Methylphenidate and Loss Of Appetite: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Pia...
• January 9, 2016

For ADHD "I was diagnosed with ADD at the end of grade 6 and started taking Concerta in grade 7. I had no idea I had ADD and just thought everyone was like me. I had no enthusiasm for anything with school, but after I took Concerta, I was like ADHD. So much hyperness and wanting to work. After raising the dose to 36mg, I started to get very anxious about my heart feeling like it was beating too fast and was having like a panic attack or something, so then I dropped back down to 27mg. The side effects I have are weight loss/loss of appetite, heart palpitations, sleep paralysis, feelings of excitement. It works for me, but I hate the side effects. I also lost 5lbs in one week when I first started and 20lbs in 2 years."

• cls...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 10, 2013

For ADHD "I was diagnosed with ADD 2 weeks ago, along with depression/anxiety at the age of 33. My doctor wanted to treat the ADD first, thinking the other issue would clear up, so he started me on 18 mg of Concerta. The first week I would take one pill, and then this week increase it to 2 pills. I haven't been on this medication like others have, and I am experiencing so many side effects... i.e., nervousness, no appetite, headaches in the morning, can't sleep, paranoid for no reason. I feel like it’s doing the opposite of what it should. The first day I actually was able to just focus on one task and was able to get the laundry done. I will be talking to my doctor about other medications."

• Anonymous
• September 15, 2015

For ADHD "I was diagnosed with ADD about ten years ago. I was prescribed Concerta by my doctor, and it wasn't an easy transition. I got tons of work done and all, but it killed my appetite during lunch hours, and as a result, I lost weight. As time went on, I got more used to the medication, and I've since regained my weight (for the most part, I've still got a high metabolism, and as a result, gaining any kind of weight is difficult for me) and can still focus on my schoolwork. Part of this can be attributed to getting older and all, but I think the medication has certainly helped. For reference, I'm a 6 ft tall guy who weighs around 125 lbs."

• 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."

• Kad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 26, 2021

For ADHD "I have taken Adderall for years and made the switch to Ritalin. Adderall just wasn’t cutting it for me and was actually affecting me negatively (it only lasted a couple of hours, and the comedown was terrible). It also affected my ability to think after the effects took place 30 minutes prior. Ritalin may not last as long, but splitting the dose into 3 different times lasts me 10-14 hours. With the Adderall, I would take 20 mg twice daily, it affected my appetite, which caused its effectiveness to perish. With Ritalin, I take it first thing in the morning, eat about 3 hours later, take the second dose, eat about 4-5 hours later, then take the third dose (I wake up at 7 am). It starts to wear off around 6-7 pm, which I’ll then eat dinner, and it kind of reactivates it, lasting until it’s ready for bed (which would be after dinner or 1 am, it doesn’t keep me awake like Adderall). Take it 10-15 minutes before a meal for maximum effectiveness. I take 60 mg a day, but 40 mg is just as effective."

• AMA...
• September 14, 2015

For ADHD "My son has had great results with this patch. He is 7 and on the 10 mg. He definitely has loss of appetite during the day, and it's hard to get him to sleep at a reasonable time, but he has had a complete turnaround at school. Since I know all ADHD meds have the same side effects I stated, my only real complaint is how it irritates his skin. He has taken it off several times due to itchiness (which does seem to go away after a couple of hours). As for getting the backing off, I 'warm it' between my palms for a minute or two and peel from the pointed part of the backing. Works perfectly."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 3, 2017

For ADHD "There are some things I love about this medicine, like my ability to focus and get things done. But I really hate the side effect of having no appetite because I'm skinny to begin with. It also increases my heart rate, which can make me feel anxious. It also gives me diarrhea, which my doctor said does happen to some people. It's super effective, but I wish I could get rid of those side effects. It may be better for people who do not need to focus 12 hours a day like I do because I require 3 doses a day."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2017

For ADHD "I have only been on Ritalin for a couple of days now, and the results are great. My concentration and focus have improved, I can get more things done, and I feel more motivated and self-assured. My social life is better, and I can keep a conversation going. The downsides for me were a fast heart rate, which made me feel anxious, a bad headache when I first took it, and a decrease in appetite. Overall, this is working for me so far, and I would say to not abuse this drug, combine it with alcohol or anything else, and to eat well before taking medicine. Hope this helps."

• 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."

• Hur...
• April 11, 2018

For ADHD "Ritalin works well for ADHD. It is not a long-lasting medication. Most of the time, it’s given in tablet form and does only last about 3-4 hours. So you will need to take it a couple of times throughout the day. I have been on Vyvanse and Adderall as well. Adderall works best for me. Vyvanse also works well, but it lasts for so long-12 hours or more. I can still eat and have an appetite on Adderall and Ritalin, but with Vyvanse, I could go all day without eating. Ritalin is a good medication when taken correctly that will help with ADHD."

• cod...
• May 19, 2011

For ADHD "My son is 6 and has been on this medication for a week and has shown improvement at school. He has been able to work independently on his worksheets and gets through his work faster. He is very smart but didn't have the focus to complete a task. But I have noticed he has loss of appetite and not going to sleep at night, which is bothersome to me because he was always such a good eater and sleeper. So I might have to look into other medicines."

• 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!"

• 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."

• Liz...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 15, 2016

For ADHD "I was first put on the Daytrana patch back in 2005, my freshman year of high school. I have been on and off it, due to not needing it at some times. I am 25 years old now and still only need 20 mg patches. I have not had any issues with this medication aside from the fact that some of the backings on the patches won't come off sometimes. It can leave a sticky residue on my skin, but nothing that bothers me. I just restarted this back up and have noticed a decrease in appetite, but once my levels get back to normal, appetite also comes back. I highly recommend keeping communication with your doctor about anything that feels 'off' to you. While on this medicine, my grades have always come up from D's and C's to A's and B's."

• 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."

• 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."

• kco...
• March 11, 2011

For ADHD "Ritalin made me able to block out everything and focus on reading my boring, tedious nursing books. Take it at least 12 hours before you go to sleep, or else it will keep you up at night with thoughts racing. It suppresses appetite and makes most people lose weight, I actually gained weight because I would be starving and binge eat at the end of the night. I did like Ritalin, but it made me too irritable, so I switched to Adderall. That is much more pleasant and even more effective. Focalin 10 mg is good for people with mild ADHD symptoms."

• 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."

• Mvh...
• August 7, 2016

For ADHD "This is the first and only medication we've given to my 6-year-old son since being diagnosed with ADHD in January 2016. It works very well. We give him his dose at 6:30 a.m. during the school year, and the teacher notices it wearing off by about 2 p.m. The only noticeable side effects were a slight decrease in appetite the first few weeks and slightly more difficulty when settling down for bed at night. We no longer have either issue. It is pricey. We pay $65/month with our insurance plan. We live in PA and have to pick up the prescription from the doctor's office each month. We've also had an issue occasionally when our pharmacy does not have Quillivant in stock. When this happened, we had to drive to several pharmacies to find one that had it."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• April 4, 2009

For ADHD "My daughter was diagnosed with ADD about 2 years ago and has been on this medicine ever since. I truly feel this has been our 'miracle' drug for her. She never had behavior issues, she just couldn't focus at home or school. Since starting this medicine, her grades have come up, and she is able to focus on anything she wants to. We had to struggle with headaches in the beginning, but now she is fine. We also have the no appetite issue with her, so she drinks PediaSure for that. Thank you, Metadate, for helping my child."