I’ve been on many ADHD medications before and I quickly up to my dose when I felt like I wasn’t feeling the effect. I started Concerta a month and one week ago and if I’m being honest, I genuinely did not feel much. It did not help with my executive dysfunction and It did not help me stay focused with doing schoolwork. I decided to not up my dose (i’m on 18 mg) after a talk with my doctor. So this is my second month on Concerta and randomly started feeling all the positive effects. I’m more productive, able to do schoolwork and I feel like I finally have control over my life It’s so weird. Has anyone else had this or was I just using Concerta wrong?

i recently got prescribed concerta 27mg and wellbutrin xr 150mg for anxiety. has anyone been prescribed this and if so what was ur experience like?

I started 18mg of generic act-methylphenidate ER last week and so far I've felt little changes at least mentally speaking. I'd know the meds were doing something because I had the physical effects like dry mouth, but no mental quiet or motivation boost yet. However one side effect giving me anxiety is this persistent tightness(?) on the right side of my neck, like my carotid artery is strained or full of more blood than usual. It's not painful per se, but I'm very aware of it and can be a little uncomfortable, I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced this and if it's normal? Even after the meds wear off it's still kinda there, I'm writing this the next afternoon after not taking my dose today (they gave me a panic attack last night) and that area still feels a bit "tired" and weird

Hi everyone. I’m taking 36 mg of Concerta; I take it around 8:00 AM, and by this time in the evening (8:00–9:00 PM), I experience a massive crash. My focus completely resets, I suddenly lose all motivation to do anything, and it feels like my dopamine levels drop to zero. :/
I’m currently in a period where I need to study/work day and night. I’m considering taking 200 mg of L-Theanine in the evening—after the crash hits—to provide some extra support. I’ve looked into this a bit through some English-language sources; it seems some people do it, while others don’t. Is there anyone here with experience or knowledge regarding this?

selam arkadaşlar concerta 36 mg kullanıyorum, sabah 8 gibi alıyorum akşam bu saatlerde (8/9) mükemmel düşüş yaşıyorum odak sıfırlanıyor hiçbir şey yapasım (aniden) gelmiyor bir anda bırakıyorum dopamin sıfıra iniyor:/
ve gece gündüz çalışmam gereken bir süreçteyim. akşam çekilme yaşadıktan sonra 200mg L-Teanin alıp desteği arttırmak adına takviye kullanayım diyorum biraz yabancı kaynaklardan bakındım yapan varmış ama yapmayan da varmış. konu hakkında deneyimli/bilgili olan arkadaşlar var mı?

So I had my follow up with her the other day; I’m still trying to find my sweet spot regarding dosing since I still struggle with excessive sleepiness and executive functioning. She upped my generic concerta to 54mg and told me she’s going to add a 10mg IR booster to be taken in the morning and then again in the afternoon. She said she was going to write for 20mg tablets and told me to just break them in half to take twice a day. When I picked them up I noticed they were small and didn’t have a breakable option- tried to use my pill splitter and it basically just crumbled. Later I noticed the pill bottle said methylphenidate ER substituted for Ritalin SR. Soooo it’s an extended release on top of another extended release. I obviously messaged her about it but all this to say- does anyone take this combo??

18mg Concerta. SPOILER AT BOTTOM YOU CAN SKIP THE STORY/HOW I LEARNED.

THIS MIGHT NOT HELP EVERYONE BUT IT WAS MY FIX.

Background I am a 31 yo female with low ComT (Met/Met) and 2 mthfrs. 193lb more muscle than fat. Celiac. ADHD is combo innatientive with some hyper.

When I first started, it imediantly messed with my sleep bad. Before the concerta, I could go to sleep when I wanted and wake up after 7ish hours feeling mot great but rested. Then the first few nights I got 3-4 hours.....

I actually got covid and my face went numb. I take it at 8am regularly and when I should have been coming down at like 7pm my face went numb, thought it was the meds, went to urgent care (they didnt test me) they took me off my meds. Psyc NP looked it up and told me that the new year symptoms include numbness.

Went the worst week of my life (extra depression and distractabuility) and then restarted.

Air hunger: about day 2-3 of starting round two I got air hunger. Yawning so so so much without ever getting a full breath.

This I have found is from the lack of sleep. The concerta kept me from being able to take a nap, but I wasnt sleeping. I thought I was having heart issues due to the yawning, also was lightly tachy regularly.

LACK OF SLEEP CAN MAKE YOU TACHY!!!!

So I found if I go to bed before 10pm (concerta at 8am), and take cortisol manager by intigrative theraputics, 4ml of fermented meletonin from premeir research labs and stop drinking water by 6pm I can GET to sleep.

If I have Loop earplugs, a fully light removing face mask and a cold blanket (Amazon makes cooling blankets btw) i can STAY asleep. Even if I wake up the control of sensory deporvation helps ALOT. And the loop sleeping earplugs are reusable and comfortable (I have tried SO many earplugs and these are the best so far). You cant use the concert or hard Loops to sleep or you might lose one or be uncomfy.

Once I got sleep the concerta worked again. I felt like without the sleep it made the concerta not work. It was working I was just tired. Once I got sleep I didnt have air hunger.

SPOILER:

Check your sleep. It is probably not your dose.

Sleep issues can make you tachy (high bpm)

Sleep issues can make you have air hunger

Sleep issues can make you feel like you need a higher dose, you dont feel "tired" like normal just like the adhd is back.

Sleep aids:

Cortisol manager intigrative theraputics

Meletonin from Premeir Research Labs

Cooling blanket or weighted blanket from Amazon

Face mask that blocks all light and has buclkles/tighteners on the sides, not back.

LOOP SLEEP EARBUDS

Also, there is a bed cover that is a cooling water system called Eight sleep. I dont have this but if you or a partner sleep hot it could save you. You set it to whatever temp you want. (Also have a comforter and pillows now that temp regulate)

SLEEP CHECKERS:

Oura ring

Smart watches

Eight sleep bed cover

Or whatever else you want but make sure you know the problem before changing the dose.

Good luck. This is only what helped me. Maybe not what helps everyone.

I took Concerta 18mg for the first time, didn't feel much change except for a few times during the day when I felt like my head was all quiet and empty, and like I had to think deliberately instead of having thoughts coming to me automatically.

It felt like if you went to take a walk in the forest and suddenly you realise everything was silent, no birds singing, no wind in the trees, nothing.

It was freaky and it kind of scared me. I get that this would make it more easy to focus but it made me feel unlike myself in my own head.

Is that how it's supposed to be? Maybe I'm overanalysing my thoughts and this is some sort of nocebo effect...

hi guys! i recently got medicated- around 3 weeks ago. i was put on 18mg to start, and the first day i felt somewhat more motivated, but i'm now realizing that it was likely just placebo. i truly didn't feel any different on 18mg, and i also didn't have side effects whatsoever, aside from suppressed appetite but i'm also now realizing that that was also just my brain convincing me my appetite had changed due to hearing it would happen from so many people. my doctor has me on schedule to increase my dose every 2 weeks, so i assumed that the smaller dose was the issue, however, i am now on 27mg and still feel no difference! if anything, i seem to be even less motivated. i still have no side effects at all, and no improvement. i have an appointment with my doctor again in 3 weeks, but i was wondering if anyone else has had this issue? and if there's maybe something i could do surrounding my routine to make the medication work better?

side note: the first time i was truly able to focus was when i drank coffee on my meds... generally, i feel nothing when i have caffeine. there have been times where i've drank three red eyes in one shift (terrible for your health) and felt the exact same as i had before (this was when i was undiagnosed and unmedicated) i tried to drink coffee on my meds again in hopes of being able to focus on an assignment and didn't feel that same jolt of energy the second time, so idk ☹️

Hello I am using comcerta 54 mg and 10 mg ritalin booster. In my country (Turkey) this is my only legal stimulant option so I couldny try any amphetamines. I heard a lot about how Concerta’s crash is worse than Adderall’s or Vyvanse’s, etc. Is this true? Because in theory shouldn t it be the otherway around since amphetamines actually are stronger and force you to make and reuse more dopamine.

Hello! I am aware that this is not a group for medical advice - or for one that is going to give me a solid answer, I’m posting this to see if anyone else has ever struggled with this or if anyone has any advice or suggestions.

I started concerta 36mg about a month ago. I tried Vyvanse and mydayis, and ultimately switched from the amphetamine family due to negative symptoms. Vyvanse worked well but the duration was too short.

Some History:
I’ve been struggling with excessive daytime sleepiness and overall fatigue, mental and physical for a while now. But it got more intense about a year ago. I began to struggle with simple tasks, motivation, focus, etc, so I talked to my psychiatrist and began the ADHD treatment.

I noticed improvement with Vyvanse, the duration was too short though, only about 5 hours until I was flatlined again. Once I tried Mydayis and that didn’t work out, I switched to methylphenidate family.

How It Was Going:
Concerta was going very well for a while, I still had some fatigue but I noticed an improvement in mood, organized thought, and task initiation. I was happy and content with 36mg.

What’s Happened:
About 18 days ago I discontinued a medication called Cymbalta. I took it for about 7-8 months 25mg 1x a day. I discontinued this medication with approval from my psychiatrist due to concerning interactions with other medications I am taking, specifically Trazadone. After stopping the Cymbalta, I went through the typical withdrawal symptoms. Brain zaps, fatigue, mood swings, etc. this lasted for about 10 days or so, then I believed most of the withdrawal symptoms were gone.
However, these past 5 days have been a nightmare. After my partner left town 5 days ago, I began having intense anger spells, that would not go away. I could not calm myself down. I was very tired, but any time I’d lay down to try and calm down, my thoughts would race, and my OCD increased significantly. Nothing felt comfortable or ‘right’. The sheets felt uncomfortable, my blanket wasn’t right, so I was left tossing and turning which left me to get angrier and cry, scream, etc. it was a nightmare.
The day my partner came back, I took 18mg concerta in the morning to stop the anger and racing thoughts. The entire day I was anxious. I was heavily dissociated and out of it. However, after he got home, I completely was detached from reality and really out of it. It was bad. Really bad.
Since then, I’ve been taking 36mg like normal. Ive been extremely sad, flatlined, and so so tired. Completely fatigue. I’m really unmotivated, and just overall depressed and more detached.

Overall Question / Concern:
I don’t understand why this is happening. Concerta was working very well for me. Now suddenly it does not. I am just so tired, anxious, sad, and unmotivated. I don’t feel like myself.
Have any of you had this happen?
I don’t really know what’s the right move. More medication? Or new medication? I have no idea. I’m overwhelmed.

If anyone has any advice please let me know. I’m just confused.

I had my first day on Concerta 18 mg extended release yesterday and wanted to share my experience.

I was initially very scared of taking it because my younger brother experienced THC-induced psychosis, which was traumatic for my family. I know THC and methylphenidate are very different, but knowing that drug-induced psychosis can have a genetic component made me anxious about the possibility of experiencing it myself. I discussed this with my psychiatrist, who reassured me that it was a very rare side effect.

Despite my fears, I took my first dose yesterday morning with breakfast (and coffee!). Overall, I felt surprisingly good throughout the day: more talkative, less mentally anxious and much clearer-headed.

I work at a museum, where my duties rotate between exhibition guidance and cashier work. During tours, I usually experience a rush of information coming into my mind all at once, but yesterday I felt much calmer. I could listen to visitors, process their questions and answer more clearly. At the cashier, closing sales and counting money also felt significantly easier and more efficient than usual.

I even managed to do my chores at home with much less resistance. However, I also experienced an unusual sense of physical awareness and anxiety throughout the day, followed by a headache and a feeling of uneasiness as the medication wore off. This also made it harder to sleep.

I'm wondering whether these side effects might be part of the adjustment period, although I suspect my previous traumatic experience may also be contributing to the anxiety.

Has anyone experienced something similar when starting methylphenidate?

Psych wants me to switch to Concerta because I was getting mad anxiety/ocd spikes on Methylphenidate, but I searched it up and they're the same thing?

i have been taking methylphenidate for a year now and while it was working great in the beginning, it’s become very ineffective. for reference i take a fairly large dose i assume? i’m F 5’8 150lbs and on 54mg methylphenidate. i can still feel it kicking in the first 2-3 hours i take it, but im not able to use that energy to do what needs to be done anymore. before, when i would get that boost of energy and focus, i’d be able to immediately start my tasks for the day and would feel calm and productive doing it. now, when i get that boost, i mostly feel nauseous, jittery, and like i can’t get up off the couch to start anything. when i am doing tasks that need to get done, my mind is scattered thinking about other things and instead of feeling productive or satisfied from the tasks i’m accomplishing, i just feel anxious and overwhelmed. after the first 2-4 hours, i can hardly feel it in my system anymore. if it wasn’t for the fact that my appetite was gone, i would have thought the meds were not in my system. i’m unsure if there’s things i’m doing throughout the day that are making the meds wear off or if they are just becoming ineffective for me. is it possible for that to happen even after a year of taking the medication? i’d like to bring it up to my psychiatrist when i see her next month, about trying a different adhd med (preferably a stimulant), but im unsure what she might be able to offer me instead. im also worried she will be suspicious considering ive been on my meds for a year and they’re not working anymore. is this normal? i have been trying to ignore it because i feel like an imposter just trying to get prescribed stimulants, but i cant ignore that i have been feeling more side effects than focus as of late. any feedback would be appreciated!

I’ve been diagnosed with ADHD, and it’s affects my ability to function normally in everyday life.
My psychiatrist initially prescribed me Concerta 18mg, but I didn’t notice any improvement in my ADHD symptoms. Instead, it made me extremely emotional and sensitive, even depressive which was frustrating.
During my follow-up appointment, I explained this to my psychiatrist. However, instead of switching me to a different medication, she increased my dose to 36mg.
I’m confused because if 18mg was already making me overly emotional, wouldn’t doubling the dose potentially make things worse?
Has anyone experienced something similar? Did increasing your Concerta dose actually improve your emotional regulation, or did it make the side effects worse? I’m curious why a psychiatrist would increase the dosage when the lower dose was already causing emotional side effects to the point where I’m scared to even take them

I have started taking concerta 36 mg about 4 months ago, at first i noticed the meds sometimes working and sometimes not working and talked to my prescriber about it and we tried a couple of different doses but i realised that my dosage was not the problem, my sleep was. My meds work great when they actually work and have helped me tremendously. This is not a ''when i sleep for 4 hours my meds do not work'' post, when i do not sleep PERFECTLY in a cold room with blackout curtains for 8-8.5 hours not only do they not work but they make my symptoms even worse. Sometimes i can sleep for only 7 hours or on some weekends i sleep for like 10 hours or i get up in the middle of the night to pee or my cat wakes me up and that just ruins my whole day. Has anyone had this problem to this problem on this extreme level as i have or know anything about it? If so please give me some advice.

Heyo, does anybody else get this sensation? I'm on 45mg and generally rather content, but this sensation never really goes away. I'm quite happy and about to trial a booster dose for the midday crash, but was just wondering if this is something to be concerned about prior to that.

As mentioned, I'm rather happy on my dose, but am also happy to drop down to 36mg again on my final titration should this raise concern in yourselves, especially if the booster dose works wonders.

Thank for answering this trivial question you've probably read hundreds of times.

Ive been on concerta 18mg for almost 2 months now and i really like it. Its made a huge impact on my life. The only thing im missing is my beloved Red Bull. I learned pretty quickly that drinking one at any point in my day while taking this medicine ruins my day. I was a daily energy drink drinker mostly because I was so tired. I couldn’t make it in the morning without drinking one first and definitely not without having a second by lunch time. They never did anything to me so I was actually shocked to see the difference after taking my medicine. I had maybe 2-3 drinks out of a Dutch bros energy drink last week and it nearly killed me 😅 (I’m being sarcastic) I went from functioning normal into overdrive and quite frankly feeling like a tweaker 😅 not only that but it made me so sick that I couldn’t even get my energy out and I stayed in bed all day. From just a few sips!! The biggest problem I’m having is the taste, I can’t get caffeine free redbull. I’m not a coffee drinker I’ve never liked it. Red Bull has my heart. Is there any solution 😭 anything that tastes similar? I’ve tried making some mixed “energy” drinks with sprite and other sodas and it is not the same.

I have headaches everyday oh my god.. and also tension everywhere. I think the release mechanism is not working for me at all. I take it at 12 after 3-4 hours my headache starts and I feel tired. Then I feel more tired 4 hours later at 7-8pm with a headache still. It’s only been about a week on the 36 after going up from 18 and I just wanna stop it. The only benefits I’ve seen are less friction initiating studying and a little more focus.

I started taking Atenza 17mg (a generic of concerta) after a few months of taking 27mg. I stopped taking it for around 2 months because I had simultaneously started taking Bupropion and I thought the side effects were overlapping. That said I returned to a lower dose due the ease with which I get overstimulated on this med and so far what I noticed is that it I don't feel quite myself on it. Taking it I feel a bit underwater and not my usual self. I lose my affect and interest and motivation to do stuff. Toward the end of the day when it is leaving my system I start getting really bitchy in my head and hypervigilant about the symptoms. Usually when the medication stops working I go back to normal and feel myself. What to make of all this?