husband gets Concerta and he is not ADHD | ADHD Information
Did the dr test his thyroid? If it isn't working correctly, that will often be mis-diagnosed as ADHD. There is a post somewhere about 50 things commonly mis-diagnosed as ADHD. I will try to find it and bring it up.
Sorry about assuming that he had already been checked for other things. I don't know why I did.
I would take him for a more professional opionion, maybe a shrink. What strength is he on of the concerta? Stimulants can aggravate other mood problems, and if he is enjoying the weed, I wonder what could be lurking in his family genes and showing its ugly little head, to your family. Take him to a specialist....Wow.
The post I mentioned is 50 conditions that mimic ADHD. It is in the parents of kids with ADHD forum. ADD/ADHD is tough to diagnosis (Actually there no TRUE diagnosis for it)..the only real way to tell is to test the meds..if one works for you then chances are you have it..if your worse off with it then without it (The meds) then stop! Its a tough thing to diagnose..my Concerta is perfect for me..I have the right med, after trying Strattera, I Found it...don't be afraid to test the waters, but if nothing works, then perhaps you were misdiagnosed.Thanks Barb,
I do believe in ADHD. I have a nephew who has it, friends with children who have it and I know adults who had it as kids that still take medicine and my brother-in-law was diagnosed with it as an adult. My husband was diagnosed in high school with dxylexia(sp?) . My personal opinion is that this is something you are born with and do not develop when you are forty. They do not call it mid life crisis for nothing. Also he was not diagnosed in high school when they were testing him with ADHD and he did well in what he wanted to do well in. I'm just looking for someone out there who might have experienced what I am. These side effects are real. Most of what I read in these forums are from parents of the children or young adults in their 20s. After 20 years of marriage you know someone pretty well. But thanks for taking the time to write
Smile
Did his doctor give him a physical examination, urine test, blood tests or refer him for neurological or cardiac tests to try to ascertain any problem that might include affecting his concentration?
Is/was he taking any medication - ie for diabetes or high blood pressure and so on - some of the side effects of these can include lack of concentration or inattention? If he is, did the doctor check for side effects?
Or did he just write out a prescription.
Concerta (time released Ritalin)
Side Effects
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic3/methylphen_ad.htm
"...Nervousness and insomnia are the most common adverse reactions reported with other methylphenidate products. Other reactions include hypersensitivity (including skin rash, urticaria, fever, arthralgia, exfoliative dermatitis, erythema multiforme with histopathological findings of necrotizing vasculitis, and thrombocytopenic purpura); anorexia; nausea; dizziness; palpitations; headache; dyskinesia; drowsiness; blood pressure and pulse changes, both up and down; tachycardia; angina; cardiac arrhythmia; abdominal pain; weight loss during prolonged therapy. There have been rare reports of Tourette's syndrome. Toxic psychosis has been reported. Although a definite causal relationship has not been established, the following have been reported in patients taking this drug: instances of abnormal liver function, ranging from transaminase elevation to hepatic coma; isolated cases of cerebral arteritis and/or occlusion; leukopenia and/or anemia; transient depressed mood; a few instances of scalp hair loss. Very rare reports of neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) have been received, and, in most of these, patients were concurrently receiving therapies associated with NMS. In a single report, a ten year old boy who had been taking methylphenidate for approximately 18 months experienced an NMS-like event within 45 minutes of ingesting his first dose of venlafaxine. It is uncertain whether this case represented a drug-drug interaction, a response to either drug alone, or some other cause..."
http://www.whatmeds.com/meds/ritalin.html
"...Adverse Reactions
Ritalin may cause the following reactions:
Is the doctor's rationale for prescribing Concerta that the common side effects of lack of sleep and nervous worrying are going to IMPROVE concentration? If so then presumably your husband's concentration levels should near their optimum if "dizziness" and "confusion" emerge to complicate matters, and totally exceed the doctor's expectations should he then have to concentrate during the pain of angina or suicidality.
curus38629.4982060185My husband who is 42 recently went to his doctor and said he needed help concentrating. His doctor prescribed concerta! This alone blows me away. My husband is not ADHD or ADD. I cannot believe a doctor will prescribe these drugs that easily. The side effects are horrible. His sleep is a mess. His is restless and he sleeps in during the week(he works from home) until 8:30a - 10:00, on the weekends he will sleep until 11 or 12. He also acts like this is normal and ok. He gets irritated very easily. We have three boys and he will also blow up at them and then be sweet the next minute. He is very forgetful about things going on at home. He is very up ad down/high and low. Hostile sometimes. He is focused on his work but doesn't seem real happy about life. He has been trying to lose weight and concerta has decreased his appetite(one good side effet), but he thinks he is controlling his appetite, not the drug. He does not seem to want to be around our friends as much as before. He also smokes marijuana sometimes. This causes a major fight. I have to wonder about the combination of these drugs? After a big fight last week he said he would stop taking the Concerta. I just discovered that he did not stop. I called his doctor and asked him why he gave this to my husband. He said that all of the things my husband complained about were consistent with Add or Adhd. He is in total denial about any side effects and thinks I am making all of this up. Last year it was Lexapro because he was depressed. I think he wants the easy way out and wants to take a pill to cure what ails him when he should be trying to help himself with exercise, diet, friends, books. Out life is very hetic-everyone has their good and bad days. Any thoughts.
smile38629.4109953704I have to ask you first off, do you even believe in ADHD?
Are you positive that your husband does not have ADHD? Have you seen the charts and quizzes which you can use to determine whether or not it is possible? If you haven't, your next step should be to look at one and see how much of what you know about your husband matches the test.
If he does have it, maybe the dr can try another med. If you still don't see how he could possiblly have it, your husband could be into more drug abuse than just marijuana. He may be lying to get drugs.
In that case, I would call a drug abuse hotline and ask them what to do next.
Hi again. Thanks again for your thoughts.
My husband is in such denial about the possibility of side effects, it's unreal. Hopefully we will go see his doctor this week together. Then we can discuss the issues with lipitor. I 'm beginning to realize that this does run a little deeper. He does not want to stop smoking pot. Says he has stopped but I drive him back to it. Says I am the reason he goes to the doctor for medication. I guess any kind he can get. Of course, until he is off concerta I do not feel we can have a valid conversation about this. I feel like I am dealing with a drug addict? that blames everyone else for their problems.
Hi LiveADHD 
The problem of statin side effects and their misdiagnosis of various 'mental disorders' crops up quite often. It doesn't reflect well on doctors when they fail to recognise side effects of major drugs that they prescribe.
I hope Smile can get things sorted out for her husband
Curus
Sounds like you know what you are talking about.
I would check into that, Smile.
Smile,
Isn't that always the case, they blame you or the parents for there mistakes.
Check into the lipitor, but, I would ask the Dr about Bi-polar. He sounds as if he has a lot of issues. You might as well crack into it now, before the Concerta (Stimulant) takes him over....He might feel great on a mood stabilizer to.
The Bi-polar thing took a hold of us, and cracked us first. It is miserable without some treatment. I am just finding out.
Is the Concerta helping him concentrate? Is is doing what he wanted it to do for him? Is he taking more than the prescribed amount?
If it is helping him, then he probably does have ADD.
I was never diagnosed with it until I was 41. I did well in school - I was a straight A student. Just because you can get good grades doesn't mean you weren't waiting til the last minute to do everything. Some of us learn to cope with things pretty well and the ADD is hidden within us.
I'm not trying to say that your husband has ADD or ADHD for sure, but the inattentive type - ADD - is hard to see.
Just a thought
Thanks everyone for your input. This is the first time I have reached out onthe internet. It has been very helpful.
In response- the doctor simply wrote a prescription. No other testing, just took my husband's word. Crazy. He takes lipitor, no other legal drugs.
My next step is to try and get him to counseling, together. Two things against me- he does not believe that he is experiecing any side effects and he does not want to deal with the issue of smoking pot.
I recently read something from a mom whose daughter is ADHD and on concerta. Her daughter experienced major mood swings along with hostility and then to the point that she is not even aware of what she is doing when she does this. That is my husband. Another young girl(17 years) wrote that when the medicine wears off (6-8 hours) she would feel blah- a little sad. Constant highs ad lows. This is where my husband is. It's hard not to blame the doctor for this hell I'm living right now.
Smile - it's VERY possible that Lipitor was the problem.
There are many people taking statins (including Lipitor) who find that memory and concentration deteriorate.
If you do a search under:
Lipitor side effects concentration
you'll see quite a number of links which discuss that particular issue.
There's also the rxlist you can check out for lipitor (atorvastatin)
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/atorvastatin_ad.htm
Look down the list of effects until you reach Nervous System or similar. Its best to check out interactions (with other drugs) as well to see if amphetamines are listed.
There are a lot of articles which advocate the use of supplement "coenzyme Q10" or "CoQ10" due to concern over statin-induced depletion from cells.
Here's one site that will explain, but if you do a search on
'statins coenzyme Q10'
others will come up.
http://www.healingdaily.com/detoxification-diet/coenzyme-q10 .htm
All the best
EDITING: As it appears your husband's doctor failed to recognise side effects of Lipitor and failed to advise CoQ10 supplementation, it may be that he/she will also fail to recognise that it needs to be tapered off if your husband or doctor feel that he should discontinue statins.
As with all drugs that need slow withdrawal - the metabolism and neuro/physiological way each individual deals with drug withdrawal is different. The length of time (or the reduction amounts) of any tapering guide is an 'average' assessment and adjustments made where discontinuation becomes a problem.
http://www.askdocweb.com/lipitor2.html
"...Subj: Tapering off
Date: 5/23/2004How does one taper off of lipitor. My doctor said it must be tapered off - from 10 mg (usual dose), then 5 mg a day for a week, then you can stop. Is this true?
Michael
AskDocWeb: The idea is to gradually reduce the amount of drug in your body so you have a chance to get used to the difference over time. Follow your doctor's advice..."
Thats a very useful list Barb.
In case Smile needs to, printing out the list would be easier from the site below as it's 'full page' :
http://www.ghchealth.com/50-conditions-that-mimic-adhd.html
curus38630.1560648148