I have just been diagnosed 2 months ago as having ADHD. My doctor started me off with Strattera and that had multiple side effects such as being tired all day as well as not being able to sleep at night. Next he put me on Concerta 36 mg in the morning. I find this drug to be horrible and has changed my personality completely. Before Concerta, I was an easy going guy with no problems except the usual that come with being ADHD. Now The smallest things make me very angry and frustrated as well as feeling depressed. My doctor in the past week has lowered my dosage to 18 mg in the morning. I am really apprehensive about this working and scared as well because I have to wait two months to finally get in to see a psychiatrist that really knows what to do. I need advice whether to try adderrall or stop taking anything (i don't really like this idea) or what to do. Please help!!

It bothers me that your doctor didn't START you out at 18mg. It's atypical to start someone who has never taken stimulants before at a higher dose. Just for curiosity, what dose of Strattera did he start you on?

Give the lower dose a try before worrying about what to do next.

It would be useful if you would examine when it is that your are experiencing your symptoms in relation to when you take your Concerta. Is it 4 - 6 hours after you take a dose or does it usually happen later in the day? How long does it last?

I believe the Strattera was 20 mg??? The side effects from Concerta (anger, frustration with everything, depression) start about an hour to two hours after I take it and last the whole day. Really don't know what to think.

I believe the Strattera was 20 mg??? The side effects from Concerta (anger, frustration with everything, depression) start about an hour to two hours after I take it and last the whole day. Really don't know what to think.

Are you any better on the lower dose?

no, I am going to seek a second opinion with another doctor. Is there any suggestions you might have for me to ask my doctor??

There are SO many types of medicines for ADD and you may have to try many different kinds to see which is best for you. My advice is to see a counselor, not a doctor.

When I first was diagnosed with ADHD, I had a similar problem - my first doctor kept telling me that all the meds were "essentially the same." Luckily, I found a doctor who was willing to listen to me, and thus spare me any more of those frustrating, horrible conversations in the doctor's office where I would go through what was wrong (usually in tears) and then end up get a script for the same thing.

Everyone responds to these meds differently (and differently at different times - in the last 10 years, I've moved from Ritalin, to Adderal LA, and now to Ritalin LA, so finding a doctor you will work with you is important in the long term too, because even if you find what works now, a few years down the road, you might need to change again), but for me, Concerta (even though it is "essentially the same" as Ritalin) had exactly the same effect on me as it seems to have on you - I felt angry and seriously depressed. I am usually pretty good at trying to work through side effects and give meds a chance, but I quit this after two days because I honestly thought I was going to jump out the window.

The only suggestion I have for talking to your doctor is to suggest that perhaps it might be worth a try to begin with a more "traditional" or "basic" ADHD medication, such as Ritalin or Adderal. I started with Ritalin, 10mg, 2x a day, and this worked well because they are tablets that you can break in half and only take 5mg to begin with if you wanted too. Eventually, you will probably need more than this though.

Hang in there! I remember when I started taking Ritalin, and about three days in, I realized that three days had passed and I hadn't locked my keys in my car, locked myself out of the house, missed any meetings, forgot anyone's birthday, discovered (at the grocery store) that I was wearing my shirt inside-out, etc. etc. etc., and for the first time in my life I thought "Wow. I've finally got a shot at making my life work." Suddenly, all that work of finding a good doctor seemed like nothing. Keep going. It's WORTH it.