Anyone else on concerta?
My doc just prescribed me concerta a few days ago since I didn't do well on vyvance. He said concerta is milder and shouldn't give me as many side affects. I'm also taking pristique for anxiety. I quess my question is, does anyone here take stimulants? Does it help with any if the asperger symptoms? I also have ADHD so it's hard for me to concentrate on something that doesnt intrest me and I have very little motivation unless it's something I want to do. I also get bored very easily and find comfort in my current obsessions.
I'm on concerta and it works really good for me. I had minor dizziness spells (for 1-2 seconds max) when it was wearing off but that lasted only six weeks or so. Otherwise its a tremendous help with my concentration, especially when i am tired.
as for my AS it doesn't help much, but I do notice that it bothers me less when people come to my desk unexpectedly and I stim less especially my verbal stims.
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Self Diagnosed Asperger's since 2010
Officially Diagnosed Asperger's and ADHD-PI March 2012
Your Aspie score: 152 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 42 of 200
You are very likely an Aspie
AQ = 41 EQ = 9
Yeah, I noticed so far I am a lot more focused and kind of feel a sense of calm. Seems to help with my hyperactivity. Definetly different than the vyvanse, which made me feel like I was on crack!! Lol not that I know what that's like! For some reason concerta make my my knees tingly and some times my arms. I really hope this works, finding the right meds can be so frustrating. And of course I research the heck out of the symptoms and look up all the reviews.
My doctor prescribed me Concerta XR, but it was too expensive and I got it switched to generic methylphenidate (Ritalin) instant release. So he prescribed me with 18mg Concerta, but then 20mg of instant release Ritalin at breakfast. Today is my first time taking it. I took it at 9, and it's 11 now. It's fairly odd feeling to me. I'm used to drinking like, a fair amount of caffeine and stuff, and this stuff just feels...odd. I might drop the dose down to 10 and see if I feel better. Honestly, I've felt better drinking homemade Rhodiola Rosea tea compared to this stuff. I'll give it some more time, but so far I'm not too impressed. Like it's good, but, the side effects of the nausea and beating heart are a bit much for me. But it's my first day on it, so...
Concerta has been great for me. It is extended-release, which means it doesn't hit you so hard at first, and sticks around longer. You're less likely to get the zombie effect you get with regular stimulants.
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Whoa that's way too much to start. Try 5mg and work up once it feels like it isn't enough. No wonder you felt like your heart was gonna jump out of your chest.
I tried starting on Ritalin and the difference was night and day but then I eventually got to where even 20mg didn't make much of a difference. Now I take Wellbutrin and use about 10mg of Ritalin at breakfast and lunch and it gets me through the workday. I tried an all day pill of Ritalin (not Concerta I think) once and I felt weird (not enough?).
There are some early side effects with stimulants but they go away. I don't shake any more. That's good. I like taking Ritalin. It helps me read, write, be more in control of emotions, settle down, and gives me a memory boost. Oh yes and minimises sensory issues.
As for autistic symptoms, it helps me deal with change better. I have more confidence, and I talk more to people, like even have a conversation. It's a weird but nice feeling.
I hardly feel like a zombie on it.
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Whoa that's way too much to start. Try 5mg and work up once it feels like it isn't enough. No wonder you felt like your heart was gonna jump out of your chest.
I tried starting on Ritalin and the difference was night and day but then I eventually got to where even 20mg didn't make much of a difference. Now I take Wellbutrin and use about 10mg of Ritalin at breakfast and lunch and it gets me through the workday. I tried an all day pill of Ritalin (not Concerta I think) once and I felt weird (not enough?).
I dunno, maybe the doctor figured since I was 195lbs I could handle it. That was my planning, too, like how I'd work with the medicine if I, say, bought it off ebay. Doctor is a nice man and all, but yeah, not the smartest dosing. His original plan was 18mg Concerta for a week, and then 36 after.
Also, my blood pressure is usually 115/70, with a low 70 pulse, on that 20mg Ritalin like 4 hours after taking it, 140/90, 105 pulse. I did feel focused, but it was less pleasant than like, a Red Bull or something. Taking about as much caffeine as I want also only raises my pulse to the 80s or so, with not much effect on blood pressure. "Mild CNS stimulant" my ass.
My original treatment plan for myself was take Piracetam (European nootropic medicine), and some amino acids, l-theanine, taurine (I've been using taurine this past week with decent results), and l-carnitine, along with Vitamin B5, and of course a multivitamin and 5-6g a day fish oil, possibly Rhodiola Rosea and/or Siberian ginseng pills with it. But my mother wanted me to go to a doctor, because piracetam could be unsafe because I'd be ordering it online. Meanwhile I'm given a Schedule II drug that's similar to cocaine. YAY.....
Regarding Rhodiola Rosea, too, Rhodiola was definitely the best "stim" type of herb I've ever taken. Ritalin felt like a crappy version of Rhodiola.
The silver lining is I'm getting up early in the morning now due to doctor's orders to take it at breakfast at 9, so I'm happy about that, despite the possible bad sides from the medicine.
EDIT:
Now I'm on 10mg and feel much better than on 20. 20 I felt like I was "high" whereas this I just feel like, a good normal, but with better than average concentration and stuff.
