Hi all...

I was diagnosed with ADHD a month ago... after 2 weeks on Adderall XR I was bumped up to 20mg. I went and saw my Dr after the teeth grinding and jaw clenching became so severe as the drug wore off it hurt to speak. He put me on Concerta.

The first day I took the Concerta I had a general malaise, all I wanted to do was sleep. That night I slept 15 hours (I rarely sleep more than 8, normal for me is 5-6) and had to talk myself into getting up to take my next dose. By early afternoon I was in a depression that was worse than anything I'd ever experienced. By early evening I was crying uncontrollably. I knew that there was nothing that was wrong to make me feel this way but couldn't stop. It felt as if I were standing outside myself watching some imposter play me. My roommate came home and tried to get me to talk but I couldn't figure out what to talk about. After telling him that it would just be easier not to have to deal with the depression, he suggested a trip to the ER. I was lucid enough to agree but on the way to the car I became paranoid about what that could do to my personal/family life and freaked out. On one hand, I know myself well enough to know that I would never harm myself because things always get better but on the other hand I didn't feel like me at all, and was scared as to what I might do.

Ended up in the ER for 12.5 hours, by the time I got my psych eval, the drug had worn off and I was feeling absolutely fine... just mildly annoyed that I was still stuck there waiting. It is everyones best guess that I just had an INSANE reaction to the Concerta.

I know meds work differently for everyone but I felt it was important to share my experience in the event someone else has a similiar reaction and is scouring the boards or the internet to find information.

I'm now on my 2nd day of Vyvanse and so far these are the best 2 days I've had since I started any of the medications.

Best Wishes!

how do you know this depression is not a result of adderall withdrawal?
what was your dosage (in mg) of concerta?
jumping straight off adderall seems more likely to cause the situation you described..

I'm new to this ADD thing and started taking Ritalin just over a month ago. Started at 20mg X1 then moved to X2. My irritability went through the roof!
Changed to Concerta 54mg X1 about 10 days ago and have felt the way you describe the entire time. I've never had trouble with depression more than the average person, but now I can't seem to get motivated now to work out or even ride my motorcycle. It's a really terrible feeling!
Good to hear about Vyvanse. I was thinking of trying it or Dex at my next appt.

how do you know this depression is not a result of adderall withdrawal?
what was your dosage (in mg) of concerta?
jumping straight off adderall seems more likely to cause the situation you described..

I didn't always take my adderall xr.. only on days I needed it. Twice I went two days without and had NO symptoms at all... But two days off of the adderall xr and the same two days on 18mg of concerta spun me. General consensus is it's the concerta. What you are saying is logical but I don't believe it's what happened in my case...

Best Wishes!

I'm new to this ADD thing and started taking Ritalin just over a month ago. Started at 20mg X1 then moved to X2. My irritability went through the roof!
Changed to Concerta 54mg X1 about 10 days ago and have felt the way you describe the entire time. I've never had trouble with depression more than the average person, but now I can't seem to get motivated now to work out or even ride my motorcycle. It's a really terrible feeling!
Good to hear about Vyvanse. I was thinking of trying it or Dex at my next appt.

I would highly recommend you discuss switching meds with your dr. I'll be honest... the Vyvanse doesn't give me that "get up and do" feeling that I got on the Adderall XR so it does take a little bit to get me motivated but zero depression. My dr also gave me Adderall IR 5mg to either help with my motivation and more rapid concentration in the mornings or to help me sustain as the Vyvanse wears off. The biggest issue I've found with the Adderall XR and Vyvanse is it wears off before I'm done needing it. I'm 30 (almost 31!) years old and my day doesn't end when I leave work... I have bills to pay, a household to take care of etc... The IR seems to help with that.

Best Wishes to you! Please feel free to let me know what you find out from your dr.

Cool! Thanks for the advice.
Good luck to you!!

yeah i had to wake myself up to take concerta too!! it was weird, cause when i take adderall, all i have to do is wake up and take it.. but concerta, you have to remind yourself to take it before you're really awake.. ya know?

Concerta was the evil drug for me. I turned me into a complete *****, very little patience with other people, and often times lashed out verbally and even physically without caring at all. I was originally diagnosed with ADD by my psychiatrist when I was seeing him for coping wiht a marital separation. I went on Concerta 18mg twice a day, and while it helped immensely with my ADD, it ruined my marriage and all relationships afterward until I got off of it. I'm normally a very reserved, quiet, and caring fellow but on Concerta I told my wife of nine years to get the f**k out and have a nice life, which was not me because four years and irrepairable relationship damage I do still care for her as a person.

Adderall does me similarly but not to the same extent as Concerta. My doc said that it appears I can't cope with the adrenaline and noripenephrine release these CNS stimulants cause me.

concerta but moreso focalin were bad news for me too. i felt like a zombie after a few hours of taking it and never felt good even when the next dose was supposed to kick in. i was tired, grouchy, chronic headaches, and yawned without satisfaction constantly. adderall has been much much better for me. not sure if it's perfect but the better option.

Taking generic methylphenidate for years (70Mg/day), absolutely fine.
Got switched onto Concerta XL (54Mg/day), and became intolerant of anyone and everything, and after two weeks of being a complete nightmare i attempted to take my own life.
Ended up in an acute psychiatric admissions ward after being arrested and taken to 'a place of safety', and patched up.

i'm now back on generic methylphenidate and am as 'normal' as i was beforehand.

Concerta XL definitely does not agree with me.