Concerta and Mood Swings: What Users Say

• Gab...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 22, 2020

For ADHD "I’ve been on Concerta for the past week and a half. On one hand, it works really well when it comes to productivity and organization, as it keeps me energized and focused, and also improves my driving skills! However, taking this medication has significantly worsened my mental health, causing me to experience paranoia, mood swings, anxiety, and even some suicidal thoughts. Although it does its job, I can’t keep taking it simply due to the effect it’s been having on my well-being. I’ll be scheduling an appointment with my doctor to change my prescription momentarily. However, just because Concerta hasn’t worked for me, that doesn’t mean it can’t/won’t work for you."

• Anonymous
• February 22, 2010

For ADHD "I don't know how I feel about it. I'm 21. I was diagnosed with ADHD this summer. My grades went from C's and B's to A's and Dean's List. I can't say I hate it, but I can't say I love it either. I used to be this free-spirit girl who was bubbly and loved to go out with my friends. Although I did have issues with controlling my impulsive mood swings, I still was really happy. Since taking it the past 7 months, my friends call me the cave dweller. It's sad because I'm actually content with being alone. It used to drive me nuts. I'm almost scared to talk to people I don't know. My social life has gone in the dump. Nothing bothers me. It makes me get really good grades, but it takes away the passion. I feel like a computer."

• 28a...
• March 7, 2010

For ADHD "I've used Concerta for 5 years and loved the improvements at first - I became successful, in perfect shape, and did most things extraordinarily well. My life did a complete 180. Once unfocused, unmotivated, and disorganized, I transformed to near perfection in everything I did. The price you pay for perfection - I've lost my friends and my social abilities. I used to be fun and full of life! You begin to seclude yourself because you are too focused, too mechanical. You lose weight because your appetite goes away and you are indeed anorexic. I couldn't sleep, had extreme anxiety, headaches, dry mouth, highs and lows....I can go on and on. It changes you and you may think it's great but ultimately you lose yourself in the process."

• Moo...
• November 15, 2013

For ADHD "I'm a 15-year-old girl who started off with Vyvanse for a year but became anorexic. I switched to Concerta! The first couple of years, I felt so amazing because I have never experienced what it felt like to succeed after trying so much. Then I got to High School. My meds ended a relationship. I was always paranoid and extremely nervous. I am like a robot now. I'm either extremely emotionless, really mad, or really paranoid. My friends tell me that it's like talking to a stranger. I get frustrated so easily and don't care about anyone or anything around me. I don't want to be taken off my meds because I'm really successful. But should I really have to choose between my loved ones and school? I shouldn't have to pick."

• Yes...
• February 7, 2012

For ADHD "Some of these experiences are quite alarming! I never experienced the really harsh side effects such as depression, suicidal thoughts, and any other bad side effects. I've been taking Concerta ever since I was 8. I was taken off of Concerta when I was 21, and I actually went downhill after that. I lost a lot of my friends, and I can't control my thoughts, daydreams, and mood swings, and my performance at my job declined rapidly to the point where I almost lost it. I am 23 now and just got back on Concerta and am super happy with how it has organized my mind!"

• nit...
• December 8, 2009

For ADHD "This medication has made a huge improvement for my son. He is doing better in school and has no side effects, which is a major plus to me. No mood swings, fits of rage, or emotional meltdowns. I would recommend trying this medication to anyone."

• Isa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 4, 2022

For ADHD "When I took Concerta briefly, I was 16 years old. This happened to be during the shutdown pandemic, so online school was our classroom. My doctor prescribed Concerta to me for my ADHD in hopes that my grades would rise and I would focus with the distractions that came with online school. I took Concerta from September 2020 to October 2020. This was quite possibly the worst I had felt in my life, and Concerta was to blame. I am a very happy person, always willing to help others, and I’m very much an extrovert. Being on Concerta stopped my happy personality, and even my family noticed such a heavy difference. I would find myself easily irritated at the smallest things and get very upset over them. I also had no control over my emotions (I would cry out of nowhere). My appetite was probably the worst side effect. I would take the medication at 7 a.m. (before school) and not feel the need to eat anything for hours, meaning that I would go every day without breakfast, lunch, or dinner."

• Anonymous
• March 18, 2009

For ADHD "I used Concerta for my ADD, and it worked pretty well. It gave me a little boost and helped me concentrate better, but it kind of just felt like I was on a controlled form of caffeine. The side effects were a lack of hunger, mood swings, and the crash was terrible. I felt tired and got in a terrible mood. So, it does help, I'm not going to lie, but I have since switched to another medicine because the side effects were too much for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 1, 2012

For ADHD "I am a college student, and I have to say this is by far the best ADHD medication I have taken. I was taking Adderall XR prior and was having major anxiety attacks/mood swings and just never really adjusted to it, so my doctor switched me to Concerta. It has helped me tremendously. I am finding it so much easier to focus and complete tasks. I have gone from C's to the dean's list over the last year. I feel no side effects. I take the extended release medication early in the morning, so it lasts all day but does not interfere with my sleep patterns. I would recommend this medication, it has worked wonders for me!"

• Mom...
• January 25, 2013

For ADHD "My son is 6 and has been diagnosed with ADHD. Concerta is one of the medications we have tried. It does wonders for him during the day, he has gone from being the class clown to the top student. He always had it in him, just lacked the ability to stay focused long enough to show it. However, during the evening is when we started noticing the difference it made in our child. He doesn't eat, he whispers even when everyone else was being loud, he became very emotional, and he would sit with coloring books and color for hours... or sit at the computer playing games, he never slept. This was very unlike our son... he was usually climbing walls like Spiderman... running around... jumping... happy-go-lucky! He became very withdrawn. We took him off it."

• sta...
• April 11, 2013

For ADHD "I am 18 years old. I took this medication for 2 years, if I remember correctly, in elementary. Yes, it helped me focus better in school somewhat, but at the same time it had taken my appetite away, gave me insomnia, stomach cramps, mood swings, and hallucinations. If I skipped a dose, I would get physically sick. I would NOT recommend this medication."

• A...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 16, 2013

For ADHD "My daughter has A.D.D., so we tried Concerta. At first it was fine, I thought there was hope for my daughter, but after two months, my daughter started to get angry and really bad mood swings-super emotional. She told me when she's at school she wanted to scream and yell. She wanted to throw things. She didn't. My daughter is very quiet and shy and keeps to herself. I am so happy I took her off of it."

• A...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 16, 2013

For ADHD "My daughter has A.D.D., so we tried Concerta. At first it was fine, I thought there was hope for my daughter, but after two months, my daughter started to get angry and really bad mood swings-super emotional. She told me when she's at school she wanted to scream and yell. She wanted to throw things. She didn't. My daughter is very quiet and shy and keeps to herself. I am so happy I took her off of it."

• RHo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 12, 2024

For ADHD "I find it makes me better, but sometimes, a bit too talkative, too friendly, too empathetic, able to focus, not procrastinate as much, and now a bit outgoing. Calm but confident, and with a spine! Finally! Yet, not euphoric. Good. Sometimes emotional, however, it has helped maybe find me, or maybe it is the gradual methadone withdrawal after 30 years on opioids, now on the lowest dose of methadone, 15 mgs. It may have helped a bit process the numbness I didn't know I had. I just thought that was me, struggling to get to the end of the day. Now, on Concerta and the lowest opioid dose in 30 years, I am reborn. I tried the IR methylphenidate, but had to take split pills during the day, like 5-10 mgs every 3-6 hours. I failed keeping track. I'd lose some as I had them on me in a pocket here or there and put them in containers I'd lose, wash my pants, total chaos. Now, one and done. Opioid use from my early twenties to my early 50s. I was medicating a spectrum disorder diagnosed. I am now me."

• Liv...
• January 20, 2012

For ADHD "I am 15 years old and was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 6. I feel Concerta is like a mental steroid. I focus 50% more and understand the things I'm taught better. Honestly, I really do not like Concerta. I have muscle twitches, nervousness, agitation, a complete loss of appetite (which gets to the point where I almost pass out due to suppressed hunger pains), tiredness, mellowness, confusion, mood swings quite frequently, irritation of the eyes, which is one of the things I absolutely hate, and more. I am not autistic, but sometimes I feel like I am during school. My social life is completely impaired. When I take Concerta, I am a very dull person. I am constantly paranoid, always worried about what others think of me."

• 50-...
• December 2, 2009

For ADHD "I've been taking Concerta for about 8 years, and it's helped my mood and productivity a lot. I used to get a stronger focus benefit from it and Ritalin, so there are times I still feel unfocused. But overall, it works well. The one-a-day dose is great. It doesn't keep me awake too late at night unless I take it after 11 a.m. I definitely notice the days I don't take it, either by choice or if I forget to get the prescription renewed. The first day off it isn't bad, but after that, I get really cranky. So I like myself a lot better on it than off! My wife does too. It's not a miracle, but it definitely helps."

• 83n...
• February 28, 2013

For ADHD "First couple of days, it was working well, then I started noticing mood swings, insomnia, anxiety, anger, agitation. On top of that, lack of energy and a sore throat. It's okay, but not worth all these side effects."

• Yah...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 14, 2019

For ADHD "I am a 25-year-old male. I have had ADHD since I was a child and have struggled my whole life to stay focused on one subject at a time. I took Concerta 36 mg as a child and then stopped taking the medication because I wanted to experience what it was like to be off of the medication. I recently started taking the Concerta medication again due to having a job that requires an immense amount of focus. I have been experiencing some uncomfortable side effects while on the medication. These side effects include feeling more reserved, as well as having mood swings. As far as focus, this medication is excellent for helping a person to focus on one subject or even goal at a time. I recommend this medication to anyone that has ADHD, as long as that person does not experience mood swings while on the medication."

• jg9...
• January 9, 2013

For ADHD "I am 18, and I've been on Concerta for just over a year now, and I took an extra year of high school to catch up. I went from a 60 in math to a 90. I felt like I had a whole new brain. Like others, I was a funny, outgoing, active person, but I now find myself completely content with being alone, in fact, I prefer it. I easily become irritated by spending time with others. I've also experienced uncontrollable mood swings, and I spend a lot of time crying. Lately, I've been losing focus, though, regardless, and my dosage is already at 54 mg. I'm so happy with my grades, and in the beginning, I was myself, but in the past few months, I've become a machine, and all I think about is how much work I need to do."

• Ang...
• May 9, 2011

For ADHD "My son has been on Concerta for about 4 years now. He started when he was 6 years and will be 11 years in 2 weeks. He was put on this medicine starting with 18 mg. Over time, he was gradually put on a higher dose as his age and weight increased. He is now on 54 mg. Since my son has been on this medicine, he has developed seizures because Concerta lowers the seizure threshold. He was diagnosed last year, 2010. He has paranoia, fearfulness, psychosis, headaches, nervousness, aggression, mood swings, trouble going to sleep, and doesn't want to eat a lot. He has had suicidal thoughts and depression."

• Anonymous
• November 6, 2009

For ADHD "I was diagnosed a few months ago (I'm 19) with ADD. The first-and only-medicine I have tried thus far is Concerta (27 and 36 mg). Not only has my ADD not gotten any better, but I feel I have anxiety, mood swings, restlessness, and insomnia. I've used it for several weeks, adjusted my dose, and minimized any external stress, and it's not any better."

• lad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 9, 2016

For ADHD "Yes, it helped a lot, and I love the fact that I can concentrate now because before, I couldn't concentrate at all. The thing is that after a few hours, I start to feel really depressed and really emotional, but I love the fact that I can express myself better now."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 3, 2012

For ADHD "I'm 18 and I've been on Concerta for years. All the bad side effects I have, so I tried other medications, but nothing worked, so I went back to Concerta. I love it. It makes me focus and not annoy people, but it makes me have mood swings and go into phases where I'll just not talk, not eat, just watch movies all day (not depression)."

• Ric...
• May 5, 2017

For ADHD "Had ADHD symptoms growing up, due to cultural reasons and beliefs, family always dismissed it. In 2nd year of law school at the moment, had to work 5x harder than others. Started living away from family and finally got an ADHD diagnosis done. Was prescribed Concerta. I was 154 cm tall and 47 kg before Concerta. Titration period - 18 mg 1 week, 27 mg 1 week, 36 mg 3 weeks, and 54 mg 8 weeks. 18-27 mg at first was amazing. No side effects, brimming with motivation, but wore off in 4 hours. 36 mg was okay but wasn't as great as the initial effect, wore off after 4 hours. 54 mg, developed an uncontrollable cough, mood swings, dry mouth, anxiety. Lost 5 kg weight. Now on Vyvanse. Cough took 2+ weeks since quitting Concerta to stop. Advice - if side effects are bad & last 1 week or more, change meds!"

• Lov...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 3, 2019

For ADHD "This drug is atrocious, especially if you also suffer from bipolar disorder with psychotic features. I have increased anxiety, hallucinations, paranoia, and mood swings from this drug. In the meantime, it has done some things for my severe attention deficit disorder symptoms. Nevertheless, the side effects are horrible. I am cold, constipated, yet sweaty. I am in pain. I have extreme bloating whenever I am late by a few hours for my dose. The insomnia is unfathomably severe. I have undergone rapid weight loss on this drug. I have no appetite and must force-feed myself despite also being on antipsychotics. Do not even use methylphenidate stimulants if you have psychosis."