Concerta and Loss Of Appetite: What Users Say (Page 3)

• kir...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 27, 2015

For ADHD "Started on 18 mg and did not notice any difference in my ability to concentrate, but noticed that my appetite had decreased. My dosage was switched then to 32 mg and I noticed that my attention span had increased slightly, but the more noticeable change was to my mood and my anxiety. My hands shake from this medication, and I get hot flushes, although my hands are cold and clammy. I sweat more unconsciously, and this is uncomfortable. I went back to talk to my psychiatrist and was told that side effects tend to even out, and sometimes an increase in dosage can speed up this process, so I went up to 54 mg. Although the medicine has made a change in my attention, my appetite has gone during the day, and I have lost around 7 kgs."

• EJC...
• September 14, 2017

For ADHD "It's amazing how much more focused my 16-year-old son is since he started his daily 36 mg Concerta. His work effort and work quality have improved dramatically. Yes, managing his food consumption has been a bit of work. His appetite is definitely not what it used to be, but we're working on it. Although it's only been 3 weeks, we are all thrilled with his response. Good luck to all!"

• Anonymous
• August 20, 2009

For ADHD "Since I've been on Concerta, I've lost 9 1/2 pounds within the three months. So far, I've had to go to the hospital because it has caused me to have bad anxiety. Also, I can't eat, I can't sleep. Although it makes me sick every day and I have depression, my grades have gone up. So, I guess it helps with something."

• mik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 30, 2017

For ADHD "My son has severe ADHD and autism. My son was graduated to 36 mg time-release Concerta. His behavior did improve very slightly, however, he lost nearly 10% of his body weight in a short 3 months. We could hardly get him to eat. We started to supplement him with an immediate-release 10 mg Ritalin tablet before school, and it was an absolute miracle. We removed the Concerta and then increased his Ritalin to 10 mg three times a day, and it's like a new child. While it's the same drug, the delivery system is completely different. I firmly believe that the digestive system needs to be looked at for each individual taking Concerta. For my son, the delivery system of the Concerta did nothing positive."

• Mr...
• October 31, 2011

For ADHD "Very stable medicine in the sense of little personality change and no physical side effects other than loss of appetite in the first week. I am 58 years old and believe this medicine is the first ADD medication that I have noticed is truly effective. It has helped my concentration and increased the length of time I work without any distractions. As some others have commented, some 'passion' has been removed as a trade-off in efficiency in work and a greater degree of focus. I think my sense of humor has somewhat diminished, and everything is more important in some ways, and seriousness has replaced my having fun nature. I believe, on the whole, it has made a positive improvement in the way I function."

• Myn...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 1, 2013

For ADHD "Even though Concerta has been helping me in school, I still get a lot of the side effects. The biggest one is that I am never hungry, and now I am underweight. I still recommend this medication because it has helped me improve my grades in school."

• Sha...
• June 23, 2015

For ADHD "I was first diagnosed with ADD when I was 6 years old. I'm almost 28 now, and have been on Ritalin and Adderall for most of my life. I went off medication a few times in my life, and although I was functional, I found myself spacing out a lot and unable to focus. Recently, I had been under so much stress that I was experiencing more frequent zoning out, especially at work. So, I talked to my doctor about it, and he originally prescribed Strattera, but my insurance company wouldn't cover it, so he put me on a 20 mg dose once a day. This is only my second day on it, but overall, I've had little negative side effects. Just a minor loss of appetite and some dry mouth. I am definitely feeling a lot more focused and can still sleep. So far, so good."

• arh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 29, 2012

For ADHD "I am a nineteen-year-old woman taking Concerta for ADD. It really helps me. I can focus a lot better, and I feel a lot more relaxed. My boyfriend and I went from fighting every single day to not fighting at all. It has absolutely worked wonders for me. The only side effects I have had are no appetite, and I have lost six pounds in less than a week, which I am not complaining about since I am five foot three and weighed 155 pounds beforehand. I have also experienced a terribly dry mouth, but my doctor said it should go away when I start my second dose. Overall, I love it, and I would recommend it to anyone!"

• jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 28, 2019

"Concerta is great, it induces a polar opposite of depression. It works the first time you use it. I can keep a productive thought in my head, I don't see everyday activities as an effort. I think more about how to improve and adapt myself and could fluently think of things that interested me. I'm a well-conducted person, depression puts me down, Concerta lifts me up. I took one 54 mg of Concerta in the morning for five days and did not experience a crash. I completely lost my appetite but had an enthusiastic abundance of energy. The energy can keep you awake when you should sleep, so take it early, and it's important to take care of your body during this. Practice an easy way for you to fall asleep, like meditation or mindfulness, preferably not a book or music because this will make you think and race. Remember to eat nutritious meals regularly, the effects of sleep deprivation and malnutrition can completely contradict the use of Concerta, so be sure to use responsibly."

• chr...
• January 27, 2012

For ADHD "I am taking 54 mg for inattentive ADD. It's only been a month of taking Concerta without breaks, but I feel I have the general feeling down. I can focus with minimal distraction. After 3 weeks, I am feeling the loss of appetite, lost 6 lbs in one week, and there is only a period of about 5 hours I can feel it work. During that time, I love the motivation I get and am more social. All in all, it does what it's supposed to, but for only around 5-6 hours. After the working period, I am easily aggravated, and my ADD is worse than ever. My anxiety was high at first, but after a month, I feel like it is less of a problem for me."

• Mom...
• March 23, 2015

For ADHD "After a diagnosis of ADHD, ODD, and RAD, the psychiatrist prescribed Concerta. So far, after 1 week of use, the hyperactivity, aggression, and zoning out has either stopped or come to a minimal. The side effects seem to be weight gain and loss of appetite."

• ADH...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 18, 2022

For ADHD "I have been on this medication for 20 years - 54 mg dose. Overall, it is a very effective medication. Kicks in for me 25 minutes after taking it. It is also a challenging medication - take it too late in the day, forget sleeping. Concerta works best when you use it the way it's prescribed to you. It's an aggressive medication when used not properly. Lasts 12 hours and is good for the day. The side effects, such as sleeplessness and loss of appetite, can be managed. Overall, good medication."

• ADH...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 3, 2018

For ADHD "I was recently switched from my Adderall XR 10 mg to Concerta 18 mg because my insurance didn't want to cover my Adderall until I tried Concerta. The transition has been terrible. I've only been on the medication for 5 days, and it has been horrible. I was optimistic going in because I've never tried it before, but it has been a rough 5 days. On Concerta, my restlessness is worse, I have no desire to eat because the thought of food disgusts me, I get headaches, I have zero motivation to do anything, and I feel extremely down/apathetic. I've heard this medication works for some people, but it was horrible for me. I'm so glad I can switch back to Adderall."

• Jen...
• July 13, 2011

For ADHD "My 8-year-old daughter has been on Concerta for 2 years, and it has worked great for her. When she was 5, her teacher could not handle her, she was getting in trouble every day (literally). So I had her evaluated by her doctor, and she was diagnosed with ADHD. After she got put on this medicine, she started listening, sitting still, and was able to comprehend information. She was just a new child, and she was even able to get along with her siblings. Since then, she has been an honor student with straight A's. The only side effect we deal with is loss of weight due to lack of appetite. Mind you, she's 8 and wears size 5T clothes, so with this, it was recommended she not take her pill on weekends, holidays, and during summer break. This helps balance her weight."

• Lov...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 3, 2019

For ADHD "This drug is atrocious, especially if you also suffer from bipolar disorder with psychotic features. I have increased anxiety, hallucinations, paranoia, and mood swings from this drug. In the meantime, it has done some things for my severe attention deficit disorder symptoms. Nevertheless, the side effects are horrible. I am cold, constipated, yet sweaty. I am in pain. I have extreme bloating whenever I am late by a few hours for my dose. The insomnia is unfathomably severe. I have undergone rapid weight loss on this drug. I have no appetite and must force-feed myself despite also being on antipsychotics. Do not even use methylphenidate stimulants if you have psychosis."

• Sta...
• June 22, 2016

For ADHD "Do yourself a favor and stay away from this drug. After being on this medication for about a month, I began to experience auditory and visual hallucinations, appetite loss, insomnia, and heart palpitations. It did nothing to relieve my ADHD either. Doc tried lowering the dosage and changing what time I would take it, but it made little difference. I flushed the rest down the toilet and stopped taking it after 6 months."

• Sly...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 9, 2016

For ADHD "I'm 16. I was prescribed 36 mg Concerta. I took it at 8:30 pm (was supposed to take it in the morning). It worked, it helped me focus, but 3 hours into it, I started feeling anxiety, and later I had a crash. Couldn't sleep, stayed up the whole entire night. I also had many other side effects like lack of appetite and heavy breathing. Might be too large of a dose, but overall, without the crazy side effects, it helped me get stuff done and concentrate."

• Anonymous
• November 14, 2012

For ADHD "I have been taking Concerta for ADHD about 3 months now. The effects have been both positive and negative. I started off with 36 mg, and my grades were increasing rapidly, and I was more focused, but I started to become more antisocial, angry, I didn't have an appetite, I had sleeping problems, and depression. Then, about two weeks ago, I switched to 54 mg due to lack of focus, and my stomach has been troubling me. I'm having twitching problems, and I am hearing voices."

• Mic...
• February 5, 2013

For ADHD "I have mainly taken 36 mg doses of Concerta from middle school through 25 years old. I start the morning with 10 mg Ritalin, then take Concerta 3-3.5 hrs later. Due to its appetite suppression, I come home weak from hunger after 9 hrs of work, but my mental focus keeps me going, and I get irritable if something gets in my way. If I give in to my weakness, I will slump on the couch and think about all the things I need to do. I never fully rest mentally, though it alleviates some of the hyperactivity. I have severe ADHD that affects my friendships, marriage, and helpfulness. My aunt switched to Adderall from this because it helps you initiate tasks, which Concerta doesn't. I will try Vyvanse, which is extended-release Adderall."

• Anonymous
• April 15, 2009

For ADHD "My son is now 13 and has been using Concerta the past 2 years. Was working great, went from doing homework until 12-1:00 am to finishing before I got home from work. Concentrated more and was overall happier with himself and his achievements. Around November he had started having trouble sleeping and eating and was acting different. I guess since he turned 13 and puberty is starting to set in, it wasn't working for him anymore, so we are changing medications. I do recommend this medicine, though, while it worked, it was great."

• Mer...
• February 20, 2010

For ADHD "I have been using Concerta for about 3 weeks now, and it has changed my life drastically. I am a film writer and director and can already tell a difference in the way I am filming; my co-workers as well can tell. It is awesome! The only side effect is that I am less hungry, which is okay in my book or in any other woman's book. It is not a horrid loss of appetite, but still, I have lost 5 lbs in 3 weeks, which again is alright. ;D"

• tru...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 20, 2021

For ADHD "18F. Mild side effects at the start (heart palpitations, nausea, reduced appetite), but slowly subsided. 18 mg felt like nothing, 27 mg boosted my physical alertness but did nothing for executive dysfunction, and 36 mg had really unpleasant side effects (anxiety, dizziness, jitters). Going to try an amphetamine-class drug next (probably Vyvanse), hopefully it'll be more effective."

• Anonymous
• January 8, 2012

For ADHD "I'm 16 and have been taking Concerta for about a year now. It works well and really helps me focus, but I do have a lack of appetite and trouble sleeping. Neither of those are really bad, though. My two biggest complaints are, first, that I feel less creative while I'm on it, and second, when I don't take it, now my concentration is horrible, and I get less done than before I started taking it."

• Ray...
• June 19, 2016

For ADHD "I am male, 50 years old and recently diagnosed with ADHD. Started taking Concerta almost 4 weeks ago, and much like everyone else, started at 18 mg dosage and now at 54 mg. I'm not really sure how Concerta has affected me in my daily life yet, except perhaps helping me get into deep sleep and dream again. There are a number of symptoms that I like to share with you: - I wasn't much of a forgetful person to start with, but now I tend to forget things - definitely low libido and ejaculation issue - lack of appetite - lost interest in talking to people, especially women. Mind you, I'm single - no problems sleeping, though I also take 10 mg Cipralex."

• cra...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 12, 2015

For ADHD "I started taking this medicine at age 10 for about 1 year. I took it, and it made me feel really like I was depressed, and it made me feel no hunger. I never ate until the medicine would wear out by the end of the day, that’s when I would start binging on foods at nighttime. The medicine was useless. And by the way, I still have ADHD, and it doesn't affect anyone or myself."