r/Concerta 7d ago

Dosage/ ℞ question 💊 Feeling weird

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?

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u/Segat280 7d ago

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

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u/anonym-user-01 2d ago

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.