Thanks to an ADHD insurance coverage issue that I need to get around to working on (sound familiar?), I’ve been taking Concerta for a few weeks now instead of my usual mega-dose of Adderall (generic). A nice side benefit is that I can write first person review of another ADHD medication from personal experience. You can check out my Vyvanse Review from the time I tried that as well.
As always, the best ADHD tips and tricks are here.
What Is Concerta ADD Prescription Medicine?
Let’s start from the beginning. As it turns out, most ADHD medications are versions of either Ritalin or Adderall in their generic forms. The generic form of Adderall is mixed amphetamine salts, and the generic of Ritalin is methylphenidate. Both medications are stimulants that increase the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. In a standard brain, this causes overstimulation. In an ADHD brain, this creates the so-called paradoxical affect of being calming and focusing.
Concerta is a methylphenidate based ADHD medication. In fact, in pretty much all respects, Concerta is nothing more than a long lasting form of Ritalin, or if you prefer, a slow-release form of Ritalin.
If you’re thinking, that there is already an extended release form of Ritalin, you are sort of correct.
It turns out that both the extended release form of Ritalin, known as Ritalin LA, and the extended release form of Adderall, known as Adderal XR, are really nothing of the sort. What these ADHD drugs really are is a 50/50 mixture of ADD medication with one-half coated with something that takes approximately 4 hours to digest, and the other half not coated with anything. So, when a child with ADHD takes Adderall XR, for example, they get one-half of the medication right away, and then four hours later, the other half gets absorbed into the body. Instead of “extended release,” this is really more of a twice release. The effects, in other words, are exactly the same as taking one dose and then following that one 4 hours later. The only benefit is that there is no need to take the second pills. (If you or your ADHD child do not have any problems or issues with taking medication twice per day, then you can save money by getting the non-extended release versions as generics.)
Concerta is actually a true extended release preparation of the ADD medicine in Ritalin.
How Does Concerta Work?
A ADHD prescription of Concerta is actually very fascinating. Each Concerta tablet is composed of two parts. The first part is standard untreated Ritalin that get absorbed into the body quickly to produce the necessary therapeutic effect. The second part is methylphenidate that is encased in a shell that prevents its immediate absorption.
With Concerta, the methylphenidate is encased inside a shell that cannot be digested by the body. In each shell there is a single tiny hole. However, the methylphenidate molecule is too big to get out of the hole in any real quantity by itself. Instead, the medication must be “pushed” out the hole. This happens because the shell contains a tiny methylphenidate “pump” that absorbs, over time, water from the body. As it does so, the water takes up more and more of the space inside the pump side of the shell which forces the ADHD drug out of the tiny hole in the shell.
Over the course of the 10 to 12 hours that Concerta is effective, tiny amounts of medicine are constantly released into the bloodstream via absorption in the intestines.
Unlike the Adderall XR and Ritalin LA medicines which basically provide two full doses all at once at two different times, Concerta keeps the amount of ADHD medication in the body at a steady, level, amount throughout the entire day.
One can see the theoretical benefits of such a medication. Most importantly, would be eliminating the highs and lows caused by standard ADD drugs when they hit a peak level about an hour after ingestion, and then a low-level just before the second dose kicks in, either by taking more pills, or in the case of the extended release preparations, when the second set of chemicals is released into the body.
So, how does Concerta work in real life?
Grab the Addessories RSS Feed, or check back on Friday, when I post my first-hand experience review of Concerta.
Nicole- please don’t call it a brain deeciifncy – it’s just a *difference*. Not everybody has the same levels of everything in their systems. We can concentrate and focus just fine when we’re involved in something that really interests us. We just tend to not want to bother with the boring things, but the problem is with our modern society that says everybody needs to focus on that boring stuff the majority of the time. We rebel against being a part of the herd and doing what we’re told, we think outside the box and want to be happy and to find joy in our lives. That’s not a deeciifncy- that’s a gift.If we were allowed to play all day, and to learn new things while we are playing, and to do work that engages us and uses our gifts- then we would have happy lives that aren’t filled with anxiety and depression because then our lives wouldn’t be full of trying to live up to other people’s expectations (or what we think their expectations are). How boring it must be to be the status quo! I’d much rather bask in my wild ideas and endless tangents. We are the innovators and the world-changers- we constantly wonder why and why not and ask the questions other people don’t think to ask.ADD/ADHD meds can help us function in this modern society we have and be productive in more tangible ways (because aren’t we all judged by how productive and efficient we are?). This shortage is only because of bureaucracy and red tape what was intended to stop meth abuse/production didn’t have a way out when more people were diagnosed and then they began medication or people already on it had dosages increased. If you have to put in paperwork to get the supplies you need to produce the meds and you base your future numbers on the exact same numbers you currently have, then what will you do when suddenly those numbers need a larger supply- and oh, oops! There’s all the new people who are now needing some too, and oh no, now their dosages are being increased Now there’s not enough to get through the winter! So you file more paperwork to get more supplies from the entity that controls them, which is a longer wait and results in them not giving you as much as you asked for So heck, while we twiddle our thumbs wondering when we’ll get some more supplies to get our meds back into production, why don’t we go ahead and price gauge the supply that’s left in stock so we can make some money off this down time? Sounds great! Let’s double the price! No, wait, let’s quadruple it! Yay for us! We get to stay in business!Speaking of tangents Don’t knock what you haven’t tried (and tried vigilantly for long periods of time). Natural supplements CAN work for some people but maybe not for others. Some meds work for some people but not for others. Diet and lifestyle changes are good things that can help the other things you are doing to take care of yourself- whether you’re on meds or supplements or nothing. Meditation, counseling, hiring a coach, having a support system- these can all help you. There is no single guaranteed treatment plan that works exactly the same for everyone, so it is up to you to give everything a chance to find what works best. Things happen in life that we have to deal with, like medication shortages that are out of our control, being laid off and losing health insurance so we can’t afford counseling and maybe not even the cheapest meds. But there are other options out there that may help you no matter what your circumstances are. YOU have to do the work to find them. Ask for help if you need it, and keep asking until you find the one who can help you.Never rely 100% on one thing to get you through (the magic pill ). With the shortages, we can see how destructive that reliance can be. Our reactions to the shortages and fears about the what ifs if we can’t get our meds can be many times worse than the actual experience of going without our medication. Stop the negative cycle and find the positive things to focus on. Give yourself more time to do the harder things, get more sleep, make time to make yourself relax and shift gears into a better state of mind (meditate).And please, folks, never NEVER take more than what the doctor has prescribed. First, that can be dangerous and might just be your impulsivity coming back out because the different medication doesn’t work for you. Second, when you run out of meds because you took too many too fast, you may find yourself cut off from meds for the rest of the month (or longer) because the doctor doesn’t want to write you a new prescription just in case you are abusing it. If it doesn’t feel like it’s working, it’s probably not, so why take more? Call the doctor for advice.And if you are a woman who has estrogen peaks (especially if you are mid-30s and older) or periods of time where your estrogen is too high (you wouldn’t know it without a blood test), that will affect your insulin and blood glucose levels which in turn can prevent your medication from doing it’s job. Taking more pills during these times probably won’t do a darned thing for your focus and attention, but could do bad things for the rest of your body (especially your heart).The medication shortage won’t last forever, but don’t freak out through it and let your life fall to pieces. Even if you have to tell your boss you are having a hard time because you are off your meds or on a lower dose, or went to a different one that doesn’t work as well- then tell your boss. Lean on the people you can trust- that’s what they’re there for. Find more people you can trust, and ask them for help. And remember to find a way to show them your appreciation or pay them back in kind.It’s easy to freak out, but why freak out when the help you need may be standing right in front of you? Keep your stress levels down, reduce your obligations, and find the people who can help you figure out some ways to make it easier to get through. And be sure to say No to the ones who are asking too much of you.