Long term Concerta, switch to Focalin XR | ADHD Information

when concerta gets sluggish for me i cut my dose in half for a week

does OK then next week dose at normal & fine

From what I've figured out recently here - and it seems pretty good advice is - if you're hyper in ADHD - take a ritalin derivative. If you're inattentive and not hyper - take a dexedrine derivative.  I take dex - and it cleared my head and focus is great.

You'll find either methylphenidate or dexedrine taper off a bit when you start out.  The MD puts you on a small dose for that reason - to get you used to it.  Then - you slowly increase until you find the best result for the least side effect.  If it's weak and you've been on a while - perhaps talk to your MD about a one week "drug vacation" - where you go off them completely the week - and back up again.  It did a great deal of good for me - but it's different for others from what they say.

 

I was on Concerta for over 2 years.  For the majority of that time, I was taking 72 mg day.  When I stopped smoking back in April, it had a huge impact on my meds, and I went down to 36 mg day.

I do not really have the hyperactivity, more the inattentive type.  Adderall never worked for me until I quit smoking, but it still doesn't work as well as the Concerta did for over 2 years.  (Adderall also used to trigger migraines and make me sick, when I smoked.)
(Note: smoking = bad! LoL  I'm still in shock on the effect it had on my meds.)

It was just recently that the Concerta effected me this way.  Taking it was like taking a sleeping pill, no matter what the dose.  I have tried to go back to it a few times, but I got the same results.  *shrug*


I didn't start the Focalin today, since I am getting sick.  I figured I'd be better off waiting until I am feeling better, so I can judge it better.  It is VERY close to Concerta, chemically speaking.  So, we'll see.
Hey,

I only found a lot of child related info in the Med forum, so I decided to post here.

About a month ago, I got kind of "flat" on Concerta.  It was working great for over 2 years for me, but 1 day it just started making me sluggish, mentally and physically.  I switched to Adderall, and it was better, but not as good as Concerta when it worked.  I've tried Concerta since then, same results-made me a slug.

So my Dr gave me 10 mg of Focalin XR, which I'll start tomorrow.  Any adults on it?   Ritalin used to work great for me, Concerta even better...he said this was very similar.  *shrug*
I noticed a lot of negatives from parents, not so much with Focalin but with the XR version.

Any1 have that happen after using Concerta for a while?