Considering Concerta but worried...

Schecky · 01-29-2006, 01:54 AM

Hi everyone! I am a 24 y.o. female and have tried many different medications to help treat my innactive adhd. None have helped as of yet. I have tried to stay away from the stimulant types of drugs because I used to use speed on a daily basis (about 9 years ago for about a year). I have tried Cylert (it was a long time ago but it didn't help too much and i stopped as soon as I found out how dangerous it was), Strattera (HATED it...made me sleep for basically 2 days straight), Wellbutrin (gave me horrible headaches and made me very moody), and now I am on Provigil, which actually is for Narcolepsy but helps for add. The provigil worked well for me for about a week but since then I have had an almost constant headache which, does not help very much for my concentration. It is also making me very tired. I can fall asleep any time of day.

So now I am considering concerta. I have been researching about the different stimulant type drugs (ritalin, concerta, adderal, dexadrine) and it seems that concerta might be the best one for me. I am worried though. I would appreciate hearing people's experience with this drug.

I am most concerned with the following: headaches, sexual side effects, weight loss/gain, and of course long term effects.

Thanks everyone!

addprogrammer · 01-29-2006, 08:54 AM

Schecky,

From one ex-speed-freak to another, be careful with stimulants. I swear one of the worst things I know is how far the therapeutic dose is under lethal dose. I really wish I didn't know that because then I could use it without my wife policing me.

Protect yourself somehow. There are a couple of factors that help prevent methylphenidate abuse: Concerta releases slowly. There is no bang like snorting meth. The initial buzz is a really poor excuse for a high but enough to know a "little" more and the buzz will improve significantly. And after a week or two, no buzz at all. I'm telling you, there are some things better left unknown, but some things we should face. Abusing stimulants will first ruin our lives, our families lives, then as the grand finale, kill us. Now that is the truth.

I haven't tried Concerta - tried Ritalin and Adderall and settled on Adderall. However, it may have been a mistake to skip Concerta. I've heard excellent reports about it's all day efficacy.

Side effects from methyphenidate: headaches, maybe weight loss initially - you can eat like a pig after it wears off to compensate. No sexual side effects. It has a long safe history at therapeutic levels. You did not mention but I must add that the most common side effect is upset stomach. Many people experience no side effects at all.

Bob

Nvr Knos Bes 31 · 02-01-2006, 06:13 PM

Hello,

I've been on concerta since last October. About the only thing that I have notice is a slightly more irratable stomach. I can't drink anything like Red Bull without having a very upset stomach. I think that is because of all the niacin but, I haven't noticed any sexual side effects and it is pretty long lasting. I take it in the morning around 7 or 8 and it lasts me until late into the night. I'm currently on the 20mg dosage. It works for me. Hope it works for you 2.

Later,

Never Knows Best31

SuchGreatHeight · 02-02-2006, 06:23 AM

I've been on Concerta for a year, and I have to say that my sideaffects were minimul. I had no sexual diseaffcts or headches. Although when I stopped (which was abruptly, stupid me), I recieved a horrible stomach irritation that lasted a couple of days to a week.

Concerta helped a lot as well. I was actually able to read a paragraph without me reading a sentance twelve times, and I sat through my first movie (mom's so proud). It has a special time release efficiency, which helps all day, so you dont have to take it three or more times a day like ritalin.

I doubt you care, but my worst fear for concerta (sinse it was in the Ritalin family) was an increase of my tics (Tourette's). But Concerta is still powerful without it being as eh, "strong" as Ritalin might be.

SGH

Schecky · 02-02-2006, 03:09 PM

I am on my second day of concerta. Yesterday I took 18 mgs and today 36. So far I don't really feel anything but we will see. How long until I should start noticing something?