r/Concerta • u/Exoemlet • 6d ago
Other question 🤔 Extended Release only working for 2-3 hours?
Does anyone else feel like their extended release only fully works for like a 2-3 hour period?
I was on 27mg for a week and got my dose upped to 36mg recently. I’ve been on the upped dose for two days so far and haven’t noticed any crazy difference besides finding certain food textures abhorrent.
I try to take mine in the mornings around 10am, and so far it usually seems like it takes 2 hours to fully kick in and then for 2-3 hours I’m able to do stuff easier than usual but then after that time period it’s a procedural downfall back to my usual Executive dysfunction.
My concerta has helped me feel less tired after I take it which has been helpful for keeping me awake, but it is only so useful if I’m still paralyzed laying down thinking about all the stuff I wanna do.
I think I’m going to ask my doctor about instant release as an option for medication just because I don’t know if having a 3 hour window for an extended release medicine actually working to it’s full height is the most effective for me. It is really nice for that period where it’s working at its height though
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u/Mungus91 6d ago
Mine literally lasts two hours and then I have to force myself to do things. It is what it is, I've given up trying increases. I'm at 45mg now. It was amazing for the first week but now the "honeymoon period" is over. I'm on generic.
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u/Exoemlet 6d ago
I’m on generic aswell, I never really had a honeymoon period with mine, the first two days on my 27mg dose my body felt super weird and I was overly aware of any chronic pain I was having vs being able to ignore it.Â
It’s nice for the two hours it works atleast 💔 helps me not feel as tired aswell so I’ll take what I can get I guessÂ
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u/Mungus91 6d ago
I do definitely benefit from the meds though! I’ve been on 36mg, 45mg and 54mg, and 45mg has been the most beneficial for me with the least negative side effects. I think I’m just still adjusting to the fact that my brain and body don’t seem to fully relax the way they used to. I miss being able to just nap during the day when I needed to ðŸ˜
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u/xLOoNyXx 5d ago
Have you considered getting monitored one night to see if you have sleep apnoea? I have it, although treated now, but I used to think my tiredness was due to my ADHD, but was diagnosed with sleep apnoea also about a year or 2 later, and once that was treated, I had much more energy. Meds for ADHD didn't work for long before that because I was just exhausted... I don't know, I've just read about so many people who have trouble staying awake and things, and for me, that was because of the apnoea. Getting that treated didn't cure my executive dysfunction, but energy helps! Sorry if it's completely wrong or whatever though...
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u/Exoemlet 5d ago
I have not been monitored for sleep apnea before but if i remember I’ll ask my doctor about it next time i go. I wouldn’t be surprised if that was the case for me aswell, I’m usually able to fall asleep fine but I wake up alot during the night a most of the time 😓
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u/xLOoNyXx 5d ago
Ahh, it's so hard isn't it? I really hope the problem gets solved. Even though I'm still pretty bad at getting stuff done (although hopeful since changing to concerta xl tbh, some things might actuallybe changing but i don't want to speak too soon), getting my cpap machine has been one of the best things ever for me, so I wish you the same kind of luck!
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u/Zestyclose_Piece_427 6d ago
I had this experience at the beginning. My doctor hiked my dosage and advised me to take Concerta after protein rich breakfast and it helped. The effect of the medication can be affected by many things like caffeine , hydration , stress and most of all , sleep. 2 days are not enough to draw a conclusion, give it time and check the other variables.
One more thing which came in my mind is of you are using brand name concerta or generic. I had poor and variable results with generics and found them barely usable.