I am currently unmedicated and considering going back on Concerta.

The question is that the last time I took it, I got this weird feeling like as soon as I opened my eyes in the morning, I HAD to put that pill in my mouth. Not because I couldn't function without it, it was just this really weird sort of subconscious strong urge to take it immediately, like I could not do without it and would die if I didn't take it. This happened even after I decided to stop it, and I had to force myself to stop (it was causing really bad anxiety at that dose).

Is this normal? It kind of scared me. I'm no saint and I used to drink and do some "substances" here and there, but I have never felt like that about anything before.

Wow,

I don't know what to tell you. It sounds more like anxiety than "addiction." Anxiety and fear that you wouldn't be able to cope without the pill.

I say make sure to discuss this with your doctor. Tell him also of your drug history. That way he can help you monitor your reaction to it. Just putting your worry on the table publicly may allay some of your anxiety. The worse thing I think is to keep this to yourself. That'll probably increase your anxiety.

By the way, was the Concerta working really well for you? Was its effectiveness possibly the reason you got so "into" it?

To be honest right now I am so anxious in general I think I may be getting sort of paranoid about dumb things. I just remember waking up and needing that pill more than I've ever needed anything before.

I'm trying to remember exactly why. It's possible it's just because I liked it so much; it calmed me and I could suddenly think after I took it. It might be I had anxiety being off of it (overnight) from the lack of being able to think. I read in the archives here that someone had a panic attack just because the ADHD brain fog had returned.

Just to clarify- I don't really have a drug history per se (experimental pot use mostly), but I did drink way too much when I was married. I don't drink anymore; just simply stopped after the divorce.

I think a lot of folks look forward to taking their morning pills. I really don't think that qualifies as an addiction. It may be that it was really helping you and you got scared about it and obsessed about it.

Again, I think this is anxiety and fear. I say definitely tell this to your doctor as you may want to get some treatment for the anxiety as well if that shows itself in other areas besides this one ....

But I say tell the doctor so when you regularly see him, he can ask, "how are you feeling when you take the pill." ... You can answer and you guys can deal with it. By the way, you say you were able to stop "cold turkey" on your own. Crack addicts can't do that. Alcoholics can't do that.

Why do you want to go back on the pill? ... Difficulty concentrating and managing your life? ... I'm guessing it's ok for you to take it again, but talk to the doc!

Thank you for the kind reply. :)

I want to go back to Concerta to see if, once and for good, I can turn this mess (my life) around. As yet I have not taken medication more than a few months at a time, and it hasn't had much lasting impact as far as helping me stay focused long enough to get my career back on track, or possibly go back to school. Maybe pay a bill here and there.

I posted in the new member introduction area which may explain things a little better.

Carol,

I read your intro on the new members site. My only suggestion to you is to get as much support as you can as you try to get your life on a smoother path. A lot of us adhd'ers (myself prominently included) have trouble thinking clearly about how to "fix" our lives. We might get great ideas, and then forget them in the chaos of adhd.

Sometimes we jump to complicated solutions where simple ones would do. So I say get as much help as you can and get as informed as you can. Try to be patient with the meds, if you can. You may have to adjust the dosage several times to get the exact best dosage for you .... and you might have to try different meds (and different dosages of each of those meds).

Good luck! ....

It sounds like anxiety to me. When I run out I just feel tired the next day after running out, then I have the usual unstable energy; but that has never happened to me. In fact if I don't have my pill box where I can see it in the morning I forget to take it, and it happens quite often; I notice I didn't take it when I'm at classes daydreaming with random stuff.

Thanks both of you for your help.

I didn't realize how bad my anxiety was getting until I ended up at Urgent Care today. This is probably why I've been obsessing over and worrying about the Concerta.
I took it for several months a couple of years ago and I didn't feel like I was getting addicted.

You're probably thinking about your medication too much lol.

try to focus on other things like health and exercise and just take the pill as a routine thing.