CONCERTA Reviews (METHYLPHENIDATE HYDROCHLORIDE)Average Rating: 3.3 (772 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare CONCERTA with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by Date added. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 |
More on CONCERTA: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR CONCERTA | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 5 | ADD | Headache,stomach ache & moodiness at the end of 12 hours | My son is now able to concentrate at school (big improvement) and now his self esteem is rising. He is less frustrated at school and actually enjoys going. He does have headache a few times a week and a stomach ache maybe twice a week. As a parent I'm very pleased. No change in personality. My son likes how it is easier to stick with things, school is easier and wants to continue the medication for now. | M | 10 | 2 months | 10/11/2008 | 1 | ADD | Dry eyes; regular noises (sink dripping, etc.) seemed REALLY loud, decision making ability completely gone, emotions were totally flat except for occasional outbursts of anger or wanting to cry. | I was prescribed this for a moderate case of ADD. Unfortunately, in addition to the side effects above, it made the ADD itself far worse. Couldn't focus on anything, made more mistakes than normal, couldn't even read (something I usually lose myself in). This was on a relatively small dose of 18 mg. An absolutely awful experience. | M | 38 | 4 days | 10/9/2008 | 3 | ADHD | Crampimg @ 20+ miles into marathons; shortness of breath during other extreme cardio activity (where previously this never happened), social isolation as I hunker down at my workstation & disallow any interaction or distraction to come between me and my 3 cpu's & 6 monitors; full fitness classes as the time-releasesd speed make me THAT MUCH MORE witty, mouthy and takative as I ride my classes HARD. The need to pay $75 every 3 months to a dude who barely seems to GAF other than to request my pmt by check. | The 3 x 36mg pills, when spilled out on the counter, have a natural gravitationa attraction to the floor. They roll QUICKLY. You ain;t seen NUTHING until you seen Fido speed! Sha! | M | 50 | 18 months | 10/7/2008 | 2 | ADHD | Speed-like effect, hyperfocused in a very bad way (tunnel vision & cannot move from project am on to save my life), hyperproductive in a very bad way (cannot stop what am doing, like a hamster on a wheel) confusion, disorientation, severe mood swings | First 2 weeks at 18mg were fine. At raise to 36mg, became like a hamster on a wheel- running all day long & couldn't force myself to stop no matter how hard I tried. Would want to stop & rest & eat- could not. Brain had a life of its own. Like very bad speed, from what I've heard. Also, when would get on one project, got tunnel vision and could not stop the one project; became so hyperfocused it was like nothing else mattered, although I had other things to do. Then the fun really began. About a week and a half into 36mg, started getting SEVERE mood swings. "Mood swing" doesn't actually begin to describe what happened. Crying hysterically one minute, in a murderous rage the next. Running around like a maniac. I am honestly surprised no one, including me, got hurt. At night would cower in bed praying to God for it to stop so I could sleep. Then as I was lightly asleep, got this really bizarre confusion where I suddenly forgot where I was and would wake up with a st | F | 40 | 25 days | 10/4/2008 | 4 | ADHD | Dry mouth, irritability and loss of concentration in the evenings (usually after 7:00 or so), MAJOR appetite/weight loss, fewer tendencies towards social events, increase in smoking, decrease in impulsiveness. | I've been taking Concerta for about six months after being diagnosed with ADHD. So far I've noticed drastic improvements in some areas of my life - school being the biggest. I am now able to focus for extended periods of time, enjoy studying and doing homework, and am highly organized (if you knew me before this you'd think it was some kind of joke). The downsides aren't as much fun - I have a hard time falling asleep before 2 or 3 am, I'm never hungry and have no motivation to eat (which has lead to some considerable weight loss), and I find myself to be much more introverted. I basically went from party hardy to not really feeling like going out. I've noticed that I've become far less impulsive, and I haven't had a single speeding ticket since starting these meds. It takes some getting used to but once you wrap your head around the changes, its extremely worthwhile. | F | 21 | 6 months | 9/12/2008 | 4 | ADD | #1 is headache. Some dry mouth, loss of appetite, cold hands and feet, occ heart pounding, jaw clenching, def increase in cigarettes | The loss of appetite is ok cuz I ate too much anyway, the dry mouth and other SE's are manageable-jaw clenching was weird and painful until I realized I was doing it-I have to make myself stop. If I'm chewing gum it's out of control. The big deal is the headache-its daily and painful. But on the other hand-I have more success with this than any other medication and I'm only taking 18 mg. I'm thinking of asking for a dosage increase of 9-18mg but take it a couple of hours after my first dosage b/c this is only lasting me 6-8 hours tops. Def helping with impulsivity and concentration | F | 28 | 1 months | 9/11/2008 | 4 | ADD | Nausea, Skin Crawling, Insomnia | It works, the side effects stink though | F | 21 | 2 months | 9/5/2008 | 2 | ADHD | Increase blood pressure and heart rate. Chest pains. Rash on chest. Eye twithches. Severe shortness of breath (i've thought it was asthma for three months). Depression. | This medicine has changed who I am. When I'm off the medicine i have lost all the motivation that i once had. I'm depressed. And now after having chest pains I found out the left side of my heart has enlarged because of the increase in blood pressure. It really helped me focus when I was on the medicine but I should have never started to take it in the first place. If you start to take this medicine get an EKG every three months to monitor your heart. | M | 25 | 3 years | 8/28/2008 | 1 | ADD | dry mouth, high blood pressure, mood swings, verbal tics, depression, loss of appetite, stomachache, loss of personality, antisocial | The first day was sweats, high blood pressure and nervousness. Second day we noticed her attention span was back and her handwriting was incredibly neat. Each day after that she became moody, antisocial, just not my little girl. She basically withdrew and the last day had a manic breakdown and felt like she wanted to die. That was the last time she'll ever take anything like that. | F | 11 | 6 days | 8/25/2008 | 2 | ADD/Depression | Bipolar tendencies, mood swing, short temper, high blood pressure, headaches, sweating, insomnia. Went to the hospital twice for possible stimulant overdose or high stress reaction. I got no proper treatment or diagnosis either time (but did receive very late apologies) because the ER staff assumed I was a pale, shaking, sweating drug abuser. | This stuff works like ritalin for about two weeks. After that it works for a couple hours each day, then ceases to motivate and produces twelve more hours of just enough energy to cause insomnia. Increases anxiety and intensifies stressful emotions, particularly anger. | M | 34 | 2 years | 8/19/2008 | 4 | ADD | Weight loss. Ability to focus more. HEADACHES! Sweaty palms/feet. | I can go the entire day eating normally, but at night, when it wears off, I am incredibly hungry! My palms and feet sweat quite a bit as well. I noticed an increase in my headaches, too. However, the fact that I was able to focus and stay alert and centered during classes was a tremendous help and makes every negative side effect I have experienced worth it! | F | 19 | 3 years | 8/18/2008 | 4 | A.D.H.D | mild headaches, abdominal pain, loss of apatite/ weight loss | I started taking concerta about two weeks ago and since starting i have been able to focus on exactly what I am doing even sports. I have had a slight headache half the days I have taken it. In the two weeks I have been taking it I have lost over 10 pound and can only eat 1 meal a day. Also I am having trouble falling asleep before 1 A.M. but when i get to sleep it is hard to wake up (I've slept through the alarm twice). | M | 17 | | 8/13/2008 | 4 | ADD/ADHD | Weight Loss, Loss of Appetite, Insomnia, Social Withdrawl, Nervousness, very mild Ticks, Irritability. | Concerta definitely helps better than any medicine I have ever taken. Ive tried Ritalin, Adderal, Strattera, and a bunch more I cant even remember lol. I just wish it didnt come with so many side effects. I have a terrible time getting to sleep, in fact its 3 in the morning right knon, I also have lost ALOT of weight and I have no appetite what-so-ever, I also have some ticks sometimes which are like involuntary muscle movements but they kinda are voluntary(its like having one symptom of terrets lol). I also sleep alot once I do fall asleep which sucks. But hey, its the only pill that works so I dont have a choice lmao! | M | 14 | 1 years | 8/1/2008 | 5 | possible ADD/ADHD | Great decrease in appetite, weight loss, focus | I have not experienced too many side effects with this medication except for the decreased appetite and weight loss (thank you God). I only take 36mg of Concerta in the morning and it lasts me all day. I am getting ready to go back to school on this medication along with 20mg of Geodon twice a day, .5mg of Klonopin twice a day, and 20mg of Inderal up to three times a day. | F | 17 | 5 days | 7/28/2008 | 4 | ADD | Loss of appetite, and mood swings | (36mg) I think it's working really good, it's not magic but the mood swings feel really weird. Yesterday I was feeling high about 7 hours after I took it. I don't know if it's worthy trying it because even though it has improved my attention and motivation wonders, the mood swings make it really bittersweet. | M | 23 | 1 months | 7/24/2008 | 3 | add | headache | Meh, it is alright. | F | 20 | 4 weeks | 7/24/2008 | 5 | Adult ADD | First few days felt a little anxious. Lost appetite for a bit, but it came back after a few months. | Has helped me deal with ADD symptoms and I enjoy an increase of focus and attention. It has really made a big difference in my life. I have not tried any other meds and I doubt that I would want to try others since I am so satisfied with Concerta. I only take 26 mg but am interested in taking more, as it wears off around the end of the day sometimes. Try to go easy on caffeine, taking both makes me a little edgy. I often wait until after I have my coffee/breakfast, like two hours after coffee to take Concerta. I also STRONGLY advice people with ADD to exercise on a regular basis. It really helps you focus better and elevates your mood a lot. I teach PE, so I am very much in tune with the benefits of exercise, but there is much research out there that suggests that cardiovascular exercise helps people with ADD. See SPARK by John Ratey, relatively new book. | M | 38 | 1 years | 7/21/2008 | 4 | ADD | Some headaches and nausea for the first 4 weeks. Lately I have noticed some dehydration issues, muscle cramps, etc. I now drinking water frequently even if I am not thirsty and it seems to help. | I have been suffereing with ADD all my life. College was a major struggle as all the assignments took me significantly longer to complete than anyone else. I wanted to go back for a Master's degree, but was hesitating. Now since being on Concerta (36mg), I feel confident I would be able to concentrate. I don't like the fact it is much more difficult to write anything creative. However for me the benefits far outweigh the negative issues. If I want to write I will stop taiking it for a few days and it helps. | M | 43 | 4 months | 7/14/2008 | 4 | Adult ADHD | Pros: Increased attention span, able to focus for longer periods of time,no longer feel exhausted all the time,have noticed some decrease in impulsivity, but not enough. My impulsivity continues to be very disruptive, not as preoccupied with my sleeping difficulties. Cons: muscle spasms, weakness and tingling, most noticable in hands/arms, increased heart rate, headaches, increased sensitivity to caffeine, continued weight loss | There is no magic pill but Concerta is helping. I am still working with my doctor to figure out which dose is most effective. I did not have improvement at 18 or 36mgs. 54 mgs started noticing a difference. 72 mgs measurable improvement but increased side effects. At my Dr's suggestion, I tried 90 mg. I only took this dose for 1 day. I did not notice any improvement in my ADD symptoms. Instead I had a headache all day and felt irritable. Unfortunately, Concerta is not a magic pill. What I do to help myself plays a big role in my treatment. I've been researching CBT and NCT, putting into practice what I think may be helpful for me. It's trial and error with lots and lots of patience. To all my fellow sufferers, be gentle with yourself. There is no right way or wrong way. Slow and steady wins the race. Take it a day at a time. | F | 42 | 5 weeks | 7/4/2008 | 4 | adult ADHD | loss of appetite, weight loss, clenching jaw, some anxiety, some insomnia | I love concerta! I have tried ritalin, adderall, and concerta. So far I like concerta the best, it lasts the longest for me and gives the motivation and focus I need. With ritalin and adderall, I was still lazy and distracted. However, In 1 month I ended up losing 21 lbs because I was never hungry and always moving. Other than the weight loss (which i didnt mind too much haha) concerta had no really serious side effects. | F | 20 | 3 months | 7/3/2008 |