomache discomfort),I have only been on it for a month now, so not sure If other side effects are to appear as I progress while on Meds.Are you taking Concerta?and how is it working for you?

I'm not sure your'e asking me -arkmalone- but I have started Concerta after failing Strattera due to adverse side effects. I am also on Serzone for depression. No se's on Serzone, but on Concerta I notice some facing redness--flushing that can be pretty significant. It's as though my emotions are right on the surface. I am easily embarrassed now( the past week). I have some other symptoms mostly associated with the stimulant I think. Is this typical, does it go away? Does this mean I am on the wrong drug.? My shrink md is really just kicks ideas around.
Any help?

Arkmalone, I too had a bad experience w/Straterra,and like I noted earlier I haven't been on Concerta for very long myself.It's all still pretty new to me as well.I can say that I notice my face feeling rather warm at times,as if I have fever but haven't noticed any redness.You should talk w/your Dr. about these side effects and see what he suggests.

brilliantmoment,

My doctor ramped me up from 18mg, to 36mg and now to 54mg over a 4 week timeframe.
I think that this helped me to have no noticable side-effects.

I was diagnosed yesterday and I just started 36 mg today and I feel like I just took Tylenol with Codein or half a percocet. I also feel alittle slower than usual, but that is it.

I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be looking out for! Does my attention get better? I haven't noticed that yet. Maybe it will take a week before I notice anything.

JooJoo,hope it works well for you,let us know!

I'm thinking your dose may be a bit high. Sure some people start there, but you have to start low and go slow. I started at 36mg and had funky effects too. At 18mg I usually do ok. I may also go to twice a day.

Another question would be...What other meds of any kind are you on now? Many drugs in combination can have wierd effects. Not everyone is the same. List them here and maybe we can help.
What are your other health problems if any.

I would try one or two more days at this dose if you can stand it and see if it settles out. If not call your doc and ask if you can drop down after explaining.
Let us know.
Mark

The most effective dose for methylphenidate - which is what Concerta is - is 1mg/kg/day - This is the dose that studies have shown to have the best results. 18mg/day would therefore be the max recommended dose for an 80lb person. Mileage will vary from person to person, of course. 36mg isn't really a very high dose.
Drs will typically "ramp up" stimulants, like a lot of other drugs , but this is really to get you used to the side effects, and tune the dosage, as short acting drugs like stimulants don't really need to be ramped-up (like anti-depressants do, for example).
Some people find that the stimulants actually slow them down, vs making them hyper, and this is normal - the drug treats the "racing mind" that a lot of ADDer's complian about. You should find that it helps you focus and not get distracted. If not, then you should talk to your Dr about changing the dosage or going to a different drug, as they all work slightly differently.
Good Luck,
Greg

hi Im not sure were to put this question, so im going to put it here, and hopefully someone will read it that can help!!

My son is on 72mg of concerta a day, we were told that cod liver oil tablets were also good for concentration and to give that to my son as well. But i am slightly worried, i have also heard that they can counter act the concerta, does anyone know if this is true??
huggsss irish_lady4

There are many posts here and others can be found with a Google search or off of some of BIG's very useful links.......

That is a lot of Concerta for your son......is he a big guy?

How long has he been at that dose?

I would love to hear of anyone who has had a
good experience with this medication
how about this: concerta *RULES*!
:cool:
three months ago, i started taking concerta (1st week: 18 mg, 2nd week 36 mg, and from the 3rd week i've been on 54 mg a day, which works absolutely *great* for me!
:D
biggest things/changes for me: i'm now able to think more logically/rationally. i'm now able to see i have options in situations - options on how to act and *re*act...
it used to be i just acted on the first impulse from the reptile part of my brain, and most of the time "thinking" with the most primitive part of the brain doesn't work in our hi-tech, hi-speed society...
:o
i'm also finding i now have the ability to think *ahead*/foresee potentially "troublesome" situations, and thus avoid, or at least control them a lot better!
:)
i think concerta's *amazing*, and for me it's been a *lifesaver*!
:cool:

Hi ADD ED

My son is 10 yrs old, he is tall but not very big for his age, infact he is rather skinny!!! the other smaller doses weren't working for him so his doc put him on this dose and it has done the trick for him. He is wonderful on it, we have had no side effects from it at all and he is doing so well in school now. Were before on the ritalin he was having a very hard time.

Gabriela I think concerta is amazing as well and has done wonders for my son 2 !!! Good luck to you you sound like you are doing real well.

huggsssssss irish_lady4 (Lynne)