My Side-Effects on Concerta

[Klapsmuhle]

Hello guys. So my psych prescribed me Concerta a few months ago, because I have some problems with staying focused and recalling information, to sum it up. I used to take Vyvanse, but it decreased my appetite way too much, so he switched me over to Concerta in hopes that it would provide the same effects, minus the lack of appetite. He wanted me to start on the 36mg tablets-- I don't know why.

Concerta doesn't quite give the same good feeling as Vyvanse, and I know quite a few people can agree with me. The euphoria is very different (if you can even call the effects of Concerta "euphoric"). But aside from that, it jacks up my heart rate to 120-130 bpm, which I'm not sure is a regular side-effect or not. Every day I wake up at around 7am to eat breakfast and take my morning med, and then I go back to sleep and wake up late in the afternoon. However, when I take Concerta in the morning and go back to sleep, I wake up from my nap much earlier with my heart pounding. I'm also really sensitive to (and irritated by) sound once the early evening hits.

Has anyone else had the same effects (particularly the increased heart rate)? Share your experiences in general, be it from medical use or recreational. Also, it's probably noteworthy that I have tried the "alza 36" tablet both whole and cut in half (to break the slow-release mechanism) and I get a rapid heart rate from either, and that my psych doesn't seem to think I have ADD/ADHD and neither do I. In other words, he has prescribed me stimulants to treat my symptoms, not a whole specific disorder.

 

[P.o.T.u.S]

Have u tried taking a smaller dose? Maybe it will get better when your tolerance rises to the medication but raised heart rate is a serious health concern if u plan on taking this med for a long period

i would think twice about taking a stimulant for a long period of time if it's not absolutely necessary even if it's prescribed..I've seen people start to act crazy and look a mess just from long term adhd medication use.

 

[MrRoot]

What is the reason why you go back sleeping until the afternoon?

There might be something in your sleep patterns which causes that high heart rate or your sleep patterns are because of something which causes your heart to be so high.

 

[psychonautcasper]

OP Heres my experience with Concerta 18mg from Sept-June. This is a long one, sorry. My sophomore year, ahh what a time, i didnt even know much about drugs at that time hahaha. i never looked up the side effects or anything! I still dont know jack shit about concerta tho cuz I hate concerta. I hate it, but at the same time without ever taking it, i might not have formed to who i am today.

So at the beginning of sophomore year, first year playing football(hs jv football loool) and Id say during that whole sept-oct, while taking concerta daily, I loved it. Went to school. Actually improved grades. Football practice. Always busy. it felt pretty dam good. That point in my life I was in the "zone." Then nov-februrary is a big blur. I didnt feel any negative effects yet but after football my performamce went back down. The concerta was still unnoticeable at that time.

In march i started smoking weed. Started to open my mind more to what the world is like. Start noticing how drugs affect me. Just was paying attention.

Mid March was when anxiety was hitting me. at this point in my life, i never truely had "anxiety." Only from normal things like right before a baseball or football game. During the game anxiety never hit my mind. In general anxiety wasnt apart of my life.

April, well i had weed so it helped cope with side effects of concerta, but if I haddent smoked, prob would been awful.

May, fucking May, i remember that month specifically. That month my dealer moved, and that whole May month was my first "tbreak" you can say. Just felt awful the first week. Taking concerta drove that even higher. My stomach was killing me more. I had no appitite but i was starving. Mary Jane woulda cancled it out but i had to sit through the pain!!! Anxiety drove insanely up. Panic Attacks. Worried and tweaked out. I was tweaking bro. Stress went up too because of the anxiety that concerta gave me. It was my first "lowest" point in my life I had gone. Just sick everyday. By the 2nd week was when it got scary. My heart was hurting. It felt as if there was something wrong with my heart. It would beat heavy, hard, and what some would say as panic attacks. The fast heart rate i believe is from anger. Butall this was when i got mad. (For the heart pain.) Everytime i got a little pissed off(having a mini temper doesnt help) from others, the stress hurt my heart. It was scary. After school ended. I stopped it immediately and just stuck with marijuana. It was something godawful to experience but, all that stress and shit made me who i am right now. Smokin the ganja, lookin into psychedelics, look at pharamcology of why you feel this and this. I did my research more in dept. also i know how my mind/body works. I switched to adderall since then, but only use it for a lot of work in a single night. I have better control of my adhd now too.

This is actually my first time writing about this. During the time it was god awful. and it was only 18mg LOL. that was a while ago haha much has changed. Looking back at it, wasnt such a big deal but I will never let any substance do that to me again!

well now, been about two years ago. I still have that persistant anxiety in which i learned to accept. My mom and down her family tree, they have generalized anxiety, maybe concerta woke the beast. I really dont know. Still tryna figure that one out.

Sorry for it being long but i thought it would be nice since you asked about heart. Lol

And yes, to me, concerta has euphoria. At daily usage. Its a bit weird but can be enjoyable