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Concerta (Methylphenidate) - Reviews, Ratings, Comments by Patients

 
 



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Below are Concerta (Methylphenidate) reviews, ratings, comments submitted by patients and caregivers. Based on a total of 14 ratings/reviews, Concerta has an overall score of 6.29. The effectiveness score is 7.43 and the side effect score is 6.86. The scores are on ten point scale: 10 - best, 1 - worst. This information is not vetted and should not be cosidered as clinical evidence.
 

Concerta review by care giver of 13 year old male patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Considerably Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   ADD
Dosage & duration:   35 mg taken 1 x day for the period of more than 3 years
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   My son had a definite and rather dramatic increase in his ability to focus at school, complete his homework and we even saw a difference in his sports performance. He went from grades averaging C's, with some lower, to A & B's for most classes within just a couple of months. Even his teachers were very impressed with the difference, and my son's confidence improved tremendously.
Side effects:   The side effects have been very mild. At some points he seems more argumentative and high strung, but not most of the time. Generally this medication has been well tolerated. We do not administer the medication on the weekends or when he is not at school (during school breaks or during the summer).
Comments:   The treatment with Concerta is simple - he takes one pill a day during the school week. We have semi-annual visits with the Dr. to check on his progress. While starting the medication, we had to adjust the dosage slowly upward. But he had maintained the current dose for more than 1.5 years now with good affects.

 

Concerta review by care giver of 16 year old male patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Moderate Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   ADDH
Dosage & duration:   36mg taken 1 tablet daily for the period of continually, as long as needed for focus
Other conditions:   some mood swings edgyness
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   patient took this drug to help with concentration and focus problems occurring in a classroom environment with many distractions.
Side effects:   patient preformed with better concentration and focus skills. also helped out in after school homework. less trips from the study table, more time spent studying, and less time having to be reminded to get back to work.
Comments:   patient taking one 36 mg tablet, 7 days a week, in the morning after breakfast. Tablet was a slow release lasting throughout the day.

 

Concerta review by 35 year old male patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   ADHD
Dosage & duration:   27 mg taken once daily for the period of 3 months
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   I was able to concentrate and complete daily tasks. I didn't have to write notes to myself and constantly put them in various places so I would run into during the day.l
Side effects:   I get a bit irritable when the medication wears off for about 30 minutes. I also feel quite tired during this time.
Comments:   My primary care physician prescribe it after telling him my problems I've had my entire life in concentrating/completing tasks. I was also very forgetful but don't have any of these problems except on occasion when I have too many things going on.

 

Concerta review by 40 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Considerably Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   ADHD
Dosage & duration:   27mg taken once per day for the period of 2 months
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   patient was able to focus more readily on tasks at hand. there was an increase in intensity/focus which was noticable upon taking the medication.
Side effects:   dry mouth
Comments:   patient was to take one dose of concerta per day - earlier in the morning due to the time release effect. it was obvious while taking the medication that it was time release as each layer was released.

 

Concerta review by 38 year old male patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   ADHD
Dosage & duration:   36MG taken 1 pill daily for the period of 1 year
Other conditions:   None
Other drugs taken:   None
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Reduced Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder symptoms, including inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Allowed for greater concentraion on projects and tasks at hand. Often before taking the medication I would just feel that it's impossible to get organized, to stick to the job at hand, or keep an appointment. Daily tasks of getting up and ready for the day's work, getting to work on time, and being productive at work were difficult.
Side effects:   Appetite seems to fluctuate, usually being low during the middle of the day and more normal by suppertime. Adequate amounts of food that is nutritional seem to be especially helpfull. Appetite seems to fluctuate, usually being low during the middle of the day and more normal by suppertime. Adequate amounts of food that is nutritional seem to be especially helpfull.
Comments:   I was told that in prescribing for an adult, special considerations are made. The adult may need less of the medication for his weight. A medication may have a longer "half-life" in an adult. We started with 19mg and worked up to 36mg. That seemed to be the correct dosage.

 

Concerta review by care giver of 13 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Considerably Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   ADD
Dosage & duration:   27 MG taken daily for the period of 5 YEARS
Other conditions:   N/A
Other drugs taken:   N/A
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   As an ADD child unable to process information propertly, the medication helped her get focused and understand better while in school. Her anxiety level was controlled and helped loose some weight. She was able to control better the outburst socially.
Side effects:   some slight headaches and lacking energy, complainingof being tired.
Comments:   Medication was prescribed while in second grade. Socially and academically it helped her quite significantly. In school she was in special classes and the medicationhas helped her get mainstreamed into regular classes. She is able to soialize a bit better along with therapy. Her level of anxiety is better making her behave a little more relaxed and controlling regular outbursts. It also helped her in her weight due to the anxiety control. Definately able to see the difference when not taking the medication. Difficult to be in school without it.

 

Concerta review by 18 year old male patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Ineffective
Side effects:   Moderate Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   ADHD
Dosage & duration:   15 mg taken everday for the period of 5 years
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   mildly increased attentiveness
Side effects:   insomnia, loss of appitite, stomach pains, when not taken felt real sick, abdominal pain
Comments:   This was originally prescribed to me for ADHD. just a few days of taking it, the side effects were unbearable. I could not sleep, eat normally and would get abdominal pains. felt a hell of a lot better once I stopped taking this garbage. Word of advice NEVER even think of taking this!

 

Concerta review by 23 year old male patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Moderate Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   ADD
Dosage & duration:   20mg taken 1 on the morning for the period of 2 weeks
Other conditions:   na
Other drugs taken:   na
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   I completed task, i could focus more while reading or watching a movie, i could clean my room without over thinking it, i completed homework without struggling, motivated about the future, more energy, didn't feel tired during the day like i usually do, I actually felt more smart.
Side effects:   dry mouth, itchiness everywhere,red and warm ears, heart palpitations, didn't socialize with my coworkers like i use to,
Comments:   i started using 1 pill in the morning for a week, and then when i increase to 2 pills i had a bad allergic reaction to it , so i had to stop, but it did work for the time i was using it

 

Concerta review by 38 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Considerably Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   ADHD
Dosage & duration:   52 mg. taken 1 daily for the period of 2 years
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   I did not have any other conditions. Just an inability to focus, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior. I had a hard time staying organized and difficulty completing tasks. I also had difficulty staying with one job for too long. I had a hard time sustaining reading without getting really tired, and I also had a hard time controlling my emotional outbursts. The Concerta really helped me control all of those things.
Side effects:   Some of the side affects that I had were: my stomach would hurt sometimes and other times it was difficult to eat without getting queezy. I didn't have much of an appetite. When the medicine wore off, it seemed to have a strong rebound effect and things became difficult for me during that last several hours of my day. I liked taking the medication, I just wish it would have lasted longer during the day. By 3p-5pm it had wore off and that seemed to by my busiest time of day with the kids, dinner and house stuff all at once.
Comments:   The treatment details were pretty basic. I just took the medication in the morning at the same time of day every day. I was allowed to skip it on the weekends or less busy times if I so desired. I really don't have anything else to put for this section of the survey. I'm trying to fill up the 50 word requirement though. You shouldn't really have that requirement on this form. It seems kind of silly to be writing with nothing left to say.

 

Concerta review by 40 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   adult add
Dosage & duration:   72 mg taken 1x daily for the period of several years; ongoing
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   improved... focus, concentration, memory, organization, timeliness, mood, patience. Improved ability to attend to unpleasant tasks.
Side effects:   dry-mouth (needed to maintain proper hydration, not necessarily hungry at meal time (switched to several smaller "meals" throughout the day)
Comments:   TR concerta in the morning. I found that it was most effective taken with water rather than juice.

 

Concerta review by 39 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Ineffective
Side effects:   Severe Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   ADHD
Dosage & duration:   18 mg taken 1 a day for the period of 2 days
Other conditions:   Depression
Other drugs taken:   Lexapro, Lamactol , Clonzapam
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   None!
Side effects:   Felt like I was speeding out of my mind. I couldn't function, forgot to go to work on time, rectol bleeding, felt like I couldn't breathe, still rectol bleeding after not taking it for 2 days. Have slept alot since not taking it. This had horrible side effects for me from the start. I read the reviews and see I am a older person taking this drug, but I Don't see how anyone could normally function on this drug. I didn't know if I was coming or going and it also made me feel akward when driving. Dangerous drug!
Comments:   >>

 

Concerta review by care giver of 9 year old male patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Moderately Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   adhd
Dosage & duration:   54mg taken once daily for the period of year and half
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   metylphendate 10mg
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   focus is better during school. he is able to take test better. weekends and summer breaks are great while the pill is working.
Side effects:   headahe paranoid seems to be afraid to do things he would do tired hard to go to sleep
Comments:   meds regular with ritalin at 4pm then clonadine at bedtime.

 

Concerta review by 50 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Considerably Effective
Side effects:   Moderate Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   ADD
Dosage & duration:   72 mg taken daily for the period of 2 years
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   It allowed me to focus on what I was learning, ie, in class work that I may have stopped attending to otherwise, or would have bluted out something "inappropriat" without thinking it through before I spoke. It also allowed me to continue to pay attention and focus on a subject that I have no interest in but must understand and learn, ie, math.
Side effects:   The drug makes one sweat.It can work as an appetite suppressant if you don't eat before you take it and plan snacks throughout the day;allowing you to be appropriately hungry when it wears off.
Comments:   I think that you can use a drug like this as an adult and greatly benefit IF you retrain yourself behaviorally at the same time. The drug does not hold the key to your success, you do. It helps you if you work "with it" and relearn patterns and behaviors. examples are: time management and actually becoming AWARE of time for the first time in my life. I always wear a watch now and use alarms.I make lists,I plan short term and long term . It allowed me to develop some control over myself and my life; life no longer just "happens" to me. I am present.

 

Concerta review by 40 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Marginally Effective
Side effects:   Severe Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   ADD - mild depression
Dosage & duration:   36 mg - 8am taken 1 for the period of 6 days
Other conditions:   ADD
Other drugs taken:   No
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   The 2 first day we're fantastic. I was easy going, task didn't birding me and I would overall say that my focus was good. However my well being was so great that I was mostly in my mind with great Joy.
Side effects:   NOW day 3 up to now - I feel mostly the side effects, such as nausea, physical numbness and irritated and NO effect of increase on attention. I'm paying attention as to know if I should continue or try something else or live without it as I always did. Very unpleasant !!! Women seem to do great on Aderall
Comments:   Unpleasant ! By the way is it normal to pay to see the psychiatrist around 150 $ for monthly renewal and says he does not take insurance. How do other people handle this. I invite you to answer me at fionahopes to hotmail
 


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