Concerta and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Che...
• September 23, 2011

For ADHD "I was put on Concerta when I was in grade 9 because I was struggling to pay attention in class and just didn't have any desire to be in school. After starting to take it, my marks in school jumped way up because I was able to focus in school and pay attention. The only thing I find I don't like about it would be the side effects, like the hot flashes, mood swings, and whenever I miss it, I just feel weird and have hot flashes, and headaches is another big thing I get really bad with this medicine. But it has certainly helped me with schooling and just things in general. But it has certainly changed the ways of my everyday life."

• SAL...
• February 12, 2010

For ADHD "I'm a 15-year-old girl and have been taking 18 mg in the morning for 4 days now and 0.1 mg of clonidine at night. I had a mild, lingering headache the first day, was able to focus a little more on songs I was working on the second day, lost emotion, and had to fake laughing and smiling with my friend the next day, and today I was able to focus a little more than usual and get some vocabulary words done. I'm more motivated, but my attention span isn't improved much. Also, I can sit still. My psychologist doesn't think I'm hyperactive, but my usual constantly moving legs and fidgety hands are still. I'll have to give it more time to work and increase the dosage once my body is used to it, but I think it's doing okay for only 4 days on a low dose."

• Ali...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 18, 2021

For ADHD "I am a 22-year-old female. I was recently diagnosed with ADHD after discussing my struggles with a counselor and was recommended to speak to my physician about getting a diagnosis. I have been on 18 mg for almost 2 weeks. I noticed a change right from the start. It feels like there is more time in the day, I am more productive, less procrastination, don't feel like staying in bed all day anymore due to being overwhelmed. I also feel more level-headed and haven't snapped at my family. However! I am getting side effects that make me wonder if it is worth it. Some of the side effects I have are nausea, headache, and overall just not feeling great. Kind of like something is 'off' with me. I also notice becoming more emotional in the evening as the medication leaves my system, but not unbearable. The weird thing is, I mostly feel side effects on slow days, and no side effects on days that I have a lot on my mind/lot's to do."

• hwa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 2, 2024

For ADHD "I have taken extended-release methylphenidate ER (Concerta) for about 5 months now, and here is my experience. In the very beginning, I was prescribed 18 mg Concerta generic after being diagnosed with inattentive ADHD. For the first week and a half, I was feeling very anxious and like I didn't want to go all in to being medicated full-time. But after giving it time, it got much better, and school grades and general focus were improving. But there are pros and cons. First, the pros. Pros: improved focus, better grades, better attention span, basically most if not all of my symptoms were being improved with the meds. Cons: frequent headaches, random anxiety, random stomach pains, not eating as much, dry mouth, and the worst con in my experience is the irritability. When I am on this medication, it is so easy for me to get upset over the smallest noises or changes in pace. But overall, it is a good medication for getting things done. There are other side effects, but overall it works."

• pil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 22, 2022

For ADHD "I was initially prescribed Ritalin, which worked well, but after moving to a country where only Concerta is available for ADHD, I had to switch over. Despite them both being methylphenidate, Concerta felt like a very different drug. The side effects were significantly worse - I had terrible headaches (though I’ve heard that can be mitigated by drinking a lot of water while on it), as well as worrying cardiovascular issues, and strangely the drug was really inconsistent. One day it would be somewhat effective, the next day it would give me really bad anxiety that made it difficult to focus, etc. I wasn’t taking any other medication that could have interacted with Concerta, so I have no idea what was causing such varying reactions. Even after discontinuing use, I still have some cardiovascular issues from this drug. Tread with caution! Avoid Concerta unless all other possibilities have been exhausted (other stimulants, neurofeedback, Clonidine/Guanfacine, etc)."

• Sal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 18, 2018

For ADHD "I was on this drug all through my childhood and feel emotionally ruined because of it. My brain didn't have a chance to develop properly because it was on drugs all my life. When I graduated high school, my parents stopped forcing me to take it, and I've been off of it for 5 years trying to deal with the symptoms that are actually just manifestations of developmental trauma. (Read 'Scattered Minds' by Dr. Gabor Maté if you want to know what I'm talking about.) All in all, don't push drugs on your kids. There are alternatives. I took a pill 3 days ago because what I was doing wasn't working and I needed something extra, and I had muscle pain and weakness and headaches for 2 days after, could barely sleep, and have had constipation since."

• Col...
• August 8, 2021

For ADHD "I have been diagnosed with ADHD combined type this year at the grown age of 39. I always knew my brain was wired differently but managed to get through schooling, however, this pandemic worsened all of the symptoms I was experiencing. After months of therapy and doctor visits, I was started on Concerta (generic) 18 mg. I actually get things done around the house! I don't daydream all day, and I am not as angry as I used to be. I can read without forgetting, I can watch movies now without moving a thousand times or pulling my phone out, also, I can pay attention to audiobooks. The downside is the side effects. I burn through this in 6 hours max, I get a headache, dry mouth, increased heart rate, and bad nausea if not eaten with a meal. Also, be mindful of taking this with any other medication because it can exacerbate the side effects."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 7, 2015

For ADHD "The only reason I gave Concerta a 2 and not a 0 was because when I didn't take it for two days, I could feel myself going through withdrawal. I would begin to feel tired, annoyed, and angered easily, some headaches, and so on. I have been on Concerta for about 13 years, and even with it in my system, I still struggled in school. At first, they had me on smaller doses, but they had to be increased. I've been taking 108 mg each morning, and the only thing that I have noticed a difference in is the withdrawal I go through, which can be helped by drinking coffee. By the way, I'm currently on the drug right now, and I'm supposed to be studying for my Spanish exam that I have this afternoon. So if that doesn't tell you something, then idk what will."

• Mam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 9, 2022

For ADHD "I needed something to help me focus more in life. I don't understand how this stuff is even legal. It's like legal coke. I got the lowest dosage too. I felt like I was high off cocaine all day and could not sleep when night came until the a.m. Whew! Never again. My heart rate was crazy, and my head felt like it was going to explode from all the thinking."

• Anonymous
• May 24, 2010

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

• Jan...
• April 28, 2023

For ADHD "Concerta has not helped me yet. I’ve been on it for almost a week, and so far I’ve had no productivity, no focus, no energy. Just lethargy, insomnia, headaches, and body aches. Really sucks."

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

For Narcolepsy "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."