Re: Concerta

[Anonymous]

Interesting threads and glad to see the initiative to start new threads. As for Concerta, it is a methylphenidate product and the long term data does NOT support some adverse happening to your brain structure. To the contrary, a normalization of symptoms should actually lead to a normative structural change, if any change were to occur. There was a study done by Steven Kish who showed that in chronic methamphetamine users that there was a change to abnormality which was good news! If your symptoms normalize, then maybe any changes that will happen are as I suggested.

Should Concerta be used in Tourette’s. This is controversial as the ADHD component of the Tourette’s is the impairing part and while tics may get worse, they are largely cosmetic though they can be treated. A very typical strategy is to get the tics under control first with clonidine or an atypical neuroleptic and then add small doses of psychostimulants.

With regard to side effect issues and efficacy, sometimes trying to tailor make the medication schedule to fit the day limits the side effects. The one disadvantage of Long Acting agents is that they make each day the same when, in fact, each day has its ups and downs. Try using small doses of regular methylphenidate on top of the Concerta at a lower dose. The top ups conform to the day to day changes. If your attentional load is matched by the meds, its like a balance. If you have more meds circulating than you need, you will get side effects. For example, someone in real pain on an opiate analgesic will not get addicted but someone who abuses the analgesic because there is no pain to balance it, will face withdrawal and cravings.

Will Concerta make you an addict. Definitely, NO

REPORT ABUSE