On concerta and Ritalin | ADHD Information

Hi I take a vairety of medications and have been trying to find the right combination. I take Clonapin for anxiety and Prozac for depression however I don't think the prozac really works. Recently my psychatrist took me off vyvanse because I was getting really bad anxiety attacks ecspecially when I am taking a test. He then put me on Concerta 36mg and it has worked much better however I told him that I was feeling drozy and a little depressed by around 2 or 3 in the afternoon. I am a graduate student so I usually take my medicine around 8  in the morning. He said that these side effects were due to the medicine wearing off which I figured was the problem. So he told me to take 5mg of ritialan at around 2 in the afternoon to get rid of the side effects. However I find this kinda of strange to perscribe another ADHD medication to get rid of the side effects of my other ADHD medication. So I was wondering has anyone else been in the same situation. Also I have noticed while taking concerta that I tend to sweat but my fingers and feet get really cold. Has anyone else had this side effect?

I don't know about the sweating, but I think what your doctor is doing is trying to lessen the rebound effect when your concerta wears off. He is prescribing a low dose of a short acting version of the ritalin, to help fend off the symptoms you may get when the Concerta is wearing off.

My oldest son's doctor did the same thing for him.

Hi.
The Conceta is the same medication as Ritalin but in a
slow release form. So your doc is just prescribing you a
fast acting mild stop-gap med to stabilise things over
that time period.
I am 39 years old and am taking Ritalin and Concerta.
I recenty came off Strattera which is not very god and
has negative side effects.
I have ADHD where i am seriously distracted, hyperactive
and forgetful plus severe anxiety and frustration/rage.
on Strattera my mood was better but my frustration and
distraction worse.

Concerta was an improvement but at 18mg in the morning
didn't seem to last. My specialist raised it to 36mg but
again it used to take hours to work, left me a bit
quiet/depressed in the afternoon and dropped me off at
around 5.30.

Now i am on Ritalin 30mg in the morning, at 11 am or
midday i take 20mg and if i know it has worn off or i am
workng a 16 hour day where i need to concentrate / not
get distracted by myself i take 20mg at around 2 or 3pm.

I must say that Ritalin is MUCH better than Concerta.
Much more gentle, consistent, even, fast acting, doesn't
wear off badly, doesn't dissolve in my stomach causing
stomach ache like concerta which would make me a bit
overwhelmed by the sudden med influx and then wear off
quickly because it upset my stomach.

My rage, frustration, distractedness, outbursts, forgetfulness have all gone. really gone. Haven't lost my
temper, train of thought, keys or my wallet, tape
measure, ruler etc for months.
And i can sleep around 10.30pm.
Hope this helps.
Matti

I just started taking the 36mg Concerta 1 week ago today. My day begins around 5 AM, and I take it immediately upon rising. So far, I've not had any issues with upset stomach, etc.

It does typically wear off around 3 PM, and I start to feel sleepy, but no depression or any changes in mood, that I've noticed.

So far, I've felt pretty good while the Concerta was in my system. And already I'm starting to see improvement. Hopefully the positive effect will continue. I can handle being a little drowsy in the afternoon, for the ability to function at my best.