I'm on 54 mg at 61 years old and would like to know what it will do for me.. of the many symptoms of ADHD

It's been only 2 months since I started Concerta. I have read a lot in this forum and learned that people react differently to meds. I can share my experience:

- I start at the lowest dose, 18 mg. The doctor insist I wait 2 weeks before changing it.
- First week I felt it was working, however not all day, only in the morning.
- Side effect in the first week: headache, dry mouth, rebound effect early in the afternoon.
- Second week: side effect gone but the good effect only last 2-3 hours.
- At my doctor recommendation, I increased the dose to 36 mg after 2 weeks.
- Week 3: Side effect come back, headache and dry mouth only.
- Week 4: No side effect. Last a good 10 to 12 hours. I stop increasing the dose.

Concerta is working very well for me. I have all the predicted good effects, constantly. I still do need to virtually "kick myself in the butt" to start doing thing, but I find it easier as time goes.

Thanks for the information. I started at 36 mgs for 5 days and went to 54 mgs.
During the days my tics go away but early evening they come back.

OK! What are the symptoms of ADHD that concerta helps you with?

Thanks soo much

The biggest one I notice is noise filtering. I can follow a conversation even if there is noise around or other people talking. People told me I look calm, I don't walk around the office as much as before. This is a good and unexpected effect for me, I am mostly inattentive and didn't thought that I had perceptible hyperactive behavior. I am also less impulsive. I don't feel bored like before.

The list of good things I notice continue to grow almost everyday.

I recommend highly that you use extreme caution. While my experience was far from what I've read as being typical... I spiraled into an intense depression day 2 on the concerta, uncontrollable crying, paranoia second to none. I ended up being taken to the ER because I felt like I was standing outside myself watching some imposter play me. I have two beautiful daughters that make it so I would never intentionally harm myself. But I felt so much not like myself that I was fearful for my safety.

I wish you the best of luck finding the medication that works best for you.

~A