I’ve started Concerta XL this week on 18mg for 2 weeks then moving up to 36mg.

I love coffee, coffee is life and not for the most reason people do. I find it makes me calmer, happier etc and will literally drink a cup of caffeinated coffee in the night to help me get back to sleep.

However the psychiatrist was very strict I have no caffeinated coffee - it was the one thing he would not budge on. I understand it’s technically both double stimulant but doesn’t feel like coffee is a stimulant to me.
I am only 3 days and really missing coffee, and the sense of peace it brings me 😂 use to drinking 4-5 by midday and a couple across the afternoon so it’s a big change.

I know everyone will say it’s in my head but I really don’t find the taste of decaf the same and it just doesn’t give me the same effects (obviously).

Do I really need to avoid caffeinated coffee??
If I did have one, is there a better time around taking the med?

☕️❤️✨

Hi everybody, as I don't see much people talking about in and I'm struggling right now with it am going to share a litle of my experience during this switch, my previous dose on Vyvanse was 70mg a day, no boosters(where 1 ive there is no booster besides Ritalin IR). vesterdav was my first day on Concerta 18mg, it sucked, it didn't qive me neither the energy to go through my day nor the motivation to do my tasks, it was one of the worst days C had since start taking meda. I called mv doctor and he said to me to double the dose today, so I did, today I took 36mg and it sucked less but it definitely sucked compared to Vyvanse, which in my opinion was not working so well due to its inconsistency in effects and their duration was not so good as well, but compared to Concerta it was 1000% better until the moment. Anyway 'd like some strona motivation boost from morning anc then just energy/awake during the day and a little of motivation would be great, Concerta is not giving me neither right now. I am not being able to me productive and that's making me really upset... Hope tomorrow wil be a better day, although right now everything I wanted is to quit Concerta and get back to my Vyvanse ASAP

I started ADHD meds shortly after I first entered the workforce roughly 2 years ago…I have anxiety/OCD as well and the first meds I tried were short acting…it kinda sucked…tried Vyvanse and for a few weeks I felt like a brand new person…during all of this my work performance was improving but i started to feel like I needed them to do well…I didn’t physically crave them but I felt like my job and productivity were completely dependent on them…I started needing to go up on my dose and started to develop anxiety about optimizing my dose and medication

I changed to concerta and I liked it to begin with, but I’ve been having some struggles with 27 mg and now I’m beginning to doubt my decision to even change in the first place…I know this is obsession/anxiety driven but it’s really hard

TLDR: the inconsistency that can occur with ADHD meds is driving me crazy and making me spin my wheels. I don’t necessarily like being on stimulants, but i feel like they are absolutely essential for me to achieve my goals

I've been taking Concerta for about a month.
For the first two weeks, I was on 18 mg.
I'm now on 36 mg.
So far, my experience has been that these are the scariest pills I've ever taken. I've been hit with side effects from every direction, while at the same time I have a clearer mind and more energy to get through the day. I sleep pretty okay.
BUT the side effects are terrifying. The main ones are the uncontrollable rage and how mean I become towards other people and myself.
I'm also doing everything I'm supposed to be doing. I'm going to the gym, getting enough protein, taking supplements, blah blah blah. I literally hate my brain on this medication. Sometimes my personality changes and I can't even laugh.

A few days ago, I had a very bad panic attack because of overstimulation at work combined with the rage caused by the medication. I felt like I was completely losing control, and it scared me more than I can describe.
Will this go away, or should I switch to a different medication?

Got officially diagnosed a few months ago and in contact with an NP pretty much immediately since I’d been trying to manage symptoms for years pre-diagnosis and felt like I’d exhausted every option minus medication, with only mild improvement.

She initially wanted to prescribe Strattera since she avoids stimulants when she can, but given how often I miss my birth control I knew I’d never have the consistency for it to actually work. Started me on 18mg methylphenidate for two weeks with no noticeable effect. Bumped up to 27mg, and I’ll admit there’s slightly less friction starting tasks, and I’m more consistent with stuff like skincare now.

I’m able to complete simpler tasks like actually taking 15 minutes to make a proper lunch instead of just eating whatever snacks were directly in my sight line, but anything that requires longer sustained effort like my college summer courses has seen almost no improvement. Instead, I find myself being productive for longer periods over non urgent stuff (reading, cleaning) when I have two week’s worth of lectures piled up. But then again, it’s better than doing literally nothing in the face of executive dysfunction. I end up skipping doses a lot too, either because I don’t notice much difference or because on some days I feel like an energy drink would honestly help more, and I don’t want to stack both and send my heart into overdrive.

My NP has kept me on 27mg since our follow-up’s on it, partly because she is wary about stimulants and partly because she sees the noticeable improvement as enough. I understand that maybe she has worries about abuse since I am college-age, but I have no history of drug abuse. I know medication isn’t a magic pill that will fix my symptoms on their own, and I need to put in the work too, but I’m not sure where to go from here.

TL;DR: Is the amount of friction I feel for sustained effort tasks normal at the right dose? My NP is comfortable keeping me at my current dosage, and I want to know if I should be pushing back more or am missing other good ways to manage my symptoms outside of medication. Super open to any strategies people have found that might help me, especially with focusing on what I actually need to be instead of unimportant productive tasks.

I'm on 18mg Concerta (equivalent, not exact brand) and am feeling good overall, almost no side effects, and I feel like my dosage could even be stronger... However one side effect that I also had with Elvanse is the feeling that my throat is super tight/tense (not necessarily dry) and it feels as though something is stuck in there or something is strangling me.

Does anyone else experience this? Do you know what I can do about this?

hi!

(tw: body image talk)

i started taking concerta three weeks ago, and then one week ago it got upped to 36mg.

but these last four? days i’ve had such intense hatred and plain disgust towards my body (mostly loose skin after losing over 55kgs, nothing fits right and looks disgusting and i can’t afford surgery) i think i’ve either derealization or the beginning of psychosis (when i got diagnosed with bpd they told me i’ve a very high likelihood/extra vulnerable? of developing psychosis) or something idk, i can’t stop crying and everything just feels shit. i can’t finish or start any tasks, forget tasks, brain fog line crazy, everything feels surreal, it’s almost like mania. for the first time ever i can’t stop feeling like i need to spend money and get stuff and even acted on a quite harmful intrusive(?) thought.

i’m in dbt but both my peer support and psychiatrist are on vacation for a few weeks.

could it be because of the meds? i tend to have weird side effects on medication. i’ve sent a msg to my psychiatric clinic but i haven’t gotten an answer yet. i’m sorry this is all over the place

Hey guys I'm on zaggitin XL ( off-brand concerta, methylphenidate).

I've started on 2 weeks of 18mg

And 2 weeks of 36mg

Some days this helps and others it doesn't tbh. The 18mg did barely anything at all the only difference is that I noticed I didn't have to hype myself up to do boring things like showering or doing dishes.

The 36mg was a bit better and I noticed I no longer needed background music or a YouTube video to get me through doing housework but I've noticed that sometimes I'm a bit emotionally flat.

I also HATE arguing with my partner now whereas before ( as toxic as it is ) I would get a bit of a dopamine hit from it or something.

It's strange, on some days my brain is quiet and on others it's just as loud. Usually when I'm around other people my brain is just as loud as me unmedicated but when I'm alone it can be eerily quiet.

On some days my eyes have been struggling to focus and it feels like my brain can't take in visual information as well but on others I'm able to read a book ( something I've not done for years)

My memory has been just as horrible if not worse.

On some days I've literally spent hours daydreaming.

I've also had some headaches here and there.

I've been eating a bit less than normal throughout the day but I make sure I take my vitamins have water and sleep well.

My heart rate feels quite high but my blood pressure is a little low. The other day I was slowly walking and it got to 145bpm.

To be honest with you i notice some changes but it's just not doing much, right now it's just not worth it. Should I change to a different kind?

I'm a bit worried as I do suffer from some anxiety and not great at emotional regulation. I can be an arsehole when I get overstimulated.

I’m looking to switch from Vyvanse to concerta because think my Vyvanse is causing my daily headaches. Has anyone switched from Vyvanse to concerta and can share their experiences good and bad?

Not sure if anyone else had felt the same but I started taking Concerta at 27mg. It was working during the morning but would die off around 2pm. Spoke with my doctor and we bumped up to 36mg to hopefully extend the time (I also take 80mg of Atomoxetine every day).

It is so much smoother than 27mg I find which feels odd to me since it’s more. When I would take my 27mg in the morning, I would definitely start to feeling it kick it and then level out but with the 36, it’s just smooth from start to finish. The only downside is that I would get hungry on 27mg but with 36mg, I am not getting hungry (but I stay on top of alarms to eat/protein shakes, etc)

Was wondering if anyone else felt the increase of dosage more smooth than the lower one?

I have long-term problems with clinical anxiety disorder leading to issues with concentration, procrastination, reading, starting tasks, motivation, low mood, social issues and getting work done. I also experience head pressure, facial and jaw tightness, vibrations, dizziness, and an unwell feeling that make it difficult to think clearly.

These symptoms affect my work, social life, and ability to enjoy simple activities such as reading or watching movies.

I tried Concerta for a few days based on another doctor’s recommendations (since I was travelling). On some days, I completed my full to-do list and read a chapter I had postponed for almost a year.

However, my main psychiatrist (treatment going on for long time and is reputed) does not think I need it and has continued almost the same medications I have taken for around two years. He may have a valid reason, but I do not understand why the treatment is not being reassessed despite the functional impairment.

Does Concerta require a confirmed ADHD diagnosis? Would it be reasonable to request a formal ADHD assessment or seek a second opinion?

I am not trying to insist on a particular medication. I mainly want to understand my options.

Currently he has prescribed me:

Venlafaxine 75mg x 2, Propranolol 10mg x 2, tofisopam 50mg x3, clonazepam 0.25mg x 1, SAMe 200mg x 2, Carnosine 400mg x2

I’m taking 36 mg and an added benefit has been the appetite suppressant quality that also quiets my relentless food noise

Unfortunately on occasion I forget to take it and the food noise is unbearable and I am ravenously hungry. I could eat 4000 calories if I let myself. It feels like torture to try to keep myself on my deficit. Do you just go to sleep early and hope the next day is better? I try to chug water and caffeine but it doesn’t really help.

I’ve been in recovery for 18 months (god bless)
and recently finally got diagnosed with ADHD.

I tried straterra for 3 months, felt nothing except weird feeling in my head.

After testing, my doctor put me on concerta ER 18mg. He also knows I’m in recovery. I was so nervous to take it but I don’t even notice it at all.

But! I’ve lost my phone twice at work this week and I seem to be forgetting words - like it takes me a few seconds to get out what I’m trying to say. I’m always saying “what’s it called…”

My next appointment is in a few days, hoping to up my dose but also hoping it’s more effective?

Anyone have luck on the next dose up?

Has anyone had appetite suppression come after a few months on 36 mg OR after increasing the dose??

Please tell me yes lol

Is it safe to take creatine and 36mg Concerta? Also is it better to work out before taking Concerta or is it safe to workout on meds?

Hi everybody, I have been taking Vyvanse for 4-5 months but the last few weeks it was not working as it used to, mainly on the motivation and energy levels(Impulse control, dopamine seeking, and niihilism were worse as well), my dose was 70mg, so my doctor prescribed me Concerta, so we could see if it would be better, today is my first day on Concerta and I'm EXHAUSTED, I'm really slow right now... Does it get better? I mean, he said to me to take Concerta 18mg for 10 days, then dose up to 36 mg and then to 54mg, it is a matter of dose that's why I'm feeling this way? Please let me know your experiences with it.

I noticed when I started taking concerta that I was getting wicked headaches in the afternoons and evenings. I told my psychiatrist and he asked me to monitor my blood pressure. Turns out every time I’ve had a headache and checked my BP I was hypertensive (like 120/95 on average, so diastolic hypertension). I’ve never had a problem with high BP before this (it typically sits lower normal at 110/70 without stimulants).

It’s not uncommon for higher blood pressures to cause a headache, but every post I read here about the headaches said hydration or magnesium was the answer.

Obviously I am NOT a medical professional and this should be common sense but I just wanted to suggest discussing the headaches with your primary care doctor/GP and your psychiatrist if they’re persistent so you can check it’s not a blood pressure issue!! I know headaches seem like a pretty benign symptom but it’s better to be safe and make sure everything else is fine where you can.

I’ve currently stopped the concerta and gone back to Ritalin IR until my next appointment and my headaches are gone and BP is normal again. I was on the medication for about 2-3 months, I upped my water intake too and no dice.

I (22) have been diagnosed with Adhd over a year now through right to choose and am struggling with the titration process. 
I feel a very noticeable heart beat often in the evening (around 7-9pm) after taking it at 10am. Sometimes I also feel it in the afternoon. I’ve never been someone who’s very good at reading body cues and describing sensations. The best I can describe it is that it feels jittery, and sometimes quite tight and breathless. All the blood pressure readings show a bp and pulse in a normal range. 

Added to this, I don’t think the medication is working… I haven’t noticed any positive effects on my focus that I can’t chalk up to day 1 or 2 placebo. But I’m also aware that might be because I haven’t finished the titration process (I got up to 36mg) 

I told my doctor about all this and she seemed a bit concerned so she stopped the medication and put me on non-stimulants. (These were not helpful at all as I really struggled to take them everyday; something that I also struggle with doing for the concerta and which has made the titration process slower) She also made me take a 24hour ecg. The 24hr ecg came back completely normal and I have now restarted concerta being retitrated from 18mg. 

Despite getting the all clear, I’m still getting these palpitations and feeling worried about them and wondering whether I should even bother. I’m starting to worry that I might not even have adhd at all as I’m not feeling any positive effects and the palpitations could be a sign that I have a neurotypical brain that doesnt need these meds. 

I just started concerta last week and I have started taking 36 mg instead of 18 for the last 2 days. I am feeling angry throughout the day but I can’t tell if it’s because I’m pmsing or because of the new medication?
It becomes a thing when I need to eat I believe and subsides after eating but it’s definitely more prevalent than normal.

But I am also one week out from my next period and tend to get pms symptoms similar to this.

Anyone have an experience with this?

I take 36mg of concerta. I took my regular dose yesterday morning when I woke up. Ever since then, I haven't been able to sleep. It's now the next day, almost 2pm and I've been up for 30ish hours. I was too scared to potentially mix strong drugs, and didn't have access to my phone to ask this sub, but at the end of the day, is it safe to take sleeping pills to help me get to sleep? Concerta gives me crazy insomnia, and I wanted to know if it's okay to mix the two. On the days I don't take concerta I take 2×2mg of clonazepam and 7.5mg of zopiclone.

The thing is, last night I was still feeling a very noticeable high from the concerta and wasn't sure if it would be okay to mix an upper with downers. I'm still very wide away today, but I'm thinking the concerta is out of my system by now, or at least is on its way out and I'll be safe to take my sleeping pills tonight.

But when I'm in another situation like last night where it doesn't feel like the concerta has worn off, is it safe to take my sleeping pills? Or is it better to not mix the drugs? My psych never mentioned anything because she didn't think I'd get any sleeping issues and that they'd be this bad. Like even now I'm jittery and energetic and wide awake, so I'm still not even sure if the pills are fully out of my system. If they aren't, is that normal? I read in parts of the sub that it usually lasts about 10 hours. What's going on?

i got diagnosed 2 months ago and was prescribed ritalin (40 mg: 10 x 2 twice a day). it was okay, but i wanted longer and smoother focus, so i switched to medikinet (40 mg) then to concerta (54 mg). the thing is, while other forms of methylphenidate were somewhat of a success, concerta is giving me nothing but annoyance.

im on my 4th week. so far i've got:

- mild appetite loss

- no focus whatsoever

- pissed off / annoyed at anything and everything

- the crash feels like a dark cloud is hanging above me for hours. agonizing.

- my mind picks a small inconvenience every night to hyperfocus and ruminate on

i started getting ritalin 2,5 mg as a booster so the nights are smoother now. but does this mean my concerta dose is too low or too high, or is this simply just the delivery method being wrong for me?

my psychiatrist said it's probably bringing out my anxiety so we should switch to attex or i should get an additional ssri or aripiprazol to help with it, but i'm honestly tired. should i push my luck or switch back to medikinet?

(i take my meds everyday. i dont have off days. i take concerta the afternoon when i wake up. i boost around 7 pm. no caffeine.)

I'm on day 7 of Concerta 36 mg after trying Adderall XR in the past. On the first day I felt very locked in for about 3 hours, but that effect faded after that. Now it helps me start tasks and I feel calmer, but I still struggle to stay focused. I still zone out, lose track of what I'm doing, and my mind drifts while I'm studying. For example, during a lecture I'll catch myself thinking about random things. If I'm being honest, I just feel tired most of the day. Does it help me focus? Maybe a little, but it's hard to tell. My appetite suppression definitely went away though.

My biggest issue is that I feel tired when the medication kicks in. I don't feel wired or overstimulated, just mentally and sometimes physically tired. I'll definitely discuss this with my psychiatrist before making any changes, but I'm curious if anyone else had a similar experience. If you eventually found the right dose or medication, did your experience start out like mine or do all signs point to increasing the dose?

i can’t stop cleaning oh my god does anyone else have this symptom

Like in the title, I didn’t notice any difference today. I had a coffee in the morning which I avoid during meds, then cycled with my child, shopping, playdate , working a bit.

I felt free from constant thinking about food, proteins, my water intake to avoid headache. I also wasn’t that hungry like I am on meds and I didn’t have to eat immediately.

I only feel more tired at the end of the day.

Anyone had a similar experience?

Perhaps the break supposed to be longer…?

Anyway, I’m coming back to meds tomorrow.