Stomach Problems?

[Tara]

Has anybody experienced stomach problems while taking Concerta?

[Tara]

Well I began taking concerta at the end of July. For the 1st week or so everything was fine. It was helping me focus a little better. I was taking it about an hour before I wanted to get up in the morning and it helped me get out of bed.

Well After I was on it for about 8 days I started having stomache problems. Everything was going through me and I was having cramping and gas pains. I just assumed it was a stomach bug since I had been on the concerta for over a week.

My "bug" lasted for over a week. It did get a little better but the gas pains and cramping were still there. I contributed it to alllegies since the ragweed and mold spores were both very high and I do get stomach problems from season allergies.

I discussed it with the nurse practinioner. I told her I thought it had more to do with my allergies and that maybe the concerta was aggrivating it. I decided that I would still give it a try to .

Well less than a week later I admitted to myself that it was more than likely the concerta that was causing my stomach problems. It was strange though because I was fine when I took it in the AM. It wasn't until the 2nd release that it bothered me.

[SObearCAL]

Only once, when I washed it down with a cup of coffee: Sick as a dog for two days as a result. Stomach always feels a little off since I've been on it (June). This feeling has been alot less strong since moving from two 27s to two 36s, though.

[timboni]

I started taking Concerta today... fine through the morning but youch! the cramps (I'm a guy, can I have cramps? and the D just totally wiped me out from late afternoon and into tonight. The problem is I just started on Paxil as well, so I'm not certain which is the culprit.

[Tara]

Well I have been off the concerta for about a week and the stomach problems pretty much went away.

I just started Ritalin LA this morning and am keeping my fingers crosses.

[ahinistroza]

Now I'm in this boat too!.What to do??????????,I'm recovering from Hysterectomy,so you can imagine the frustration with now added stomach problems!.I did so well @ first on Concerta and
now It's almost not worth the discomfort,not to mention the Coming-down in the evenings ex.(want to be alone,everything and everyone on my nerves!).I'm still on low dose(18mg),can't imagine having to go up on mg.

[Gregster]

These stomach problems sound just like IBS - Irritable Bowel Syndrome - which is fairly common in ADD people. It's not surprising that a stimulant might cause it - Coffee triggers it in me, as well as stress. It's also not surprising to me that it would happen only in the afternoon - my IBS doesn't react to coffee (or stress) until a few hours later. You might find some relief from anti-spasmodics like Buscopan (hyosine-N-butylbromide) or Bentylol (DICYCLOMINE) they work for me.

[lilthingsADDup]

When I took Ritalin on an empthy stomach it made me nauseous. And regardless if I took it on a empty stomach or not, it gave me a ummm....laxative effect.

[Tara]

I think it was the release mechinism of the concerta that affected me. I have since tried Ritalin LA and ADDerol XR and have had no problems.

My symptoms were aslo similar to Giardia which there were outbreaks of in MA over the summer. I have a feeling the 2 were connected.

[ahinistroza]

So Tara,which one are you currently taking? and how is it working for you?.I plan on calling my Dr.later today, again seeing If I may need to try something else.I have only tried the Straterra,and Concerta,so I suppose there are still a few more options left in the hat!.

[Gregster]

Concerta uses a wax based release system with the shell eventually completing the tour of the GI tract. Perhaps the wax or even "lump" of undigested material caused pain as they travelled through your gut. If the Ritalin LA and Adderol didn't upset your stomach, I guess it's not the drug - unless your body just adapted to it?

[Ace]

As a one-time ABS-type person (had some surgery) I'd say that taking a short course of generic Adderall brought back memories. Put a knot in my gut that made me feel like I was wallking into a huge hall to take a final exam. I was always aware of cramping to some extent. Generic Ritalin doesn't have that effect on me.

Still, folks, when something suddenly goes wrong (pulled over by a cop, let's say) it is only a matter of time before my GI tract lets me know things aren't right.