Zombie

[perlguy]

Well, since my insurance company is playing games, I am finding myself needing to adjust my medication to make it last.

However. On the current dose of Concerta 54mg, I end up with a real "zombie" feeling. My son, on a lower dose, has said it makes him feel the same way - so he has stopped taking it for now.

My question is, in your experience with Concerta, is getting this "zombie" feeling a result of a dose that is too high, or too low?

I need to get my meds straightened out, I hate feeling like this!

Thanks,
Brent

[jaimegerise]

Hmmmm well, I started with 18 mgs, then 36 mgs, then 54 mgs, and back to 36 mgs and been there ever since....I've never felt zombieish.....arg...

Is it working for you otherwise? Maybe a dose adjustment might help, or another med altogether....hmmmmm

[perlguy]

It seemed to at first. Then I think I ended up getting the dosage upped to high... Then my insurance ran out.. Then my new insurance decided they are smarter than my neurologist, ....... !!!!

I think my main thing right now is to give it a week or so at a steady dose and see if it mellows out a bit.

I have noticed that I am not doing as good as I originally was when I first started.

When I started, I was put on the 36mg tabs, I was still having major fatigue problems during the day so the doc upped me to 2 tabs. That seemed to be good, and occasionally I would take a third (dr said it was ok) in the afternoon.

Now, I am on 54mg once a day. I just wish I knew if this is too much, or too little.

Since I have been on Concerta, it has been such a rat-race because of job and insurance issues, I really have not had a chance to get on a steady regiment...

Oh, I get some dizzy spells too, like right now

anyway, I am just hoping to hear from others about their experiences. Thanks for your input!

Brent

[BobbyK]

I take the 54mg and it doesnt do that to me and I have thought of asking my doc to up it do to I dont reall feel like it is doing that much for me

[ali_marea]

I was wondering what your "zombie" experience was like. I just stopped taking my Concerta because of how it made me. I had a hard time moving, it seemed. I completely withdrew from everything. It was definitely one of the most unpleasant experiences I've had. My doc said that was a rather extreme side effect for me to have, but I've read about other people having the same reaction.

I was just curious if you could give any more details. Hoping I'm not the only one with this weird reaction.

[perlguy]

For me, I find that if the dose is not right, I feel spacey, zoned. I don't know your past, but it is like a very mild THC high. It doesn't necessarily feel "bad", but I just don't feel "normal" and can't get things done any better than when not medicated.

It is definitely hard to describe, and I am sure if you asked 100 people, you'd get 100 different answers

Brent

[ali_marea]

Hmm, very familiar with the THC high (not anymore, but I used to smoke regularly) This feeling could be described as a very strong THC high. But not pleasant. In fact, that's a very good way to describe it. (thanks for the idea! Now I can explain it to my shrink better *grin*)

I hear that people with the inattentive type of ADHD tend to need higher doses of the stimulant meds. I wonder if that's true. I'm pretty sure I'm the inattentive type. (which is why nobody knew for so long)

[goofyannie]

My son just started on 54mg today and reading this from all of you makes think that it might be too high for him.I will keep an eye on him as see.Is it suppose to last(work)for you for a ceratain time(hours)Like I give it to him in the morning before school and it'll last him through out the day,but then I see when he gets home he starts acting impulsive again(like it runs out)by the time he gets home.So thats the reason I told the dr.to raise it just a bit so he can come home and listen,concentrate,do his home work.So I hope it works.

[wasted]

Originally Posted by perlguy

When I started, I was put on the 36mg tabs, I was still having major fatigue problems during the day so the doc upped me to 2 tabs. That seemed to be good, and occasionally I would take a third (dr said it was ok) in the afternoon.

So you would take 36mg, 2-3 times a day? So you were getting 72-108mg total, per day? That is a LOT of Concerta. I have never been on it but while looking for dosing charts on Adderall, I have seen Concerta mentioned in the same sorts of dosing charts/descriptions and from what I read 54mg is supposedly the "maximum dose" (according to this chart), so 72 or 108 would be a lot. This site has a lot of info on various stimulants and dosages, and about Concerta it says "For patients not already taking methylphenidate, the recommended initial dose is 18 mg daily.³⁰ The dosage may be adjusted in 18-mg increments to a maximum of 54 mg.³⁰ For patients taking methylphenidate, a dosing-conversion guideline is shown in TABLE 2.

Do you have the hyperactive type of ADD? Because the stimulants are supposed to have a calming effect, so it could be that's the reason you are feeling tired; maybe your dose is higher than you need, and is therefore making you tired or spacey?

If your doc adjusts your dose (if that is the problem, I have no idea just a guess) and you are still not getting any positive benefits from the med, I would ask to switch. Everyone reacts differently and maybe it is not the right med for you.


It must suck to not be able to get things done better, and also have weird effects. Hang in there!

[willinabox]

Yes I have asked a question like this before and nobody knew what I was really talking about either.

I really get a zombie feeling from adderall so I told me doctor to switch to concerta.

I think its from too high of a dose, I used to get a euphoria feeling from taking too high of a dose, but once my body got used to the medication, If I took to high of a dose, I got a zombie feeling.

My take on it is your dose it too high... If the dose is too low for me I just feel like I didn't take anything. I also feel like that zombie feeling goes away after a few months on the drug, if you have the correct dosage.

[mradhd400]

Hi,

I got the zombie thing on concerta, which is why I changed to dexedrine which does not have this effect.

I think it just depends on the person, for some people one type of med seems to work much better than the other.

[mradhd400]

I meant dexedrine does not have the zombie effect for me, I'm sure for some people adderall/dexedrine makes them spaced out, and for others ritalin/concerta does. guess it just depends which one your brain likes the most .

I should add i'm also on prozac, which could play into it.

[selby]

Wowie this thread is old. For me, it doesn't matter what stimulant I take, the end result is feeling like a zombie if the dose is too high. Even if the dose is just right, you kind of feel the zombie thing (hyperfocusing, being snippy with anyone who interrupts you, irritable) to an extent. Definitely a zombie at higher doses.

[hollywood]

I'm on a high dosage and kind of felt zombi-ish at times. I metabolize fast so basically I have to stagger doses to make them last longer for all day coverage without turning into a zombie, in the beginning it will give you side effects like euphoria but then you adjust and if you need a high dose you must stagger the doses correctly in order to avoid this. Also if your doing things you like you don't turn into a zombie, it usually has something to do with your environment too.... Selby , you feel like adderall 20mg is equally as strong as concerta 72mg?

[selby]

It's definitely not as strong as Concerta, the reason I stopped that was because I started to get a huge headache after taking Concerta everyday, would rage at people at work, would be in a constant terrible mood, and of course the zombie effect. I remember taking Concerta and when I felt it kick in, it felt like a jolt to the brain, it was so dramatic and I wanted something smoother. So I decided I needed something that wasn't as harsh. Adderall has been the least harsh. Dex was about in the middle.