Re: Concerta? Does it work for you?

[Anonymous]

When I saw the doctor recently I needed something immediately while I worked through what I know should happen which is a proper assessment and diagnoses (by someone else). I am predominantly inattentive with hyperactive subtype. I was having more serious issues with both the last couple of years and with insomnia getting worse to the point it was negatively effecting my ability to work or deal with home.

I have had no negative reactions to Concerta so far and considerable improvement with focus and lessening of impulsivity. It wasn’t immediate nor a total fix yet, but only been on it 2 weeks. I am also starting to get back to normal sleep. I have gotten more done in the last 2 weeks than the last 5 years, if that gives you a good idea of what I would call negative effects of ADHD. I guess I never thought seriously about getting it diagnosed before now as I thought it’s what got me to where I am today as a successfully engineer. I hadn’t thought of the negative effects. Maybe it’s the accumulative effect that if you can balance 3 balls, why not 5 or 7 until they all come down.

I was the same way about cleaning my house and while Concerta helps with staying focus it doesn’t teach you the skills you need to cope.I hadn’t cleaned my home office 3 years, just kept adding more tables and bigger stacks of paper. Just before I started taking Concerta I learned some techniques for staying focused from this site and cleaned it in 2 days and begun organizing the rest of my house. After I started Concerta I went through 3 years of technical magazines in one night (about 200), where before the thought of sitting still long enough to just finish one caused stress. Small successes build on each other, provide yourself and incentive/reward for completing something and break it down into smaller tasks. It didn’t get that way overnight don’t expect it to be resolved overnight or you may burn yourself out.

I’m not sure when to know I should be taking more or less yet. I take 18mg and think more might help. I would still like more focus and a little less impulsivity, but I also understand it takes time for the meds to have full impact, which is why I’m not sure I should be taking it everyday or only occasionally. I guess I would like to reach a little more improvement and if it’s possible then to take it less often unless it doesn’t function well that way. I know better than to decide that on my own so will find a more knowledgeable doctor and I think maybe a Life Coach would be useful. I tried one before Concerta, but couldn’t focus on what was being suggested.

Due to chronic pain I developed insomnia. I got the pain addressed but the insomnia stayed. Now that I am on Concerta I am starting to get back to normal, which for me is still around midnight.

The following neurological illnesses found at age 47:

Dyslexia, probably since childhood.

Fibromyalgia diagnosed 6/2010, probably at least 6 years earlier. Gabapentin (Neurontin 1500mg)

Adult ADHD 2/2011, probably since childhood. (Concerta ER 18mg)

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