| Rating | Reason | Side Effects | Comments | Sex | Age | Time Taken
and Dosage | | Date Added |
  | | | | F M | | | | |
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| 2 | ADD ADHD | anxiety,General feeling of being late, extreme focus, sudden interest followed by sudden disinterest, Complete inability to deal with people. | I hate my Concerta I hate taking it I hate not taking it. When I first started on it around 12 it helped my ADHD and my grades shot up. I also started to have problems socializing I only had 5 or so friends at an age when most kids are friends with all the kids in there grade. once I reached 8th grade the medicine had pretty much become my way of life. Up until 8th grade I really did not really notice that my medicine made me unhappy, in 8th grade I started to be interested in girls, but since at this point out of my five friends 3 of them I only talked to in school, and the other two where as socially uncomfortable as me. I never had the chance to really hang out with people or go to parties or do anything most kids did. I realized the meds were holding me back but I really did nothing about it. Then when freshmen year came around I started having more pressure then I could handle alone ( at this point I only had one good friend left.) I stopped doing my homework after school and instead would just kill time focusing on one hobby until it no longer interested me and move on with in a month to a new one. Since I was not doing my home work after school and the meds in my head demanded I get it done some time I started taking it before beds o I could not sleep and I would do my home work at around 3 or so in the morning and then to stay awake during the day I would double or triple my dosage. then repeat until the weekend. I remember one week where I had a lot of projects I did | M | 17 | 5 years
108mg 1X D | | 7/27/2010
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5 | ADHD/Schizoaffective | NONE | Concerta helps me concentrate. I also take the Concerta with Wellbutrin SR and I can concentrate and remember things a million times better. | F | 22 | 5 years
54 MG 1X D | | 7/26/2010
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| 3 | ADD and have depression | im not too sure of this medicine, the first day i thought it helped..i actually slept fine and had a great appetite..i thought that was strange cuz i heard you dont eat and sleep..im not sure why my body has reacted this way.2nd day was the same and the third..now i feel up and down and cant even concentrate..i cant read things..this is why i went on the meds....someone please help me figure this out | i dont understand this meds..they said if u are on your period it wont work?? Someone please help me, im a single mom have 2 daughters with health problmes..i really neeed to get my life together for my girls | M | 27 | 6 days
36 1X D | | 7/17/2010
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| 5 | behavior problems in school | Never hungry, the first day on it he just started to cry, I asked why and he just said he wanted to play with his friend. And that's not like him at all. i just drove him across town to play and he was fine after that. | I care for my younger brother who is 6. He will be in 2nd grade this September only by the grace of god. Had 35 re-furls this school year and 25 for kindergarten. I had to do something. The meds make him say he is not hungry and I know that's not like him.He is a husky boy 4ft 5in and 95lbs, I just pack a really big lunch with extra snacks and juices so he has more choices. I also let the teachers know he may not want to eat when everyone else does, but just let him sit quietly and eat when he is ready.He says it's his thinking medicine.so far so good. | M | 6 | 4 days
18 mg 1X D | | 7/16/2010
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| 5 | ADHD | Trouble going to sleep | My daughter has ADHD, we have been on other meds, concerta gives her control of herself. She says she is able to concentrate in school better and is more comfortable in social settings. It actually helps with OCD and other aggressive behaviors. To help with her sleeping she takes 3mg of meletonin and 2.5mg of clomindine to help her sleep. Works like a charms she will sleep for 8-10 hours and feels rested in the morning. Our experience is not enough sleep can effect her ADHD, no matter what meds she is on. She and we feel she is more herself when she is on it, because she can control her behavior. If zombie effect happens, we lower the does, especially from school year to summer, when she may not need to concentrate as much on task work. Our thinking is, you should always smile and laugh, if not, we need to adjust the meds, which we have done many times! | F | 10 | 3 years
54mg 1X D | | 7/14/2010
| 5 | ADHD | Slow weight gain, but helps control weight. Loss of appetite while the medicine is working. Difficult to sleep at night sometimes if I didnt take the medicine early in the morning. Wake up in the middle of the night because my body needs food and nutrition that it is not getting during the day because of the medicine. Keeps me positive, focused, and level-headed. | I love this medicine. I have been taking it for 8 years and now, even as an adult, I do not wish to stop taking it. The days that I don't take it I feel depressed and unfocused and I eat constantly. The medicine helps me to stay concentrated. I graduated high school with a 4.0 GPA. I am doing great in college and have high expectations for the future. I know that without this medicine, I would have dropped out of college by now and would have never made it this far. | F | 19 | 8 years
72 MG 1X D | | 7/12/2010
| 2 | adult ADD | Fatigue, stomach pain, nasuea, irratibility | It worked mildly for my ADD. I was able to complete tasks, however, I feel exhausted all day but cant seem to fall asleep at night. | F | 25 | 30 days
36MG 1X D | | 7/11/2010
| 1 | adhd | Depression,headache night sweats, hopelussness, dry mouth, zombie feeling | Awful, not helped | M | 15 | 3 days
45 1X D | | 7/9/2010
| 5 | Adult ADHD-Inattentive Type | Loss of Appetite without feeling sick (GREAT), Brief increase in energy on the first day. Rest of the week, meds seem to have worn off. | I think Concerta is great! I was started on the low dose, doc says he wants to monitor BP in 3 weeks and see where we stand. The first pill I took I could feel it going to my brain, like a burning sensation up the back of the neck and skull, haven't had that feeling since the first day. On the first day on this med, I was manic but in a good way. Tons of energy, talking non stop and cleaned my room spotless which I haven't done in over 6 months. I was also hyperaware of everything. Second day, the effects weren't nearly as noticable, in fact, I don't feel it the same way anymore. I hardly feel anything to do with the meds. It does however continue to take it's toll on my appetite, which is fine with me because I gained 40 pounds over two years thanks to my thyroid gland. After it was removed due to cancer I gained another ten. I had no idea I had ADHD until I did some research and the symptoms fit. I love this med only wish I could feel it like I did on the first day. Going to talk to the doctor about upping my dosage. | F | 29 | 8 days
18 MG 1X D | | 7/8/2010
| 4 | ADD | Slight headaches, loss of appetite, | I'm not angry all the time now and when I do get mad it isn't nearly as big a deal as it used to be. I can now follow a project through from beginning to end. I used to start a project, leave it unfinnished then start another. I had trouble finishing anything I started. I am now getting things done around the house after work and on the weekends. I used to spend a large portion of my time watching TV, surfing the net. | M | 49 | 30 days
52 1X D | | 7/7/2010
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| 2 | adult add | Dry mouth, jaw clenching, aggression, lowered libido, desire to smoke/drink, high heart rate, night sweats/difficulty sleeping. When not taking it on the weekend I experience panic attacks and listlessness. | This drug does help me be productive and definitely fights the desire to nap during the day, but I find the side effects intolerable. I'm specifically concerned about the high heart rate and aggression. Although it allows me to work on a task, I am definitely less creative and much less "big picture", to the point where I occasionally will work on something irrelevant all day long. I think I need to find another way to discipline myself without the drug. | M | 33 | 30 days
18 1X D | | 7/7/2010
| 1 | adhd | It's taken me 15 years to fully gauge the effect of this drug on my life from adolescence to adulthood. What seemed like minor side effects as a child (social awkwardness, anxiety, staring into oblivion), turned out to be warning signs of lasting effects on my life as an adult. With the stimulants I achieved a 4.0 GPA both in high school and in college, and found a high paying dream job on Wall St.
But on the flip side, the stimulants have robbed me of my happiness. The anxiety is incessant. It has destroyed my romantic relationships and left me socially dysfunctional. I can't maintain romantic relationship, don't speak to my family anymore, and don't have any close friends.
I've found that that "distant stare" that we get with the drug isn't just a funny side effect. Your mind is thinking so much (stressing about some minor detail) that it stops using those instinctive/emotional pathways that make you "human". As a consequence, when interacting with othe | I would encourage parents trying stimulants on their children to take a deeper and more thoughtful look at what's happening to their child on the medication. GPA is an easy thing to measure, but emotional development isn't. Ultimately, it's the latter that will govern meaningful happiness, not the former. | F | 30 | 15 years
18mg 3X D | | 7/7/2010
| 3 | ADD anxiety | head aches. intense insomnia. loss of appetite. | at first, (the first few days of taking) it made me feel like i was high or something. After a month or so it started to help me schooling which i really liked! but later, about 3 months, it started causing me to not fall asleep until about 3am. Currently, i go through the night tossing and turning until about 4am. I am an extreme athlete, competing at international tournaments, and concerta's sleeplesness affects have killed my game. | M | 16 | 4 months
1X D | | 7/6/2010
| 3 | lack of concentration, agression | over thinking, aggression, can't sleep, can't eat, over emotional, sits for long hours playing with legos and never makes anything. | Seven year old son couldn't concentrate in school, couldn't sit still, couldn't follow directions. Now he is a zombie. Rail thin to the point I can see his rib cage. Won't eat. Sits for long periods of time "thinking" over things. Taking him off. | M | 7 | 1 years
36mg 1X D | | 6/23/2010
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| 5 | adhd | loss of appetite, mood swings, aggressiveness | My 9 yr old daughter is on 27mg and is now doing really well in school. We/She are very proud of her accomplishments. She is now able to stay focused in class, homework, day to day life,... She was losing weight at the beginning but now with a high/healthy calorie diet she is maintaining her weight. Recently she missed a dose and by the end of the day she was acting very differently, she was screaming for no reason,... I was told it was withdrawl to not miss any doses. Now I've been noticing other behaviors even without missing any doses. She has been fitting alot with her younger sister and just a couple of weeks ago started being even a bit violent. Anyone experiencing this too? I'm really rethinking this, nervous about the long-term effects. | F | 9 | 6 months
27 mg 1X D | | 6/22/2010
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| 5 | ADHD | A bit of itchiness and a tad insomnia. | The benefits of taking Concerta have been tremendous. They're quite subtle but I'm able to 'be in the present' so to speak. Much more control over my thought processes and impulsivity. Feel like I am virtually 'centred' again so to speak. Miraculous medication that is sure to add value to my adult life. | M | 30 | 7 days
36mg 1X D | | 6/20/2010
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| 3 | ADD | dry mouth, shaking, jaw tension, social awkwardness, irritability, depression as drug wore off, increased tobacco cravings, anxiety and nervousness, loss of appetite. | As long as I was engaging myself in some sort of nonsocial activity the more severe side effect didn't really bother me. I have trouble socializing with people while on concerta and become extremely irritable around them. | F | 20 | 2 years
54 1X D | | 6/18/2010
| 4 | Adult ADHD, and OCD | Nausea as the medications wear off, loss of appetite (yet gaining of weight), increases severity of already common migraines, non - social, skin picking, anxiety. | Concerta has helped me the most out of all the stimulant drugs i have been placed on ( Ritalin LA, dexamphetamine, Ritalin), mainly because it has helped me focus on one thing at a time and improves my ability to actually get out of bed. I was self medicating with illegal stimulants before this and they tried other meds as i listed above and i continued to use drugs until concerta. Since i started Concerta i have felt no need to use drugs because it gives me the focus i need, and i find the extended release system works better than with other long acting stimulants.
Of course it has some negative side effects, like loss of appetite, headaches and it messes around with my blood pressure but for me it has more pros than cons. It also helps a lot with my obsessive compulsive disorder it seems to clear my head and stop the obsessions.
| F | 21 | 4 years
54-70mg 1X D | | 6/16/2010
| 3 | Adhd | Im very chill without the drug, in class i never talk and just stare of into space. first couple days i was off the wall! jittery, shaking, constant talking, need to learn,ive been playing drums for many years, always a very good drummer, since ive been taking the drug i can barely keep a beat! As soon as i started taking the drug burning sensation at tip of penis, sexually active std tests are negative. Anxiety, Blurred vision, insomnia. Weight loss. Numbness of hands, and lips. | The plusses are i feel more alert,remember to brush my teeth and get ready for things. hopefully my side effects go away soon. | M | 15 | 24 days
54 (mg) 1X D | | 6/12/2010
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| 1 | i was getting made to | dizzyness, headeac, i wud just sit there like a zombie n cudnt even function propaly it took my hole personality away it didnt help me learn at all in fact it made me dumer n just like have to put my head down n close my eyes i cudnt talk to anyone n i still cnt even tho iv been off it for 2 years it is not somthing u wnt to put ur children on you will destroy there life as much as it destroyed mine. i had 2 mates who killed themselfs becuse of it n it has made me wanting to kill my self every day of my life even tho im off it. i am never able to hold a convo that last even more then 5 min now even tho befor i went on this shit drug i was the one who wudnt shut up now as much as i try n talk to people it is impossible for me | I AM TELLING YOU NOW DO NOT PUT UR CHILDREN ON THIS SHIT TRUST ME I SAID NO AFTER BEING ON IT FOR 9 YEARS HOW MUCH IT STUFFED UP MY LIFE I HAVE NEVER BEEN THE SAME PEROSON I USED TO BE AFTER BEING ON THEM UR A HORRIBLE PARENT IF YOU PUT UR CHILDREN ON THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | M | 17 | 9 years
68 1X D | | 6/7/2010
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| 3 | ADD | Its my 11 year old son... He took the pill once and came home that night after school and he was like a zombie and he said he had felt dizzy and sick all day | My son now refuses to take the medication So I guess it's back to the drawing board..... | M | 11 | 1 days
27 1X D | | 5/29/2010
| 2 | ADHD | Dry mouth, leading to bad breathe, suicidal thoughts, intense irritation, hyper focus, increased hearing tolerance, social awkward, dizziness, head aches, stomach aches, twitches, very intense heartbeats the the point where I could see my stomach beat through my shirt, shakiness, no tolerance, cold hands and feet, over thinking, depression, loss of eating completely, didn't have to eat for days, paranoia, intense insomnia, crying. | I originally took concerta because of my lack of focus in class. It made me extremely focused and I got very good grades but, after a while I started to be a zombie and became a person who didn't talk and just worked. I lost all of my personality, never felt right, was self conscious, and never knew what to say. I also could not handle stupid comments. Any kind of joke or any person who is in any way annoying would make me flip out. I also could not sleep until it wore off which was around 2 oclock at night. Eating was not even an option and became too skinny. Always paranoid for what I had to do. In class I sweat excessively and always smelled bad. When I got home I felt alone and nothing could ever make me happy no matter how hard I tried. I also felt weak and thought I would fall down when ever I would stand because of the dizziness and weakness in my body. | M | 17 | 3 years
2 36 MG 1X D | | 5/28/2010
| 1 | ADD | In all fairness, I only tried it twice. Felt edgy, nervous, rapid heartbeat (quite scary). Woke up with a headache. The medication did nothing to make me concentrate because I was so worried about the side effects. | Unfortunately, I can't recommend this medication. Way too many side effects for me. | M | 52 | 2 days
36 MG 1X D | | 5/27/2010
| 4 | ADHD | im not really sure to be honest, i have experienced some headaches over these past few days, but i guess thats it. im taking lexapro at the same time with concerta, so im not really sure which is making the difference. | I was diagnosed with ADHD last year (im 22). All my life, since i was a kid, as far i remember it was pretty hard to concentrate at school, even listen to the teacher was like, really?. I def was a mess at school, and grades could show that. I started taking concerta 2 months ago (after moving from strattera) and can really say i feel much better now, more enthusiatic with stuff i need to do, alot more positive with things, etc, etc etc... def since im hiperactive, this is a good thing for me. | F | 22 | 2 months
52 1X D | | 5/26/2010
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| 3 | ADHD | | I have experinced weird ways of thinking and what I call hyper focus, its when you get so instensly focused on school work that you feel like you are using it as an escapism from dealing with real life. Smoking pot and being on concerta is not a good feeling I would recommend against it, drinking on it is not to bad but you get really tired the next day. If you plan to do Ecxtasy you have to take more then you would orgionally think, and do not do it while on the concerta. I feel that sadly smoking ciggarettes all day even thought it makes me tired helps me focus with my ADHD sometimes better then the concerta sometimes worse. I wonder if smoking cigarettes while being on birth control and concerta is bad for my heart though? It says alot that if you smoke you should be careful taking birth control and concerta is a stimulant too, so it concerns me but I feel like there are no other options for what I can do right now. | F | 17 | 9 years
40mg 1X D | | 5/25/2010
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| 4 | add/bi-polar | loss of appettite, blurred vision, dry grainy eyes | i can handle the loss of appettite, because i feel this medicine is already helping. but the blurred and grainy eyes have got to go! anyone else have this problem? | F | 36 | 3 days
56 mg 1X D | | 5/22/2010
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| 1 | ADD | Rage,anxiety, loss of appetite,stomach ache, rumbling noise in stomach, crying, moody wanted to kill myself. This drug should be off the market. These are the symptoms after 2-18mg dose...in 2 days Horrible.Horrible and frightening for any parent or child taking the meds | Doctors should take it themselves and experience it before prescribing it to patients. | F | 18 | 2 days
18mg 1X D | | 5/13/2010
| 3 | ADHD | After returning to 108mg (2 days ago) after 3 weeks of 54mg, I notice headaches, dry mouth, crazy insomnia, razorsharp focus, loss of appetite, anxiety | Without concerta, I feel like I'm wandering around in a fog, with it, I feel totally juiced (this may be a result of my very high dosage, which I am looking to lower ASAP). The biggest thing I've noticed has been insomnia. I've been able to get maybe 3-5 hours of sleep for the past three nights after trying to get 8. I ran a 10K today and am unable to nap. I lay down and work as hard as I can to stop thinking and let myself drift into sleep, but my mind continues to race. My focused is increased, yes, but I am so anxious (side effect of the drug itself or the mental fatigue brought on by insomnia, I'm not sure) I spend all my focus and energy trying to keep my thoughts in control. It feels like someone's strapped a jet-engine to a tricycle. It's too much power to control for me, but I'm fairly certain this is because of the very very high dosage I'm on. The mental fatigue and anxiety mixed with the enormous amount of mental firepower is like putting a howitzer in the hands of a drunk man.
Like I said, I plan to lower my dosage. I fear this will cut down on my raw mental horsepower (I took the ACT twice. I forgot my pills the first time and got a 28, the second time I remembered them and scored a 34), which is really scary. This is an exceptionally powerful drug. | M | 20 | 8 years
108mg 1X D | | 5/2/2010
| 5 | ADD | I cant sleep if it hasnt worn out yet. | I love it. I went from almost failing school to being a wicked good student. It has changed my life I now know what is going on in school. I used to come home and not know anything I learned in class but now I remember everything and am doing good in school.But as soon as it wares off im useless I cant do anything. | F | 18 | 4 years
72 1X D | | 4/29/2010
| 1 | ADD | Felt nothing at all | I was diagnosed in 2005 with ADD and started on Ritalin. It worked ok but nothing to do cartwheels about. I was off everything for a while and things progressively got worse. I also suffer with BI-Polar II and Major Depression mixed with anxiety and insomnia and RLS. Together this has all made my life miserable. I have felt nothing since starting the Concerta. I don't feel any desire to do anything. I don't feel like I can absorb anything just like before starting it and have no organizational skills that I once had!!! I don't know what to do...... | F | 39 | 6 days
54mg 1X D | | 4/27/2010
| 3 | ADHD | I am experiencing some insomnia issues and I might be noticing a change in my impulsive nature, and finally I believe my desire to constantly eat everything all the time is going down. | I have not noticed and sexual side effects which is important and I have also not experienced any headaches while on the 18mg dose. Although I am concerned about the long term effects being aggregate. | M | 33 | 4 days
18mg 1X D | | 4/26/2010
| 4 | add | insomnia on higher doses, little "rushed out" at first, dry mouth. | This drug does the trick. I think most people dont give it a chance because of the initial reaction. Its a central nervous system stimulant, so obviously its going to give you a bit of a rush which might lead to some initial anxiety...... If you start on a low dose and work yourself up, you will have no problems with this medication..... give it time like anything else. | M | 29 | 4 months
54 mg 1X D | | 4/21/2010
| 5 | ADHD | Slight headache in the morning, somedays slight anxiety in the evening as the medication wears off. | This medication has changed my life. I have spent my whole life feeling guilty that my house, car and office is messy. Since taking Concerta I am able to focus on these tasks to completion. All my responsibilities are taking care of. This has enabled me to start to save large amounts of money for retirement, follow up more closely on my child to help keep him on track and to carry my load around the house. My guilt has diminished to nothing and I feel accomplished. | F | 38 | 3 months
54mg 1X D | | 4/18/2010
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| 4 | ADHD | depression agressiveness Irritability unusual saddness anxiety sudden crying loss of appetite | i am 12 and a straight A student and I ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | F | 12 | 6 years
36 MG 1X D | | 4/15/2010
| 5 | Adult ADD | Increasing tolerance over time and mood swings upon quitting "cold-turkey." Reduced desire for sugar/carbs resulting in minor weight loss. Much deeper and more refreshing sleep at night. No more nodding off during the day. Insomnia only at higher doses (not surprising, as I'm only 115 pounds). | When I was *finally* diagnosed with ADHD at age 20, the first time I took it I had a sense of clarity that I describe as "putting on glasses." Instead of walking around in a fog and being constantly distracted, I could focus with a clarity I never experienced before. I finally realized what it meant to feel normal. I've been off and on Concerta over the years and nothing compares. It's the reason I made it through college and now am on my way to graduate school. It doesn't cure bad habits, however, so you must learn to modify your behavior such that you can harness your newly aquired ability to focus. Absolutely no violent or suicidal thoughts, but these have never been an issue for me with or without meds. | F | 27 | 3 years
27mg 1X D | | 4/12/2010
| 3 | ADHD | I was just changed over to Concerta. I haven't started it but always come to this website as I start a new drug. | I work in healthcare and believe in patient feedback. I am disgusted to see people post on here that they had no idea that the drug could cause suicidal thoughts, depression, anger increased anxiety and tics. How could any of you say you didn't know. It's on the pharmacy printout, the insert with the drug and ALL over the internet. Most ADULTS who are trying Concerta have tried other stimulants. The side effects are all the same. The suicidal thoughts and thoughts of harming yourself are the same for ADHD meds, SSRIs, MAOIs and Tri-Cyclics. DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!! It's ok to record your side effects, but to say you didn't know is just ignorant. READ THE INSERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! KNOW THE SIDE EFFECTS and LOOK for the SIGNS. UGH, unless you're illiterate there's no excuse!!! | F | 35 | 0 days
36 1X D | | 4/9/2010
| 5 | Adult ADD (NOT AD/HD) | GOOD-Deeper sleep, less cravings for sugary foods (Yes!), less fidgeting, better focus and patience with my kids, more even temperament, less obsessive habits, less alcohol cravings.
BAD/ADVERSE- somewhat dry mouth, feeling dehydrated at times, headaches when the weather changes (rain, temperature) occasionally | I was 38 when I started on Concerta 36 mg, and am now 40. FYI- Body weight has a huge influence on dosage- I'm 6'4", 220 lbs.... down to 27 mg/day after I lost over 20 POUNDS from not craving sugar- I had a dependency for carbs and starchy foods due to the effect sugar has on the brain-it helps people with ADD/ADHD to concentrate temporarily- but now Concerta does it, (for hours, 6-9 on average) WITHOUT THE CALORIES!!!
The whole world seemed to 'calm down' within 15 minutes of my first-ever dose, and I haven't looked back. Communication with others is now even-paced, the day doesn't seem so short and rushed now, and socially I'm WAY more effective. Problem-solving is now clearer and more detailed, without the panic or fear of not finishing the job...sound familiar? Also-I was the "life of the party"-whether people wanted me to be or not- before Concerta, but the difference is now I can involve myself socially with half the effort, and still have an awesome time!!! And in all honesty, and without overstating it, Concerta saved my marriage and my relationship with my kids. I now have the patience to listen, and not obsess with my own thoughts and compulsions taking over.....I told my siblings and family about this, too- ADD/ADHD is an inherited trait, and it definitely runs in the family, so get involved, and GET TESTED!! ADD is not a bad attitude, personal failure or weakness on your part- it is an INHERITED, PHYSICAL AFFLICTION within your brain, and it is n | M | 40 | 2.5 years
27 mg 1X D | | 3/23/2010
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| 3 | ADHD | Works perfect...then I just started having massive crying spells and suicidal thoughts. I have ADHD but I am not depressed or anything. It's really bad. I am gonna stop taking it immediately. | | F | 32 | 8 months
36 1X D | | 3/23/2010
| 3 | ADHD | leg and neck pain, vomiting 2 different times for a few days, stomach ache every day, loss of appetite, going to the bathroom all the time, coughing | Concerta definitely helped a 10 year old with school work and behavior but stomach problems took over her life. She has been off concerta for 2 weeks and her stomach is still bothering her. | F | 10 | 3 months
18 1X D | | 3/23/2010
| 5 | Concerta | None | At first I couldn't concentrate and my grades were very bad, now I get A's and B's all the time. I play sports and I feel pretty normal, I don't know if I will change my dose much when I start to get older but, so far so good. I haven't had any side effects but, If I see some I will talk to my Doctor for sure before changing anything. | F | 13 | 1 years
18 mg 1X D | | 3/16/2010
| 3 | ADD | weight gain, depression,severe anxiety, suicidal thoughts, self harming thoughts, break downs, mood swings, aggitation | I have been on concerta for 5 years i believe its one of the worst things that have ever happened to me, i have to see a therapist due to anxiety caused by the drug. somedays i even take a "vacation" from the drug just to be happy. I feel the effects have caused me life long damage, emotionally, mentally, and physically. | F | 15 | 5 years
54 mg 1X D | | 3/11/2010
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| 3 | ADHD | Increased concentration. Rage. Facial tics. Increased anxiety. | I've gotta say that this drug has helped me concentrate more (it is like rocket fuel), but frankly, I don't know whether it's entirely worth the trade off. I was taking 54 MG a day for a while and it was making me incredibly irritable, rage-prone, and wildly anxious. It also had a strange effect of giving me a series of facial tics. I've reduced my dosage to 27 MG every three days or so and that seems to work. But look, THIS DRUG BUILDS UP IN YOUR SYSTEM so the effects are aggregate. I can't take it every day, but tapered to once every three days and it seems to be fine. I'm alarmed at how angry this drug made me when taken regularly. It's irresponsible for providers not to make their patients aware of this, I think. | M | 37 | 8 months
27 1X D | | 3/10/2010
| 3 | | Body pain and weight loss | My 7 year daughter has been put on Concerta about 8 months ago. She is taking a dosage of 27 mg and is doing very well in school. We had issues when she was first put on the medicine, like mood swings, emotional behavior, nausea, etc. Most of the symtomes had gone away except for two. Body pain and weight loss. Once every one to two weeks she complains of her body hurting, she gets pale and withdrawn. It breaks my heart to see her that way. Then it goes away until the next time. Has anyone experience body pain, if so what do you do about it? | F | 7 | 8 months
27 mg 1X D | | 3/7/2010
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| 3 | for ADHD | moodyness, i feel really cold | so i was diagnosed with adhd this year and i started with 5mg of ritalin twice a day, then gradually bumped it up all the way to 15 twice a day 10 at night. When i started on ritalin i was really depressed and i felt like i had tunnel vision. slowly it got better i realized a half hour after i took it i had extrmeme focus but i didn't like the imbalance with my moods it created by taking it 3 times a day. i just started 36 mg of concerta
i feel no difference, i feel pretty normal. | F | 17 | 1 days
36 1X D | | 3/2/2010
| 3 | ADHD | Weight gain, depression, anger, Being more emotional, easy tears, some minor suicide toughts | been taking ritalin for some years, last years on concerta | M | 15 | 11 years
54 1X D | | 3/2/2010
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| 3 | ADD | Headaches, dry mouth | I have only been on ADD medicine for 3 weeks, although I have noticed a slight difference, I think I have to up the dosage. I go to the doctor today. I do seem to be suffering from headaches on a daily basis. Not sure I like that. I wish I could experience a little weight loss too! I guess I will see in the next three weeks. | F | 37 | 3 weeks
18 mg 1X D | | 2/23/2010
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| 3 | | extreme focus, loss of appetite, my back began popping and cracking(in the spine) and intense pain followed and now that i'm off of the drug it still persists. | i think something in the drug has caused some trauma to me physically. | F | 23 | 2 years
36 mg 1X D | | 2/22/2010
| 3 | ADD | Facial ticks- Eye blinking, grinding teeth, weight loss. violent
melt downs. | My son began with 18mg and I noticed an immediate change in his behavior and ability to focus and listen on tasks. He even stated he felt happier but that he had a hard time holding it together on the way home. He felt "wild." We increased his dose to 27mg and he felt better during the day but after a week the eye blinking started and the melt downs at night. Of course he's lost weight too so we weigh him daily since he's rail thin. | M | 7 | 3 months
27mg 1X D | | 2/18/2010
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| 5 | ADHD | Loss of apetite - I'm obese and this is a great thing - I can eat normally again. No more binges. | Started taking it when I was 15, stopped when I met my future ex-husband who said I was more fun when I didn't take the medicine. He convinced me to stop taking it, but it wasn't doing any harm. Then my life went down the toilet, which had a lot of factors, but I believe I wouldn't have made such bad decisions had I been on it. Now I'm 27, getting my life back together and I am not exaggerating when I say that I believe Concerta can save my life. | F | 27 | 14 days
36 1X D | | 2/17/2010
| 2 | ADD | weight loss, extreme loss of appetite, paranoia, depression, feelings of isolation, worry, anxious feeling. | ive gotten way better grades in school, but the side effects have gotten worse and worse. it take the pill at 7AM and until about 7PM i can't eat anything. no food looks appealing enough to eat and i have to literally make myself eat. i feel myself drifting away from my friends unintentionally. the side effects are not worth the good grades. friends>A's in school. | M | 17 | 6 months
27 MG 1X D | | 2/12/2010
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| 4 | BP 2 (possible AdHd) | loss of apetite-some kind of mild headache. | C. makes me calm,focused in a good way. C. has not the slightest resemblence of "street amphetamines" (yes,been there..)
Made me able to connect with feelings and thoughts i`ve denied for years-slowed down and lined up my thinking just fine.
Puzzling experience though..
I guess 36mg would be sufficient dosage,if diagnosed with AdHd.
| M | 44 | 14 days
54 1X D | | 2/7/2010
| 4 | ADHD | Extreme anger, thoughts of suicide occasionally, loss of appetite, anxiety, depression, i become socially awkward, I have lost a few friends because of this recently. Twitches, stomach pains, memory loss, awful headaches every day. But my grades have gone up substantially and thats the most important thing.. So.. It is worth it | | M | 16 | 2 months
| | 2/2/2010
| 1 | adhd | tardive dysk | | F | 25 | 3 days
| | 2/2/2010
| 3 | ADHD | Insomnia, social anxiety, racing heart beat, bad breath, lots of focus though | After reading these comments, I've realized I share many of the same effects of concerta. When taking it, I can focus and get all my homework done but I just SUCK at talking to girls when on the medicine. To counter this, I started drinking and getting wasted at parties to get rid of my barriers but this is no good. I can't sleep either, I sit in bed with my mind racing and not being able to relax. This medicine has a love/hate relationship with me. Lastly, I get suicidal thoughts when taking high dosages, this is not fun and makes me really depressed. | M | 19 | 5 years
| | 2/1/2010
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| 3 | adhd | wanted to smoke more! I feel real caffinated. But I am more focused. | | F | 36 | 2 weeks
| | 1/26/2010
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| 3 | ADHD | Headache, some loss of appetite, moodiness, crying, extreme anger, some dizziness | Trying Concerta to see if the side effects were better than another drug. I've only been on it for 4 days (3 days at 18mg, then today at 36mg). Today the anger was almost uncontrollable. Started wondering if it's the meds. Have seen some improvement in attention and focus, but not a lot. Doc says I'll probably need 54mg. I'll give this med 2-3 weeks, but if the anger remains, I'm going back to Vyvanse. | F | 46 | 4 days
| | 1/23/2010
| 4 | ADHD | Loss of appetite. Possible memory loss? | My son started taking concerta a yr. ago. Huge change in his behavior. He is able to do work in class and homework. In the mornings and late evenings when the pill is not in his system he has a huge appetite and doesn't stop eating. I have found food and wrappers hidden in his bedroom recently that he sneaks, when I ask about them he has no idea how they got there. He is an amazing kid on and off the pill, a little harder to control off the pill. Takes him almost 2hrs. to get ready for school in the a.m. I have to motivate him with tv. in order to get him ready faster. He lies a lot about brushing teeth, cleaning his room,etc. | M | 7 | 1 years
| | 1/14/2010
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| 5 | ADD | When I first started on this medication, I had a hard time for a couple of days dealing with anxiety like symptoms. (heart racing, manic sorts of feelings, the need to "go go go!") But after about a week I was feeling soo much better | Every medication has a different effect on each individual, and they always take a bit of time to get used to. For me, this med has been a life saver, it's made things so much easier for me. If your doctor has mentioned this med, take the ratings you see here for face value. Not every drug will work for every person, and if its not for you, you can stop taking it. | F | 19 | 6 months
| | 1/13/2010
| 4 | ADHD | None really one day i accidently took it twice i couldnt eat lunch but almost any pill will do that. | I reccomend it. I really noticed a diffrence. I honestly believe that many of the side effects listed by others are some what in there head. I know many people like this, they will freak out about everything and think they need a pill for every single diffrence then when they take the pill they will freak out and feel like they have been imbalanced and start having stuff like anxiety attacks. I believe that these type of people need to quit taking most medication and seek help until they can set aside their unstable state of mind. However if you are a normal person i think you will be extremely satisfied with this drug. | M | 17 | 2 years
| | 1/7/2010
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| 1 | | Tachycardia, increased insomnia, loss of appetite, bad cramps, aggravation, etc. | I'm on 54mg and honestly, it's ruining me. I don't eat until around 9 or 10pm, and even then it's just a few bites. I recently saw a new doctor and she got extremely worried when she counted my heartbeat. It beats at a terrifyingly fast rate and I can feel my pulse when I'm sitting normal, not doing anything. As if my insomnia weren't bad enough, this makes it worse. On a good night, it takes me at least three hours to fall asleep. I also never had cramps before starting this drug, now they're near-unbearable. When I don't take the drugs, my friends comment all day, "I -love- you without your meds." I generally hate doing things when I'm on them, but I love things off them. I -hate- these drugs. If you're considering them for any reason at all, -don't-. You will hate what the drugs make you. | F | 17 | 3 years
| | 1/6/2010
| 3 | ADHS | Lose of Appetite, can't sleep. experiencing pain in the knee. dry mouth and bad breath | my son has been taking concerta for a year now. I noticed that he loses weight and he lose hi appetite and now he is complaining a pain in hi knee. Though Concerta help him more focus and behave in school. Im just worried of the side effects. | M | 8 | 1 days
| | 1/3/2010
| 1 | ADD | Depression, Social Isolation, Suicidal thoughts, loss of appetite, weight loss. | I am currently 19 and have the most structured life of anybody I know. I can't hangout with girls unless I drink, I haven't dated a girl since freshmen year of high school before i started taking concerta (I use to date many girls) and I'm never happy, the only time I'm happy is when I drink. I currently am contemplating suicide, this pill controls my entire life. I hope the drug companies are happy they made their billion dollar industry by making people act as if they were a robot. Sure my grades sky rocketed but in the end, I would rather be a college drop out than a successful person with money and suicidal thoughts. I have no personality when I am on my pill, the only time my personality comes out is at night when I drink, and its a belligerent personality. I would trade anything to have never been prescribed to this drug. Drug companies control everything | M | 19 | 5 years
| | 1/3/2010
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| 3 | ADHD | My 7 year old son started taking Concerta about 9 months ago and for the last few days has been getting very emotional over the littlest things, and tonight he started having a big anxiety attack thinking that today was Friday and that yesterday was Thursday and when my wife and I started trying to explain what day it was he became very Inconsolable and there was just no getting through to him. This has probably been the worst side effect that we have noticed, the other is we weren't giving it to him on the weekends just because it just isn't him when he's on it but as time went on we had to raise his dose and the higher the dose the harder it was to handle him on the weekends without it. We decided to start weekend doses about a month ago and now the weekends are great because there is no fights or bad listening, but he also doesn't seem the same it always feels like his head is in the clouds so at this point I am at my wits end especially after the meltdown tonight. My poor little | Also the medication has helped him in school, and his teacher hasn't said anything about abnormal behavior just that he can out read anybody in his class. | M | 7 | 9 months
| | 12/31/2009
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| 3 | ADHD | weight loss, dry mouth which led to horrible breath,anger outbursts, increased perspiration,hyper focusing, | I loved being able to concentrate, and the weight loss was an unexpected side effect. However, the way I treated my family was not worth it. I would rather be scatter brained and keep a messy house than be thin and bitchy all the time. Also my sister started taking it in the past 6 mths, ( to lose weight), she has lost many relationships because how it causes her to behave. | F | 32 | 2 years
| | 12/28/2009
| 1 | ADD | Rage, extreme anger, Suicidal thoughts, depression | My son had been diagnosed with depression and ADD. He took the Concerta one day and went into a full blown rage. He was like a different person. We ended up having to hospitalize him for suicide threats. Later he said that he was focused only on his problems an couldn't think of anything else. We will never use this drug again. | M | 16 | 1 days
| | 12/17/2009
| 2 | ADHD without theHD | | Hello Lisa,
I stop taking it all together. I really need something, but sense I loss my Job I wasn't able to see a doctor. Now that I'm back working I'm going to see if I can get on something else or lower the dose that I was taking. Thanks for your question.
Eric B. | M | 45 | 8 months
| | 12/9/2009
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| 3 | ADD | The first day I took it (18mg - at around noon), I was up until 3am because I was so wired. I had to wake up at 6am when I took another pill and functioned normally all day. After a couple weeks, I noticed this unreasonable anger building inside. I spoke to my doctor about it and he upped the dose to 36mg I believe. He told me that the beginning dose was to get my body used to it more gradually and that the anger was to be expected since the 18mg is usually a dose prescribed to younger kids. I have been on this medication for about 3 years now. Slowly, at the max does of 54mg, the anger is returning and I assume that it is because my body is becoming acclimated to it. Also, after all this time, I am noticing that the stimulant effect when I first take it is virtually non-existent. I've also noticed that I have become further anti-social (pre existing personality disorder traits are being amplified ten fold). | I am considering going off this medication because of the type that it is (stimulant). I dread the thought of what I will be like as I go off of it and replace it with Stratera (which is a non-stimulant that works in about 70% of patients). I was previously on Ritalin, but it wasn't working for me. | M | 36 | 3 years
| | 12/8/2009
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| 3 | ADHD | Extreme loss of appetite until knocked down to lower dosage,Zombie like states all throughout the day, small insomnia, no twitches or ticks, when i work out extreme loss of breath, when i was taken off of it for one summer gained 20 lbs in 3 weeks then lost it all again during the length of school. | | M | 14 |
| | 12/8/2009
| 4 | Add | Sleep wierd patterns, light headed sometimes, onn off side effects i feel kinda high occassionaly ,anxiety sometimes. I am still a slow test taker, its not that i dont know the material, its like having to look through files in my brain for every question | Okay i have been on add meds for seven years and im 15. Concerta for atleast 3 years. Side effect have varried alot for me. I have learned if i dont eat breakfast and take my meds i get sick. I get headaches (may be unrealated we can blame it always) it works (concerta) 75% of the time. But i noticed also that i am now dependant on it. I sometimes physically cant stay awake if i dont take it in the morning. Its like my eyes cant focus enough to say open. I've tried pinching myself, counting the bricks on the wall but i cant stay awake. I instantly feel better after i take my meds. I may still be tired but i can stay awake. I use to be quite the insomniac (pardon my spelling) but now i can fall asleep whenv ever i want because i am more tired.
I am also kinda addicted to caffine. ( idk if this is realated but its 1am and i am add) i can go without for a week if i choose but i feel like im depressed if i dont have some(caffine). I need it after school when my meds wear off. | F | 15 | 7 years
| | 12/7/2009
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| 4 | ADHD | headache, weight loss | it seems that many of these comments come from users or parents of users who are very uninformed about how this and other ADHD medications work. also its important to be aware that if there are other mental health problems simultaeously occuring one might have much more dramatic symptoms. if someone who was bi-polar was put on concerta he would most likely become manic, irritable, sleepless, and have pronouced mood swings.
personally, it has worked well. you must be mature and self-aware enough to notice when you are being irrationally irritable or not eating properly. if that is too much to ask then it seems silly to be on this drug. | F | 25 | 8 years
| | 12/5/2009
| 1 | My son DID for ADHD | He developed insomnia, loss of appetite, Tics, aggression, depression, withdrawn, and short term memory loss....THIS DRUG HAS ONLY BEEN OUT 8 YEARS NO ONE EVEN KNOWS WHAT THE LONG TERM AFFECTS CAN BE | This is one of the drugs we are going to see on TV in 15 years saying if you or anyone you know took this drug call.....My son is only 9 now and thank god I took him off concerta when I did! Since then I tried herbal medication and changed his diet but it didn't help. I recently put him on 5mg of Aderol and he is now a A/B student and he is happy. | M | 8 | 20 months
| | 12/3/2009
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| 3 | adhd | none | none | M | 40 | 2 weeks
| | 11/28/2009
| 4 | Difficulty focusing (ADHD?) | lose of appetite, dry mouth/throat, jaw tension, rapid heart beat, and a temporary weird pain on the upper right hemisphere- it doesn't hurt, it's just weird | I am taking 18mg
Positive: it allows me to focus and i was able to stay seated for almost 8 hours doing research (of course I occasionally got to use the bathroom, make something to eat/drink). i don't feel tired, it keeps me alert and i agree that it helps you think about things more thoroughly- i seem to write better reports, essays, poems etc because the external noises seems blocked out so i'm less distracted. i can get into a (literary) groove and stay there until the task is complete.
Negative: seems like lose of appetite is the recurring side effect mentioned (thank god it's not just me). actually, i get very particular with what i want to eat i.e. i'll want to eat only the tomatoes in the salad so i concur about having to force yourself to eat everything. i get dry throat and feel like i have to keep drinking liquids or i'll feel dizzy. sometimes i get this weird tingle or pain on the upper right hemisphere, it doesn't hurt but i get paranoid. i also get a rapid heart beat which really scares me but that goes away after a few hours-so i recommend staying away from caffeinated drinks. my jaw tenses up a lot. i also find that i have less coordination/stability for certain things i.e. typing, lightly brushing concealer, painting nails, zipping up my boots- which is not a big deal-just something i notice. probably because i feel so anxious to get things done on concerta that little things that require more detail are a bit of a challenge.
hope this helps. | F | 23 | 5 months
| | 11/24/2009
| 5 | ADHD | In beginning major appetite loss. Then hungry about 9pm on.
I must make a concious effort to eat properly. It has been worth the extra effort! Ive only lost 5 pounds in 3 months. | Misdiagnosed! Professionals always told me I had ADHD but it was never addressed. Until a few months ago. I've done well in business/personal. Hard on family. Life(within me)hasn't been enjoyable, nor satisfying. I lived for crisis and problems to solve "BUT" life & people bored me. Everyone was on relax mode. Boring! My mind raced! I never completed what I thought I should. For 25yrs, Ive been told, I am severely depressed. A physician, asked to treat the ADHD. Its Concerta! I started at low dose and went up to taking, 54mg 3 x day. Very high dose,other physicians were consulted. It works a max of 4 hours. It keeps me calm! I can now finally relax! I can actually do one thing at a time! I can talk to a person, and ONLY focus on them! My depression has lifted. I no longer feel guilty for not doing more. I feel I am accomplishing what I think "normal" persons should. Now my mind and body are one. I'm greatful! Life is awesome! My family likes the results. | F | 50 | 3 months
| | 11/18/2009
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| 5 | ADHD | insomnia if taken after 8am, lack of appetite, weight loss, extreme appetite when not taking it, annoyances with friends | About a month ago, my psychiatrist prescribed me concerta, and so far so good. my GPA had been going up, i dont feel so out of place while with others, and i have been losing weight(GOOD, for me, someone who is overweight) I feel like it doesnt make me have to pay attention, but now i have the option to be able to focus on work | F | 16 | 1 months
| | 11/5/2009
| 4 | ADD | LACK OF SLEEP, better focus, thinking before I say things, sometimes bad breath, severe anxiety, and tons of worries. | I started taking concerta when I was 7, and I started out at 18 mg. Since that time I have bumped up on dosage to 54 mg as my weight and height increased. When I started the drug it completely changed my life. I thought more about what I was doing, and I did not just say things that popped into my head. I learned a lot better and quicker, and now maintain a 4.0. Concerta is great, until you try and go to sleep at night. Laying in bed, I will have severe anxiety and worries to the point where I cannot even fall asleep at night. Some of the things that I worry about are very unreasonable. I feel like I cannot stop my mind from slowing down at night. I usually do not fall asleep until around 2:00 a.m. even on school nights. It's so frustrating. When I worry, or have severe anxiety, I will start out with a small worry, and then over a period of 5 minutes be worrying about a whole bunch of things at the same time. My mind will be racing like it's going 60 mph. Like I said before, Concerta changed my life, but note the side effects before taking it. | F | 16 | 10 years
| | 10/29/2009
| 3 | ADD | Lack of hunger, spaced out feeling with too many thoughts, and muscle tension. | I have been taking Concerta for quite sometime now and even though people complain that it doesnt work...they should really take into account that the dosage could be wrong. I learned at least with my own body that you have to adjust yourself to the medication. The first week I started taking it I ate almost nothing for a whole week. I lost twenty pounds. I alerted my doctor, she lowered the dose and my body evened out. You really cannot say weather or not this medicine is working for someone based on their behaviors. THEY have to decide that on their own. Trust me they can tell if they are behaving differently. Concerta helps you think things through more. If someone wants to commit suicide or play with their hair or anyother behaviors that doesnt mean that the Concerta isnt working or it makes them think through it more. It is still their own decision to act on those thoughts. Be patient talk with your doctor and see what other possibilities are out there. And PARENTS talk with your kid about what they are feeling and thinking. Dont assume and dont judge. Medicines like this are serious so talk to your kid in a calm mature manor. Any questions feel free to ask. | M | 19 | 3 years
| | 10/28/2009
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| 1 | ADHD | side neck pain, headaches, not hungrey, sad, then really angry | My son has been taking this medication since June 2009 I know its NOT working!! He twists his hair, he seems very very depressed does not sleep. I am having a hard time because my ex thinks its working and does not belive me that he has these side effects... I know as a mom regardless what the doctor says its not working for my kids....there has to be a more natural way...I know is messing him up more down the road......I feel helpless :( | M | 10 | 6 months
| | 10/27/2009
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| 4 | ADHD | flushing of face, headache, nausea, loss of appetite, listlessness after it wears off. | 36 mg. improved concentration in the morning & afternoons most days. some days it seems like i haven't taken it. super motivated to do things (homework, etc.). just hanging out at a friends house seems excruciatingly boring now. | F | 16 | 2 weeks
| | 10/19/2009
| 4 | ADD | headaches "36mg" | The usuall side effects of concerta that I have experienced, "insomnia, decreased appetite, social isollation, etc", within my first week were generally mild and has practicly subsided after the second week. I now have entered my 4th month and started recieving strange headaches. The pain can be described as a "preasure feeling" on top of head and the particular sensation is quite painful and can last from a day up to 3 to 4 days. The pain sucks, but overal, concerta 36 works very well, helps with my music, work, tough college courses and I'm extremely satistfied in it's possitive direction. | M | 20 | 4 months
| | 10/11/2009
| 1 | ADD | listlessness, loss of interest in anything, unable to sit down for any period of time, delusional thoughts | Although I was dealing with other things in my life, I believe that Concerta is what ultimately led to my psychotic break. I started at 36 mg, and from the first day I took it, I couldn't sleep at night. My racing thoughts kept me up for hours, and I couldn't stop thinking crazy thoughts in my head. During the day, I felt robotic. I couldn't hold a conversation with any of my closest friends. I would walk from room to room in my house, and completely forget why I was there. I showed no interest in tv, books, or the internet, three of my favorite activities. I completely isolated myself, and was terrified of going back to school. My heartbeat was so rapid, I thought it would burst out of my chest. I stopped taking it after a week, and the awful side effects remained. I returned to school, and a week later I landed myself in the psych ward, and had to take the semester off. Eight months later Im myself again and perfectly happy, but it took me a long time to get to this place. I would not recommend this drug to anyone. I temporarily lost my mind, and in my opinion, Concerta's not even worth trying it if it means risking your sanity. If anyone is experiencing any similar side effects, and would like to vent or ask questions, feel free to email me at lad66@pitt.edu. | F | 20 | 7 days
| | 10/3/2009
| 4 | adult ADHD | Slowing down of pretty much everything - this is a good thing// times stands still/ I walk/ drive/ talk more slowly/ at work I don't bark out orders like I used to/ difficulty sleeping - getting to sleep or falling back asleep if awakened/ no appetite/ increased sweating/ cold intolerance/ less desire for wine/ slight weepiness but I think at this point it's just being able to take so much more in - it's a bit overwhelming how much I didn't notice before. | My son was diagnosed with ADHD and started on meds at age 8 over a year ago - he's a tiny kid to begin with so the appetitie supression is an issue but he's up to 27 mg and it has helped sooooo much with school/ social/ hockey// he has some occasional inexplicable sadness and rare angry defiant outbursts but these happened before meds and were much worse. I was diagnosed simply by having a son who was just like his mom, and I finally decided to try the meds. I am a nurse practitioner. It's too soon to predict anything long term but for now I'm impressed and I understand my son much better. As well I am so much calmer with him so there have been NO arguments with him since I started meds - insert lightbulb moment here. I'm on 45 mg. I think the trick is to just slightly undertreat rather than overtreat to avoid the side effects. It's not an easy thing. | F | 45 | 8 days
| | 9/25/2009
| 3 | adhd | stomach pains, constipation, missing a lot of school | I dont know if it is the concerta, but my son has been having severe stomach pains then feels like he's starving at night and eat for a couple of hours straight. we have to force him to stop eating to give his stomach a rest. We were told that he was lactose intolerant but we took him off milk products and he still has this problem. Now im wondering if the concerta is causing digestive problems because he doesnt eat anything them gorges himself for hours. If anyone else is having this problem please e-mail me at paul.arnold@cox.net im going to take him off concerta this week and see what happens even though his dr. insists its not his problem | M | 10 | 3 years
| | 9/25/2009
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| 5 | adhd | Sometimes dry mouth. | Concerta has changed my life. I am very productive at work and now function in a variety of environments. Getting starting on and completing a project is now possible. Overall ability to focus has provides a nice sense of control | M | 53 | 6 years
| | 9/24/2009
| 3 | Adult ADHD | Sleepiness, cloudy thinking, slow motion feeling, over sleeping in the morning on 36 mg daily | I have tried taking the generic version of 10 mg adderall previously and got horrible side effects, so I was prescribed Concerta and don't really feel it doing anything except causing sleepiness and slow motion feelings. Has not affected my sleeping at night at all like it says it does in the side effects. I take it at 7 a.m. with my breakfast. | F | 26 | 2 days
| | 9/22/2009
| 3 | ADHD - Seve leaning disability | SUICIDE thoughts! I am thinking like that right now!!! weight lost, memory lost and increased anxiety. 36MG 8mos now. Want to be isolated from people. | sense being put on concerta I lost my job, so i haven't been able to work with my doctor to adjust my meds. Now that stress have been introduced into my life by not having a job and bills mounting - I'm feeling very overwhelmed. My job interviews are even affected. I believe this medication my help if I can work with my doctor to adjust my meds. I'm very sad right now!!! | M | 45 | 8 months
| | 9/16/2009
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| 3 | ADD | Dry eyes, and a few head aches the first week or so. I feel as though i may be gaining weight. i feel like i may be retaining water but i dont know if that has anything to do with the concerta | | F | 19 | 4 weeks
| | 9/13/2009
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| 5 | ADD | I lost alott wieght i have ben on this since 14 years i never had any problem with jitter or anything i had no side affects beside weight loss it really didnt bother me.. I'm 18 yr old now and i take 72 grams a day every morning and i feel fine | if your looking for sumthing that gonna make u loose wieght i wouldnt take this because if u dont have add or adhd i wouldnt recommend this product u will get dizzy u will feel like sh!T .. the only advise i can give to people when u take concerta or your starting out take it in the morning before 12 eat a good meal not to big just a nice meal and dont eat untill u get hungry again because if u eat too much concerta wont work for u not unless u have high dosage soo take it before 12 eat when only u get hungry and u shouldnt feel any side affect ull know when your hungry or not and i dont reccomend takin this then working out because if u do take it and then say 1 hour latter u work out ull feel very dizzy u might wanna puke u and u can pass out because this product is only for people have problems if u do this and u dont have a problem and ur just doin this to loose wieght u will really hurt ur body and u can have even fatal problems ... some of my friends they ben on this since 12 yrs old they sumtimes i have to stop every weekend and only wen they need it take it because they start seeing sh!T but that also because loss of apatite soo if u have a problem focus or u cant calm down this a perfect product for u i know alott friend on other products and it makes them wanna kill them self some people cant do this other can it depend on ur body and mental mind if u have any more question or u want any advise email me ksidelta@yahoo.com and people if u wanna say sumthing bad or u | M | 18 | 4 years
| | 9/7/2009
| 4 | ADHD | Loss of appetite, inner tension/jittery sensation, impatience, low tolerance for noise/any distractions, self-induced social isolation, mild paranoia/social anxiety, loss of interest in many things that used to make me happy but no real depression, excessive sweating in the armpit region, and "alien-like" thought patterns that involve reading into things/various stimuli in the environment and making connections from the input | This is a strange drug. I go through periods where I really feel as if it's helping me, and then at other times I notice how it has changed me, not always for the better either. Anyway, I have lost almost 30 pounds while taking concerta and have definitely noticed an increase in my ability to maintain my focus. The problem is that this focus usually takes the form of a hyperfocus, which means that family and friends are pushed aside. Of course, this leads to social isolation, which only feeds the social anxiety effects of this drug that I eventually endure if and when I am in social situations. I would definitely say that this drug is effective, but the way that it can affect thoughts, mood, and behavior is something to strongly consider if and when deciding whether or not you or your loved ones might benefit from it. | M | 27 | 90 days
| | 9/4/2009
| 1 | ADD | My husband killed himself | I have completed this feedback to alert others on behalf of My Darling Husband. It is his information I have submitted
My husband was depressed. The Concerta intensified this and allowed him to concentrate/focus enough to complete suicide | M | 33 | 6 days
| | 8/29/2009
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| 3 | ADD | I cannot bring myself to eat anything at all from the moment I take the pill to about eleven hours afterward (6 am until 5 pm). I have frequent (albiet small) panic attacks throughout the day (I had only had one panic attack in my life before Concerta) After the pill wears off, though, I raid the kitchen and eat several meals at odd times (lunch around 5 pm, dinner around 9 pm, and a large snack around 12 am). During the course of the day, a bottle of Pepsi is all I can bring myself to have to eat. When the medicine wears off, I can't concentrate on anything (homework gives me many problems). My vision is blurred, and during this time, I become obsessed with one topic. Right now it is the side effects of Concerta (that's why I'm typing this now, I guess). Before the side effects of Concerta, it was methods of suicide. Before that, it was atheism and philosophy. During this time, I feel dizzy and tired (although I am not able to take a nap during this time.) After that stage, a | Although I've got some pretty bad side effects from it, Concerta does help me concentrate and remain interested in school work. I am still taking the medicine, and I think I will be for a while. I'm not sure I'd recommend it to others for long term use, but I don't think it'd hurt too bad to try it for a little bit. I have a bunch of side effects that are very uncommon, but about 75% of those taking Concerta won't have any side effects at all. I would recommend highly that someone with ADD try out the medicine, because even my side effects (pardon my French: Hell.) are outweighed by the benefits of the medicine. | M | 17 | 1 years
| | 8/27/2009
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| 4 | ADD | I am on a few different meds, all with similiar side-effects -unsure which are a direct result of using concerta...
weight loss, loss of apetite, food intolerances, hot flushes, buzzing in ears, head aches, diarrhea, nausea, dizziness, seeing spots in front of eyes -I pass out if I don't sit down, palpitations, irregular heart rate, muscle weakness, fatigue when it wears off, sore throat, cold hands and feet, skin problems, insomnia, muscle spams, pins and needles in feet, buzzing in ears, sweating, coughing, dry mouth, sensitive to sound and movement | It works for the ADD: memory and concentration has improved, was on 54mg, then went down to 36mg because of chronic muscle weakness. | F | 20 | 4 months
| | 8/20/2009
| 3 | ADHD | sadness, increased anxiety, loss of appetite, listlessness | My son (9 yrs) started on the 18 mg dose and we noticed a great improvement in his concentration and behavior; however, the 18 mg effect only lasted for a few weeks. The dr. increased it to 54mg and although he could concentrate at school, the other side effects are very bad. High anxiety, feelings of bugs crawling on him all the time. sad, listless, doesn't eat or drink all day long. Although Concerta helped in the beginning, the overall side effects are too drastic to continue | F | 38 | 6 months
| | 8/18/2009
| 4 | ADD | Racing heart beat, loss of appetite(YAY), thirsty all the time, insomnia..but nothing a little nyquil cant cure, some hot flashes, CRASHING when the med wears off- extreme tiredness, exhaustion, no mental or physical energy to think or do anything, | Just discovered how ADD I am.. Have had a major "light bulb moment" (omg thats what has been wrong with me my whole life?) Let me tell you how concerta has changed my quality of life this past week. I have so much more energy and motivation. I wake up every morning feeling refreshed and ready to start doing something-anything- and being able to finish whatever i am doing. Its an amazing feeling. I just DREAD the end of the day when it starts wearing off. | F | 19 | 6 days
| | 8/17/2009
| 1 | ADHD | Headache, muscle twitching, slight tunnel vision, in and out of zombie like state around 5 to 6 hours in, with every heartbeat my body seems to pulse intensely, loss of appetite (yeah i can lose a few pounds but i very much ENJOY eating!), sensitivity to noise, very thirsty, kinda cloudy feeling. | MY HEAD HURTS SOOOOOOO BAD! I'm giving this medicine a week tops, it's only the first day but i feel like shit as if i have had a horrible sinus headache (the kind that make you wanna throw up). I feel the same attention wise (or lack there of). i'm not so sure about this medication. | F | 20 | 1 days
| | 8/7/2009
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| 2 | To help me concentrate. | I lost a lot of weight when I first started taking Concerta. | It makes me jittery, I can't get out of bed in the morning, and I feel as though I shouldn't waste time doing simple things i.e. making my lunch, taking a shower, sweeping the floor etc. Also, now I find that my personality has become very aggressive whereas I was once a quiet person who stayed in the background. This will be a good thing when United Fund time comes around. I usually had no guts to say I didn't want to give; now I'll tell them point blank I have two favorite charities I give to anyway. Why be forced into giving just because a person of higher authority in the work place comes and asks you the amount you are going to contribute this year. In closing, I don't even know why the doctor put me on Concerta but psychiatrists have no qualms about dishing out pills. I wouldn't give this medicine to a child. | F | 65 | 3 years
| | 7/22/2009
| 4 | ADHD | Sometimes hard for me to fall asleep at night. However, I don't have problems if I take it as soon as I get up in the morning and I am up a full 15 or so hours. | It has helped me tremendously in regards to being impulsive. I am taking 54mg. When I first moved up to this dosage I had some dry mouth problems but that has gone away. I have more focus and I am able to finish projects that I start. Very happy with the medication. Not sure if I am at the correct dosage yet though. | F | 36 | 1 days
| | 7/18/2009
| 5 | ADHD | None | This medication dramatically changed my life. Attention deficit is not only a childhood problem, it also effects adutls | F | 67 | 4 years
| | 7/14/2009
| 3 | ADHD | Since 36MG I have suffered from TMJ. I am currently on 72MG and the clenched jaw is intense. I find the tension builds up when I get mildly stressed. The jaw pain even develops when playing video games like RockBand2 | I have been using concerta for almost a year. Been able to focus on tasks I previously was interested in, but ever followed through. Now I can. | M | 35 | 1 years
| | 7/11/2009
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| 2 | ADD | Have no side effect after taken 36mg for about 6 month. | Concerta work some days and other days as if I never took it. When it did work I was calmer and focus at times. In the past I did take Strattera which REALLY had my focus and spot on with all my work tasks. I was taken off due to a heart attack but I at the time I was taking over the Fat Burner to loss weight. Well with the right changes in my diet and exercise, I do not need the Fat Burners. I will begin back on Strattera next week. | M | 42 | 6 months
| | 7/10/2009
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