Started ADHD meds and feel lousy

[Alysskea]

Sorry this isn’t quite mental health but couldn’t find where else to put it.

Doc has started me on 18mg Concerta XL (methylphenidate) and I feel so crap. I just want to go to sleep and I feel spaced out. Last thing I feel able to do is bloody concentrate - I’m exhausted!

Has anyone had this and how long did you wait before contacting prescriber again?

A relative found the same - lethargic but brain still all over the place - so watching with interest to see the replies.

How many days have you tried it for so far?

I started on 18mg and ended up on 72mg (which I take every day now) and didn’t really have any side effects. At first I only took it on days when I was in the office but now I take it every day as it seems to help me sleep. I’ve never felt spaced out on it though. Just more able to filter out some of the background noise (which was still there but less over-powering).

i hated methylphenidate, it made me feel so weird. My son gets on fine with it. I get on much better with lisdexamphetamine, although im going to trial a non stimulant one soon.

It may be that you are just exhausted to start with. I found that in the beginning. They just made me want to sleep. I could actually take it and go to sleep. I think this can be the case if you have been running on stress. Also worth making sure you are getting enough electrolytes as meds can affect potassium levels which make you tired.

I'm about to start taking this ,was going to start a thread asking how people found it ..is anyone still on it and about to comment on how it's going please

I wanted to sleep when I started methylphenidate. Best in mind you are probably coming from a place of exhaustion and stress. Also lots of meds can impact on Electrolytes. Hydration, protein, nutrition, sleep all key.

My husband had to adjust the type of ADHD meds he was on once and then the dose a few times. The initial one, which I think was methylfenidate, gave him terrible leg cramps so he had to stop it. He changed to Equasym - first dose wasn't enough, next one felt good but they still recommended he try next dose up and that was too much and made him too hyperfocused, and unable to sleep. He's gone back to medium dose, which seems to be the right one.

DH had appointments every few weeks initially to work it out - if you don't and you're still feeling bad after a few weeks you should contact whoever is prescribing and ask to try something else. DH checked in with his prescriber as soon as anything felt really off and got it changed - it was private organisation but via the NHS.

Firstly you’re exhausted because for bloody years you’ve been running like the Duracell bunny and it’s a HUGE adjustment. Revisit it in a few weeks and try to do very chilled and relaxing activities now, it’s probably the first time you’ve downshifted

How did you come by the diagnosis? I find that a lot of my patients who don’t seem to get on with stimulant medications are the ones who have received a diagnosis from one of the single-diagnosis private providers, and for whom I’m not convinced the diagnosis is actually correct. I recognise this is usually not a popular opinion, it never goes down well, but might be worth thinking about if none of the meds seem to help you

How many days so far? Mydd is on 27mg and feels fine. 18mg isn’t high for an adult
She had had higher but felt it upset her stomach. She probably actually just needed better diet with it

I was prescribed Concerta initially. It made me sleepy af and suicidal. Psych changed me to Elvanse and it’s been happy days ever since

This is purely anecdotal but I find that Elvanse seems to be more compatible with women than methylphenidate (which worked brilliantly for my DS and has been life changing). DD didn’t get on at all with it and everything changed for the better when she switched to Elvanse. The exact same has happened to 2 female friends of mine too.

I've just got concerta xl
About to start taking it
I have very bad anxiety so I'm hoping it doesn't make that worse
I also have diagnosis of autism and ADHD