What Is Concerta?
Concerta — also known by the generic name methylphenidate — is a medication used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as well as narcolepsy. This medication is classified as a stimulant, which is a type of drug that directly impacts the central nervous system and brain function.
Concerta lengthens your attention span and improves your focus. Your doctor may adjust your dosage according to your reaction to treatment. Never take more Concerta than prescribed to avoid becoming dependent on the medication or experiencing adverse side effects.
How Is Concerta Used?
Concerta is a medication that is used as part of ADHD treatment or to combat symptoms of narcolepsy. This stimulant increases the level of dopamine in your brain throughout the day to help improve your concentration and impulse control. Concerta is prescribed as an extended-release oral medication, and this allows you to ease symptoms of ADHD for the entire day by taking one pill.
Avoid taking Concerta too late in the evening, as this can lead to restlessness when you try to get to sleep. Taking this medication regularly can help improve your condition — never take an extra tablet or increase your dosage without being advised by a doctor. Stopping this medication abruptly can cause withdrawal symptoms, making it vital to consult your doctor before ending a prescription.
Concerta Addiction
Stimulants like Concerta have a high rate of addiction, due to their ability to make you feel extremely alert and focused for prolonged periods of time. The risk of misusing your Concerta prescription increases if you combine it with other medications. Contact your doctor if you experience serious symptoms such as chest pain, hallucinations, numbness in your extremities, seizures or changes in vision.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience symptoms of a heart attack, fainting or symptoms of a stroke. These symptoms can signal a fatal drug interaction or an overdose, and these side effects can be fatal. If you or someone you love is misusing their Concerta prescription, it’s time to seek help. You can begin a life of sobriety — start the recovery process by calling us today.
The Importance Of Aftercare
Common side effects of Concerta include insomnia, increased heart rate, loss of appetite, nausea and headaches. Contact your doctor if any of these side effects worsen, as this may indicate your dosage needs to be adjusted. Never consume alcohol while on Concerta, as this can cause the medicine to be released into your bloodstream at an alarming rate.
Never take any other prescriptions while using Concerta. Taking this medication with other drugs can lead to an overdose, which can be fatal. Following your prescription correctly can help prevent life-threatening side effects from occurring. Always inform your doctor of any new symptoms and worsening side effects to make sure your prescription is beneficial to your overall health.
Feel like you can’t live without Concerta? If you believe your prescription has taken on a life of its own, it’s time to reach out for help. Don’t delay — call us today to talk with a compassionate, caring representative.
FAQs
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 9.4 percent of children in the United States between the ages of 2 and 17 have been diagnosed with ADHD. The following are a few more statistics about children with ADHD in the United States:
- Almost two out of three children who currently have ADHD had at least one other mental, emotional or behavioral disorder.
- About one out of every three children with ADHD has anxiety
- About half of the children with ADHD have a behavior or conduct problem.
- Depression, autism spectrum disorder and Tourette Syndrome are conditions commonly shared among children with ADHD.
Concerta affects the brain by balancing its naturally occurring substances called neurotransmitters. Specifically, Concerta balances out norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain and acts as a stimulant on the central nervous system. Norepinephrine is a stimulant and dopamine influences one’s attention span, movement and pleasure feelings.
Concerta is a medication that is used as part of ADHD treatment or to combat symptoms of narcolepsy. This stimulant increases the level of dopamine in your brain throughout the day to help improve your concentration and impulse control. Concerta is prescribed as an extended-release oral medication, and this allows you to ease symptoms of ADHD for the entire day by taking one pill.
Because of its relatively short half-life, Concerta does not stay in patients’ system for very long. Typically, the medication is metabolized within a few days. It is important to understand, though, that everyone’s body is different, and therefore, Concerta may stay in some patients’ systems longer than others.
Stimulants like Concerta have a high rate of addiction, due to their ability to make you feel extremely alert and focused for prolonged periods of time. The risk of misusing your Concerta prescription increases if you combine it with other medications. Contact your doctor if you experience serious symptoms such as chest pain, hallucinations, numbness in your extremities, seizures or changes in vision.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience symptoms of a heart attack, fainting or symptoms of a stroke. These symptoms can signal a fatal drug interaction or an overdose, and these side effects can be fatal.
Common side effects of Concerta include insomnia, increased heart rate, loss of appetite, nausea and headaches.
Never consume alcohol while on Concerta, as this can cause the medicine to be released into your bloodstream at an alarming rate.
Concerta — also known by the generic name methylphenidate — is a medication used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as well as narcolepsy. This medication is classified as a stimulant, which is a type of drug that directly impacts the central nervous system and brain function. Concerta lengthens your attention span and improves your focus.
The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.