Concerta and Insomnia: What Users Say

• 28a...
• March 7, 2010

For ADHD "I've used Concerta for 5 years and loved the improvements at first - I became successful, in perfect shape, and did most things extraordinarily well. My life did a complete 180. Once unfocused, unmotivated, and disorganized, I transformed to near perfection in everything I did. The price you pay for perfection - I've lost my friends and my social abilities. I used to be fun and full of life! You begin to seclude yourself because you are too focused, too mechanical. You lose weight because your appetite goes away and you are indeed anorexic. I couldn't sleep, had extreme anxiety, headaches, dry mouth, highs and lows....I can go on and on. It changes you and you may think it's great but ultimately you lose yourself in the process."

• Anonymous
• September 9, 2009

For ADHD "My son is 10 years old. I suspected he had ADD when he was 6, and the teacher kept telling me he was spacing out in school, but he is also so smart. I decided maybe the work was just too easy, and he was bored. In 4th grade, I couldn't take the complaints (almost daily) and had him tested. He was diagnosed with ADD and given Concerta. I can only tell you that his math teacher sent me home a note on the day he started medication to ask where I got my new son from, she could not believe it. She said he even went in during his lunch break to catch up on some work. He lost his appetite for the first week or so, but regained it and hasn't had trouble sleeping at all. He is happier, his teachers are happier, and I am HAPPIER! Thank you, CONCERTA."

• car...
• February 2, 2008

For ADHD "My daughter just started taking Concerta for ADD about 3 weeks ago and she has made significant improvements. She is now able to stay on task and complete assignments, which she was having a hard time doing before. There has been no difference in her personality, which was a concern of mine. She also has developed a better sleeping pattern, whereas before she had a tendency to have insomnia."

• Joh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 20, 2020

For ADHD "I am in my early thirties and very recently started drug trials for ADHD. After trying Vyvanse, which didn't work out, I moved to Concerta. On the lowest dose, I had concerns, as it seemed to make my ADHD symptoms worse. I became more irritable and more distracted. After a week, I moved the dose up to the next level and had a terrible day. Extremely irritable, so lethargic I could do almost nothing all day, difficult time sleeping... I had difficulty dealing with my children if they did the slightest thing wrong. Concerta is not for me, I will try something else."

• Lin...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 16, 2017

For ADHD "I'm 21 and I've been taking 72mg (two 36mg capsules) a day since I was about 17. Concerta changed my life. I was failing school, and no matter how hard I tried, it didn't change anything. I became depressed, slept for 14+ hours a day, and gave up. Then I was prescribed Concerta, and it changed my life. It keeps me focused, motivated, and energized. However, the side effects are very real. I don't sleep much, which is why I usually don't take it on weekends to catch up on sleep. It reduces my appetite, so I eat a big breakfast before taking it in the mornings. It does elevate my anxiety, and not saying it's something I suggest.. but I smoke cigarettes to help that. Also, I don't know if this is common or not, but it keeps my digestive tract regular."

• Jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 4, 2021

For ADHD "I've been on Concerta for a few weeks now, I was just recently diagnosed with ADHD, and it's my first medication. I am a 15-year-old female. I started with 18 mg but didn't feel any difference. It only decreased my appetite (I lost about 5 lbs a week) to the point where I became underweight. My doctor recently upped my dose to 36 mg, and I feel worse than before. I've been having a hard time falling asleep and have slept very restlessly. I am still losing weight. I've also noticed that I feel more moody and impulsive, and I have been hyper-fixating more and lashing out at my family. I have a doctor's appointment next week where I hope to switch medications."

• dnb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 4, 2019

For ADHD "I started taking Concerta about 6 months ago. The first month after being diagnosed with ADD, I was on Ritalin, then switched over to Concerta. I’m on the 72 mg of Concerta, and it really has changed my life. I failed two classes in college before I started medication, and now I am doing really well in school. It really helps me focus in general as well. I’ve lost 70 pounds since I started taking medicine for my ADD, so I’m currently 140. This medicine destroys my appetite until it wears off, so I usually only eat at night. It also has messed with my sleep, so I make sure to take it by 9 in the morning so that it will wear off by like 10 at night. Whenever the medicine wears off, I become super unproductive, but I’m not sure if that’s how I am without it or if it’s just worse when the medicine wears off. I really recommend Concerta, it really has helped me so much."

• mam...
• December 6, 2013

For ADHD "My daughter was finally diagnosed with ADHD Inattentive-type at age 16 after a lot of stress regarding high school academics and feeling 'dumb.' Concerta has been nothing short of a miracle for her. She finally ended up on the 54mg dosage and does very well. The only side effect she has had is loss of appetite which she now knows to eat a healthy/big breakfast before her medication in the morning. She then eats a normal dinner. She has occasionally had insomnia if she takes her medication later in the morning or if she has accidentally had caffeine. Overall, she is in a good groove with this medication and her SAT score went from 1600 to 2000 after medication and a prep course; GPA from 3.3 to 3.9."

• Wha...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 27, 2014

For ADHD "My 13-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter both have been diagnosed with ADHD. I, nor my husband, could wrap our minds around our kids taking medicine, but were forced to give it a try. My son started taking Concerta when he was in 4th grade, and my daughter started taking Vyvanse in the 3rd grade. The results were amazing! Their handwriting went from sloppy to super neat, reading skills increased, grades were mostly A's... and many more great results! The bad part about the pills is that they have so many side effects that were making them seem like totally different people! They were skinny, depressed, had insomnia, headaches, twitching, and were angry. We withdrew both from public school and started homeschool. Now learning at our own pace!"

• Exp...
• October 1, 2013

For ADHD "My daughter was diagnosed with ADHD in the 2nd grade, and her doctor and I discussed different medications and settled on Concerta. Grades were never a problem, but behavior and socialization were. She hated the medication and would spit it out or hide it. It gave her headaches, loss of appetite, and sleep loss. Eventually, she began taking it regularly and began to do well in school. The behavior problems ceased, as well as socialization. She took this medication for about 2 years, and then I decided to pull her off. Her teacher didn't even notice and thought she was still taking the medication because she was so well-adjusted and presented no serious issues. She never took meds again and learned to cope. She has ADHD but manages it other ways."

• ADD...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 27, 2014

For ADHD "I am on 27 mg Concerta. Never felt better. I have better grades because of better concentration. No anxiety or suicidal thoughts. I guess I have too much to keep me alive, that I have never had those thoughts. The only side effect seems to be slight insomnia, but I would prefer better grades over sleep."

• Mis...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 29, 2016

For ADHD "I began taking Concerta at the age of 13 to treat my ADHD. I'm now 22, still taking 27 MG of Concerta daily. Overall, it has been helpful with managing my ADHD symptoms, I'm much less distracted and able to stick to one task at a time. It was especially helpful when I was in school because it was just so impossible for me to stay focused in class. As an adult, it makes work so much easier for me because my job requires things to be done with a lot of precision. Side effects I've experienced have been headaches (occasionally migraines), inconsistent appetite, restlessness at night, some difficulty sleeping, and constant thirst. Despite the side effects, I feel that my overall quality of life has improved with taking Concerta to manage my ADHD."

• Anonymous
• January 7, 2016

For ADHD "I have been taking this for 10 years (started at 18 mg, went up to 36 mg). Recently (several months ago), I developed several horrible side effects. For example, it made me feel nervous. I could not keep still. It also made me extra irritable (to the point I was yelling at my friends for the littlest things). I also felt depressed (to the point I did not want to get out of bed at all) and could not sleep. The doctor brought me down to 18 mg, symptoms did not improve. I immediately stopped taking this and felt 100% better the next day. The doctor put me on Adderall XR, which works a lot better with very little side effects. Please avoid Concerta if possible."

• Cat...
• February 8, 2016

For ADHD "I've been taking Concerta for 3 years now, and I'm 18. I started out with 18 mg and slowly went up to 54 mg. My grades went from really low to average in weeks, but the side effects are really crappy. I have trouble sleeping at night, and I feel things that aren't there. I also have a big loss of appetite and have to force myself to eat sometimes. I have days where I get really depressed to the point that I don't want to get out of bed and do anything. I also feel really anxious and on edge, and I start scratching/picking at my skin, which gave me scars all over my back. I thought about it and went off the pill, and my grades suddenly dropped again. The pill really does help with focus and motivation, but the side effects are really tough!!!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 23, 2022

For ADHD "Concerta may work for some people, but it actually screws up. (I’m a minor and can’t make myself talk to my parents - partially because of the drug). Although it has proven to “work” for me, this stupid drug makes me feel like a walking corpse. I feel usually numb throughout the day and have an emotional crash at home. I can never think of anything to say, I trail off in the middle of answering things. I have no appetite to the point at which the thought of food makes me feel nauseous. I randomly get extremely nervous, my insomnia has gotten worse, I have really shaky muscles, I have tics, I have increased symptoms of severe depression and social anxiety. When it wears off, I feel awful and mean, and if I skip a single day, then I feel really sick. I don’t recommend this drug."

• vic...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 5, 2015

For ADHD "Simply amazing! I was on Concerta from the age of 11-17. It worked, but didn't really appreciate its qualities being a young lad... I came off it. Since then, life has gone dramatically downhill, and I have had issues with keeping a job, focusing, social acceptance... the works! I had no commitment to anything and no drive to establish myself in the world. I'm now 24 and have been back on them for 9 months. Since then, I have been 100 million times more productive. Secured an amazing job (and held it down) and even won a few Employee of the Month awards! I've also gained a new amazing social circle, and my relationships generally have never been better. Small side effects i.e. sleep issues. But I will never stop taking it unless forced."

• Bee...
• September 11, 2019

For ADHD "I was put on 36 mg Concerta in my 20s, and it helped drastically. I was able to finally concentrate and read without having to reread things because I was distracted every 0.5 seconds. I lost my appetite and would get insomnia at times. I went from a size 16 to 8 within a year, which honestly helped my health, and I was able to start going to the gym for the first time. I got off it when I moved overseas for 8 years, and now I’m back on it. The first couple of weeks are a bit rough, it gives me anxiety and restlessness, it’s an instant laxative, and makes you pretty antisocial. But remember, your body adjusts, and you start feeling more normal and less anxiety. However, if I take 36 mg and have any other stimulant like caffeine, I literally feel like I’m having a heart attack and anxiety attack at the same time. Be careful with mixing stimulants with this med if you have anxiety. Otherwise, it’s amazing and works miracles. Also, when I got off the 36 mg, my weight went up so fast."

• Anonymous
• March 21, 2011

For ADHD "My son was diagnosed with ADHD (predominantly inattentive) two years ago. I tried all kinds of non-medication treatments: tutors, 504 Plan, psychotherapy, meditation, Omega-3, diet, patience, love, encouragement, bribery... everything I could think of, but his grades continued to decline. He was finally prescribed 18 mg of Concerta. By the end of the 1st week, he was acing his tests, and his teacher said she finally has a student to teach and not just a body. The change is amazing. Slight decrease in appetite and the first couple of days it affected his sleep. Other than that, no side effects."

• fru...
• November 6, 2009

For ADHD "Started Concerta 5 weeks ago. Started with a 'pediatric' dose (I'm almost 40) and worked up to 54 mg. LOVE that I can finally focus and finish tasks, work is getting completed, my lists are getting checked off, and I'm making it to appointments on time. THEN...2 weeks ago, slight insomnia started to get worse, and minor anxiety...thought it was various life issues I was dealing with. Tonight...I'm dealing with severe insomnia and anxiety so bad I can barely sit and research my problem. I have a check-up with my doctor in 2 weeks, I'm calling tomorrow to get in sooner. I'm very upset as it solved my ADD problems and thought I started a new life...I do not want to start the trial and error roller coaster all over."

• Jul...
• April 8, 2015

For ADHD "I am currently a junior in high school on Concerta, going on 4 years with it, and I can honestly say it does work very well. It helps me focus a lot, and you can see the results reflected in my academics and how good they got. But the side effects are the downfall, of course. I get insomnia, and I lose my appetite completely for a whole day. And on top of that, I feel emotionless, like a robot that all it wants to do is study and focus. It takes a toll on social life, but I guess that's the price we all have to go through when taking medications."

• ast...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 27, 2016

For ADHD "I've had a history of abusing Adderall here and there due to my addictive nature, so being prescribed this medicine raised concerns between my family and doctor. Because of my horrible ADHD, we decided to give it a chance, and it's nothing compared to the 'kick in the nuts' Adderall is known for. My grades have improved in school, my mood is slightly elevated, and my cravings for sugar have ceased. It has not affected my sleep, and so far, works great. This is my experience and everyone reacts differently. I highly suggest this medication for anyone like me who has ADHD and possible addiction issues. Its rate of abuse is very slim because it seems to 'ceiling' like Suboxone for opiate addicts. Let's go build some robots!"

• sta...
• April 11, 2013

For ADHD "I am 18 years old. I took this medication for 2 years, if I remember correctly, in elementary. Yes, it helped me focus better in school somewhat, but at the same time it had taken my appetite away, gave me insomnia, stomach cramps, mood swings, and hallucinations. If I skipped a dose, I would get physically sick. I would NOT recommend this medication."

• Dan...
• September 22, 2015

For ADHD "I've been taking Concerta for close to 15 years now since I was diagnosed at age 3. Around 8th grade, I had started getting pain in my chest, which was similar to costochondritis. The pain got increasingly worse up through high school and the beginning of college around age 18 when it stopped affecting me as much. Now I'm 21 years old (as of the 12th this month), and for the past years, I've been noticing that I've been getting increasingly anxious and worrying more than usual. In the past 5 years, on a daily 63 mg dose, I've been dealing with depression, anxiety, nightmares, insomnia, loss of appetite, and I've lost 30 lbs due to that. It's effective, but at a price, sometimes one you can't afford."

• Mor...
• June 3, 2010

For ADHD "I am a 20-year-old female and have been taking Concerta on and off for five years. I was diagnosed with ADHD during my freshman year of high school. Concerta has worked wonders for me. I started high school getting Ds and Fs and left with As and Bs. I would stop taking it every so often after lowering my dosage to see if I could manage without it, but I would almost immediately lose my organization and, more importantly, my motivation. I did experience some side effects, including appetite loss and insomnia. These were easily cured by a dose modification. I am now the proud manager of a successful business."

• Tyl...
• August 9, 2009

For ADHD "As an adult with ADHD, Concerta is the way to go. Focused and able to complete tasks. Although the lack of appetite and sleep come into play, the time-released 18 mg works better for me than the 27 mg. With 27 mg, I was tired and moody."