Any Positive Results from Concerta? | ADHD Information
Anyone (preferrably adults or teenagers since I believe it affects children differently) out there who has had positive (or neg) results with Concerta? Would love to hear about it. Like what dosage you began on, ended up on, side effects -- which hopefully went away -- able to sleep? I see my dr on Thurs. to increase from 18 mg to 36mg cuz I only had two effective days, then natta. I'm assuming my weight may have something to do with it, being as Reubenistic as I am. I've been taking 18mg for a month, since that's how many pills I was given.Those two days were great, tho. I was really able to focus well, listen to others, thinking before speaking, etc. I think it's the only med my dr will try (other than Wellbutrin with me, so I'm hoping for the best!
Thanks for any input.
GypsyWomyn38413.7748842593not to offend, but maybe you should consider a new doctor if the 36mg doesn't work. Are you seeing a psychiatrist or a pa that works under one? If you use one of them, they are more likely to give you some type of stimulant other than concerta, which if i am correct is just ritalin? I might be wrong. I am on adderall xr and it has helped so much. Much luck to you and yours, you deserve proper treatment and access to medicine, not just what your doctor wants to give you. You have that RIGHT! Toopooka...No offense taken. However, I think you misunderstood. I've been on 18mg for the past month, and tomorrow I'll be increased to 36mg. The first 2 days on 18mg worked, then stopped. And I've heard of pple having sucess with 36 and 54mg.
My dr is excellent, and she's been working with a psychiatrist/med dr at Mental Health Center. The reason I can't get Rx for any of the stronger stimulants is because I'm on Medicaid, and they, unfortunately, will not pay for anything "stronger" than Concerta, which is supposed to be a milder stimulant. I originally asked for Adderall, and the State said No, they wouldn't pay for it.
The State is real sticky about "controlled substances." And I agree with you, I have a right to be treated with what will help me! If they want me to work and not collect assistance or SSD, then they should be happy to give me what works!
And I agree...if Ritilan and Concerta are the same thing, why on earth won't they let me try Ritilan?
I'll see what happens after I'm raised to 36mg tomorrow. If it doesn't work, perhaps they'll try ritilan or adderall. We'll see. BTW, I'm 54, and want the rest of my life to be better than the first 54! You'd think they'd give me a break here.
Thanks for your concern.
GypsyWomyn38413.8593402778
MY child is not a teenager but at 7 years old and 85 lbs he was put on 54mg tablet within the firs month. first week 1 18mg tablet, 2nd week 2 18 mg tablets in am, 3rd week 3 18 mg tablets in am, thats what he stayed on 1 54 mg tablet in am, taken w/food no upset stomach, no weight loss, but he loves to eat. what do you weigh, maybe it needs to be raised. try a different doctor. a second opinion never hurts, Henry's only side effect is trouble sleeping, occasional headaches. not so much any more.
GOOD LUCK!
Sandra, I also agree that weight probably makes a difference. And believe me, at age 55 (Oh my, I said 54 in last post, didn't I...memory going ha ha), I'm sure I weigh considerably more than your 7 yr old. So if a child can be given the higher dosage and it works, it certainly should for me, don't you think?
Actually, my dr was willing, after two weeks, to raise it to 36 mg, but the state wouldn't let her change mid-month. Oy!
I've heard problems sleeping on Concerta is quite common. So how do you help your son to sleep? I mean, we all need our proper rest, especially a growing child. I had to give up my java
, with which I self-medicated before trying a stimulant.
I really think if I could have taken 18 first week, 36, second week, and finally 54 mg...it may have worked better.
Wish me luck tomorrow! Thanks.
GypsyWomyn38413.8665046296Sandra...so he's not having much problems with sleeping any more either? That would be great! I'm happy for your success with Concerta and your son.
Henry's doctor ordered 90 18 mg tablets for the first month, and told me to adjust the dosage weekly until the school, daycare and i noticed a difference. so i had leftover pills after the 30 day prescription was over. as for his sleeping, i get him up early 6am no trying to rest after school, and unwind 1 hour b-4 lights out at 8. he still tosses until about 9 but he doesn't get any caffeine or sugar (junk food) any more at all. at first he was staying up until 2 or 3 am!!! anyway i switched him to straterra for 6 weeks cuz of insomnia, and headaches. but he was way worse, mood swings, uncontrollable anger, depression etc.. 6 weeks of pure HEL--- went right back to concerta, he's much more functional. once he got the right dosage, and his body adjusted he's allot happier. every-one is different. and different people get different people get different results. we'll see. so far i haven't heard any major recalls or dangerous warning like with adderol, and stratera. good luck. I'm a single mom no family, very alone. feel free to e-mail me if you just need to talk. I've dealt with insurance, doctors and the system for awhile. lots of loopholes. my only issues are the school and teachers, everything is a learning experience, pretty soon I'll know there shortcuts and loopholes too.
good luck, SANDRA duques6511970@comcast.net, or duques6511970@hotmail.com
Sandra, check your Personal Messages (PM) in this forum. 'k?SandraM,
I'm terribly sorry, but that PM was for the other Sandra last night in this thread.
I do wish there was something I could tell you for help with your daughter. I can only suggest speaking with your doctor.
Tomorrow I start 36mg, so I'll probably be in the same boat by tomorrow night.
Good luck, hon!GypsyWomyn38414.808275463
Gypsy Womyn,my daughter is not sleeping and i do not know what to do seeing as she is on clonidine 0.3 mg.u said to check my pm messages but it says i have known.
Concerta I was on for a month and didnt do a thing for me.. However, Im 44 and I started out at low dose of 18mg then up to 36mg then when that didnt work she put me on something else and needless to say well this was back in November and it is now March and still nothing is working for me..
Very fusterating it has been.. I need something for me for my comprehension while reading, focusing in college as Im taking some courses, and this type of area...other wise Im fine..
Went and did all the testing for IQ so now I have completed all that one can for ADHD and will find out my results this Thursday morning and from here maybe this will explain something else and maybe lead me to the right meds.. who knows... but I have tried concerta, addreall xr, addreall, foclain, dexstrose spanules and now strattera up to 60mg for 14 days here then she will up it to 80mg for another 15 days and if nothing will see what next to try.. by the time they do find something that will work on me college for this year will be done and over... UGHH
DJT
[QUOTE=GypsyWomyn]Toopooka...No offense taken. However, I think you misunderstood. I've been on 18mg for the past month, and tomorrow I'll be increased to 36mg. The first 2 days on 18mg worked, then stopped. And I've heard of pple having sucess with 36 and 54mg.
My dr is excellent, and she's been working with a psychiatrist/med dr at Mental Health Center. The reason I can't get Rx for any of the stronger stimulants is because I'm on Medicaid, and they, unfortunately, will not pay for anything "stronger" than Concerta, which is supposed to be a milder stimulant. I originally asked for Adderall, and the State said No, they wouldn't pay for it. The State is real sticky about "controlled substances." And I agree with you, I have a right to be treated with what will help me! If they want me to work and not collect assistance or SSD, then they should be happy to give me what works!
And I agree...if Ritilan and Concerta are the same thing, why on earth won't they let me try Ritilan?
I'll see what happens after I'm raised to 36mg tomorrow. If it doesn't work, perhaps they'll try ritilan or adderall. We'll see. BTW, I'm 54, and want the rest of my life to be better than the first 54! You'd think they'd give me a break here.
Thanks for your concern.
Okay, this is really wierd because my insurance covers ritalin, and adderall xr but NOT CONCERTA! I wanted something longer lasting instead of taking 3 ritalin pills and tried for concerta and my insurance said that I have to try "other alternatives" like adderall or stratterra. I still DON'T understand. Ritalin worked just fine for me but I hated taking 3 pills a day.
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BTW, are you eating during the day?
Now about insomnia. Okay...it's only been 5 days. I also initially only slept perhaps 4 to 5 hours a night (which beat 3-4 hours before I was on Concerta) and didn't feel tired at all. But this improved greatly, after a few weeks. Although I started on 18mg, then to 36 mg then to 54mg. Tomorrow I start 72mg...and that's all they wrote, folks! Anyway, I now sleep quite well, sometimes 8 or more hours, depending on how active I was during the day.
Do let me know what your doctor or pharmacist says tomorrow, 'k? Good luck. GypsyWomyn38449.3802662037hi there, I am also concerned about Concerta, as the dr and I decided to try it next month, as the co-pays on the XR is pretty high and the co-pay on the Concerta is a bit lower. I started the Adderall XR 15 mg few weeks ago, the dr and I stay in regular touch thru emails on my progress (since I'm deaf as well). I take the pill around 7 am and it wears off around 3pm in which I notice my thoughts and work run amok!! I discussed with the dr and he told me to take another 15 mg XR at noon and see how that goes until I finish the supply.
What should I expect when I transition over to Concerta from AXR next month? The usual side effects I have with the XR is reduced appetite and dry mouth (I keep myself hydrated with bunch of water bottles
)I have been on Concerta for a little over a month. I started at 18, increased to 36, then 54...then to 108 and now currently I am at 72mg. I do no know what it is supposed to do, but anything over 54 makes me feel funny...kinda tingly fuzzy even light headed ( I suppose drugged could be said) and the 108 was way too much, as I felt agitated, edgy...just on the verge of snapping.
I don't think that the Concerta is what I am looking for...I don't know what is...but I am quite disappointed and frustrated with the Concerta and the current situation...and I am not satisfied with any of the answers I am given or my questions go completely unanswered...but maybe I am asking the wrong questions. OR coming across the wrong way...I don't know.
Anyway, I guess the answer to the original question is the Concerta, though having some affect, is not having the appropriate effect and does not appear to solve my issues. For the record, I am 38, male and about 160lbs. Peace.
[QUOTE=Rain] hi gypsy woman,i have been on concerta for something like 9 or ten months now. At first i had nervousness, my heart rate would jump and anxious situations became particularly anxiety-provoking. this side effect definitly lessened after a few weeks of each dosage increase. i started on 18mg for a month, then 36 for a month, then the 54 which I am on now. It does help with focus, i noticed it particularly in social situations. The things that people said that at one time would have confused me and given me a feeling of helplessness started to fit into the context of the situation. i did stop taking concerta for a few weeks not long ago. At first it was quite a reief, a more laid-back version of me that i had forgotten appeared. but then i started to feel the disconnect again, feeling like that dumb chick who never gets the joke in time. So i started taking it again
[/QUOTE]
Rain, hi! I imagine after starting on Concerta again, you will probably get some positive effects once more, since you were before stopping the Concerta. I thought I wasn't getting anything from it either (and also stopped to see the difference per my doctor). And I did realize while on it, I was getting some aid to work on my symptoms. I was up to 72mg, which I actually think was too much. So I went down to 54 and even 36mg.
I really believe when meds work well, that you don't actually 'feel' anything. KWIM? It just helps with focusing so you can work with it to improve your negative symptoms and learn new skills and tools to use.
See more of what I say down below in reply to Deep Diver.
Good luck!GypsyWomyn38574.5131365741[quote=ditzychick]Okay, this is really wierd because my insurance covers ritalin, and adderall xr but NOT CONCERTA! I wanted something longer lasting instead of taking 3 ritalin pills and tried for concerta and my insurance said that I have to try "other alternatives" like adderall or stratterra. I still DON'T understand. Ritalin worked just fine for me but I hated taking 3 pills a day.[/quote]
DC, if I found something that worked, like you on ritalin, I wouldn't mind taking 3x a day. Especially since it's so difficult finding the right med.
I know it's been a while since your post, and hope you ended up with something that works, regardless of the times a day you need to take it. It would be worth it, don't you think?
Let me know what you ended up doing, okay?
Gypsy
[QUOTE=Deep_Diver]I have been on Concerta for a little over a month. I started at 18, increased to 36, then 54...then to 108 and now currently I am at 72mg. I do not know what it is supposed to do, but anything over 54 makes me feel funny...kinda tingly fuzzy even light headed ( I suppose drugged could be said) and the 108 was way too much, as I felt agitated, edgy...just on the verge of snapping.
I don't think that the Concerta is what I am looking for...I don't know what is...but I am quite disappointed and frustrated with the Concerta and the current situation...and I am not satisfied with any of the answers I am given or my questions go completely unanswered...but maybe I am asking the wrong questions. OR coming across the wrong way...I don't know.
Anyway, I guess the answer to the original question is the Concerta, though having some affect, is not having the appropriate effect and does not appear to solve my issues. For the record, I am 38, male and about 160lbs. Peace.[/QUOTE]
Deep_Diver, you sure moved up quickly to a very high dose, wow!
It's usually recommended to slowing increase, at least 2 to 3 weeks on each dosage, so your body/brain and acclimate. And 72mg is usually tops to how high they'll prescribe, at least to my knowledge. 108 mg! I'm not surprised you felt the way you did. I don't mean to criticize, it just surprised me your doctor rxd as they did. I'd talk more with your doctorand work as closely with them as possible. 'k?
Anyway, unfortunately NONE of the meds are going to 'solve your issues,' DD. It's important to use the med along with any tools or skills you can learn once you may be focusing a bit better. It takes work, lots of work..after all nothing comes easy, right? And, of course (I can never stress this enough), it always helps if you can be seeing a counselor or therapist while learning these new tools and skills. And if this not possible, as for many of us, search the web, read the post, there are so many resources out there.
Now, I'm going to tell what I eventually ending up doing. I stopped the Concerta and started Ritalin. I was given 20mg to take 10mg 2x day. I found I didn't feel well on it, so I decreased to 5 mg 3x day...less total than original Rxd. And I found I am focusing so much better. I'm finding words come easier to me when talking (or even typing). I'm also more relaxed, and my 'brain talk' has even slowed down.
So the strength of the dosage isn't necessarily the answer. It's just experiment and finding what works just for you. Deep Diver, I weigh more than you, 
so I don't think our weight makes much difference. And I even suspect if I returned to Concerta, but at a lower dosage, that may also work for me. (And I'm sure you realize Concerta and Ritalin are the same medication, only Concerta is long acting, taken only once a day.)
So I wish you all good luck, and remember to work WITH your meds. We'll all find eventually what works the best for each of us.
GW: Thank you for taking the time to reply. I did as my doctor told me: take a dosage for three days and then call him and tell him whether or not it is working. I did exactly that for the 18 and 36. I was actually on the 54 mg dose for a couple of weeks, in part because I was on vacation and in part because I was sure it was helping. When I was finally able to my counselor again (the first time since diagnosis) she recommended I see the doctor again, which I did the very next day. It was his suggestion to double the current dose to 108, but I only did that for 2 days because it whacked me out so badly.
So, this is day 2 of 3 for being on 72mg. I mentioned already--in my previous post or in another thread--that I feel fuzzy, tingly, something, but not right. I guess I am still waiting on this mythical "aha" moment. I will call him again tomorrow...we shall see.
As for solving my issues, well, I guess I didn't clarify what I meant. I don't expect the drug(s) to make everything better--poof, like magic--but I do expect to be better able to function, which in turn should allow me to be able to learn to function more efficiently rather than the way my ADD brain currently has me function. I also do see a counselor, but apparently only every two weeks. So, anyway, I'm just confused and frustrated and not sure what to do next. And my life is certainly going to get more complicated starting next Monday when I go back to work to get ready for classes to start.
Anyway, I will try to figure things out. I will try to be patient. I will try to be more assertive, but not confrontational or defensive. Thanks again...best wishes.
I've been on Concerta now for only 5 days and its working out pretty well for me (27mg, once in the morning). It has been a huge wake up call now that I am focusing in ways that I never dreamed possible. I notice everything and am not at all easily distracted anymore. A few side effects but nothing I can't live with. It makes me a little speedy sometimes, but not that 'Geeked Out' - 'Going out of my head' kind of feeling, and I've had a decrease in appetite, which is ok (I really dont need to lose weight but it keeps it in check)..it hasn't effected my sleep at all thus far, perhaps because I take melatonex 30 mins before bedtime (I've been taking melatonin for years..its a beautiful thing). So far I have no plans to change my medication.hi gypsy woman,
i have been on concerta for something like 9 or ten months
now. At first i had nervousness, my heart rate would jump and
anxious situations became particularly anxiety-provoking. this
side effect definitly lessened after a few weeks of each dosage
increase. i started on 18mg for a month, then 36 for a month,
then the 54 which I am on now. It does help with focus, i noticed
it particularly in social situations. The things that people said
that at one time would have confused me and given me a
feeling of helplessness started to fit into the context of the
situation. i did stop taking concerta for a few weeks not long
ago. At first it was quite a reief, a more laid-back version of me
that i had forgotten appeared. but then i started to feel the
disconnect again, feeling like that dumb chick who never gets
the joke in time. So i started taking it again
bumpConcerta is the most sophisticated delivery mechanism on the market. I personally did poorly on it because I don't respond well to any methylphenidate formulation. I've posted before that of those who do well on stimulant therapy, roughly 70% respond to either amphetamine or methylphenidate. Only about 30% respond equally to both. Therefore, they are considered equivilant but not interchangeable. If you are going to go the methylphenidate route, Concerta is a good drug. It releases the medication in a slow, controlled stream, kind of like an IV drip constantly pumping medication into your system and lasting about 10-12 hours for most. It is much smoother than immediate release ritalin, which has numerous peaks and valleys with repeated dosing. Most adult require 36-54mg for peak therapeutic response. If sleep is an issue and doesn't get better over time, ritalin LA is a double pulse delivery system that mimics the effects of ritalin twice daily. It will have peaks and valleys, but it lasts about 6-8 hours for most, and therefore won't have as dramatic an impact on sleep.
[QUOTE=repairman]
Shakespeare, my favorite psychological, pharmocological thespian, I thought methylphenidate was a stimulant. am I confusing concerta with straterra?
I may be speaking with your friend soon.
[/QUOTE]
Good for you! 
My friend will treat you will if you give him a chance.
Methylphenidate is a stimulant, Strattera is not. It was originally derived from dextroamphetamine which is why the pharmocokinetics profiles are similar. Most people do better on either methylphenidate or amphetamine because they have slightly different mechanisms of action. Amphetamines work primarily by releasing stores of dopamine and norepinephrine and blocking some of their reuptake. Methylphenidate does more reuptake inhibition and less release of the neurotransmitters. Therefore, if you have enough of these chemicals but the reuptake is happening too fast, methylphenidate will probably work better. If you don't have enough being released, blocking reuptake won't do much good and amphetamine will work better. It all depends on the cause of disfunction.
Shakespeare, my favorite psychological, pharmocological thespian, I thought methylphenidate was a stimulant. am I confusing concerta with straterra?
I may be speaking with your friend soon.