Hi all,

This is a great forum,it's been one long journey to get to this point, so please made it this far:) recently diagnosed with ADHD, so I am hoping someone can give me some advice, I am on Day 4 of taking 18mg of CONCERTA XL. Also been on 50mg of sertraline(Zoloft) for almost a year now.


So far the most troublesome side effects are: Not sleeping at night, e.g went to bed at 11:30, got up at 3am had to watch tv then went back to bed at 7am. This has happened for 2 nights and I am irritable with lack of sleep in the day, I understand you can buy some natural health store stuff? What about hot milk?
Feel my heart thudding in my chest, feel like heartburn and like a muscle strain along my left side of chest
shortness of breath
I can tolerate all the others, lack of appetite, but it is the heart palpations that worry me, I have suffered from anxiety is this all in my mind am I panicking, will these go away? I worry I am going to have a heart attack in the night, I used to suffer like this before I was put on my antidepressants, ie panic attacks in the night, feeling I was going to die and thought I would run out of breath, is anyone else getting these, any suggestions would be v. helpful and reassuring.
Thanks for taking time to read this x

I had this more on Ritalin but also with Concerta. It's a normal reaction with any stimulant. I'd ask your doctor for a 12 Lead EKG and maybe blood work to put your mind at ease. It's probably the same chemical reaction more or less as an anxiety attack.

As for sleep, I have done very well with Melatonin. I usually take 6mg, I think they recommend 3.

Talk to your doctor about it if it concerns you. Maybe try adderall or vyvanse. I just got switched to vyvanse and I have none of thpse problems any longer. Since it's roughly the same as adderall you could try either one.

I was also concerned about the cardiac effects Concerta/Ritalin may have. Fortunately I work as a paramedi so I would do the EKG I suggested on myself from time to time.

thanks pala, very helpful advice -my reactions are easing now on the 11th day, so i'll wait and see...........!!!!!!