Concerta and Loss Of Appetite: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• May 1, 2021

For ADHD "I am a 35-year-old female. I suspected I had ADHD, generalized anxiety, and depression for many years based on severe mental illness in my family, but have only recently been diagnosed. After the effects of Covid and a family crisis while trying to finish a Master's degree, I was overwhelmed and unable to do anything. I began Concerta, and it gave me hope. Drugs are not a magic pill. If you think only taking Concerta will fix you, that is the wrong attitude. You have to make other efforts like counseling or changing your environment. Concerta changed my life, but it was coupled with a lot of effort to create the right conditions for me. I began waking up early to work in the morning so I would not be distracted by anyone or anything. I made sure to eat my three meals a day, even if the drugs suppressed my appetite. I highly recommend it. It's really worth a try. I'm on the 54 mg."

• CJa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 28, 2021

For ADHD "Concerta is WONDERFUL. I’m 24, and I’ve struggled all my life with mental illness. 4 months ago, I was diagnosed with ADHD and Bipolar II Disorder. My psychiatrist said I had to get the mood balanced from the Bipolar before we could treat the ADHD. Once my mood was stabilized, I started to try some stimulant medications. I tried Adderall 5mg and 10mg. It was an absolutely awful experience. I had two friends recommend Concerta to me, so I requested it from my provider. I was prescribed 18mg, and after ONE day, let me tell you, I was feeling like the best self that I knew was there all along-calm, attentive, and enjoying every passing moment with bliss. It keeps on getting better, and I hope it continues to. I'm going to up my dose next month. If you are struggling with ADHD, try this. I feel so amazing I could cry (in a good way), no hassle with multiple doses. I was on the brink of giving up, but I gave this a go. Please, please try it. The only side effect is less appetite, BUT WHO CARES AT THIS POINT."

• Nur...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 30, 2013

For ADHD "I am a pediatric nurse and a mother of a child with ADHD. The nurse in me hated the thought of medicating my son with anything, yet the mom in me knew something needed to be done. My son went on Concerta at age 6. He takes 36 mg, and today is 12 and still on the same dosage. It has helped him in so many ways... grades, focusing, decreased aggressive behavior, and friendships, just to name a few. Though I was resistant, this was the best choice for my child. It's been 6 years, and he is great. It does decrease his appetite during the daytime, but he does catch up in the evening with calories. I highly recommend a daily Carnation shake with whole milk or a multivitamin if your pediatrician agrees, to prevent missing any nutrients. Good luck to you all."

• Mom...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 5, 2013

For ADHD "My son was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 6. I was extremely against trying medications, but after an extremely difficult kindergarten and start of first grade, I decided that it was worth looking into. My son was miserable, and it broke my heart to see him coming home every day in tears. We tried a variety of behavioral interventions, but nothing worked and my son was not happy. We decided, based on a friend's advice (her daughter had success with Concerta), to give it a shot. OMG! It was like night and day! Slight decrease in appetite initially, but other than that, it's been a godsend. Wishing all you parents the same success we had!!!"

• Anonymous
• September 9, 2009

For ADHD "My son is 10 years old. I suspected he had ADD when he was 6, and the teacher kept telling me he was spacing out in school, but he is also so smart. I decided maybe the work was just too easy, and he was bored. In 4th grade, I couldn't take the complaints (almost daily) and had him tested. He was diagnosed with ADD and given Concerta. I can only tell you that his math teacher sent me home a note on the day he started medication to ask where I got my new son from, she could not believe it. She said he even went in during his lunch break to catch up on some work. He lost his appetite for the first week or so, but regained it and hasn't had trouble sleeping at all. He is happier, his teachers are happier, and I am HAPPIER! Thank you, CONCERTA."

• Van...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 23, 2014

For ADHD "My son started on Concerta about a year ago. It has transformed his life. I don't like giving medicine, but I have tried absolutely everything else - swimming, brain gymnastics, etc. Nothing really helped. He is naturally bright but just couldn't concentrate - particularly when it came to classroom work and focusing on a project involving writing. The transformation has been incredible. He had an excellent school report in every area. His teachers are thrilled, he is confident and happy, and enjoys school. He doesn't take Concerta in the holidays or at weekends and manages fine going back on it on a Monday morning. Only one side effect which is a lack of appetite. We ensure he goes to school with a good breakfast, and then he has a huge meal when he gets home."

• ajj...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 22, 2014

For ADHD "I started Concerta when I was in 7th grade. I am now 14, and I started off with 36mg. Now I am on 54mg. At first, I had a big boost in my grades! I started getting A's! This year, I have been noticing in school that I have been more anxious, depressed, not hungry during the day, and a little bit socially awkward. I am trying to deal with my side effects. I am going to the doctor soon about Concerta. You are not alone."

• Lin...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 16, 2017

For ADHD "I'm 21 and I've been taking 72mg (two 36mg capsules) a day since I was about 17. Concerta changed my life. I was failing school, and no matter how hard I tried, it didn't change anything. I became depressed, slept for 14+ hours a day, and gave up. Then I was prescribed Concerta, and it changed my life. It keeps me focused, motivated, and energized. However, the side effects are very real. I don't sleep much, which is why I usually don't take it on weekends to catch up on sleep. It reduces my appetite, so I eat a big breakfast before taking it in the mornings. It does elevate my anxiety, and not saying it's something I suggest.. but I smoke cigarettes to help that. Also, I don't know if this is common or not, but it keeps my digestive tract regular."

• Sam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 15, 2015

For ADHD "I've been taking Concerta for the past five months. When I first began taking it, I would get headaches and appetite problems, but those side effects disappeared after about three weeks on it. Concerta has not only improved the amount of work I'm able to accomplish, it's improved my self-esteem as well. I no longer feel as shy and cluttered as I did before I started taking Concerta. I like that it lasts throughout the entire workday, so I don't have to worry about redosing. Overall, Concerta has been a very positive experience for me."

• Jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 4, 2021

For ADHD "I've been on Concerta for a few weeks now, I was just recently diagnosed with ADHD, and it's my first medication. I am a 15-year-old female. I started with 18 mg but didn't feel any difference. It only decreased my appetite (I lost about 5 lbs a week) to the point where I became underweight. My doctor recently upped my dose to 36 mg, and I feel worse than before. I've been having a hard time falling asleep and have slept very restlessly. I am still losing weight. I've also noticed that I feel more moody and impulsive, and I have been hyper-fixating more and lashing out at my family. I have a doctor's appointment next week where I hope to switch medications."

• dnb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 4, 2019

For ADHD "I started taking Concerta about 6 months ago. The first month after being diagnosed with ADD, I was on Ritalin, then switched over to Concerta. I’m on the 72 mg of Concerta, and it really has changed my life. I failed two classes in college before I started medication, and now I am doing really well in school. It really helps me focus in general as well. I’ve lost 70 pounds since I started taking medicine for my ADD, so I’m currently 140. This medicine destroys my appetite until it wears off, so I usually only eat at night. It also has messed with my sleep, so I make sure to take it by 9 in the morning so that it will wear off by like 10 at night. Whenever the medicine wears off, I become super unproductive, but I’m not sure if that’s how I am without it or if it’s just worse when the medicine wears off. I really recommend Concerta, it really has helped me so much."

• mam...
• December 6, 2013

For ADHD "My daughter was finally diagnosed with ADHD Inattentive-type at age 16 after a lot of stress regarding high school academics and feeling 'dumb.' Concerta has been nothing short of a miracle for her. She finally ended up on the 54mg dosage and does very well. The only side effect she has had is loss of appetite which she now knows to eat a healthy/big breakfast before her medication in the morning. She then eats a normal dinner. She has occasionally had insomnia if she takes her medication later in the morning or if she has accidentally had caffeine. Overall, she is in a good groove with this medication and her SAT score went from 1600 to 2000 after medication and a prep course; GPA from 3.3 to 3.9."

• Pen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 5, 2019

For ADHD "I started Concerta in August after Vyvanse gave me bad side effects. I began at 36 mg and now I take 54 mg. Being on this has helped me so much with classwork and anxiety, I no longer have anxiety spirals like before! I’m actually interested in my uni classes, and I’m getting better grades. The best part of Concerta is that it stops my obsessive anxiety. I can control my thoughts now, this is something I was never capable of in the past. It gives me a sense of mental relaxation that I’ve never had, and it’s life-changing. I feel on edge, kind of jumpy, and alert, but no uncontrollable anxiety like before. At first, I had some weird side effects, like tics, shakiness, lack of appetite, and peripheral hallucinations, but these side effects are so worth not having the terrible anxiety like I used to. Concerta helps me feel more sure of myself because I’m not spacing out on information or having anxiety attacks. I feel more confident and capable. It’s wonderful!"

• Abb...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 5, 2014

For ADHD "I was diagnosed with ADHD in 8th grade and put on 20mg of Concerta, which has since risen to 54mg extended release in the day and 10mg immediate release in the evening for when I do my homework. At first, the medicine was great - it allowed me to focus and my grades went up significantly. However, over the past year or so, I have been experiencing negative side effects such as depression, headaches, and loss of appetite. I can manage the headaches and appetite problems, but as for the depression, it is so bad that I am considering switching to another brand or changing my dose because when I am on Concerta, I become virtually emotionless, and as a result, I am struggling to maintain good relationships with my friends and family members."

• Exp...
• October 1, 2013

For ADHD "My daughter was diagnosed with ADHD in the 2nd grade, and her doctor and I discussed different medications and settled on Concerta. Grades were never a problem, but behavior and socialization were. She hated the medication and would spit it out or hide it. It gave her headaches, loss of appetite, and sleep loss. Eventually, she began taking it regularly and began to do well in school. The behavior problems ceased, as well as socialization. She took this medication for about 2 years, and then I decided to pull her off. Her teacher didn't even notice and thought she was still taking the medication because she was so well-adjusted and presented no serious issues. She never took meds again and learned to cope. She has ADHD but manages it other ways."

• Sun...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 9, 2020

For ADHD "It took a while to get used to, but I weigh about 160 lb and take 54 mg daily now. Overall, it just makes it so much easier to be focused and organized, with the meds, I can actually keep routines. The biggest side effect for me is the appetite loss, I lost 30 lb within the first 6 months. Thankfully, that has lessened a lot, and I’ve gained some of the weight back, but definitely something to consider if you have concerns about being underweight or disordered eating. As well, if you try to have caffeine, nicotine, sativa, or any stimulants, you’re going to feel like absolute garbage, so follow the doctor's order and avoid them. The only other warning you might not find online is that the brand name Concerta is expensive and not always covered (in BC, Canada). It wasn’t covered by my university health plan, but it’s covered by my work plan with Blue Cross. For 90 tablets of 54 mg Concerta (brand name, my doctor told me not to take the generic), it costs $400."

• rji...
• January 12, 2009

For ADHD "I am 26 years old and have been using Concerta for approximately 9 months. I have been extremely impressed with my new ability to focus and attention to detail. I have always been a daydreamer, and that paid off in creativity. However, daydreaming during a meeting with the president of the company you work for doesn't pay off. My wife, out of angst, suggested that I might have ADHD and should consider getting tested. After a 5-hour psychological evaluation, it was decidedly so. Since I have started Concerta, I have been promoted to the top position in my office. It controls my anxiety and keeps me calm and focused. The only side effects that I have noticed are weight loss (lost 30 lbs) due to loss of appetite and a lack of emotion."

• Cat...
• February 8, 2016

For ADHD "I've been taking Concerta for 3 years now, and I'm 18. I started out with 18 mg and slowly went up to 54 mg. My grades went from really low to average in weeks, but the side effects are really crappy. I have trouble sleeping at night, and I feel things that aren't there. I also have a big loss of appetite and have to force myself to eat sometimes. I have days where I get really depressed to the point that I don't want to get out of bed and do anything. I also feel really anxious and on edge, and I start scratching/picking at my skin, which gave me scars all over my back. I thought about it and went off the pill, and my grades suddenly dropped again. The pill really does help with focus and motivation, but the side effects are really tough!!!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 23, 2022

For ADHD "Concerta may work for some people, but it actually screws up. (I’m a minor and can’t make myself talk to my parents - partially because of the drug). Although it has proven to “work” for me, this stupid drug makes me feel like a walking corpse. I feel usually numb throughout the day and have an emotional crash at home. I can never think of anything to say, I trail off in the middle of answering things. I have no appetite to the point at which the thought of food makes me feel nauseous. I randomly get extremely nervous, my insomnia has gotten worse, I have really shaky muscles, I have tics, I have increased symptoms of severe depression and social anxiety. When it wears off, I feel awful and mean, and if I skip a single day, then I feel really sick. I don’t recommend this drug."

• Anonymous
• October 22, 2015

For ADHD "ADD/ADHD has always been an issue, sure - grades sucked, concentration lacked, motivation gone. But, when the doctor prescribed Concerta, that all changed. I felt a change and saw my grades and concentration get better and better. The appetite loss was a minor issue. I've always been a big eater with a super fast metabolism. When I was told I was a few pounds overweight, I was happy. The solution to the problem is to force yourself to eat. It's not a bad sacrifice if you see a positive difference in your performance. I'm 6'5", 17 years old, and 210 pounds. I'm skinny, sure, but I'm willing to sacrifice quite a bit so I can do better in school. :)"

• Bee...
• September 11, 2019

For ADHD "I was put on 36 mg Concerta in my 20s, and it helped drastically. I was able to finally concentrate and read without having to reread things because I was distracted every 0.5 seconds. I lost my appetite and would get insomnia at times. I went from a size 16 to 8 within a year, which honestly helped my health, and I was able to start going to the gym for the first time. I got off it when I moved overseas for 8 years, and now I’m back on it. The first couple of weeks are a bit rough, it gives me anxiety and restlessness, it’s an instant laxative, and makes you pretty antisocial. But remember, your body adjusts, and you start feeling more normal and less anxiety. However, if I take 36 mg and have any other stimulant like caffeine, I literally feel like I’m having a heart attack and anxiety attack at the same time. Be careful with mixing stimulants with this med if you have anxiety. Otherwise, it’s amazing and works miracles. Also, when I got off the 36 mg, my weight went up so fast."

• Sim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 27, 2014

For ADHD "I was put on Ritalin 10 mg three times a day, then on Concerta 27 mg. I didn't have any side effects until I went to 36 mg, and I was only losing my appetite. I went back down, and it still is really helping my concentration. I finish my work on time and am able to work to a higher level of work."

• Emm...
• February 12, 2016

For ADHD "I'm 18 years old and have been prescribed 74 mg of Concerta a day. Three pills in the morning and one in the afternoon if needed. I had been diagnosed with severe ADHD, and this drug has changed the way I learn and study dramatically. It's amazing how confident and focused I am now. I always feel so good on it too, until I'm starving to death. Concerta absolutely kills your appetite. The sad part is I cannot even force myself to eat, and it has already taken a toll on my weight. I have always been insecure about my body, so it is nice losing the extra pounds, however, I don't enjoy talking to anyone at school anymore. Even though I feel good all during the school day, I am quiet and hungry."

• Axe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 25, 2019

For ADHD "Concerta has been a life-changing drug. My studies have become more interesting, and I have a long attention span. I wake up before tests to study and have more motivation to do laborious tasks. It has helped with my learning disabilities in regard to memorization, math, and writing. I can read without checking my phone every minute. The downsides are you become antisocial, don't eat lunch, and don't have much of a sex drive. Once the medication wears off, you become hungry and return to normal. In my opinion, the benefits outweigh the cons. I do believe I have developed a tolerance, so I will be upping my dosage from 36 mg to 54 mg in the near future. If you are struggling in school, this medication is for you! I wish I had this earlier in my life so I could choose a more challenging major."

• Hom...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 9, 2015

For ADHD "At the age of 10, my son's ADHD was needing medical help. He was put on Concerta 18 mg and was a little unwell for two weeks, with a sick stomach, lack of appetite, and slightly listless. Made sure he ate breakfast before taking his tablet. He did look a little thin after about 1 year. We persevered with Concerta and life quickly improved until almost all ADHD problems had disappeared. Did not increase the initial drug dose. But after 18 months, he was becoming quiet and withdrawn. Decided to stop Concerta. Mild withdrawal symptoms for a week or so. We have never looked back. He is now 14, not on any medications and is a tall, healthy teenager. Wow, recommend this tablet. He may need it again someday."