Today was my first day on concerta 27 mg and... ?

Question

I somewhat noticed a difference. I could concentrate a little better but I would still get distracted. I can't really tell if it's still working or not right now. I took it at 6:15 this morning and now it is 4:30 in the afternoon.

so my three main questions are:
1. Is my concentration going to improve within a few days and I will REALLY notice a difference?
2. Can I tell if the concerta wore off on the first day? When will I be able to tell?
3. Is Concerta the same as Ritalin? Is it the same as Adderall?

How are adderall and Concerta different?

Answer 1

Concerta contains the same active ingredient as Ritalin, just in a time-released formula. Adderall is a different stimulant. Concerta and Ritalin contain methylphenidate, whereas Adderall contains a mixture of amphetamine salts. The effects on average are very similar, but individual patients often respond better to one or the other (it just averages out that neither is consistently more effective, although Adderall tends to have slightly more significant side effects).

If you're taking the right dose, your concentration will improve almost right away. It takes about half an hour for the drug to get into your system, and it reaches its maximum effect something like two hours after you take it, but it works as well as it's going to starting from the first day. The drug is mostly eliminated from your body by the time you go to bed, and the therapeutic effects aren't the result of long-term changes caused by the drug, so it won't improve significantly over the first few days or weeks after you start taking it. It's not like antibiotics where they start to make you better by fixing the underlying problem, or like antidepressants where it takes a few weeks for your body to react to them to get the maximum effect. It's more like caffeine, where you take it, it wakes you up (or in this case helps you concentrate), and then that's that until you take it again.

I'm not sure what you mean by if it wore off. It will wear off, or you're not going to be able to sleep. Do you mean how can you tell when it wears off? If so, it's kind of hard to tell sometimes because it kind of trails off rather than stopping all of a sudden. Once you've been taking it for a while, you'll have a better sense of how it effects you, and you'll start to get an idea of when in the day it stops working. You may not be able to tell just when it wears of at first, not because it's doing anything different, but just because you won't have such a good sense yet of what's really the drug and what's just random variation.

Just to clarify from a previous post, doses of stimulants like Concerta are essentially not weight dependent. Although the maximum approved dose is higher for adults than for children (72 mg vs. 54 mg), what dose proves more effective varies dramatically among individuals. Some young children do best with 54 mg, while some adults do best with 18 mg (the lowest possible dose). A daily dose of 27 mg is fairly low, and if you're not feeling much effect you might do better on a higher dose, but give it a few days and see how it goes. If in a few days you're still not satisfied that it's helping enough then you can talk to your doctor about trying a higher dose. If it turns out that the side effects of a higher dose are problematic, you can always go back down. Just keep in close contact with your doctor, and play with doses until you find a balance of efficacy and side effects that you're happy with. Since there's so much individual variation in response to stimulants, and there's no measurable factors that can accurately predict what the dose will be, it's essentially just trial and error. So stick with 27 mg for a few days, and decide at that point if you want to talk to your doctor about a higher dose.

Answer 2

Hope these answers help:
1. The main facton on whether you notice an improvement is whether or not you actually have ADHD. Poor concentration can be a symptom of other psychiatric illnesses that may not respond to Concerta. Assuming that you do have ADHD, you should notice an improvement in your concentration. It is also possible that you will need to have the dosage increased by the doctor if the medicine is working a little, but not as much as you would like.
2. It will probably take a little while for you to realize exactally what the Concerta is doing to your body, but as you take it a few more times, I'm sure you will notice. Also, if you took it at 6:15 in the morning, chances are it's starting to wear off. It usually lasts 8-12 hours.
3. Concerta is the same as Ritalin (the generic name is methylphenidate). Concerta and Ritalin are brand names of two different companies, and are dosed differently due to the way the drug is released in your body. Adderall has a similar mechanism of action, but it is a different drug.

Answer 3

Concerta 27 Mg

Answer 4

Concerta Mg

Answer 5

concerta is a form of slow release ritalin. There already was slow release ritalin but concerta uses a new technology that is suposedly improved i the release mechanism. It lasts about 8 - 12 hours but individual response varies. The best way to monitor it is to keep a log for about 5 days, and each hour write down your ability to concentrate level. Since Ritalin is over 60 years old and about the cheapest drug on the market (about $10 for a month's supply), drug companies are always coming out with new variations on it so make a proprietary drug. Now there's a ritalin patch.

Answer 6

You should give this dose a try for a few weeks and see how you feel, your dr. may need to increase your dose. Concerta releases over 6-9 hours but effects are supposed to last for 12 hours. Concerta contains the same active ingredient as Ritalin (methylphenidate) but they are not the same as Adderall (amphetamines).

Answer 7

Concerta is the same as Ritalin except that it is in a time release formula. Take it in the morning and it will peak in a few hour and then decrease around lunch time and the peak again in earl afternoon. That is because it can have a side effect of appetite suppression. You should have noticed a decent difference the first day. are you and adult? The dose sounds low if you are. I have a child that is about 60lbs and age 9 and is on a 54mg dose. The original dose was 18mg 4 years ago. We will increase dose as needed as long as it has a positive effect and no bad side effects such as facial tics.

Answer 8

Why did you take so many? Go to A&E! Your heart might stop! You may feel fine, but I don't know much about the drug. I can say though, that you have taken a massive overdose and should see someone NOW!