Hi All!

I've been on Concerta for 3 1/2 weeks. I took 18mg for one week, 36mg for the next week and have now been on 54mg for 1 1/2 weeks. I had no side effects on 18 or 36, but the day after I started taking the 54mg, I developed sinus congestion, cough and sore throat. My wife says it's allergies, however, I am 46 years old and have never experienced allergies before in my life. So, I am wondering if these are side effects of the higher dosage of Concerta? Has anyone else experienced this? I eat and sleep well, exercise and take vitamins. Nothing in my life changed after switching to 54. Is it related? What do you all think?

Thank you,

Todd
Annapolis, MD

You have a cold.

Ok, if so, do you think taking the higher dose lowered my immune system enough to get a cold? Plus, I can't seem to shake it which is abnormal for me. Usually, my cold symptoms go away in 3 or 4 days, not 1 1/2 weeks and still there!

Thanks,

Todd

No. If anything, it's probably your age that's weakened your immune system.

Hi All!

I've been on Concerta for 3 1/2 weeks. I took 18mg for one week, 36mg for the next week and have now been on 54mg for 1 1/2 weeks. I had no side effects on 18 or 36, but the day after I started taking the 54mg, I developed sinus congestion, cough and sore throat. My wife says it's allergies, however, I am 46 years old and have never experienced allergies before in my life. So, I am wondering if these are side effects of the higher dosage of Concerta? Has anyone else experienced this? I eat and sleep well, exercise and take vitamins. Nothing in my life changed after switching to 54. Is it related? What do you all think?

It's quite possible that Concerta prolong your cold.

Respiratory: Cough increased, pharyngitis, sinusitis, upper respiratory tract infection http://www.umm.edu/altmed/drugs/methylphenidate-085400.htm

Respiratory: Upper respiratory tract infection (8%); cough, pharyngitis (4%); sinusitis (3%).http://www.drugs.com/ppa/methylphenidate-hydrochloride.html

According to Concerta's product information packet, the most common side effects of Concerta are headache (14%), upper respiratory tract infection (8%), abdominal pain (7%), vomiting (4%), loss of appetite (4%), insomnia (4%), increased cough (4%), pharyngitis (4%), sinusitis (3%), and dizziness (2%).http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/adhd/a/concerta.htm

Thanks for the info and links. Very interesting. My symptoms could be related. I wonder if Concerta lowers the immune system? I'm also having the worst case of poison ivy in my life! Has anyone looked into this further? Has anyone on Concerta had blood taken for a white blood cell count?

Thanks,

Todd

concerta dries out my nostrils, throat and mouth. The dry mucus membranes puts you at higher risk for becoming infected in those areas of your body just because your saliva and whatnot is what washes the germs from your body. i'm not sure what the links posted say, but that's what i noticed & how it was explained to me.