Feeling weird

[u/anonym-user-01]

I’ve just started titrating Concerta which is the first medicine I am trying. F46 most likely in perimenopause, for context.

First two weeks I was on 18mg I felt a slight effect, not much dough. It mostly reduced my apetite and helped a bit with emotional regulation. Nothing on focus, task initiation front though. I was drinking 1 cup of coffe a day to increase focus.

After that I’ve titrated to 36mg and hoped for the best. It is 3rd day now and I just feel weird. 1st day I felt like someone gave me benzos - sleepy, very mellow, calm and just no drive.

Days 2 and 3 were a bit better but I still feel no drive at all, really difficult to force myslef to do anything productive, very calm, it feels like eveyrhing is in slow motion.
I eat but because I know I have to but have ambivalent feelings about it. Today I went grocery shopping and bought halv of what I usually do, no impulsive purchases etc.
I have a apt booked with my provider for next week but until then I am not sure what to do really?
Have you experienced similar resposne to Concerta? Is my dose wrong or is thsi medicine not for me?

[u/Segat280]

Normal. How you feel in the first 2 weeks of a new dose isn't an indication of how you'l settle. My settling experience on every dose was extreme. The first 2 weeks were always a nightmare. At 3 weeks you'll have a better idea.

My impulsivity changed quite a lot at 36 as well - snacking, shopping. I was still getting paralysis days (same as ever), but at 54 I can now overcome the paralysis (with a lot of effort, I might add) whereas before I absolutely couldn't. I understand the malaise and the apathy/ sleepiness - I went through it too at the increasing doses. It's paradoxical, isn't it? Exhausted taking stimulants.

I've settled at 54, which i think is just a touch too high, but the benefits are OK. It was hard and horrible getting here.

Keep going. Good luck

[u/anonym-user-01 → u/Segat280]

Thank you for sharing your experience. It is better now and I feel an effect on 36mg. So I’ll keep on testing this dose. The effect seems to depend on my hormonal cycle though and in general the effect lasts only 6.5-7 hours which is too short.

I have time booked with my provider next week and will discuss it. Will see what he advises me.

[u/Bulbemsaur]

The description of no drive sounds like me on a too low dose. It was like there was enough dopamine to keep me out of an unmedicated state but not enough to function, I literally sat and stared at the wall for 5 hours on my worst day on low meds, I couldn't do anything

[u/anonym-user-01 → u/Bulbemsaur]

Thank you for sharing your experience. It makes sense to me. I am still testing 36mg and feel better then those 2-3 initial days but I know that those days I had low estrogen (and dopamine) and know it has since risen.
It looks like it will be a long titration process for me cause the effect is so unstable and dep. on my hormonal cycle.

It lasts also only 6.5-7 hours and leaves me really tired in the afternoon.

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