i have a question for all you concerta users...if anyone has been on adderall before, and switched to concerta did anyone notice a significant change in your behavior? Right now im on adderall XR 20g in the morning..When I take it I have tried with and without eating first, and lately I have been taking it without food first, then I eat half hour or so later. What happens to me is I am all hyped up to do something and I do it. I can easily get things done in a timely manner. But afternoon, I dwindle down and I don't feel the need to accomplish what I am trying to do. Really what is happening to me is I get worked up easily over little things....Really what I am looking for is something that will calm me down a notch. Basically what I am asking is does concerta make you relaxed, but also more motivated to keep doing what your doing and finish it? I just started this a week ago, but what I am wondering is do I need to get a dosage change, or try something else? What I want is to still be focused, but not get worked up over things as much as I am now.

Ok, If I understand you: you just started Adderall XR at 20 mgs per day, and you are concerned that it is making you anxious. You also want to know if Concerta is more calming than Adderall. In general, you could have a dosing issue. Adderall is a strong stimulant (about twice as strong per miligram as Ritalin). Maybe 10mgs would be enough for you. As far as taking the medinces with food or whatever . . . I don't think it matters very much with Adderall, but food can slow down the onset of Concerta a bit. Just don't drink orange juice or anything with lots of Vitamin C until after the medicine wears off. Somehow, the vitamin C interferes with stimulants and makes them less effective.

Anyway, I've been prescribed both medicines so I'll tell you my experience. I was on Concerta 36 mgs for a few months, and I've recently been on 20 mgs of Adderall XR per day.

The Adderall makes me feel a little bit "wired" and focused. It does not hurt my creativity like Ritalin seems to. However, the Adderall also seems to make me a bit anxious and anti-social at 20mgs.

On the other hand, Concerta made me feel very patient and focused. When I was on Concerta, I could watch the grass grow and not get bored. I think that is the "Zombie" side effect that people talk about with Ritalin. I feel less creative on Ritalin and a little bit emotionally flat.

So both medicines seem to have some negative side effects. Adderall makes me feel wired and anti-social. Concerta (Ritalin) makes me feel a bit zombie-like sometimes. I guess you have to pick your poison.

Really what is happening to me is I get worked up easily over little things....Really what I am looking for is something that will calm me down a notch. Basically what I am asking is does concerta make you relaxed, but also more motivated to keep doing what your doing and finish it? I just started this a week ago, but what I am wondering is do I need to get a dosage change, or try something else? What I want is to still be focused, but not get worked up over things as much as I am now.

I have tried adderall and concerta and I prefer concerta. I had the exact same experience, I would get too worked up over small meaningless stuff so it caused some social problems! I found I would get angry about stuff I would normally not care about at all. Concerta doesn't cause anything like that with me at all. I also like Vyvanse, I've been trying it for the last few weeks and the effect is very smooth, it definately makes me feel calmer.

Your doctor of course would know the best about what would work the best