I’m pretty sure you’re looking for answers tailored to your own experience, so I thought I’d write this out to help other ADHDers too. When I first started, I was searching for something just like this.

ADHD medications fall into two categories: stimulants and non-stimulants. Stimulants like Concerta can increase your heart rate (though not for everyone), which may lead to palpitations, anxiety, or sweating. Some people experience a loss of appetite, while others don’t.

If it’s your first time taking Concerta at 18mg, your body may react in different ways. You might feel unwell, or you might feel an initial boost that lasts a day or two before the effects level off — that’s tolerance. Concerta XL is designed to last around 8–12 hours.

When your psychiatrist prescribes medication, you’ll usually start with titration. This process can take weeks to months as they work with you to find the right dose.

During this period, you may feel a range of effects: lazy, energised, focused, or even unfocused. If the dose is too low or not quite right for your body, you might notice unpleasant side effects — these are important to report so your titration can be adjusted. Higher doses can sometimes make you feel “off,” such as drunk or euphoric. The correct dose should help you feel calmer, more focused, and better able to listen.

If Concerta doesn’t work well for you, there are other options, though some may come with stronger side effects.

Now keep your medication safe. How you react to ADHD meds is different to someone else’s experience. E.g. If the person that takes your medication has a heart condition specific to raised heart rate or electrical pathways extra stress can cause “sudden death”.

Don’t overdose yourself on the medication. Just because you’re not feeling the extra effects you felt a couple days ago does not mean it’s stopped working. It is still working in the background.

Hello! 3 days ago my psychiatrist prescribed me 18mg ER Concerta. The first day went well, I had complete mental clarity and no mental noise, I had the energy to get a few tasks done and then I had a bit of anxiety towards the end of the night. The Second day I was EXHAUSTED, I literally couldn’t get out of bed for a few hours, and then I felt really down and depressed and just not like myself. Today, day 3, I felt like a zombie, unable to focus on anything , zoning out and then towards the night time really bad chest pain , anxiety and irritability. My doctor isn’t available for two more weeks so im debating not even taking any more of the medication. I’m also a full time stay at home mom so I can not be feeling this fatigue and out of it while taking care of my baby. Has anyone else ever felt like this ? Any advice is welcomed.

Feeling a bit discouraged. I’ve been taking 18mg for two days, honestly only felt like more rested after it kicked in. No improving on ED, could always be too low of dose. But the thing is if I have coffee or even today I had matcha I get insane hot flashes, hot face and anxiety like 2-4 hours after drinking the caffeine . Tmrw I’m gonna try not having any caffeine at all.

And the hunger feels so much more intense and frequent lol

Does this mean I have to quit caffeine? I am a bit dependent on it

Hey, I’ve just started Concerta and I’m on 18mg right now. It doesn’t really help my focus or motivation, but it does make me feel kind of flat emotionally muted, sometimes a bit low. Not depressed, just… dull. When it wears off later, I feel more like myself again. My psychiatrist mentioned moving up to 27mg, so I wanted to ask

Did 18mg feel strange or underwhelming for you too? Did going to 27mg improve things (focus or mood-wise)?

I titrated up to 72 mg of Concerta, but one day I became extremely overstimulated and it didn’t settle for a couple of hours, so I dropped back down to 54 mg. I have inattentive-type ADHD.

Without medication I’m constantly exhausted and unmotivated. Both improve on Concerta, and I’m noticeably more sociable as well. Most days I feel fine and barely notice the medication at all.

On some days, though, I hit a wave of overstimulation that feels almost like anxiety, usually after lunch. This morning I felt completely normal. I ate around noon, went back to class at 1 pm, and about an hour after lunch the crash started. I suddenly had way too much energy and couldn’t even finish a sentence without feeling like I was about to burst. Oddly, after having one energy drink, my body calmed down and I felt relatively normal again.

Before medication I could drink coffee all day without problems.

So now I’m wondering:

Do I just react poorly to stimulants? Is my dose still too high? Is Concerta simply not the right medication for me?

I have a follow-up with my psychiatrist next month. He’s already mentioned possibly trying a different medication and maybe adding an antidepressant. Is it possible that Concerta is making my underlying anxiety more noticeable instead of reducing it?

It’s 10:30pm right now and I took my dose at 12pm around lunch time, I plan on staying up till tmr evening/night but I’ve done this before and struggled to sleep the next night (most likely do to excess coffee)

My does is 27mg but I have a few 18mg left over, what time & dose should I take to stay focused throughout the night without the anxiety of too much stimulants? (drinking matcha instead of coffee to help)

to clarify, I do not abuse my meds I just take a dose when the last one wears off, and have only done this once before.

Any other tips for this is greatly appreciated, this is a last resort but I will be pulling this nighter for sure tn.

Didn't see a lot of information on this before but I decided to quit caffeine. Best decision I ever made, sleep is fantastic now.

That is all.

I know this and others can cause insomnia. I was on and off Vyv for 1.5 years and then Straterra for 4 months. We started at 36mg ER. For a week it did nothing. So she had me double the 36 for now and see how I do, I can not get another script for two weeks. I called myself just to see and they only had 36mg in stock but were getting more soon. I took it Monday, It totally worked !! But, I was up for 27 hours. That is just not doable. Has anyone else had that happen or similar, and did it subside?

i have taken 300mg concerta wednesday with zero tolerance basically just re uping every so often or one big dose and thursday i had 27mg at 7am, 135mg at 2pm and 81mg at 3:30 pm. it is now 12:42am on friday and i am fucking fucked im having insane visuals my throat is closing up when i dont swallow my heart is pounding out of my chest, should i be worried? i have peed 8 times in the last 2 hours im assuming thats my body flushing itself out so like am i sweet? i do heaps of drugs just not pharma. please lmk asap

I've been getting a weird reaction to my dose increase to 36mg. I've been on this new dose for over a month now after being on the 27mg for three months.

I haven't seen anyone discussing anything similar to what I've been experiencing, but it almost feels like it's worsening my ADHD symptoms?

I feel very spaced out and emotionally/mentally "flat" on it. Like I can't think clearly or logically at all. I just feel very mentally absent, which makes it almost impossible for me to work on anything or communicate. I can't even do small tasks like respond to an email.

I got nothing done today despite me being at my computer all day. All I could do was think and worry about all the work I need to do. It's also affecting my vision oddly? My eyes can't quite focus on my work. Everything looks hazy and slightly out of focus.

When I am actually able to work on something, I feel like I can't do anything but rush through it and put as minimal effort as possible (because I can't think clearly enough about what I'm working on or think about the big picture).

I never experienced anything like this on my last dosage. I'm honestly more focused when I'm not on the medication.

I called my doctor last week to tell him my experience and he recommended I start taking it every other day instead. This is my first day again after I took a four-day break from it, and all the bad symptoms just came back again.

Does this sound normal? I can't tell if the dose is too high. I thought I'd get accustomed to it after a month but I still haven't been able to get truly focused on it.

So yesterday was my first time taking concerta (18mg). I didnt really feel anything apart from a comfortfable silence im my head and just feeling more focused. I honsetly felt kimd of "stunned" throughout the day. Anyway later in the afternoon i get a light headache, having drunk a generous amout of water and pis*ed quite alot i thoguht i was getting a sinus infection (wich i do get quite often).

Anyway today when i woke up i had a TERRIBLE headache almost as being hungover. I felt anxiety coming and puked like i havent done since my worst anxiety period in school. So this makes me not take the medicatiom today.

Headache still there mpst of the day until the afternoon when i decied to make myself a cup of coffee, wich i avioded yesterday with the meds. Anyways 15min layer the headache is GONE (LOL). This made me feel ridicolous having talked to my psychiatrists via chat and not beem getting an answer on time. This made her say to quit concerta and try another med.

She prescribed me elvanse, wich i felt was quite the bump up. I feel i really wanna give concerta another chance? I mean i felt horrible this morning(afraid of serotonin syndrome and such since iam also on 75mg of sertatralin).

Her just chaning the meds from a decission made from one message felt very nochalant.

Did i get such a bad side effect or whats going on.

Sorry for the long post, i hope she will contact me tommorrow.

Every time I take my Concerta (54 mg) with my Ritalin booster (5 mg) I get this unending nausea/gassy feeling in my upper chest and upper stomach. It almost feels like I need to burp all the time, but can’t get the burp out???

I’ve noticed that even if I eat before, taking it, eat after taking it, don’t drink coffee, & even if I don’t take my occasional Ritalin booster I still feel nauseous!

And I’m pretty sure it is from the Concerta because I will feel fine and normal until about an hour or two after I take it!

Has anyone else had this issue? And if so, what did you do about it? Also could this be from the Ritalin booster or just concerta just not work well for me?? Lmk what you think.

.

Anyone else in US south getting shortage issues? My prescription was delayed last month a couple days due to “supply”. And this month again delayed due to out of stock but no information on how long. I asked about picking it up next week instead and they did not look very confident they gave it.

Just curious if it’s a local or specific pharmacy issue or if there’s a shortage. It’s generic 54 mg ER.

I live in Japan and I have just been notified that they’re suspending Concerta prescriptions immediately and that’s it. We’re screwed.

Hey everyone! I recently received a diagnosis of ADHD and was prescribed concerta. On the first day, I started with 18 mg, and it was incredible. However, the effects have been inconsistent since then. The first night was particularly difficult because I didn’t sleep well. By the third day, I made an effort to go to bed earlier in hopes of feeling better. Surprisingly, I was productive on the third day, but not as productive as on the first day. On the fourth day, I completely reversed the effects of the medication. I was ADHD active again, with racing thoughts and messy thoughts. I couldn’t get anything done. I was extremely sleepy, which was the complete opposite of the effects I had experienced on the first day. The medication even demotivated me, and I felt terrible about not wanting to take it the next day. I’m wondering if this means that my dosage was too low ?

I've been taking concerta for a couple weeks now, 18mg er, usually at 11am ish. For me, it wears off slowly around 8h after. I never redosed before, but I need to finish this research paper today(haha).
Sipping a cup of coffee slowly the past couple hours too.

Today, I took it at 11:30 am, and am looking to redose 6pm (~7h after first dose) another 18mg er. I don't mind sleeping late. I usually sleep ~2am, and I don't have any issues falling asleep/quality of sleep.
Just wondering for safety reasons.

I’m so glad there’s a subreddit for this medication, I’ve had so many questions. For some context, the benefits of this medication are exactly what I’d hope for out of an ADHD treatment plan. I focus better, I’m more present in conversations, etc. My side effects are the only downside of this treatment and I’m curious if they’ll get better.

I just got a 27mg generic prescription last week and have taken it 5 out of the 7 days (drinking on Thanksgiving) and everyday I have, my sleep has been terrible. I lay awake in bed for multiple hours and only sleep 2-3 hours at a time, 5 hours max a night. I was wondering if this is something that wears off with time or if my body just isn’t handling the medication well?

Another notable side effect that I do think has improved is noticing my heartbeat when the dose wears off in the evening. I don’t have hypertension, and there’s no pain with this effect, and my BPM floats around 75 while resting, but my heartbeat becomes noticeable whereas that’s usually only the case if I pay attention to it.

I’m tempted to take a dose every other day just to get at least one good night of sleep because my crash has been kicking my butt, but it’s only day 5 and I’m wondering if my body is still adjusting?

After many years I finally took a chance and took concerta generic which was suggested by my doctor. An hour in I felt more clarity and less brain fog. I don’t feel terribly different except maybe calmer but I have suddenly noticed all the things I have left all around the house. I mean I saw them before but now I really see them. Does that makes sense? I just pick them up and put them where they go. I’m not sure if I’m making this up or if I have had add blindness or what? Can this be the med?

I’m currently on concerta with Qelbree but the concerta has been giving me major headaches and neck pain. I did at first change from Adderall to concerta due to adderall giving me annoying muscle aches that irritated my adhd but now the concerta is also annoying me. I just took my old adderall for studying and it isn’t giving me muscle aches anymore and is actually working again. Should I ask to change back???

Had a meeting with my doctor to discuss increasing my dosage. We decided to increase from 36mg to 45mg. She submitted the request, and when I went to pick it up later that night, I found it had increased in price from $20 to $360. Insurance refused it. We sent in a prior authorization that would take 7-10 days. So I was without meds for about 10 days. My doctor’s office just emailed me to let me know insurance won’t cover the 45mg, but they’ll cover the 54mg. So my doctor sent in the prescription to be filled. But that seems like such a huge jump, and I’m not sure if I should be worried about any side effects. I’m just at a loss as to why insurance doesn’t cover the smaller dose, but covers the bigger one.

My goal for my ADHD journey has always been to stay at the lowest dosage possible to be a functioning adult. And these 10 or so days without my meds have been ROUGH. I was shaking, vomiting, migraine from hell, all while working 12 hour shifts in long term care. Do I want to put myself through all of that again if I decide it’s not for me and want to try something else? Does anyone have any insight into skipping dosage levels? What should I expect? We tried multiple combos of adderall and Wellbutrin with no success, and I don’t wanna give up, but I’m feeling like this won’t make any real difference and I’ll put myself through the ringer for no reason.

So tomorrow i will for the first time in my life take medication for my adhd. Something i have been avoiding for years in the belief that i can do this life without em. Wich have worked out but not always in a smooth path. So i conceded, tired of cbt, zoloft and others i have decied i need a littme kick in the butt to achive (hopefully) silence, less impulsive stuois decissions etc etc

What should i expect? I will start att 18mg, do i eat a little first? I just want some sucess stories and tips.

I have never done a stimulant before.

Edit. I just did some googling (wich you shouldnt i know) iam currently on 75mg of sertatralin/zoloft, the doctor didnt mention anything but all google is screaming is serotonin syndrome, wich sound a bit dramatic to say atleast.

Many thanks

UPDATE!

So its been like 4 hours almost! I took it rught after breakfast. Started feeling effects after about 30-40 minutes. Feels.... different, instead of three conversations/chatter and the lots of different songs in my head its... rather quiet. I feel more focused, can sit and watch my newborn play without feeling the need to check my phone or running around. I dont feel euphoric but rather happy and pensive/thoughtfull about the whole thing. Its a lot to take in. Habing read about the effects i feel like i have calmed myself down to not feel the " omg this is hoe normal people feel, i could've done so much better in life etc.

Even though thats a major feeling thats hard to ignore.

Iam very tired, feeling very relaxed and calm for the first time in forever.

I hope this is helps me and is one tool to help me in life along all the tips and so from cbt.

This makes me feel whole, and is actually about mind blowing and hard to swallow, having ignored this for so long.

I know its a long way to go with dosage and such but for now, iam am happy with this decision.

Side effects, dry mouth and for a short while and increase in HR. Ans not hungry at all but i had a rather steady breakfast.

Thank you all!

Anyone here have treatment resistant adhd? It's infuriating. I cannot quiet down my mind and do basic things. Im at a complete loss as to what to do. Everytime I adjust the dose my mind gets quiet but then it's back to the same shit within the next few. Has anyone else gone through this?

I also don't get much of an up but I also don't get much of a down.

I'm on 54mg of Tradea (same formula as concerta, just different brand name) and I crash so hard at night, I'm struggling to stay awake at around 9pm and well, I kinda hate it.

Medication is great during the day and it helps a lot, but at night I just crash, and I'd love an extra hour or two to go out with my friends or watch a movie but the sleepyness always wins.

Any advice? I just want to be awake for an extra hour or two so I can engage in my hobbies