list your concerta side effects

[bekindtoedward]

from http://www.adhdhelp.org/concerta.htm

The most common side effects reported were headache (14%), upper respiratory tract infection (8%), stomach ache (7%), vomiting (4%), loss of appetite (4%), sleeplessness (4%), increased cough (4%), sore throat (4%), sinusitis (3%), and dizziness (2%). Other side effects are reduced stature, ticks, "zombie" demeanor, stomach aches, moodiness and death.

i'm not thinking my usual random and funny thoughts, i'm not hyperactive... i'm afraid people might notice my change of mood. right now i think i kinda have blunted affect... or so i think.. anyone else have that side effect?

[steveb]

My only side effect has been sleeplessness if I take it too late in the morning.

[Meana]

I started taking 54 mg a day two days ago. I have not gone to sleep yet. I do not believe this is a common side effect though.

My caffeine intake was pretty high yesterday and I am also taking some Tylenol Allergy medicine for a head cold. I was told to stay away from decongestants as well as caffeine and hopefully this will remedy the situation.

It will be difficult to cut out the coffee, as I am accustomed to drinking several pots a day. My doctor claims that this is typical of people with ADD, a kind of self-medicating thing, as caffeine stimulates the brain also, albeit in a much cruder, rudimentary fashion.

I did not see any warnings in my drug literature regarding caffeine, but I think it warrents research.

I'll let you know how I'm doing if you let me know how you're doing!

[bekindtoedward]

doing fine at the moment... finals week! wish me luck

[steveb]

Unless I am going out for the evening, I have to stop coffee intake by noon.

[bekindtoedward]

steveb:

why do you have to take coffee when you're on concerta? aren't you supposed to avoid coffee when you're on concerta?

[steveb]

I like coffee.

I have to stop drinking it by noon to sleep OK.
The going out comment was my only excuse to drink it after noon.

I quit coffee once, then my son was born.
I have been trying to quit again for 9 years now. lol.

[bekindtoedward]

hehe ok

[soc]

Other side effects are reduced stature, ticks, "zombie" demeanor, stomach aches, moodiness and death.

death??

before it stopped working (uggh) the only side effects were problems waking and strange headaches in the evenings (they weren't so bad, though)

[beckncall]

My son was started on 36 mg. The first day he had major pains in his chest. The med was stopped after one capsule.

[Vermis]

I'm kinda glad someone brought this up. Maybe now I can find out if this has ever happened before.

I dunno how much the dosage is, my father keeps the pill bottle locked up. It's the little white ones.

Anyway, I take one pill, and for about two hours, it works well. I can concentrate, I don't open my mouth and say stuff I shouldn't, blah de blah de blah. But at about the end of my first period, sometimes halfway into the second (I have block scheduling), wierd stuff happens.

1) Sleepiness. I feel tired for no reason at all.
2) Mild intoxicating effect. I don't have anything to compare it to, but it feels like I'm there...but I'm watching myself from afar. I don't know how to explain it besides that.
3) Delayed reactions. Teacher calls on my name and about a minute later I realize she's talking to me.
4) Loss of conciousness. Granted this only happened once, but still. Worth mentioning.

But then, like an hour and a half to three hours later, it goes away and I feel fine. Bit of a stomach ache but still.

[steveb]

The white ones are 36 mg.

I haven't noticed anything like that, but I am an 180 lb. adult.

The one thing I can think of is your breakfast.

Stay away from muffins, bagles, toast and cereals.
Try to eat things rich in protien like eggs.

What may be happening is you are falling from the glucose high that the high carb foods cause.
Protien keeps you sugar levels much more stable.

We started giving my son (9yr old) more protien in the morning and have seen positive results.

[Lexicon]

Originally posted by Vermis
2) Mild intoxicating effect. I don't have anything to compare it to, but it feels like I'm there...but I'm watching myself from afar. I don't know how to explain it besides that.

Sounds like the word you want is 'dissociation,' the feeling of the separation of mind from body.

4) Loss of conciousness. Granted this only happened once, but still. Worth mentioning.

No kidding it is! Are you talking about falling asleep, or like 'passing out?' I'd stop taking the pills and talk to your doctor for sure if it's the second. If it's the first, then, well, you probably don't want to be taking the Concerta then, either.

[jaimegerise]

Personally, I just have sleeplessness, but I have always had wierd sleep patterns even before concerta. I've been on it for about a year and a half now, and the 36mg daily seems to work best for me. I tried 54mg once, but that made me start grinding and clenching my teeth, especially during sleep. So, back to 36 I went...and all is well.

[Lexicon]

I've always grinded (ground?) my teeth, even before I was on any drugs for ADD. My teeth are incredibly worn down, to the point where I have to watch what I eat or else experience excruciating pain. Chocolate and sticky things have to be eaten very carefully. A couple years back I got a nightguard to wear while sleeping--I wish my dentist told me I needed one before I managed to do all this damage (it was actually another dentist who finally suggested it). I think my dentist was crooked and wanted me to wreck my teeth--more repair work equals more money for him.

Hrm... I guess this is way off topic.