Concerta and myself

[tyiytyiy]

I'm <a teenager>. I've been taking concerta for 4 years now. I'd say dependent would be a good term to describe me, I don't know abotu addicted quite yet.

When I'm off it I have trouble eating(eat too much), decreased sex drive, can't complete difficult tasks as easily, decreased adrenaline, decreased drive in general.

My parents are trying to get me off the medicine, but I refuse.

With it I maintain a 4.0 GPA in high school with a lot of friends on 2 sports teams and in IB/AP Classes.

On it I feel I can do anything with less effort, I eat wayy less and healthier, I feel smarter almost like I can see things differently like when people are turned on or turned off when I'm talking.

Any advice on this I take it 7 days a week 27's I take. I don't want to be on it for ever but I need to find a solution.

[addprogrammer]

Originally Posted by tyiytyiy

With it I maintain a 4.0 GPA in high school with a lot of friends on 2 sports teams and in IB/AP Classes.

On it I feel I can do anything with less effort, I eat wayy less and healthier, I feel smarter almost like I can see things differently like when people are turned on or turned off when I'm talking.

Any advice on this I take it 7 days a week 27's I take. I don't want to be on it for ever but I need to find a solution.

Yep, Got a solution: "Just say no to drugs" one day every week. If that is more than you realistically can do without blowing your life up, take at least 2 days off back-to-back once per month - no less frequently than that.

On your no med days, learn to do the best you can. It will not surprise me that you'll see that it is YOU getting the 4.0 and YOU that have the athletic skills - NOT THE MEDS.

Days off also will prevent physical addiction. Our brains can get so accustomed to the extra dopamine they forget how to make their own. Evidently it can take months for our brains to relearn neurotransmitter production tricks after years of stimulant use.

The days off will give you the only accurate measure as to when you can pull the drug plug for good. I have every reason to believe, though I am not yet there myself, that the meds can in some cases FIX ADHD. They enable us to reprogram our brain. If only it were "as easy" as debugging software.

YOU, not the meds, are responsible for your achievements. Pull the plug every so often and see it for yourself.

Bob

[tyiytyiy]

thanks I'll try that. I just lose my drive some times when I'm off it. I noticed I was able to lift less weight off the concerta than on it. Does it affect your hormones?

[addprogrammer]

Originally Posted by tyiytyiy

thanks I'll try that. I just lose my drive some times when I'm off it. I noticed I was able to lift less weight off the concerta than on it. Does it affect your hormones?

ty,

Dude your handle makes me ADHD. I had to shorten it to "ty" or I'll need MORE meds.

"Yes" you will get up more weight on Concerta.

If you are good enough to make it to the Olymics don't let anyone know you're on any Schedule II stimulates because they'll take all your gold medals away. It is considered cheating.

Do not use stimulants for performance enhancement. They turn off our bodies "I can't lift this much" signal. You are not one iota stronger. The signals are squelched, that's all. Do you keep driving when all those cool red lights come on in your car?

Geeze, I shouldn't ask because I did keep going when I was your age.

Don't do it.

Bob

[mod-anon]

The discussion of using meds for the treatment of ADD is appropriate on this Board. Please do not ask for advice on mis-using meds for other purposes.