Concerta,anxiety etc. | ADHD Information
Hi Guys
I am a 29 male from Indonesia and recently went to Singapore to see a shrink because I felt I was suffering from anxiety and possible depression. After my first session, the shrink recommended that I start taking wellbutrin as he felt i showed symptoms of depression and anxiety. I told him I would like to have a few more sessions before deciding whether I should go on medication. So after three more sessions, we figured I may have been suffered from ADD and he suggested I start taking Concerta. He put me on 36mg to begin with, which i started on monday. He suggested I move to 54mg the following week and then a month later he wants to put me on 72mg. On the first day I took Concerta, I felt very very edgy and felt like snapping at my chefs (I run a restaurant) but after two days on 36mg, I am feeling gradually better. before taking Concerta I was very sluggish and had a clear lack of motivation. While I am not sure If i have cleared the motivation problem, I do not feel sluggish anymore and feel like I can focus a little better. my major concern with concerta is that I am very afraid of becoming physically dependent on it as I have a tendency to abuse substances. Any one with some advice?
Welcome Crazy D!I'm taking Concerta, which is a much milder stimulant than Adderall, etc. I've also had an abuse problem and was concerned. However, Concerta shouldn't give you the 'high' we got from the drugs we used and abused. So I don't think either of us need to worry about abuse. I has helped me focus and my mind is clearer. But, like you, it hasn't helped with motivation ... yet. I think that's something I have to work on with the meds. But you've been on it such a short time (and glad to see you're already focusing better). I started on 18 for one month, then 36 for another month, then 54 for 1/2 month, and now 72mg. I feel a bit 'blurry' on 72 the first couple hours, but then it subsides. If this continues, I may go back to 54mg.
I also have anxiety, but can't say if the Concerta helps with that or not because I'm also taking Paxil (antidepressant) and a mood stabilizer, and both helped with the anxiety before I began Concerta. I understand Wellbutrin can work quite well for anxiety. So if the Concerta doesn't work alone, you may consider taking it along with.
There's another recent thread on this forum about Concerta...don't know if it will help ya or not. Gives some points about taking Concerta, tho.
I bet your employees are glad you're taking it.
Again, welcome...you'll find some good people, advice and fun here....just, be careful....don't get too addicted to the board (easily done).
Good luck!
Thanks Gyspy for the positve reply. It's Friday now and i've decided I will try and lay off the concerta over the weekend and see how I feel. I had some substance abuse probelms with adderal and cocaine so I would want to tread the waters carefully with concerta, even though I know that as a stimulant, its much milder. I wonder what the long term effects are for having concerta in your blood stream over a period of years. How harmful is it? Concerta does not help with my anxiety but I dare not take anti depressants to help because I had two very bad experiences with zoloft and another pill (cant remember the name)..minutes after taking them, I felt nausea and woozy. I told the doctor this and he said my body must have bad side effects to the pills. I have xananx with me and wonder whether that might work? Oh well, lets see how the weekend goes ...:-)
Hi
thank you all for your replies! I've learned how to just keep my irritability inside me. I don't know if the Concerta is helping or not. I'm on 54mgs. Gypsy, how is 72mgs working out for you? how long do the effects last during the day? Yeah, its better to think definitely than just react. I've had plenty of experience there and then have felt soo bad after i blurt something really rude out. I've been working on that a lot :). My eating has been weird lately. It's usually like a few small meals each day. Only like 2 or 3 though. Yeah i should work on my eating I guess. Sleep I just can't help though since I'm a light sleeper. :) Yeah, my room mate is rude but your right. I SHOULD tell her how I feel because she is just an oblivious person to others feelings and I need to tell her. I wouldnt mind if it was like at 9 am or something but this is like at 6/7 am. She could go down the hall of the dormitory to the bathroom down there. THat would be perfect but she doesnt. Oh well. Only a few weeks of rooming with her left. :) Yoda, do you think I have a very low doseage of buspirone due to the fact that I'm on Concerta 54mgs for my ADD? why would i have such a small doseage at 1/2 15mgs twice a day? that is only like 7.5 It makes no sense. I so just want to be less anxious and I'll keep trying. :) decreased PMS? that is wonderful lol. Maybe that will happen to me. I hope so! is 20mg of Ritalin like 36 or 54mg of Concerta?
Hey PB-I do know that all my meds have been on an increasing dose schedule. So
far I have ended up on the "high" end of most meds. The only strange
thing is that I am pretty sure the Ritalin only lasts ~ 3 hours and I would
rather just add another dose during the day (more choice for me), but my
dr. said we should try Concerta... I'm honestly tired of switching meds all
the time. I guess I haven't actually said that to her directly--my next
appt. is in a month. I'm not sure what the "dose conversion" is. hmmm...
I think the Buspar has just helped me be less "reactive" when I get
irritated or annoyed with people. I can let things go in one ear and out
the other easier. There is still a definite threshold though! Some people
are able ot hit it a lot sooner than others--I'm sure you know how that
goes!
Good Luck!Hi Princess. It seems each dosage of Concerta I've been on has been pretty long acting...probably even the 12 hours it claims to last. But it's hard for me to tell, since I don't have to study and I live alone. I don't crash or anything like that. And I'm usually up til at last 11 pm. I do think the 72mg is more effect for me, tho.
Concerning your roommate, it may be the perfect time to speak up to your her since you only do have a couple weeks left together. Then if it doesn't work, at least you tried, and it would be good practice for you being assertive when it comes to your needs being met. I'd suggest saying something like "I'm sorry I haven't said anything sooner, but could you maybe blowdry your hair down in the bathrooms, since it does wake me up and I don't have to get up until _____. I really would appreciate it, (insert her name)." See what happens...and let us know how it goes, 'k?
I still wonder, Princess, how the Concerta has been helping you? You mention above that it does have a calming effect (which it should), but "at first it worked GREAT and then it just started not working as well. I dont feel like it is helping now." HOW did it work at first, and in what way do you think it's not helping how? Are you able to focus any better, study better, concentrate better? You do realize it's not going to change you automatically...that you're going to have to work along with the meds.
And any questions you may have concerning dosages, you being anxious, etc., it's okay to ask for advice on the board, but I do suggest you also talk with your doctor and ask them about it, too. Especially about the anxiety.
Good luck, Gypsy
Howdy!
I'm on Buspirone as well--20mg in the morning and then 10mg in the
afternoon if I need to. I'm not sure it has helped a whole lot but it was
kind of added mid-therapy when I was decreasing the Effexor XR.
The Effexor has been fine for me, but I was on that pre-straterra--and
then have been decreasing the dose for a while now. Supposedly some
people have a terrible time getting off Effexor XR, so I wouldn't suggest
it--so far I have been fine.
Probably the biggest thing I have noticed with the Buspar is decreased
PMS
! I am also on 20mg Ritalin twice daily.Yoda38453.846724537Irritable with people? Oh yeah! 
But I find I'm able to control myself better with the help of meds. I also tend to think some nowadays before I lose my cool at that person. Or I walk away.
I need to ask you if you're eating at least three times a day? ...preferrably lots of small meals is good. If you're not eating properly, especially breakfast, it will cause you not only to lose weight, but you're body will not be getting the proper fuel to function properly, both physically and mentally. Can be one reason you're getting so angry, and another because you're not getting enough sleep.
I do think it's sort of rude of your roommate to use her blow dryer (isn't there a restroom/showers nearby your room she can go to?) while you're sleeping. But on the other hand, if you haven't complained, she may think it doesn't bother you. Hmmm?
GypsyWomyn38453.6953009259
Hi Gypsy,
thanks for your response! Concerta is helping me a lot! I wrote that message about not being sure if it was working when i first started and now I'm doing great on 54mgs. I am also putting forth effort now and can see a big difference! thanks for your advice about my room mate. I'll have to say that to her. I wonder if i should try Paxil. Buspar doesnt do me any good so far lol. Anyway, in my opinion I think you should take concerta crazy. It will help you focus. Like if you are at work and just have major difficulties, this will help a lot. I understand though about the substance abuse problems. You are smart to be careful like that :). good luck with whatever decision you make! hope everything works out well for you one way or another :)
-Princess-
Yoda, thanks for your response! The Buspar probably IS helping, I just dont realize the difference in myself. It might not be a major difference but my fiance says he sees that it is helping a bit. :)
I started Feb. 3rd on 18, went a month, then 36mg for half of March, then 56mg until April. Then 72mg. Some people never get moved up, if it's working for them at their current dosage. Some stay on 36mg, and find it successful for them, some even on 18mg. I'm not a featherweight, so my size may have a reason for a higher dosage working better.Princess, I suggest just going with the flow, so to speak, and not think too much about whether it's working or not. And then reflect perhaps the next day on how things went for you, whether you focused better, or whether you accomplished more the day before. But it's my opinion if you think too much about it, you may be interfering with the results. Do you know what I mean?
So, I ask again, have you been sleeping okay? And remember to eat regular, little meals.
I was wondering if going from 36 to 54 will help? I know its silly to ask because i start the 54mg of the 12 hour concerta tomorrow. I have been on 36mgs for awhile now and at first it worked GREAT and then it just started not working as well. I dont feel like it is helping now so I'm just curious if anybody else has gone from 36 to 54 and did that help you? also, are you supposed to be really energetic from taking concerta? because i dont feel like that. I still feel like myself, maybe more calm, although i was never hyperactive before. I have Inattentive ADHD. So, I'm just curious about that. Also, I'm taking buspirone(generic for buspar) for anxiety because I'm a very anxious person and it has not helped a lot. My doctor moved it up from 5mgs to 7.5 mgs each. Hopefully that will help. I have not finished my 5mgs ones yet so have to do that because doctor said so(lol) and then will start on the 7.5 ones. I dont think this is the medicine for me though. Its probably the doseage-soo low. But i think my doctor was keeping it low because I'm also taking concerta so anyway its confusing. I heard stuff about lexapro or something and can you guys mention other things that have worked a long with your medication? I need a lot of advice. thanks :). What kind of medicine is good for social anxiety?
-Princess-
[QUOTE=princessbride22]I was wondering if going from 36 to 54 will help? .......have been on 36mgs for awhile now and at first it worked GREAT and then it just started not working as well. I dont feel like it is helping now so I'm just curious if anybody else has gone from 36 to 54 and did that help you? [/quote]
Hi Princess! I started February 3rd at 18mg, then 36mg, then to 54mg. I just started on 72mg, the maximum I'll be getting. I've not heard of anyone taking more than that dosage. Anyway I'm going to repeat something I've posted elsewhere:
I didn't think Concerta was doing much for me at first, but now I do seem to be seeing things clearer, both visually and mentally. It's like my mind is finally starting to slow down enough to focus on fewer things at one time. I know it will take time for me to get used to my new "eyes" and plenty of work along with the meds to enable me to get more motivated, something I still need to work on. I also find myself thinking before I speak, which I've had difficulty with all my life, and have prevented myself from having to remove my foot from my mouth.
Whew!
[QUOTE=princessbride22]...also, are you supposed to be really energetic from taking concerta? because i dont feel like that. I still feel like myself, maybe more calm, although i was never hyperactive before. I have Inattentive ADHD. So, I'm just curious about that.
[/QUOTE]
Absolutely not! The stimulant meds for ADHD are not supposed to make you really energetic. More focused, yes. Help to concentrate better, yes. Concerta is a very mild stimulant, less than Adderall, etc. And if the stimulant is working and you have AD/HD, then I believe it should be calming, the opposite of stimulants on non-adhd people, whether you are inattentive or hyper.
Are you sleeping well?
I sleep well, and any headaches I had, I no longer get.
Sounds to me, Princess, that you are getting positive effects from Concerta. Keep up with it, and I wish you luck. Just remember meds do not "cure" you, they just work with you.
Hi,
great hearing from you again Gypsy! I won't think about everything as much. That's a good idea. I get to anxious about things and need to worry less and not analyze everything like I do. I have been sleeping ok, apart from the fact that I am a very light sleeper and my room mates sleeping schedule is never the same and she is IRRITATING. Do you or other ADDers get irritated easily? i just find myself really upset about my room mate keeping me up with a light on til 4am or making noise, or blow drying her hair very early in the morning and turning the light on. She just doesnt think at all. And I 'm easily irritable with people I dont like. I am very bad at confronting her though so i keep it all in. I know i should talk to her but its easier to just get up in the morning and leave and be gone all day from her. If i were stuck at school I'd scream at this girl. maybe not, but it would be very hard. Anyway, do you get easily annoyed or frustrated with people? or do you know if other ADDers do? i get a long with most people but there are those that just totally upset me. I should be getting more sleep I think but I do ok. My appetite has gone down lately. I'm down to 120 pounds from 125/128. My weight was 128 for awhile and then just went lower. I hope i dont lose any more weight. lol. Don'tw ant to be too skinny. Any more advice you can give me? or anybody can give me? :)
Hi Gypsy!! thanks for your reply! that was really helpful!! the 54mgs has helped a lot today!! was my first day and its working definitely! I so wish that it would stay this way. I hate how the body gets immune to something and you have to get higher doseages! how fast have you been moving up on each doseage? i started at 36 and I'm just curious how long you were on 36 and 54 each before you moved up to the next doseage?