Re: Curious about this journey….

[Saffron]

Hi Woz. I experienced something similar after my first year taking Concerta. When I had bloodwork done as part of my annual physical, it was found that I had developed an iron deficiency that year. Although my hemoglobin level was in the low end of the normal range (probably owing to a multivitamin I take), my iron stores (ferritin) were way down.

Before the bloodwork, I had requested and been given an increase in my Concerta dosage, thinking that it just needed to be titered. In reality, the higher dosage only put more stress on my system.

It’s known that a subset of people who take Concerta do develop iron deficiency, although it’s not clear to what extent that might be due to changes in people’s appetite (and thus eating habits). I also had latent/stable thyroid disease that became active in that year. Concerta may be contraindicated in some cases of thyroid disease, but the exact nature of that relationship isn’t clear. Thyroid disease is also associated with anemia in many people. The body’s internal balance is a complicated thing, and Concerta can play dominoes with your system if you’re at all predisposed to endocrinological imbalance or to burning the candle at both ends when you have extra personal energy.

Hopefully this isn’t the case for you. But do have your hemoglobin, ferritin and TSH levels checked to be on the safe side.

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