Worsening Side Effects

[jmedina]

Sorry to start a new a new post. I am 15 and I have started 27 mg of Concerta yesterday and the side effects seem to be getting worse. Yesterday I had a mild headache throughout the day, a few minutes of clattering teeth. Last night, I had some tea and my hand shook whenever I picked up the tea and kept spilling it. Yesterday during the morning I felt more focused, however it seemed to ware off quickly throughout the day. Today I feel a little bit worse. I got up this morning and took it around 10:00. Yesterday I took it around 8:00. Anyhow, today even before I took the med I felt some joint pain in my arm (I could have slept weird). After taking the med it seemed to start out a little different. I felt like more of a "Zombie" this morning than yesterday morning. Late morning I started feeling a little bit better and able to think more clearly. Throughout the day I started having a few mood swings in addition to the joint pains and a minor headache. For example, I felt great and then all of a sudden I felt a little aggregatived. Then I felt more happy and relaxed then a few minutes later angry. Then, I felt like I was going to cry for no reason. We got in our car and I started zipping up my vest and my dad told me it would be easier to zip it up when I get out and all of a sudden started crying really hard. The problem is I don't know if this is all in my mind or if this could be a side effect.

I read the side effects list and it says if you have joint pains or mood swings you should consult your doctor. My parents want me to continue taking Concerta for a few weeks and see if the side effects get better. But so far the side effects annoy me. Should I continue taking Concerta? Did anybody else feel like this when they first started Concerta? Sorry for the long post, but I don't know what to do. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[jmedina]

Update: Side effects are starting to go away, however I am feeling less focused than I did on the first few days of Concerta. Do you think I will have to take a higher dosage? How long should I wait?

[stillfightin]

This should be directed to your doctor

[phillip105]

Originally Posted by stillfightin

This should be directed to your doctor

I don't mean to be a jerk, but I think that fact is obvious. He's not asking us to make medical decisions for him-- he just wants to hear what other people have experienced. ADHD people can get very anxious, and it's pretty clear to see that a lot of them use this forum for advice between doctor visits. ADHD medications are a very tricky game, and a lot of the time doctors can be puzzled or make mistakes as well, since everyone responds differently to different medications. We shouldn't gag ourselves with this one-liner.

OP, even if it is "all in your mind," you have to ask yourself--was it all in your mind before you started taking the medication? Were your feelings ever that bad? Medications affect your mental state, too, so just because something is mental doesn't mean it isn't a side effect, and can't be remedied with adjustments to dosage or type of medication. As far as effectiveness/increasing the dose, a lot of the other threads here seem to suggest that people feel the drug wear off after a while.

[MehldauS1967]

on the lower dosage in the beginning I had agression outbursts when it wore out. that is gone now. as I have ADD, i am maybe a bit more relaxed on the outside, but inside it turned around and around. its much less nowadays. i guess, it will also balance after a while with you. just keep on voicing your worries here..!!

[Lunacie]

My granddaughter started on 18mg of Concerta a couple of months ago, and has no side effects. She's only 11 but she's as tall as her mom and weighs as much (and she just started puberty).

Maybe if you'd been given the lower dose to start with (and built up if necessary) you wouldn't have had so many problems with the side effects?

[Imnapl]

Originally Posted by phillip105

We shouldn't gag ourselves with this one-liner.

Unless our advice contradicts forum guidelines.

[Lunacie]

Originally Posted by Imnapl

Unless our advice contradicts forum guidelines.

Which forum guidelines are you referring to? Here's what the guidelines say about offering or taking medical advice here at www.addforums.com...

Legal/Medical Disclaimer
The advice offered in the ADD Forums, is for informational and support purposes only. This advice is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this forum, or on any related web site! Advice given on this forum is the opinion of the individual posting it, and not necessarily the opinion of ADD Forums.

I agree with Phillip, that we often come here to see what experiences others have had, to compare them to our own experiences, or to learn what we may (MAY) be able to expect. Seems to me that guideline says it's okay for us to offer advice, and it's up to the person reading that advice how much value to place on it.

[Imnapl]

Originally Posted by jmedina

Sorry to start a new a new post. I am 15 and I have started 27 mg of Concerta yesterday and the side effects seem to be getting worse.

Lunacie, I still agree with stillfightin and the forum guidelines.

[Lunacie]

Originally Posted by Imnapl

Lunacie, I still agree with stillfightin and the forum guidelines.

Maybe it's the headache but I'm still don't think you're being very clear.

[Imnapl]

I'm sorry you are in pain. Pain can be quite distracting - worse than ADHD, in my opinion. Have you ever tried physiotherapy for your headaches?

[Lunacie]

Originally Posted by Imnapl

I'm sorry you are in pain. Pain can be quite distracting - worse than ADHD, in my opinion. Have you ever tried physiotherapy for your headaches?

I don't have health insurance and can't afford to pay for treatments out of pocket, but in the past I've tried massage, accupressure and accupuncture among many other treatments. I'm not sure how physiotherapy would be different than any of those.

However... what is the difference between you asking whether I've tried a particular treatment for my migraine disorder, and the OP asking whether other have experienced a change in side effects, or whether a change in dosage has resulted in a change in focus for others? It's all just shared experiences and various suggestions, eh?

[Pray4Him]

When DS started on 54 mg of Concerta at the age of 15 he had mild side affects. I called my dr who in turn asked me to give it 2 weeks unless the side affects became more severe.
2 weeks into Concerta and the side affects lessened. I am not exagerating when I say that Concerta may very well have saved his life!

[Lunacie]

Originally Posted by Pray4Him

When DS started on 54 mg of Concerta at the age of 15 he had mild side affects. I called my dr who in turn asked me to give it 2 weeks unless the side affects became more severe.
2 weeks into Concerta and the side affects lessened. I am not exagerating when I say that Concerta may very well have saved his life!

He started on 54 mg of Concerta? Wow. My granddaughter started on 18mg and was able to increase to 36 after a month without serious side effects. That just seems like a high starting dose. But I haven't done much reading about meds and dosages and side effects. Luckily she hasn't really had any side effects.

[Pray4Him]

He started on that dose when he switched from Ritalin to Concerta. That dose of Concerta is comparable to the dose of Ritalin he was getting.
My dr showed me the chart he uses.