A number of ADHD medications are hitting the market, joining the old Ritalin standby. Concerta, in its relatively short existence, has already grabbed a sizable portion of the ADHD medication market share.

Although Concerta offers a number of advantages over the older ADHD medications, it also has several side effects that people with Attention Deficit and parents of Attention Deficit children should be aware of before administering this medication.

Concerta medication for ADHD and ADD is a once-daily treatment and, when introduced, was the first time-release formula. A modified version of Adderall, Adderall XR, followed with a time-released delivery system.

The Concerta capsule has an outer coat of medication that dissolves quickly and then two small compartments of medication inside that release gradually.

The time-released system of the Concerta capsule provides up to 12-hour coverage and provides more even coverage for ADHD symptoms but there are a few drawbacks with the capsule form.

• If not taken early in the morning, manufacturers recommend skipping the dose for that day since the stimulants will affect normal sleep patterns.
• Some people find that, even with early morning dosing, Concerta significantly disrupts normal sleep patterns.
• Because of the tablet's non-deformable shell, the Concerta pill cannot be cut to decrease the dosage. This aspect causes trouble for people with Attention Deficit still working to find the best dosage levels or for those who wish to give their child a lower dose for half-days at school. Increasing or decreasing by any amount requires a new prescription.
• Parents cannot crush the tablet and mix with food for children who have difficulty swallowing pills since crushing the Concerta medication will also destroy the release mechanism.
• The Concerta shell does not completely digested and remnants of the Concerta tablet can often be seen in stools. Although most people's digestive systems can typically pass a wide variety of very interesting articles and does not typically pose a serious health hazard, Concerta is not recommended for people with gastrointestinal narrowing and digestive problems.

Concerta Side Effects:

Concerta side effects seem less pronounced than Ritalin and Dexedrine side effects. Although Concerta side effects are less pronounced than the older medications' side effects, the Concerta medication for ADD and ADHD still pose negative side effects, as do other ADHD medications.

Concerta Side Effects include:

• abdominal pain
• aggravation, nervousness, hostility, sadness
• drug dependence
• dizziness
• headache
• tics
• insomnia and prolonged sleepiness
• loss of appetite
• increased coughing, sinusitis, upper respiratory tract infection
• vomiting
• allergic reaction
• increased blood pressure
• psychosis (abnormal thinking or hallucinations).

Concerta should not be used by people with marked anxiety or agitation, glaucoma, or tics or during treatment with monoamine oxidase inhibitors.

The stimulant methylphenidate, also used in Ritalin, is the active ingredient in the Concerta medication for ADHD and ADD. The medical community has not yet determined the long-term effects of having methylphenidate in the bloodstream for prolonged hours every day for numbers of years.

In stating the potential for abuse and dependence on this drug, the Concerta manufacturer also instructs people to inform their doctor if their child has ever used or been dependent on alcohol or drugs, or if the child is now using or dependent on alcohol or drugs.

Concerta, along with all other ADHD medications currently on the market, is not recommended for children under the age of six since its safety and effectiveness has not been determined. Despite ADHD drug manufacturer's own labels warning against prescribing these powerful drugs to young children, doctors increasingly prescribe ADD medications to children under the manufacturer recommended age.

Parents should carefully consider the health effects of placing small children on medications for ADD and ADHD, even if the child's health care provider prescribes an medication for ADHD or ADD. The Concerta medication is about 70 percent effective in decreasing the symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder, which is about the same level of effectiveness to Ritalin, Adderall and Strattera.

Although the prevailing ADHD medications have about the same level of effectiveness on the general population, children and adults react differently to the different formulations. Ritalin might produce severe side effects while Concerta side effects might be minimal. Adderall side effects could present themselves differently than Strattera side effects.People using ADHD medications know that these little pills are never the "cure-all" answer. Attention Deficit requires a multifaceted approach which requires many different tactics and combination of tactics. What works is highly individual, depending on individual needs.Many people with Attention Deficit Disorder and parents of children with Attention Deficit Disorder find great Attention Deficit Disorder and ADHD success from diet supplementation - especially with amino acids and essential fatty acids - a shift in parenting tactics, modifying the home and school environment, biofeedback, neuro-linguistic programming, stress relief measures and exercise.

The greatest successes are found by being bold and trying a combination of many measures.

Bio: Jeannine Virtue is a freelance journalist and mother of an Attention Deficit Disorder son. Visit the Attention Deficit Disorder Help Center at http://www.add-adhd-help-center.com for effective drug-free alternatives to Ritalin, Concerta and other ADHD medications.

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My ADHD

I took this drug 1 day and it made me feel weird.Should I just ask the doctor to prescribe me ritolin

Michael Mikos , July 06, 2009

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OMFG

LMFAo i benn taking Concerta Since I Was Like 7 And Now Im 15 And Im Shocked WHen I Saw The Symptoms i Was Like WOW

Vincent , August 20, 2009 | url

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Hmm...

Im 17 and just got put on Concerta. It really does help but Im also on anti-depressants and will be put on medication for borderline schizophrenia. The side affects can cause that.

Misti , September 10, 2009

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OMG

My 5 yr old has been taking concerta for about 2 months now and starting Last night she began hallucinating. She sees things that arent there, hears things that arent there, and sees people that arent there. These "visions" are very frightening for her.... Neuro says Concerta doesnt cause hallucinations... I think they are wrong!

Brandy , November 10, 2009

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Psychosis

I took Concerta for about a month and started waking up in the middle of the night and hallucinating.It was so scary and I was having abnormal/suicidal thoughts which is totally unlike me. I told my Doctor and switched over to Adderall which is much better and has less side effects.

Katie , November 15, 2009

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Psychosis/hallucinations

We just spent 6 hours in the emergency room Sunday due to our 16 year old son taking three Concerta instead of his usual one. It was incredibly scary! He was talking to people who weren't in the room, seeing things, hearing things, getting his days/times all mixed up, his pupils were dilated, his heart was racing, etc.
He's unfortunately one of those kids who "follows the crowd" and I think kids at school were talking about taking multiple doses & he wanted to try it. Now we're taking him off of it all together. After reading more about it & learning a lot of stuff about the side effects, I think we'll try something else to help with his ADHD. Also if we end up trying a different medication, this time we will be giving it to him each day and making sure he only takes one. I don't ever want to go through that again.

PlainJane , November 24, 2009

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Umm..

I'm a college student so I started to take Concerta to help me actually focus on the books. I started to take the pills during Finals Week and I literally only was able to go to sleep 2 days out of the 5 day school week. I feel paranoid wherever I go. Never again. :[

risquenet , December 18, 2009 | url

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be careful...

My 6 yr old has been taking concerta for about 3 months now and a few days ago he started hallucinating. He is absolutely terrified to have the lights off at night now. He is seeing huge spiders and monkeys. My lil boy won't sleep now. He is now off of it and I think he is having withdrawls.. It is just awful!!!!

Shannon , December 23, 2009

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...

my 11 year old son has beeen taking conterta since the age of 5 and has had 2 of his mollar teeth pulled and cavity after cavity. He's twice a day brushing and flossing hasn't helped at all. Both his father and I have really good teeth, I've only had one cavity my whole life. My son's teeth are stained with these huge yellow spots. I asked the Dr if it was due to long term use of concerta and he was unable to comfirm seing as it's a new drug. My diagnosis is YES it is

Angela , January 21, 2010 | url

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Take it from me...

I am a true experienced, Concerta consumer. I have been taking Concerta everyday for 5 years now however, I do not take them during summer break. When I first started taking them I finally realized how everyone else thinks. I realized how they talk, how they approach life, I basically learned how much of a bubble I used to live my life in. I never worried about my future or had any intentions on ever doing so (BTW my average grade was a D/C+). Finally I became prescribed and it turned my life around in more ways than one. 1st, my room was cleaned constantly, clothes folded, I simply developed a knack for liking my stuff clean. 2ed, I cared more about my looks, my body, and is why I am a pretty bulk guy with a six pack as a result from going to the gym 4 days a week. I have never "hallucinated," and roll my eyes when I hear this, I'm sorry but I think they find it to be a good gossip starter. I promise you, you never saw anything. However, I do believe you heard something, the reason is because you did hear something. Honestly, on this medicine you have sharpened senses, you hear things because you did hear something, things that nobody else would pick up because the person taking it is just simply quicker than the person without. Anyways, my grades shot up to B's and A's after taking it, it guided me all the way to college, where I am now, where I still do get B's and A's. I save money, I have a job, have a beautiful girlfriend, I do good things. I truly owe the creators of Concerta for what I truly consider saving my life, a thank you.
Thank You

James McLain , February 01, 2010 | url

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...

I have an interesting story but wish to remain anonymous...is this possible?

Johnny Robbin , February 10, 2010

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Concerta

The first time you take it, it will be weird for all of them. You may hallucinate, be in pain, or have panic attacks. Press on unless it is really horrible. Get a sample of half-dose from the doctor if you can. In a feww days the worst will be over. However, it will always affect you. You are putting a very powerful drug into your blood. If you stop a summer and restart, you will have the same starting problems, but it will fade quicker. I personally had problems with Ritalin, I have ADD, and it made me go insane; hyper, frentic, and spastic. you may also get hyper coming off concerta each day,but its not as bad.

Aard Rinn , February 25, 2010

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Drug effects everyone differently

We can all post here how Concerta has helped or hurt either us or our family members; but the reality is we all react differently to different medications. My brother is 40 years old and was put on Concerta by our family doctor (in consulatation with a psychiatrist outside our city) in April 2009. Since then, he has been in the hospital 6 times (twice in a psychiatric ward)- he would be up for days and would be in a manic state. He has Aspeger's Syndrome, ADHD, OCD, anxiety & depression. But since he has taken Concerta, he has become VERY agitated and irrational. He won't tell us if he's taking the Concerta properly or not (too much or too little). He is finally being assigned to a psychiatrist who he will hopefully meet on a regular basis. I don't think Concerta is right for him. 2 + 2 = 4. Ever since he's been on Concerta he has not been himself, and he's been re-experiencing mania over and over. It hasn't worked for him, with very detrimental effects. BEWARE, and keep vigilant looking for the symptoms mentioned in this article!!!!

Jo-Anne , March 02, 2010

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...

i got home from school today feeling terrible i cant tell whats reality and whats my own thoughts ive been taking concerta for 2 months and this is the first time this has happened

dave2 , April 05, 2010

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in response to James Mcclain

James Mcclain...great story!! Good luck and congratulations!!

Im 49 years old. I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 36, but Ive known my whole life something wasnt right. I was put on Adderall, which I was on for 11 years. Great medication, but also very addicting. I ended up in rehab for it two years ago. I went in weighing 99 lbs, at 47 years old! I came out three weeks later weighing 120. Rehab had me on Strattera, which is pointless. For three weeks it did nothing for me and I was out of my head with ADHD symptoms. All the people I was close with in there were begging the Dr.s to give me something else, but they couldnt. Now, two years later, Im ok without Adderall, but still need something to help me, so this morning I started Concerta. I have good feeling about it.

Adderall is easy to abuse. It kept me thin. It kept me on top of things but I never slept. Probably because I took more than I should in a day because I didnt want the feeling to go away. Anyway, for me, it became a problem. Just watch yourself on it. Im looking forward to Concerta.

poetricia , April 06, 2010

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...

going off the market in 2012

jack32 , April 19, 2010

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...

I've been taking concerta for 5 years now. I'm 16 years old and when I was 11 almost every night I would have these "night-terrors" every time I had a night terror my parents would splash cold water on my face and make me talk to them. Since the night terrors stopped I've not had another one since and concerta has changed my life. My dad always tell me, " the medicine isn't who you are, it's a tool to help you be yourself"

Billy , April 28, 2010

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concerta

I find that concerta works great for me. I love it I can finaly focus. but I can not sleep at night. any suggestions?

Lisa Peluso , May 13, 2010

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Concerta

I started taking concerta a few days ago to help me study for my third year law exams. I would say it definately helps me focus more than I was able to before but I feel really weird at the same time. My heart rate has increased quite a bit but luckily no halluciantions...yet. I always used to be so lethargic but now I cant sleep for more than 3 hours a night and when I wake up it doesnt take me hours to snap out of my sleep like I used to. So I would say it has its pros and cons, Il try it for a little longer and wee what happens.

Richard Black , May 16, 2010

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Concerta

I started taking concerta a few days ago, I think it helps but Im nervous all the time. And a little paranoid, I take pristiq for anxiaty too. I dont know if this is rite for me. I keep telling my self maybe a couple more days the side effects will ease? I thought I was getting so much done today but now that its wearing off im not so sure. It feels like im on speed. Any advise would help.

claudv8 , May 24, 2010

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