Need Positive Feedback about Concerta!

[ahinistroza]

After trying various anti-depressants, and Straterra with no
improvement,I have now been prescribed Concerta, I am somewhat reluctant to start the med.as I had bad experiences with the others.I would love to hear of anyone who has had a
good experience with this medication and welcome any advice given to make my start a good one!.

[Wheel1975]

I've tried those. i like Adderall, occasionally. Full time it keeps me from sleeping.

i resisted trying different drugs for a while. After less than positive reactions to more than a few I changed my tune... now its "try 'em all," but with spaces in between.

Good luck.

[Kelly]

Hey Ashley -

I've been on Concerta for about 2 months now. It's working pretty well so far! I've had problems holding onto jobs, but I think it's helping me stay on track!

I haven't noticed any side effects, aside from feeling a bit jittery when I was first getting used to the dosage.

I hope this helps!

Take care

[ahinistroza]

Thanks Kelly!, I too have trouble holding jobs, at the present I'm
a waitress @ a Sports bar and I've done well so far but I have alot of flexibility there and while it's definitately not what I want to make a career of, It seems all I can do @ the present!.I so hope the meds. will allow me to focus on a more productive job.

[Wheel1975]

I find it incredible that the ADHD, unlike some other portions of the population perhaps, have a strong number who desire fervently to be used and challenged to the extreme extent of their ability, in spite of truly disabling difficulties.

What a built in work ethic!

Where do the loafers come from?

[capri]

I have also been taking Concerta for about two months and so far it has been absolutly great.

Its enabled me to plan my jobs and available time. I get the jobs done i wanted to do mostly now, as aposed to vertually never.

I am more calm and less impulsive, i havent made a single impulse purchase since i started it (hubby breathing huge sighs of releif).

Had one off day and now i know it was because it was the first day of term and everyone was rushing about and i forgot to take the Concerta. That day i actually forgot my daughter entirly and had to be called and told i should have collected her from pre-school half an hour ago. That is just one thing that went completly wrong that day, i wont bore you with the rest.

I managed to enjoy being mothers help at the pre-school today. 12, 2 to 4 year olds full of high spirits and chaos. I didnt lose my train of thought once and managed to diffuse several potentially difficult situations. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the children play with paints and play dough. My daughter finished the morning with a pink sleeve(it started out blue) and soaked shoes from the puddles.

Last time i did mothers help i endd the morning early with a storming headache brought on by sheer stress. The noise was too much the mess drove me mad and instead of helping resolve disputes i made them all worse.
I could only "wind up" the children and no matter how hard i tried i couldnt calm one of them down. I had to work so hard on not screaming at them all to just "shut up and stop moving" that i was nearly physically sick.
i only lasted half of the 2 and a half hour session before i had to go home and lie down.

The Concerta helps me to filter unwanted stimuli and concentrate on what i want to, whilst not making me "stuck" on one thing.
I can think before i speak (mostly) and i dont butt in.
I can suddenly get an idea of how people are fealing from body language and social cues as well.
I am more able to use planned strategies in dealing with my two ADHD children and not just lash out verbally.

Basically my life is a different place and i am even starting to concider going back to higher education, to finish what i started 10 years ago, now i know i can follow through.

i could be a sales rep for the drug,looking back at that, couldnt i.
Still it is all true and only a small part of the possitive changes i have made.

Having said all that, It didnt work for my son. So i geuss even in relatives the effects can be totally different.

[steveb]

I just started Concerta today.
It is my first ADD med.
I am hoping for some of the results I read here.

[ahinistroza]

AMEN!!!!!!!, yesterday was my first day of Concerta and though
on the low-18 mg. dose, I can tell this is the one for me!!!!!!.I had
to work last night, and It was an" AWESOME" night for me,as usually, I'm so scattered mentally that I spend so much time back-tracking,second questioning my customers,etc........ In a nut shell, I was definately on task!!!!!!!.I got to bed around 2:00am. and up at 7:45am. which is less sleep than I normally get, but I feel good, and looking forward to planning the rest of my day!.

[joanrdtobe]

That is great Ashely....(pretty name by the way)....

I was going to say in response to your first post -- that the undertaking of a new drug is scarey -- esp. when others have failed....But I always remember that that NEXT drug -- may be the one that works....and you can always just brainwash yourself into thinking it's the first one you're trying....

Glad you're feeling better

[ahinistroza]

Thank you Joan!, I couldn't agree more!.What's even more amazing, is that I've been sick with a bad cold/Flu, the past couple
of days and despite all the rotten symptoms, I feel GREAT!, things
seem so clear for a change, and not all fuzzy and overwhelming!!!!!!.

[brilliantmoment]

I just started 54mg Concerta yesterday.. The initial side effects knocked my flat on my butt (I managed to get all the non-threatening potential side effects at the same time).. I think the Dr should have started off with a low dose.. So far day 2 I only have a slight headache, eating is the least appealing thing on earth, and I can't sleep..
I have noticed that at I haven't been bored yet since I took it yesterday morning... which is bound to be some type of miracle, it seems like im always bored..
At least I'm not jittery and dizzy anymore, and my stomach hasnt started to hurt yet... I don't think dizzy is the right word but I just can't find a better one other than "dizzy on the inside" which probably wont make sense unless you had the same prob. lol
I might be capable of going to work now (darn)
*making myself go get ready*
Has anyone else ever had a major problem with side effects? Or maybe it was because of the high dose? I'm not familiar with medicines, so I don't know if the dosage even has anything to do with it lol..
Ok, I swear I'm goin..
edit: Oh and despite the miserable effects, I was happy.. So strange..

[Wheel1975]

yep.

The "usual" practice is to titrate up to an effective dose.

Too much stimulant in the ADHD can have the effect of making them sleepy.

Too much is not better than too little...

[ahinistroza]

Wow!, I can't believe they started you out on such a high dose,my
Dr.only prescribed the 18mg.for me and as I stated before, it was working well for me until I had to take a break from it last week due to other temporary illnesses.I hope to restart myConcerta in
a few weeks,but will also continue on the same dose until I need a refill,and @ that point Dr.will determine if I need to be moved up to the higher dose.I must say I didn't experience any stomach
problems whatsoever(Thankgoodness)but I did notice the coming-down effects in the evenings,which consisted of being tired/cranky.Aside from the above mentioned,people said I was more quiet and not as out going as I am usually while on the meds.Anyway looking forward to getting back on track soon!.If you continue to experience problems,talk to your Dr.,you may need your dosage changed.Good luck to you!

[mctavish23]

take methylphenidate sr 20mg bid and it works well for me.Its not what Id call "even" in its efficacy but it does work.Wish you luck

[arkmalone]

Are talking about Concerta or some other sustained release?
Does it affect your sleep? ?Side effects?

Originally posted by mctavish23
take methylphenidate sr 20mg bid and it works well for me.Its not what Id call "even" in its efficacy but it does work.Wish you luck