Concerta how does it work

For instance, prescribers can only write prescriptions for one month at a time. And a few studies show that they lower the overall addiction risk in teens with ADHD. Read more about ADHD medication misuse. Stimulants tend to delay sleep by 30 to 40 minutes in many kids. The prescriber might recommend a different dosage, timing or type of medication. Some parents try pushing bedtime back by an hour to give their child more time to wind down.

There are also changes in routine you can try to help your child be ready for sleep. Symptoms of ADHD can make kids anxious. When a medication reduces those symptoms, some kids become less anxious. But stimulant medications can also increase anxiety in some kids. Learn more about ADHD and anxiety. What that means will vary from child to child.

For example, it might mean your child can pay attention for 25 minutes rather than 10 minutes. One way to assess how well the medication is working is to fill out ADHD rating scales before and after starting the medication. Once your child is taking the medication, the same people should provide feedback on whether they notice improvement. This printable ADHD medication log can also help you monitor how well the medication is working.

Taking Concerta can decrease your appetite. This may lead to weight loss. If you do eat less, make sure the foods you eat are nutrient rich. Ask your doctor if you should take dietary supplements. You may develop malnutrition and associated problems if you abuse this drug for a long time. Serious digestive system side effects include blockage of the esophagus, stomach, or intestines.

This is more likely to be a problem if you already have some narrowing in your digestive tract. In males of any age, Concerta can cause a painful and long lasting erection. This condition is called priapism. Priapism can cause permanent damage if left untreated. How exactly does Adderall help you concentrate better?

We'll show you the effects it has on your entire body. Medication is a common treatment for ADHD symptoms. There are several medications prescribed to treat symptoms, but they do come with some risks.

Abulia is an illness that usually occurs after an injury to an area or areas of the brain. But is it…. ADHD in children is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity. We explain this developmental condition, diagnosis, treatment, and…. Research shows a direct link between exercise and improvements in ADHD symptoms. It increases dopamine and norepinephrine levels almost immediately.

Ritalin is especially helpful for people who need symptom relief right away. Because Ritalin does not work steadily like Concerta, Ritalin is taken two to three times per day. Concerta has a long, steady release pattern, while the short-acting Ritalin releases more quickly and the level drops between doses.

This creates more hills and valleys in your blood level. Some people do better with the long release of Concerta while others may need the quicker action of Ritalin.

Other versions of Ritalin may work similarly to the long-acting benefits of Concerta. But Ritalin LA does not last as long as Concerta.

Recall that Concerta can act for up to hours. The Cleveland Clinic estimates that long-acting Ritalin works for six to eight hours. There is a cost difference between the once-daily dosage of Concerta and the several doses per day you take of immediate-release Ritalin.

In general, Ritalin costs more because you need to take it more often. Both medications are available as generic drugs. Generic forms tend to cost less than brand-name versions of the same medications. Generic forms of Ritalin tend to cost less than generic forms of Concerta. The cost to you depends on your health insurance plan.

Your plan likely covers generic forms of both drugs. Also, Concerta and Ritalin are both usually stocked at most pharmacies.

Stimulants like Concerta and Ritalin carry the risk of side effects. Both drugs may affect growth in children or cause weight loss. MAOIs are a class of medications that are used to treat depression and anxiety. Examples of MAOIs include:. These medications should never be taken with Concerta. Using Concerta along with an MAOI can cause stroke , heart attack , kidney failure, and sudden death. Taking Concerta with warfarin Coumadin can cause a drug interaction. Concerta can block the breakdown of warfarin in your body.

These tests will check the thickness of your blood, which is affected by warfarin. You may have to have blood tests done more often when you first start Concerta than you did before you started the drug. These seizure medications include:. This can be very dangerous. If you need to take Concerta in combination with a seizure medication, your doctor may decrease the dosage of your seizure medication.

Your doctor may also do blood tests to make sure that levels of the seizure medication in your body are not too high. Taking Concerta with a vasopressor may not be safe.

Vasopressors are a class of medications that are used to treat low blood pressure. Examples of vasopressors include:. Both vasopressors and Concerta cause your blood pressure to increase. Taking vasopressors with Concerta can cause your blood pressure to be even higher, which may become dangerous. However, you should still check with your doctor or pharmacist before using any of these products while taking Concerta.

Concerta is a stimulant medication that can cause an increase in your blood pressure and heart rate. Caffeine can also cause these same effects in your body. While taking Concerta, you should avoid consuming foods and drinks that contain caffeine.

Examples of foods and drinks that contain caffeine include:. Consuming any of the foods or beverages listed above in combination with Concerta can increase your risk of side effects, such as:. If you feel that you need some caffeine, talk with your doctor about how much caffeine is safe for you to consume. You can also call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at or use their online tool.

But if your symptoms are severe, call or go to the nearest emergency room right away. Multiple treatment options are typically used together to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD. Along with Concerta, treatment should include psychological, educational, and social therapies. Some other therapies that may be used in combination with Concerta include:. If Concerta was prescribed for you or your child, your doctor may talk with you about other treatments that should be used with Concerta.

If you have questions about other treatment options for ADHD, talk with your doctor. If you need financial support to pay for Concerta, help is available. Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Concerta should be taken once each day in the morning. It should be taken at about the same time every day.

Concerta can be taken with or without food. In clinical trials , Concerta worked the same way when it was taken with a big meal as it did when it was taken on an empty stomach. If Concerta upsets your stomach or causes nausea, it may be better for you to take it with food. Taking the medication with food in your stomach can reduce these side effects. No, Concerta should never be split, crushed, or chewed. Concerta tablets have special layers inside of them. Each layer releases some of the medication over the course of about 12 hours.

If you chew or break the tablets, these layers can release the medication all at once. This can be very dangerous and can even cause overdose. Concerta is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD. People with this condition have trouble focusing, concentrating, or paying attention for long periods of time.

They can also have hyperactivity symptoms, which makes it difficult for them to be still for periods of time. Concerta is believed to increase the levels of two brain chemicals: norepinephrine and dopamine. Both of these chemicals help you to pay attention and focus.

In animal studies , Concerta did cause problems with development in fetuses whose mothers were given the drug. More studies are needed to know if Concerta can be harmful to a developing baby. In an animal study , Concerta did pass into the breast milk of lactating females. More studies are needed to know whether Concerta can be harmful to a breastfeeding child. This drug has a boxed warning. A boxed warning alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous. Using Concerta on a regular basis can cause dependence.

With dependence, your body needs the medication in order for you to function well. Dependence can cause abnormal behavior to occur in some people. If you have a history of drug or alcohol misuse or dependence, your doctor may monitor you more closely while you are taking Concerta. Before taking Concerta, talk with your doctor about your health history. Concerta may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. These include:. When you get Concerta from the pharmacy, the pharmacist will add an expiration date to the label on the bottle.

This date is typically 1 year from the date they dispensed the medication. The expiration date helps guarantee the effectiveness of the medication during this time. If you have unused medication that has gone past the expiration date, talk to your pharmacist about whether you might still be able to use it. How long a medication remains good can depend on many factors, including how and where you store the medication.

You should protect Concerta tablets from humidity. Also, avoid storing this medication in areas where it could get damp or wet, such as in bathrooms. This helps prevent others, including children and pets, from taking the drug by accident.

It also helps keep the drug from harming the environment. The FDA website provides several useful tips on medication disposal. You can also ask your pharmacist for information on how to dispose of your medication. Concerta is indicated to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD in children and adults ages 6 to 65 years. Concerta is a slow-release form of methylphenidate, which is a central nervous system CNS stimulant. Concerta blocks the reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine in the presynaptic neuron.

This increases the amount of norepinephrine and dopamine released in the brain. Therefore, Concerta causes an increased level of both norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain, which is thought to contribute to focus and attention.

Concerta is absorbed quickly after the first dose is taken. Within 1 hour following administration, the medication reaches an initial maximum concentration. Over the following 5 to 9 hours, the medication concentration steadily increases.

About 9 hours after administration, the concentrations begin to decrease. Peak plasma concentrations occurred at an average of between 6 and 10 hours. Because Concerta releases slowly over the course of a hour period, it has less fluctuation in concentration than immediate-release methylphenidate.

The overall duration of Concerta is about 12 hours. The average half-life of Concerta is 3. There is no risk of significant accumulation of Concerta. As dose increases, proportional changes occur in the area under the curve AUC and the concentration of Concerta in the body. Concerta is a CNS stimulant that can cause euphoric feelings, especially when taken in high doses.

Concerta has a black box warning for drug dependence. Therefore, it should be avoided in patients with a history of drug or alcohol dependence. Misuse of Concerta can lead to tolerance and dependence. This can lead to psychosis or manic symptoms. Upon stopping Concerta, withdrawal symptoms may occur, including severe depression. Patients should be monitored when discontinuing this drug. Concerta tablets should be protected from humidity.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up-to-date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional.

You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects.