Concerta – first week symptoms

[Anonymous]

I am on day 7 of 18 mg of Concerta. I haven’t felt “the fog lifted” like some people speak of. In fact I feel this nervousness I don’t usually feel. A little bit of anxiety (again, something I don’t usually have). Should I stop taking Concerta, or is this a symptom that may eventually go away once I get used to it? And is there hope that a larger dose may make a difference or should I try something else?

Thank you!

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[Anonymous]

I can tell you my experience so far and that might help a little. I have been on Concerta for about 6 weeks. I couldn’t tell an immediate difference, but my husband could! I had a pain in my stomach the first week (more nervous than anxious), but that went away the next week and I haven’t felt it since. I didn’t have any other side effects. The fog did lift for me eventually (nutrition is key as well~I eat 5x a day and good food). I do forget that I have to meet the medication halfway~it’s not going to completely correct my ADD issues…but you need to get used to it first. I actually went to 27 mg at my follow up appt with my dr. Still no side effects on the higher dosage…and I feel like there is more success.

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[Anonymous]

Hi Romy,

Thanks for your reply. Dumb me, I was looking under “Medication” for my post & just realized I had posted under “Ask An Expert”! I went off Concerta after a week…but realized I needed to give it more of a chance and started again today. I feel fine (no nervousness). I will finish my 6 pills then start on 27 mg. I think I was being too impatient, and I’m not used to taking pills. I look forward to seeing if any results will come my way. (I know my husband is waiting with bated breath too!!)

You’re right about meeting the meds half way. But look at me, it’s 12:20 a.m., and I KNOW that I need sleep to function, and should get to bed earlier. Something I need to work on!

All the best, Romy.

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[Anonymous]

Jd,

Well this much I can tell you, I am not expert by any stretch but I do have some experience (not to be confused with expertise).

I was diagnosed with ADHD at 44 (but only about two months back). Work up until that point was insanely terrible for years and my career was heading down the crapper fast than I could stop it.

I went for testing to simply give myself some answers and see what was going on and perhaps be able to make some better decisions as to where to go and what to do next. I spent a bunch of time being tested and evaluated by many professionals and after about a month, I was told that I have ADHD. I was asked if I wanted medication immediately and I had some apprehensions regarding it so we (my doctor and I decided) to see how coaching would help.

After doing coaching for about a month, I decided to request medication (Concerta) and the doctor said we’ll go with the lowest dosage and see where it goes. I started out with the 18 mg and felt really, really strange. Like you I had that “no fog lifting yet” feeling but in addition to that was a nervous sort of anxiety but nothing ‘earth-shatter’ that I haven’t felt before whenever I screwed up and was in suspense about when I was going to get caught and disciplined for it.

When I went back to the doctor and reported my progress for the first two weeks, I did notice some very subtitle changes. Apparently, according to my wife, I wasn’t as ‘high-strung’ as previously and she hadn’t noticed much change in the concentration part at all. So, my psychiatrist (aka doctor) decided to up the dose to 28 mg to see if that would aid me more. She cautioned that I should be very vigilant about any ‘negative side-effects’ such as depression since there were two strikes against me (family had a history and I was on another drug many years previous that drove me into depression where I sought to take my own life on a number of occasions).

What I had begun to notice is that the ‘attention’ that was once at a 360 degree of awareness now was narrowing for me. That the need to focus on everything over both of my shoulders was highly diminished and that I was able to find myself focusing and concentrating on less but on those tasks and jobs of which I was seeking to focus, it was there for extended periods. All this was extraordinary and unusual and most of all frightening to me since I had never known this before.

There were a few household DIY projects that had been waiting for my attention for over a year that I was able to complete within three days, to the utter bliss of my wife and who was so very grateful for it.

At work, it was noticed that my focus was much sharper and that my ability to organize, prioritize and synergize my work much better and my attention to detail was magnified massively. I suddenly began to receive both emails and voice mails of appreciation. My supervisors came to me one day with two documents (normally that meant that I was in the ‘crapper’ and was about to be dressed down for some screw up). They passed them to me and requested that I read them both. As I read, my eyes began to well up and they all looked at each other and asked me if I was alright to which I had to say, of course I am alright, I am just not used to having any of this sort of feedback. I am used to be stomped on and reprimanded.

My medication once again has been upped to the next level (36 mg) to see where it takes me. So far so good, there are not negative side effects whatsoever that I am aware except for the lack of appetite for food about 30 minutes after taking it. That is a side effect that I can live with easily enough, because after 10-12 hours, I make up for it.

I have to add that it hasn’t just been the Concerta, there has been coaching involved as well. The coach I have is wonderful in that she keeps me accountable for everything that I do and don’t do. I report to her every two weeks with my homework that she provides for me and suggestions for making me more productive at work. The entire staff both upper and lower are aware that I have ADHD and I keep them apprised to everything that is going on. That way, they can all be part of my therapy and aid me in becoming a better and more effective employee.

So far, I count my blessings for the people who I work with because before, it was so much the opposite.

Coaching coupled with Concerta has been nothing but a god-send to me and my situation. I am not saying that it is the answer for you because as I said, I am no expert. I do know that there are a number of drugs out there that are designed to help with ADHD and maybe Concerta isn’t the one that will work with your body chemistry and metabolism but do not lose faith or hope. Keep plugging away, always smiling, doing your best and never giving up at all. It will all come together for you. If it has for me, it will for you.

Being in the military isn’t the most compassionate environment to work in when you have such conditions as ADHD but if things have worked for me, than they will most certainly come together for your good no matter what!

Distracted66

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[Anonymous]

Wow, thanks Distracted66…for sharing all that. And the fact that you almost took your own life…I’m so glad you didn’t. And I’m so happy your life turned around. You’re one of many who said getting help for their ADD has turned their life around. There is hope!

We have a lot in common in that I am also 44 and just recently diagnosed. ADD doesn’t affect my work so much. I’m a teacher, so the schedules and bells keep me on track. My prep time is a bit of a disaster. I’m sure it takes me 3 times longer than the average teacher to get things prepared. It’s my house-keeping skills that I desparately need to improve on. My husband does so much. And it takes me so long to get the basic things accomplished that I find I don’t have time for fun stuff. Or I do the fun stuff but leave the house a disaster and forget that my family (3 kids) need to eat!!

This is day 2 back on 18 mg, and yes, the nervousness returned, but after reading your reply, I don’t mind. I look forward to following through on the 2 weeks of 28 mg to see what happens.

Also interested to learn more about coaching. The psychiatrist I met with once didn’t know of any coaching in the area, nor my family doctor. Anyone know where I can find one in the Burlington/Waterdown/Hamilton area?

Thanks again.

Jd

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[Anonymous]

Jd,

Oddly enough, I was on a site entitled CADDAC, this the link to the website that has a host of various resources

http://www.caddac.ca/cms/page.php?181

On this particular page is a listing of coaching in the Ontario region.

Hope this helps!

Keep me posted on how it all goes, best wishes your way!

Distracted66

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[Anonymous]

Perfect! Thank you!

Happy New Year.

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[Author]

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