Can Concerta cause flu-like symptoms and eye pain when moving the eyes? And increased sensitivity to light and noise (can hear high pitched noises I don't usually hear!!).

I am on Concerta XL 18mg.

First two days were amazing!! Felt so great and focused and alert!! :D

In the evening of day 2 both my eyes hurt when I moved them, but I put this down to eye strain.

Next morning, it was only my left eye that hurt to move.

From then on every evening and night I have felt achy and sore, like I had flu. Also I feel shivery at night, and in the day I get really hot to the point I am soaked in sweat!! Considering there is a swine flu pandemic, this was quite concerning!
Also my eyes seem more sensitive and so does my hearing, I am hearing very high-pitched tones, like the TV and the fridge...and also ringing in my ears.
But the flu symptoms aren't around in the day, which is odd (but I guess that means it's definitely not The Swine lol). Eye pain is always there though.

Anyone else had this or heard of this??

Oh and from day 3 onwards the meds didn't seem to work, felt my unfocused and useless self again! :p But I'm more concerned about the stuff above atm.

Well I'm going to my GP about it today to put my mind at rest.

I've done too much reading and it got to the point where last night I was reading about malaria!! Been to Portugal recently and been bitten by mozzies but malaria isn't existant in that country so I highly doubt it is that :o

It's probably just normal side-effects. Stimulants tend to dehydrate you, so you need to drink lots of water. Also, you're probably reading more or for longer periods of time than before you started the medicine, so that can tire out your eyes. The "flu-like symptoms" might just be the "crash" after the stimulant wears off in the evening. It's a super-mild version of how Cocaine users must feel when they're "coming down." I find that exercising in the evening helps with the rebound effect.

It's probably just normal side-effects. Stimulants tend to dehydrate you, so you need to drink lots of water. Also, you're probably reading more or for longer periods of time than before you started the medicine, so that can tire out your eyes. The "flu-like symptoms" might just be the "crash" after the stimulant wears off in the evening. It's a super-mild version of how Cocaine users must feel when they're "coming down." I find that exercising in the evening helps with the rebound effect.

Interesting post!

Well I went to the doctors today, told her everything, she checked my blood pressure, pulse, chest, throat, ears, eyes, how well I could move my neck (lol)...and everything was fine. So she said it was probably just a mild viral infection and that she didn't think it was the Concerta.

Although I wonder what the psychiatrist would say if I asked her.

Well it doesn't really matter anyway, felt loads better today! Got a little bit hot and sweaty earlier...but other than that, my eyes barely hurt when I move them and I haven't felt achy or flu-ish yet and it's nearly 4am! So that's good! Meaning by this time (when I'd be in bed...or maybe just turning my light out :p ) I'd feel flu-ish and would have felt so for a good few hours.

:)

Hi, pretty much get the same symptoms 6-8 hrs after my daily dose of Concerta(36mg). I have fibromyalgia and wonder if the meds exacerbate the muscle pain, etc...Im at a loss with my meds, Adderall takes my personality away makin me a introvert, but with excellent concentration....Concertta helps with my depression and gives m e motivation with less concentration...My psych seems all about the concerta and adderall -anyone with any opinions on more effective tx with less pain?

Went back to my psych today and she has increased the dose to 36mg as 18mg only seemed to have an effect for the first 2 days. She said sometimes it can cause muscle aches and to keep an eye on it. Fingers crossed that I don't get any more aches or pains (if it was a reaction to the Concerta). And that it works everyday and not just for the first two days! :D