Concerta for Narcolepsy User Reviews

• sus...
• June 18, 2010

"I have narcolepsy and OSA along with severe Restless Legs Syndrome. I've been on Ritalin and 2 different non-narcotic medicines, and they simply stopped being effective after a short period of time. FINALLY, my doctor put me on 54 mg of Concerta along with 18 mg of Concerta, totaling 72 mg, and it's perfect. I can still take a short nap, but I am able to finally stay awake longer than 2 hours. It took 3 sleep studies and about 5 different drugs, but I think I finally am beginning to feel optimistic!"

• Jec...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 16, 2013

"My doctor originally put me on this medication because I thought I was ADD on account of concentration and focus issues. After my first dose leveled out and needed to be adjusted, we realized I may be narcoleptic since my main complaint was daytime sleepiness along with the focus and concentration issues. I have a sleep study coming up to confirm the diagnosis, but this medication has saved my life. I can now stay awake all day, focus and concentrate, and my moods are even better. This is very important as a wife, stay-at-home mom of 3, and a college student. It works wonderfully for me! I do find I drink more water and crave cigarettes more, but the trade-off is definitely worth the benefits I am getting!"

• Jet...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 26, 2018

"I had difficulty staying awake. I was taking all kinds of meds for mood disorders, and most of them caused drowsiness and weight gain. In 2016, I did a sleep study test, but didn't qualify for a CPAP machine. So I tried narcoleptic meds, but they didn't work well for me. My doctor prescribed Adderall XR, which was great for a while until I needed higher dosages to function, but the side effects weren't worth taking the med. So I stopped all stimulants. I did a sleep study test in January of 2018 and was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea. The CPAP machine wasn't enough alone for the narcolepsy. Now I take Concerta and feel alert, and I usually wake up before 6 a.m. Concerta helps me, and I only take 27 mg."

• kat...
• March 31, 2017

"I have had narcolepsy my whole life, and for the longest time, I thought it was because I was lazy. As a straight-A student, I didn't understand why it was so difficult for me to get up, stay awake, and make my body match up with my motivation. Literally, the first day I started taking this medication, I could stay awake in all of my classes, and I felt the passion and love for learning I always had as a kid. For the past years, watching Netflix was the go-to rather than homework just because I couldn't muster the physical nor mental energy to follow through. While I have been successful in my academics, after Concerta, I could study for longer, I could do more things, and I could finish my work faster. A 27 mg dose works all day (100 lbs)."

• Jax...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 18, 2013

"Although I was never officially diagnosed with narcolepsy, about 10 years ago, I began slowing down, literally, my energy and motivation kept going down and down, etc. I longed to be normal and play with my kids like I once had. Finally, we seemed to have found the right medication, and now we just need to adjust the dosage. It has been nearly a month, and it's been a little rocky because of the adjustments needed, but I feel like I am becoming the Jackie I once was. I just need to check more about the side effects, etc. So far, so good."

• Ami...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 7, 2021

"I have both mixed sleep apnea and narcolepsy. I have been taking an 18 mg Concerta pill each morning for 6 days now. From day 1, the continual tiredness and falling asleep has stopped. I am able to concentrate and focus at work for prolonged periods of time, whereas before, I would take a break and wash my face every 30 minutes to try to avoid feeling sleepy. Now I am sleeping better (using a CPAP machine) and awake as normal during the day… really happy with the results… Also, so far, I have had no side effects other than on day 3 my vision was a bit weird for about an hour, then returned to normal… Overall, a positive experience."

• fuz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 30, 2020

"I take this med, Concerta, for narcolepsy - 36 mg, 2 times daily, and it works okay - the side effects are troubling. Mood swings, irritability, foggy brain, memory issues. The good and the bad are an even balance at this point."

• air...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 7, 2024

"I feel like this is a good short-term solution, but is ultimately like putting lipstick on the pig. Can it help you stay awake? Yes, it can. Will you still be constantly sleep deprived just not able to feel it? Also, yes. It doesn't help with nighttime sleep at all, which I find frustrating. I’ll be moving to something stronger as soon as I can."

• Lul...
• February 21, 2021

"I took this medication along with another narcolepsy medication for about 3 months. At first, I was taking Armodafinil 250 mg and Concerta 36 mg ER every morning. I became extremely anxious and paranoid about irrational things. I also became very OCD as well, which is not normal for me. After explaining that to my doctor, I ended up reducing Armodafinil to 150 mg and continued the Concerta 36 mg ER. I did this for about a month, but I didn’t feel like the medication was benefiting me enough to continue taking it. I also had a dry mouth when on the medication, and I was physically unable to yell. My mouth and throat felt like sandpaper. Personally, I didn’t think the meds were helping me enough with attention span and alertness. I quit Concerta 36 mg ER and went back to just taking Armodafinil 250 mg. I have been focusing a lot on my diet and exercise, which I felt has made a huge difference. Also, prioritizing my mental health. But everyone with narcolepsy is different!"

• Omt...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 26, 2016

"This med is not good. It doesn't work, it only lasts 7 hours. I'm taking Ritalin also 10 mg, and 54 mg of Concerta. I will not recommend it. I also take Ritalin for 3 years, and it does not last long. No good."

• Anonymous
• May 21, 2008

"An excellent medication for treating my condition."

• Anonymous
• May 24, 2010

"Didn't work for me and gave me a really bad headache."

• Des...
• February 23, 2024

"I think it is very effective in combination with modafinil. The sleep attacks are finally under control."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 16, 2021

"Concerta ER helped some with my narcolepsy, but caused me to be highly irritable. I am bipolar, which could have exacerbated and contributed to the mood swings. I have decided to try other meds."

• Pot...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 6, 2022

"Lost a lot of weight and had a lot of headaches when I forgot to take it, but after like a month, it was over."