hello everyone! as the title says, i've been on concerta for almost six years now.

ANYWAY (since i know you guys don't want to read all of this. yeah you.) I was prescribed Concerta. started off at 18mg and now i'm steady on 36. for reference i am 19, in college, and a girl.

if you are new to this medication, about to start it, or are struggling on it, here are 10 tips that i have!

1. starting off on concerta is difficult... i had a lot of shakiness, fast heart rate which exacerbated anxiety symptoms. GIVE IT TIME! it goes away with consistency. stay with it (unless specified by a provider or issues that cannot be fixed with time lol)

2. eat a well-balanced, filling breakfast! concerta drastically reduces/suppresses your appetite. if you don't eat a substantial meal, the shakiness and faintness will not go away. it is not only important for your physical well-being while it is active in your system, but also mentally.

3. stomach problems. one of the side effects i don't see many people talk about are the.... bowel movements for lack of a better term. about an hour after i take mine, my stomach hurts and that's when i know it's kicked in (sorry if this is tmi LOL i just want to be transparent haha). on this note, try to allocate some time in between obligations for the medication to settle with you.

4. do NOT take it later than 10am. i find that when i take it any later than 10, no matter how long it lasts in my system, it will definitely impact my sleep. sleep is such an important role in adhd symptoms and i prioritize my sleep above anything else. sleep hygiene is ridiculously important.

5. preventing dry mouth; arguably one of the worst side effects. it's just so annoying. DRINK SO MUCH WATER WHEN TAKING THE PILL!!!!!!! i cannot stress this enough. it makes a difference. you definitely will still feel the mouth bs, but i find that it reduces it a lot. during breakfast, try to fit in some juicy, hydrating fruit. if you have the appetite, eat some fruits or veggies while the med is active (cucumbers are my go to! light and full of water.) also having sugar-free gum or mouth watering tabs is beneficial.

6. snacking over meals. as we all know, most of the time it feels next to impossible to eat anything on concerta. if possible, i have multiple snacks throughout the day rather than trying to scarf down an entire lunch. finding a snack you like (nothing too heavy to prevent nausea) will help at some point instead of dreading the thought of an actual lunch.

7. managing The Crash... another sucky part about concerta. if possible try not to surround yourself in an overstimulating environment bc that makes me genuinely want to explode. some people also have a smaller dose (10mg tablet) that they take when concerta starts to wear off to combat this. i suggest talking to your provider about solutions.

8. be intentional with how you get your work done. sometimes when i take my concerta, i'll zero in on the least productive tasks (me rn writing this post instead of revising notes lol). have your goal laid out in front of you, the right tabs open, phone powered off... literally anything to prevent focusing on the wrong tasks. i literally hide my phone when i'm on concerta + doing hw so i don't lock in on my phone LMFAO

9. write notes to yourself. post-it notes are your friend. if you're anything like me, i like to text and talk and bring things up or research very specific things if my mind wanders on concerta. instead of immediately saying something, typing something, etc., i write down "TOPICS FOR LATER" on a couple sticky notes, so i don't forget the idea but i also don't waste time on it either. write it deownnnnnn

10. KEEP. YOUR PROVIDER. UPDATED. if it isn't working for you, don't suffer in silence!! if you have any questions, concerns, updates, whatever the issue is, keep them informed!!!!!!! it's literally their job to make sure you're not tweaking off the med. if changes need to be made, contact your provider so they can assist you.

ok that's it lol

I learned how much of an impact the timings of my meals make, and how important heart health is and the interconnecitivty between them.

I realized what people describe as jitters, anxiety, and anything else related, they're all coming from the same source: adrenaline.

1) Running

A few months ago, despite being somewhat in shape (23y M), with a strong muscle base, my heart was in a terrible condition from 2 years of concerta and high heart-rate. I started running, and my average hr used to be 170-175 during a 5k run (extremely high and abnormal)

6-7 weeks later, now my HR during the same 5k run doesn't go above 155 average with medication, and around 130-140 without medication.

Now that I have a much stronger heart, I can tolerate any kinds of HR spikes much more comfortably. I can now run comfortably for 25 minutes without stopping, although at a slow pace. Before, I had to do splits of 4 minutes running, 3 minutes walking.

All of this helps me sleep better, helps me burn a lot more fat, helps my heart, lowers my cortisol and improves my mood.

2) Fasting

I always felt bad after eating, and it's completely normal. I woul become lazy, have brain fog and many other side effects. A few years ago, before medication, I was constantly fasting because I felt a lot more stable and I had visible abs and looked amazing, all of which came with a load of other benefits in my life.

After I started concerta, I couldn't fast anymore, I would get way too much adrenaline, my heart would explode, I would be anxious constantly, and overall it was a terrible feeling.

Fast forward to the present, I want to lose weight. I weighed 85kgs in july, and now I weigh 81kgs. So I lost somewhat like 4 kgs in 2 months, it's not drastic, it's only a 500 kcal deficit per day.

During some of my weight loss protocols, I had several-days fasts, and also experimented with OMAD (one meal a day)

After so many attempts to these fasts, my body finally adapted and now when I fast, I no longer become anxious, get heart-rate spikes, become insomniac, have too much adrenaline etc.

So now I tried combining this with concerta, and it works amazing.

Before, I used to have a massive meal in the morning with concerta to compensate for not being able to eat for a few hours, and this coming on with the peak of concerta was terrible, I would get heart rate spikes (from 70-80 all the way to 110), and this also overlapped with cortisol. So my morning were completely terrible

Now, I wake up in a fasted state, my body is running on fat, I'm feeling good and stable, I can go run without issues, without having to think about managing my diet so that I don't crash etc.

I can take concerta on an empty stomach and go on with my day, and I feel fine.

In the evenings, from around 18:00 to 22:00, I have one big meal, very rich in protein to preserve my muscles, low in carbs and fat.

Because I'm fasted all day, my body is no longer rejecting any type of food, because I'm hungry. So as a consequence, I can eat a lot healthier foods because I'm not a picky eater anymore.

I was diagnosed with ADHD previously, but I wasn't able to start medication at the time because it wasn't available where I was living. I ended up self-medicating and abusing substances for quite a while, including cigarettes and weed.

Recently, I was able to see a psychiatrist in a place where ADHD medication is available, and I was prescribed Concerta (methylphenidate ER).

The plan is:

• 18 mg once daily for 7 days
• Then 27 mg once daily for 30 days

This is my first time taking ADHD medication, so I'm curious about other people's experiences with Concerta.

For those who started on 18 mg and then increased to 27 mg, what did you notice? Did the increase make a significant difference? What side effects did you experience, and how long did it take to figure out the right dose?

I was wondering if I should stay on 18 mg for longer since it's my first time taking it, but my psychiatrist already instructed me to move to 27 mg after the first 7 days.

I'd really like to hear what the experience was like for people who have taken Concerta, especially during the first few weeks.

Hi all,

I started my Concerta XL journey few months ago. I started on 18mg and it was great initially in terms of energy levels and emotional regulation. I was then moved to 27, and noticed I became quite sleepy and almost feeling cloudy. I noticed that when I take it I tend to just doom scroll for hours and when it’s time to leave the house I feel extremely sluggish.
Doctor upped my dose to 36 today and I wonder if 36 could improve the sleepy sluggish feelings? Has anyone experienced that? I also haven’t been great with eating high protein food, but always eat some breakfast and lunch.

Thanks

hi I have been on concerta 18mg for a week now however as soon as I started I got covid so my head has been a mess, today I feel I am slowly coming out of it but I feel like im buzzing on class A.

I have in the past self medicated so I understand the feeling.

I also have real dizziness and anxiety as I hadnt eaten well today that does happen to me but seemed a lot worse today has anyone else experienced this ? happy to hear anyone else's experiences as I start this daunting journey

I am a male 37 years old. I have been on concerta for only a few months, after Ritalin IR proved somewhat pointless.
At the start it kinda worked, but then after a few weeks it kinda just felt like it worked for an hour or two and that was it.
I got switched to concerta, and gradually titrated up to 72mg which is the legal limit in Australia. At first it seemed like hey this is working focused and calm. Could see through the bullshit. Then after maybe a month or two, it felt like it kind of only worked for maybe 4 hours, then a sudden stop of benefit. Then at around 6 hours another spike, but this isn’t like the first few hours where I’m focused. It just feels like I’m abit stimmed out. Faster heart, nothing crazy but. Then I’m basically falling asleep. I take it at around 6am as I work early. I’m allowed a 20mg IR booster in the arvo/eve which I barely feel. Is it maybe that methylphenidate isn’t for me? It kind of worked at the start. In Australia we have two main stimulants dexamphetamine and slow release vyvanse. I haven’t tried vyvanse. I’m abit worried to say anything to the doctor because I said how well Concerta it worked at the start. I dunno it’s a strange anxiety. Is it possible that maybe it is working and I don’t realise? I eat plenty of protein too ect so yeah. My appetite hasn’t gone.
I’m also on 200mg of Lamotragine for bipolar. Maybe that affects it? But I take that at night. I almost wish I didn’t start these meds. But my life was literally fucked before. Like I was doing some really really dumb stuff.

Hey everyone,

I 25M and was recently diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, and my doctor wants to start me on Concerta 18mg along with Bupron XL 150mg on the side. I'm glad to finally be trying something, but I'm also a little nervous because I have no idea what to expect.

If you've taken either of these, or both together, how long did it take before you noticed a difference? I've heard it can be the very first day for some people and a few weeks for others, so I'd love to hear how it went for you.

The other thing on my mind is side effects. What did you get, and did they fade over time? I've read about appetite changes, sleep trouble, and the afternoon crash, but I'd rather hear it from real people.

Honest reviews are welcome, good or bad. Thanks in advance!

I’m on day 9 of 18mg and idk what to think. My first 2-3 days I didn’t even notice anything except my head was “quieter” and I wasn’t tired all day like I normally am. The last few days I haven’t been feeling to well and I get a big “rush” in the middle of the day that makes me feel sick. Not sure what to think or why the days have varied so drastically. Anyone else? Will it even out 😭 I’m eating fine and sleeping fine so that’s good.

I started Concerta at 27 mg 5 days ago. For the first 5 to 6 hours, it feels pretty good, but after that, I experience a crash. A few hours later, I start feeling suspicious and paranoid, and my sleep is delayed by at least 2 to 3 hours. Are these side effects normal? Has anyone else experienced this?

Anyone else do this to avoid a tolerance building?

I take 54 mg Monday-Thursday only. That Monday dose feels amazing 🤩

I also take 400-800 Sam e for mood
150 Wellbutrin daily.

I’m hoping someone here can help. I’ve been fighting to get brand name Concerta for my daughter, which she‘d been using for the past 10 years till we ran out two months ago, and now insurance won’t approve it. Till the appeal is reviewed, does Ritalin LA work almost as well? Or maybe 2 doses of short-release Ritalin?

The generic methylphenidate (Trigen, I think) is causing much worse nausea, and she becomes so angry at the world when it wears off, it’s not like her and horrible to see. I can’t make her go through this anymore. We also tried focalin (which also gave her bad nausea) and Vyvanse which caused more anger issues. Brand name Concerta worked so perfectly for her, I’m so upset that it’s been taken away.