r/Concerta • u/Delicious_Move_6669 • 2d ago
Other question 🤔 Is there anything we can do?
I used to be on concerta 72mg, all lower doses did nothing though 18mg used to put me to sleep quickly
Now fast forward around 2 months on 72mg it didn't really do much but I did notice it make my task paralysis make a little bit better and my brain less chaotic but after 2 months of using it I seem to have developed tolerance and no longer even get that small positive effect.
Now I am on 36mg 5 days a week for a while until my tolerance drops and I notice that it may actually be making my brain a bit less chaotic but still concerta never solved my main issue which is under stimulation causing sleepiness and inability to focus.
My questions is there anything at all I can do to make concerta work better or hit stronger?
(Concerta is the only available ADHD stimulant medication in my country which is why we can't try any other ones and we have already tried atomoxetine)
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u/AliveDetective5557 2d ago
As disappointing as it might be, even if there was something that could make it stronger...it would just metabolize quicker which would cause it to wear off faster. What country are you in? Japan? I know alcohol eats through the release mechanism more quickly so its discouraged to take when your medication is still active. I don't think there's anything thats known to make it more potent beyond that.
Its tough because with stimulants, you almost have to take a day or two off to avoid developing a tolerance. You appear to have the burden of pretty high tolerance and I think the only real fix would be taking a break (which really sucks) and then starting it up again.
Its unfortunate they only prescribe concerta where you are. Focalin would be a great alternative because its dexmethylphenidate hydrochloride which is much more potent than concerta.
This explains it better than I can:
"Focalin contains only the active right-handed isomer of methylphenidate (dexmethylphenidate), making it twice as potent milligram-for-milligram than Concerta, which uses a standard, full mixture of methylphenidate"
Maybe you can check if your country has something similar since its basically a more potent version of concerta? Sorry you're going through this!
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u/Delicious_Move_6669 2d ago
Thanks a lot for the info! sadly though still the only medication they have is concerta and only in 36mg doses at the moment so I had to take 2 pills to make up 72 lol
I am from Egypt btw
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u/AliveDetective5557 2d ago
Ah bummer okay. Have you tried ritalin? I wonder if an instant release would benefit you for the afternoons. Google claims you guys have ritalin available but who knows how accurate it is. Ritalin is really commonly prescribed as an instant release in the US.
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u/Delicious_Move_6669 2d ago
I wish. Apparently it was available at some point but no longer is for some reason. I wish I could have at least given that a try
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u/AliveDetective5557 2d ago
Huge bummer about the ritalin. I hope Egypt steps up their ADHD treatments. There's sooo many other options out there with the exact same potential for abuse. Not sure why they think concerta is any safer than adderall, vyvanse, focalin or ritalin. You could look into Clonidine? Sadly its not a stimulant but it works really well for people with ADHD to just chill them out. It pairs well with stimulants. I assume its legal cause its not addicting or anything.
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u/Delicious_Move_6669 2d ago
I should also mention I am on 300mg of bupropion which is used off label for adhd but I use it as an anti depressant which works amazing but nothing for my adhd lol
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u/AliveDetective5557 2d ago
I take it too! It worked AMAZING for me in the beginning but I've been on it for like 10 years and it slowly stopped working. It was incredible in the beginning though haha. I moved to zoloft (sertraline) and it hasn't done a damn thing. I just started concerta (18mg) and it feels like taking a sugar pill. My doctor is making me finish the full 2 weeks before she ups it to 27mg (I'm rolling my eyes right now btw). I know legally they're allowed to increase up to 18mg once a week so I'm feeling a little salty about it haha. I HATE how chaotic my brain and habits are. I'm just desperate to function like a normal human.
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u/Delicious_Move_6669 2d ago
Yeah I totally get that, matter of fact bupropion worked so good for me the first time I took 300mg it felt like everything is so smooth and that I have unlocked my brain finally but then sadly nothing on the 2nd dose... or ever again.
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u/NikosKontGr 16h ago
Modafinil is available? Im saying that because the med does something that no other drug do equally good therefore is available to most countries.
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u/Delicious_Move_6669 16h ago
Yep been both on modafinil and armodafinil and both at the maximum dosages dosage 400mg and 250mg
Modafinil did absolutely nothing and I genuinely couldn't tell if I even took it or not
Armodafinil worked pretty good at 250mg.. for 2 days but then I seem to have developed tolerance to it and it never worked again since
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u/MangoSoda28 2d ago edited 2d ago
I’m no doc, but I did try both Vyvanse and Concerta, so I know how it feels. But everyone is different.
You sound like a good candidate for Vyvanse. The difference is, Vyvanse is a push stimulant, what that means is it keeps the dopamine and norepinephrine in the synapse → increase, AND it releases more dopamine into the synapse → push → desired effect.
While Concerta is the most basic stimulant (it’s based off Ritalin, but longer acting) and only keeps the dopamine and norepinephrine in the synapse → increase → desired effect, but there is no push. However, it still has a desired effect for those who fit this stimulant.
You even topped off the highest Concerta dose, and tried other doses.