Can concerta and stimulants used to treat ADHD have negative effects on my singing voice?

Question

I hope to someday be a profesional musician, but recently I been having increasingly annoying problems with pitch and tonality. My chorus teacher blames it on vocal tension. I have read that vocal tension is caused by stimulants such as caffeine. Unfortunately, I also have ADD and take concerta twice a day to help me with my schoolwork.

Is this hurting my voice? Is there a solution that allows me to both practice singing and still be able to function at school?

Answer 1

Now I'm not sure on this...but from what I understand...yes concerta and those other ADHD and ADD medications are stimulants to most people, but from what I understand, they act as depressants to people with ADD and ADHD, and I've taken concerta, adderall, and ritalin, and I never had any problems singing along with the radio, but of course each person is different. If you really think it could be the concerta, I'd ask a doctor if it's possible. As another person said, if possible, don't take the concerta when you have to sing, but if it's during or after school then you kinda have to take it to be able to concentrate during your other classes. I'm not 100% positive on what I said, but I'm pretty sure about it, I'd ask a doctor. Hope this helped.

Answer 2

Everybody's different. Most people would never think of eating grease before a performance, but I'm told that Kathy Battle will have a Big Mac, fries, and a shake right before an entrance and still sound like an angel. Almost everything can affect your vocals. The only way to answer that question for you personally though, is to pay close attention to what's going on with your voice for a period of time both on and off the medication.

As far as hurting your voice, I doubt that the meds would have any permanent effect. But, I'm no doctor...if you go to a throat specialist, many of their patients are vocalists, and that sort of doctor could answer your question more thoroughly. Pitch and tonality...you never had these problems before? It could be from anything...you need to assume that you're doing something wrong and work to identify and fix it. Could it have something to do with placement? If you're singing in the throat, you can be sure that will cause tension. So will pushing, or over-singing. All I can tell you is, practice listening, practice sight reading to help train the ear, and work on your technique. If you are sure it's the meds, maybe try drinking calming tea before you have to sing.

Answer 3

YES!!! It's the Concerta. I use to have the same problem. I work in sales, and most of my time is on the phone. Every time when I take concerta, 54mg, my voice gets squeaky and really annoying. I have a really commanding voice but after taking concerta, my voice get so squeaky that it just piss people off.

I have not found any solution to the problem, but if you don't believe me that the concerta is causing this, try going to school without using the concerta, you will have your voice back.

If you can, don't take concerta when you go to your singing session, just take it when you do school work.

Hope it helps.