For Women with ADHD ADD Who Want to Connect

First Days on Concerta

I finally got a prescription to help me with this ADD and was so excited! I thought I was finally going to be able to get something done! I was prescribed Concerta to go along with the Wellbutrin I have been on for a week to stop smoking and possibly help with some of the ADHD stuff. Well I took my first dose of Concerta yesterday and didn"t really feel any different except for a buzz feeling in my head like I had had too much nicotine. I woke up at 5 am this morning actually feeling motivated so I took a Concerta and after about 20 minutes I decided to go lay down a little longer. I slept another 4 hours and am now writing this. Do I need to be a little more patient with this, what where other people's experiences when first on Concerta? I am feeling less fluent in expressing my thought through writing as well. Usually I can write and write.

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Permalink Reply by youseetherealme on December 3, 2009 at 7:03pm: Amy:
I am interested in the dosage of your meds as I take the same ones. Wellbutrin 300mg and Concerta 18mg. These are new to me I was jsut diagnosed a few months ago.I don't get a buzz feeling but do have more energy.(still feel "stuck" though. )I go see the Dr. tomorrow to reassess dosage of Concerta I. I'm hoping it will be increased. I don't get sleepy - but my experience with my kids and Concerta-when they felt like you do on it-it was too high of a dose. I am feeling more fluent in conversations-but never had the knack for writing.
Take care
Janice; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Heide on December 4, 2009 at 9:07am: It would be interesting to know how many mg you're taking of the Concerta. If you're feeling "buzzed" it might be a bit high for you or maybe Concerta is just not the right medication for you. My son (also ADHD) doesn't do well with it at all, we had to switch him to Medikinet (German drug comparable with Focalin and this works awesome for him).
I've been on Concerta for more than 5 years now on a fairly high dosage and I'm doing well with it. That means I make it through the day most days. I still have days, sometimes weeks when it feels like I can't get on my feet. So don't expect the "wonder drug". There's no such thing! I look at it this way: the meds just help you to "win" against the odds most days, where without meds I only "won" very few, which left me frustrated and demoralized.
I tried Wellbutrin, too for a while but it made me just majorly aggressive! I'm of anti-depressants all together now. Exercise works much better for me. Most of the time that is, because right now I'm in such a slump I just can't get my butt up and I'm pretty disgusted with myself right now. But I'll get out of it again like so many times before.
Don't give up! If Concerta doesn't work for you and makes you feel funny, go back to your Doctor and try something else. It is a long painful process before you find the meds that work for you!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Amy on December 4, 2009 at 10:00pm: I am currently on 18mg Concerta. One in the morning for the first 5 days then increase to two. We'll see. I felt a little more productive than usual so I'm giving it a chance. Thanks for the input!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by youseetherealme on December 5, 2009 at 8:32am: Does anyone taking Concerta experience any effects when it wears off? My Dr. increased my Concerta to 36mg-starting today. I am hoping for my energy to increase some more. I also need to take Imovane so I can sleep. Will this sleep distrurbance be temporary? I forgot to ask the Dr.-LOL.
I am benefitting from ALL the responses and comments. I feel I had been on a vicious cycle until now. I am more active and trying to wrk out an excercise plan now. My head doesn't feel
as "heavy" now that I am on Concerta.
I have to admit I was looking for a "wonder drug" but like Heide says, I am winning against the odds most days, am less frstrated and definitely don't feel demoralized now that I have been DX and take meds and because I now understand myself better- the way I am wired.
I am looking forward to all your updates in treatment.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Elis on December 10, 2009 at 4:27am: Hello. Sorry for my bad english i am from sweden. I am curenntly on 36mg concerta i have hade this for a 1 year. First i was in heaven i mange do do all my paper work and to clean my house and i also last some wheigt. But know i am like before concerta unfocused. I told my doctor and she prescribe 10mg ritallina and explainded that the contera tablett i from the beginnging made for cildren and thy are generly gooing to beed erlier while me as a mom must function to later at night. Ritallina works 4-5 hours so i take one tablett after lunch and some times i take one inte the morning and one after lunch. It keeps me gooing throw the day. The conterta is more slowly steady throwe teh day and the ritalna gives me a start kick so i get going.
I have a question. I fell that i get little nervus from the medicin. And sins iam a gennerly nervus person its bodering me a bit. Anybode have this experiens?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sarah Irvine on December 10, 2009 at 12:03pm: wow so glad to hear your doing well.. I am looking at changing meds so i am very interested to hear about your concerta experiences... i have good and bad days on ritalin and so i am finding that with the un predictability it is hard to know if it is working or not...

thanks for sharing sarah; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Elis on December 11, 2009 at 1:56am: My experiens is that ritalina is more fast and intense tha the concerta. So i recommend to have concerta as the base every day and when you need extra fous or energy you combinate whith ritalina. I going to increase my concertaa dose so i dont have to mix som much whith ritalina. I get less nervus and more continusis in my action with concerta then ritalina. But the ritalin is wery effectfull during the afternoon when iam normaly wery tierd an unfucused. I have to kids and work 60% and need to functien during dinner and beedtime. When i am by my self i only take concerta.

Sarah Irvine said:
wow so glad to hear your doing well.. I am looking at changing meds so i am very interested to hear about your concerta experiences... i have good and bad days on ritalin and so i am finding that with the un predictability it is hard to know if it is working or not...

thanks for sharing sarah; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Melissa on January 21, 2010 at 12:04pm: Diagnosed a week and a half ago (at 33 years old). Started taking Concerta 18mg once a day for 3 days, if no change up it to 2 a day for 3 days and so on. I'm up to 3 a day on my third day and really don't feel any change, but maybe a little more energy. I still feel stuck, dumb, frustrated and can't focus. Called Dr. today, he upped it to 4 pills for a couple days. If no change, I need to make an appointment to change medicine. Any suggestions on another medication?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lianne103 on February 23, 2010 at 4:44pm: I started meds about a month ago, first Adderol now Concerta, still no change :( I hope I will find something to help me!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sarah Irvine on February 23, 2010 at 5:53pm: me again!!! it has been since december since i "first" started concerta and it has made a world of difference!!! better than i had ever expected or could hope for!!!! I am up to 56mg now and doing well!!! You have to find something that works for you... it takes patience!!! just be patient and i think find a good doctor and or / therpist which is what i have started to do now!!! This is a personal journey for everyone and what works for one doesn't work for others...

sarah; ▶ Reply to This