i was just wondering so i know if i should increase my dosage im going to see my doctor soon and i really do think i need to up it.


in my opinion it should do this:
Increase motivation
Increase Energy
and the all important Increase ablility to focus and keep on track


What it actually does for me:
clears up my thoughts a little bit


but a little backstory of the past months:

i use to be on 18mg of concerta then i switched to 2 18mg of concerta but i took them at seperate times to keep it going all day long for during and after school

it helped but not much

so this summer i have decided to take 2 18mg concerta (with out confirming with doctor) at once in the morning or whenever i wake up. and the first time i did this it was amazing i felt energized and motivated and i could focus ten times better. however a couple weeks after this i felt these things go away and i am thinking about before i go to the doc trying 3 18mg concerta in the morning to see if i get the effect im looking for. Is this normal ? should i increase dosage? Am i slowly becoming an addict who needs more and more?

like im on top of the world

Sounds like you're becoming an addict.

j/k

Well, maybe not...But I don't think the drugs are supposed to make you feel 'on top of the world'. I think they're supposed to give you increased attention, decreased impulsiveness, and decreased hyperactivity, and maybe more 'focus'. Nothing more.

Maybe you should try something else - like Strattera. Lack of motivation and lack of energy could be caused by lack of sleep, mild depression (aka Dysthymia), etc. Strattera treats ADHD and it treats mild depression (i.e. motivation, lack of energy, etc.)

Hey Revs,

I too am taking 2x 18 MG Concerta (about 10 to 30 mins apart for smoother action). I have pretty much the same complaint as you. I DO like Concerta, however it's not covering the main area's I started taking ADHD drugs for.
Seems like you're missing the Increased Motivation and Energy, and so am I. I was first on Dexedrine (Barr generic) and it GREATLY increased my motivation and energy. I could walk into a messy room and start organizing things in ways I've never been capable in my life.
Unfortunatly Dex would give me anxiety in the afternoons and evenings. I would get frustrated easy and for no good reason. I think this is common as this drugs wear off.
My doctor recommended Concerta because of it's great release mechanism and she's right, it works very well (altho shorter than they claim). I have mild or no anxiety when Concerta wears off.

So now I'm wondering about Focalin (whatever the xtended release version is). Focalin is supposed to be more motivating compaired with normal methlphenidate (some have said). Another option is the new Vyvanse, which is a time release version of Dex.

Let me know how your dose increase goes Revs. You'd do well to try some other medications. Once size does not fit all. Even if we all had the same symptoms, many of us have learned to cope quite well with many of them. I'm not hyper and I can cope with impulsivity just fine, so I don't care if a particual med helps with those, I want the med to hit the areas where I still have failed to cope after 35 years.

Keep us updated !

Please share where you got the information that ADHD medications are supposed to increase motivation and energy? I don't remember reading that, but I might have missed it.

What ben72227 said.

Revz, some people get uncomfortable when people use certain language when referring to medication they take for medical reasons. Do you joke about drugs with your prescribing physician?

amotivation and energy one among the most common adult ADHD symptoms. Especially among so called "innattentive" types. The motivating effects of Dextroamphetamine have been well documented for over 50 years.

"Please share where you got the information that ADHD medications are supposed to increase motivation and energy?"

I'm not sure what you mean by this. If you look at the list of ADHD symptoms you will notice that drug companys are careful not to claim to treat any of them individually, however they are keen to lead you to a list of ADHD symtoms, including motivation or even what some call "amotivational syndrome"

If you do a search on these forums you will find more than 500 posts (the search limit) on motivation.

I don't think ADHD meds aren't supposed to give you motivation, they are supposed to decrease your impulsivity, hyperactivity and increase your attention.

If someone with ADHD took ADHD meds and saw that they can concentrate more then that can give them motivation.

With the energy thing, I take Concerta 54mg and I don't get an increase of energy. Instead I get balanced energy. Without it I am either really hyper or really tired. With the Concerta my energy is balanced, not increased.

well i take motivation from energy like... if im tired or just plain... 'balanced' i guess you could say i just sit here thinking.. even with meds but if i have the energy i have the motivation... does this make any sence? like me im hyper active and if i take concerta im more mellowed out and by that i mean.. "balanced" and i dont like it i would really rather have the same energy levels and get the focus i need... make ne sence?

"Please share where you got the information that ADHD medications are supposed to increase motivation and energy?"

I'm not sure what you mean by this. If you look at the list of ADHD symptoms you will notice that drug companys are careful not to claim to treat any of them individually, however they are keen to lead you to a list of ADHD symtoms, including motivation or even what some call "amotivational syndrome"

If you do a search on these forums you will find more than 500 posts (the search limit) on motivation.Yes, there are lots of discussions about motivation, energy and ADHD. When you read through them, you will discover that people expecting more motivation from their meds are sadly disappointed - other than the initial reaction to Adderall, according to the people who take it. When meds work the right way, you may feel more energy to do things because you aren't expending so much energy trying to function on day to day things. Boone makes a good point about healthy eating, sleeping and exercise to energize the body. Fatigue is also a symptom of dehydration.

ok before i switch to a different stimulant i will try your idea of healthy eating and exercise is there any tips on healthy diet or exercise in this place? you know, for add folk

I assume the USA has an equivalent of the Canada Food Guide? Even better! It's called Mypyramid. http://www.mypyramid.gov/

I really hoped that meds would help me with: Increase motivation, Increase Energy and the ablility to focus and keep on track. Expesially the last thing. :)
Im on Ritalin 20+10+10 but I'm not feeling the changes as good as i would like to... Does the Ritalin makes changes right away, or do I have to ues it for some days/weeks before it works 100%?