Methylphenidate and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Sto...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 16, 2020

Methylphenidate for ADHD "I was diagnosed a year ago after numerous diagnoses with ADHD. I was put on Concerta 54, and I'm a different person. I'm happy, calm, still a bit anxious, but I'm better every day. Fantastic medication."

• Rod...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 2, 2020

Methylphenidate for ADHD "My 8-year-old son was given this med, Quillivant. The longer he took it, the worse he became. He became very aggressive, paranoid, had hallucinations, and was very hard to control. He had to be admitted to a psychiatric unit for 2 weeks, they were unable to get him off that med, and he was put on another med. He became himself again. He's one that does not tolerate stimulant medicines at all, I insisted he be put on non-stimulant, and our problems began to change. Two years later, he's doing much better!"

• Anonymous
• June 11, 2011

Methylphenidate for ADHD "I have severe ADHD. For a while, I didn't know what was wrong with me, constantly daydreaming, lazy, unorganized, acting impulsively, and very hyper. The medicine has changed my life. All these symptoms are gone, except I'm still a bit hyper and impulsive, but only slightly. It does exactly what it says on the tin and changed my life dramatically. I could actually focus. Bad things would be if you are sensitive to stimulants like coffee. It will make you jittery, it gives you a slight mood and energy boost. I'd recommend taking it in small doses first."

• San...
• June 24, 2018

Methylphenidate for ADHD "I was diagnosed with inattentive ADHD/ADD at the age of 21 while at university, as well as mildly chronic fatigue, and was prescribed Concerta; first 18 mg (which wore off too fast) and now 36 mg. When I first started taking it, it felt like a miracle drug - for the first time in my life, I felt awake, driven, and organized. Over time, it has become less effective - it's definitely tolerance building - but it's still way better than going without. I get chest pains and headaches sometimes, I have started getting mild anxiety (which I never had before), and I feel the cold a lot more than I used to. All of this would be completely fine were it not for the main side effect of Concerta: weight loss. After around 18 months of taking it daily, my weight has gone from 130 lbs to 104 lbs - regardless of how much I eat."

• Mel...
• March 29, 2015

Methylphenidate for ADHD "I really like Concerta. I was on Adderall before but had really bad anxiety and sleep side effects and even more side effects, so my doctor gave me a Concerta prescription and I took it and felt so energized and focused. I love Concerta so much, the only complaint would be it lowers my appetite and gives me a bad mood sometimes, but I use Prozac to balance that out, and this medicine is amazing. I tested it on video games and kept winning because of how focused I was. This medicine is great for ADHD, I highly recommend it."

• Anonymous
• May 20, 2011

Methylphenidate for ADHD "My 8-year-old son was diagnosed with ADHD nearly 1 year ago. We tried 4 different medications - 2 gave him side effects of not being able to sleep and high anxiety. 2 did nothing for him. Then we tried Metadate CD. We started with 10 mg, which didn't really do anything. 20 mg was better, but still some issues in the attention area. We are now at 30 mg, and it's great. His teacher has also said that school is much better. He makes sense in his answers, he's not blurting out or disrupting the class. We give it to him at 6:45 am and can get through a bit of homework until 5:30 pm. Then it's worn off. I think that's a great amount of time and no side effects of lack of sleep, lack of appetite, or mood/anxiety issues. I hope it continues."

• CGa...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 25, 2019

Methylphenidate for ADHD "I was diagnosed with inattentive ADHD when I was in 4th grade. As a child, I did not take any medication as I experienced bad side effects. When I turned 16, I started taking the medication in order to help with my schoolwork. Now I’m 22 years old and studying engineering. The medication is really helpful in my academic life, however, it increased my depression and anxiety. Over the years I’ve been taking it, the medication decreased in its effectiveness, and I had to continually up the dosage. I’m only saying this because for anyone who needs to use it, they need to be aware and check themselves and their mental state. If you continuously ensure that it doesn’t negatively affect your mental state and your personal relationships, then it is a very helpful and lifesaving drug. Just be careful and aware."

• Anonymous
• October 9, 2017

Methylphenidate for ADHD "I am a 20 y/o girl. I was on 54 mg of Concerta once a day. This drug was the worst thing that's ever happened to me. It did help my grades, but I felt most of it was placebo, and the fact that the side effects were so horrible, I wanted to focus on work to distract myself. It made my anxiety unbearable and constant. My heart beat in my head. My whole left arm and pinky would feel numb and prickly. I knew I was hungry but could not eat and was disgusted by food. I fell into a horrible depression and felt just overwhelming darkness. The pros were that it made sitting in long classes and retaining information much easier. I felt excited about learning and getting work done. Overall, it helped with school, but the side effects are not worth it."

• Ali...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 23, 2020

Methylphenidate for ADHD "I'm a 20-year-old woman, 179 cm and 61 kg, who just got diagnosed with ADD for the first time in my life, after living with it untreated for so many years. So, my doctor wanted to prescribe me Ritalin, though in small doses, so I didn't just go all in from the start. I started with 10 mg, which didn't have an effect. Then I took 20 mg, I felt a little more energized, but nothing else. Then I tried 30 mg today. I felt extremely fresh in my mind, instead of the weird slump I'm usually in. Very happy, which suggests that what I lacked before was dopamine. Still no difference with anything else, like my poor concentration and focus, but on the other side, there are no side effects as of late. Other than the things that I've already struggled with, like depression and anxiety. Not a bad experience thus far, but I'm still a little bit nervous about how 40 mg and 50 mg will affect me."

• fru...
• November 6, 2009

Methylphenidate for ADHD "Started Concerta 5 weeks ago. Started with a 'pediatric' dose (I'm almost 40) and worked up to 54 mg. LOVE that I can finally focus and finish tasks, work is getting completed, my lists are getting checked off, and I'm making it to appointments on time. THEN...2 weeks ago, slight insomnia started to get worse, and minor anxiety...thought it was various life issues I was dealing with. Tonight...I'm dealing with severe insomnia and anxiety so bad I can barely sit and research my problem. I have a check-up with my doctor in 2 weeks, I'm calling tomorrow to get in sooner. I'm very upset as it solved my ADD problems and thought I started a new life...I do not want to start the trial and error roller coaster all over."

• Rob...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 7, 2018

For Depression "I'm a 60-year-old female. Had depression and debilitating anxiety for 20 years. I've been on and off Zoloft all those years. Zoloft helps my depression. When I was off it, I was miserable and couldn't get out of bed. I'm on it now and staying on it. For anxiety, I've tried Ativan, it works well, but because of the horrors of addiction and coming off them, I only take them when things are out of my control, e.g., sudden death in the family or I think I may end up in the ED again because of anxiety. I've had Endep, it didn't work. Parnate, anxiety was through the roof, my mind was a mess, and bad headaches. I tried Pristiq. No sleep at all, constipation, headaches, and was so tired I wanted to cry. It didn't help my anxiety at all. My psychiatrist gave me a script for Concerta (slow release) 18 mg. One a day, early morning. I took it this morning, expecting all sorts of side effects. It's 2 PM, and I've had the best day in over 5 months. So far, so good!"

• Veg...
• May 11, 2014

Methylphenidate for ADHD "I am 34 years old. I started with 27 mg. Over several weeks, I worked up to 36 mg in the morning, then 10 mg in mid-afternoon. My husband has seen an improvement in my mood. I feel less angry and better able to cope with daily life. I stay awake during the day now (I was very fatigued pre-Concerta and sleeping a lot). I am sleeping the best I ever have at night. My mind doesn't race as much as it used to. I still experience anxiety, but it hasn't increased since Concerta. I get more headaches, and I seem to continuously suck and rub my tongue on the inside of my mouth. It annoys me and causes tongue ulcers, but I guess it is a small price to pay."

• eee...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 7, 2014

Methylphenidate for ADHD "Intensified anxiety, and taken with Abilify, I did not know if I was hungry for a long time. My weight went up and down, and I stayed on the same dose for 9 years. It made no sense. In hindsight, the Abilify was merely treating symptoms caused by side effects of Concerta. I would encourage everyone who has been ignored when they asked mental health professionals for help to also encourage careful review and make informed decisions about medications. Educate yourself!"

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

Methylphenidate 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!"

• Jul...
• March 9, 2015

Methylphenidate for ADHD "This medication is amazing! Be patient and try it! All ADHD medications (like any other medication for anything) have side effects, but I have learned Concerta's do go away once you let your body do the talking: push through the 1-6 days of anxiety/depression/hyperactivity, etc., and be open to what it can do for you once your body gets used to it. I am 21 years old, and I am on 54 mg, and I take a side effect medication called INTUNIV XR (2 mg) that cured the anxiety side effect, which I found to come about halfway through the day and when the Concerta was wearing off. This side effect comes about because Concerta is not a gradual release, but 2 releases of the medicine - it drops off and may cause anxiety for a short time during the day."

• Rey...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 10, 2019

Methylphenidate for ADHD "(18 M) I recently got diagnosed with ADD and was given Ritalin. 5 mg per day as a start-up dose. I have dabbled with other drugs in the past, like cannabis, LSD, mushrooms, and morphine. I took Ritalin for two days before deciding to quit. Never in my entire life have I ever felt this level of addiction, nor have I ever crashed this bad on any drug. I have suffered with severe depression, OCD, and anxiety for some years. The crash gave me a rebound to my past psychosis."

• Iso...
• July 28, 2016

Methylphenidate for ADHD "I was prescribed Concerta 54 mg for two weeks, and after two weeks, my dosage was lowered to 36 mg. The positive effects: First of all, it was absolutely effective at keeping me focused, engaged, and gave me the motivation to continue working away at my given tasks. It also accelerated my perception of time. The (manageable) negatives: It made me so focused on tasks that I was antisocial. Fixating on annoying sounds, anxiety, sweaty palms, no appetite, and weight loss (25 lbs). I found I was lacking emotion, and during the long comedown, I was irritable and rarely experienced mild to moderate depression. Concerta is an effective ADHD drug, but the emotional effects can be annoying at times. It is worth consulting your doctor about!"

• DrG...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 20, 2019

Methylphenidate for ADHD "I turned to Concerta during graduate school because I simply could not keep my life together. 27 mg in the morning was a game changer. Life and the world around me were just so much more interesting, my studies fascinating. When I got into the real world, it just wasn’t working, and I increased to 36 mg, which caused my jaw to clench. Withdrawal is hard. You are tired. I think it is best to do it over a vacation. 5 years on, I tried again. But this time I had developed certain anxiety behaviors surrounding my work, and the Concerta greatly magnified these anxieties. So I stopped. In summary: 27 mg is a great dose for me as an adult female. 36 mg = too much - not sure what the dosage kids are on, but please be careful! Too much of this drug is a very uncomfortable, jittery existence. Be careful if you suffer from anxiety, this can make it worse. Was a wonder drug for me - best used over a finite period to help achieve certain goals."

• Dan...
• September 22, 2015

Methylphenidate for ADHD "I've been taking Concerta for close to 15 years now since I was diagnosed at age 3. Around 8th grade, I had started getting pain in my chest, which was similar to costochondritis. The pain got increasingly worse up through high school and the beginning of college around age 18 when it stopped affecting me as much. Now I'm 21 years old (as of the 12th this month), and for the past years, I've been noticing that I've been getting increasingly anxious and worrying more than usual. In the past 5 years, on a daily 63 mg dose, I've been dealing with depression, anxiety, nightmares, insomnia, loss of appetite, and I've lost 30 lbs due to that. It's effective, but at a price, sometimes one you can't afford."

• Dwa...
• October 11, 2016

Methylphenidate for ADHD "Was on Concerta XL for 7 days and had to come off it due to the unbearable side effects of the drug. I was diagnosed with ADHD (inattentive subtype), generalized anxiety, and depression. This drug made me feel very nauseous, gave me a headache, made me shake, gave me twitches throughout my body, messed my brain up in terms of cognition, etc., made me very aware of my heartbeat, made me extremely anxious to the point of not being able to leave my room or communicate with anyone and just generally messed me up. At one point, I was doing some stretching on a yoga mat to try and calm myself down, and I felt so confused that I didn't know what to do with my legs. This drug wasn't for me and caused an unpleasant experience."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 27, 2018

Methylphenidate for ADHD "I've been on Concerta for ADHD for almost 2 months and feel better than in 25 years. I also suffered with depression and anxiety. My depression and anxiety are better, I feel alive and myself for the first time in decades. I can get things done. I forgot to take citalopram 20 mg/Celexa last week and now haven't taken citalopram for 6 days and feel great. I am concerned as when I tried to stop citalopram in the past, I felt crazy and could not do it, and that was using the step-down method - this is cold turkey. It seems somehow the Concerta is offsetting weaning off symptoms, so I hope this all lasts. It is a lifesaver. I was so tired of being depressed, overwhelmed, pretty lethargic, overweight. It is great to feel excited and not have food cravings."

• Moj...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 12, 2017

Methylphenidate for ADHD "The first month on LA 20 mg was horrible. Anxiety and way too focused. I nearly quit taking it but decided to persist. I am very glad I did. I now feel fantastic and not so anxious. I would definitely recommend. I have tried all types of Ritalin and Concerta, and so far this is the one that works for me the best. It also works great with my antidepressant. Double win :)"

• Jef...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 18, 2017

Methylphenidate for ADHD "I was recently diagnosed with ADHD, which I didn't think I had until I started college. Things then became more clear! I started off on Adderall, which I hated because it made me irritable, jittery, and I found it totally unhelpful. Weary of the stimulants, I switched to Wellbutrin, which helped, but only a little. I decided to give Concerta a shot, as my psychiatrist told me it's like a more specialized version of Ritalin, and I've been amazed by the results! It lasts me most of the day, and I can finally focus on work and conversations! My quality of life is so much better now that I'm on Concerta. I take the 27 mg XL dose."

• Liv...
• January 20, 2012

Methylphenidate 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."

• Ean...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 31, 2019

Methylphenidate for ADHD "When I was first diagnosed with ADHD, I was put on a similar methylphenidate known as Matoride XL, which is a generic of Concerta, though I had some issues with this drug: anxiety, depression, lack of appetite, etc. After a while, it stopped working so well. I was put on Concerta 27 mg, and it’s been amazing. I am happier, and I am able to concentrate and contain myself while doing university tasks. I’m hoping the effects won’t wear off, only time will tell."