Concerta Immune/tolerance Build-Up
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My son, who is 8, started 18mg Concerta a couple of weeks ago for ADHD. The first couple of days it was wonderful. He was generally happier, his concentration was excellent. He did talk a mile a minute and had trouble falling asleep at night. Both my husband and I were amazed at how well it worked. But the effect has been steadily becoming less and less by the day. It's been 2 weeks now and he's very much like how he was (impulsive, no concentration, doesn't listen etc) even while on medication. Has anyone else experienced this and if we up the dosage now, how many more times and how often would we have to up it???

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Thanks for saying what I was thinking.

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Blair, I mean you no disrespect for the following post. the only reason I am posting here is because I don't want your post scare parents.
WOW! Unless you are a psychologist please don't tell people how much medication is to much. Recommended doses are just that a recommendation.
While talking to my psychologist he informed me that people have different levels of ADD. Some people respond well to the recommended doses others don't. That being said I Would like to say that i am mot a medical professional just a concerned citizen.

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It sounds like your son is on too much Concerta. If he can't stop talking and can't concentrate he might be on too much. Talk to the doctor who prescribes it as soon as you can.

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I need to correct something in my last statement. When the doctor upped my son's Concerta it made him buzz like he was on speed and he got aggressive so he is back down to 54 mg of Concerta and Intuniv. If your son is struggling with school have your school get him an IEP (Individualized Educational Plan) I believe is what it stands for. My son got one and he gets help at school and doesn't lie about his homework or hide it. He does his homework and turns it in and his grades have gone from D's to A's and B's. It is so worth it!

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my son is 9 and he started on 18 mg and now he's on 27 - he does really well at school and during the hours of 7 am to 7 pm. You can see the medicine wearing off by then so it clearly helps my son during the day.

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Its because concertas causes dry mouth and the lack of saliva is what causes more cavities

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Wow. Some of these posts so closely mirror my experience with son and Concerta. Some are flat out horrifying. My 10 year old boy was diagnosed with severe ADHD at 6. I opted to try behavioral therapy before medication so he was not medicated until 7. First he was given Adderall. He quit eating, quit playing, quit everything. Against the doctors wishes I had him switched. His psychiatrist prescribed 18 mg concerta. It was wonderful. He was a normal child. He still misbehaved here and there but along the lines of what youd expect from a child his age. In four years (hes about to turn 11) hes moved from 18 to 54 mg. Ive noticed about once a year the previous dose loses any effect it had on him. At 54mg he is now at max dosage for someone under 13 and I refuse to go any higher. 90mg? 108mg? 144mg? These doctors should actually face disciplinary action for taking a child beyond the preset dosage recommended. Even those doses have no long term studies. Granted im at a loss now. Hes falling behind in school, lying about work and generally harder to deal with. I decided to try a medication hiatus. He hasn't grown much in the last year and a half and at four years his body isn't responding at all anymore. Best wishes to everyone fighting this disorder.

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My son is on 90 mg of Concerta. He was on two 36 mg. tablets and Intuniv. It quit working, grades were bad, lied about homework, etc. Doctor put him now on 90 mg. and he is focusing better. We might need to up it to 108 mg. though. The doctor said he probably isn't metabolizing his pills and that is why he is on such a high dosage. We noticed the change in his behavior immediately. Concerta is great. I just hope he isn't on these pills into adulthood.

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hey, you might think im a nuisance where im only a teenager. but im just trying to help, im 16 im about 160lbs and i take 54 mg of concerta in the morning. if you take it every single day you can become dependent on it and you get used to the effects (hence his return to normal behavior most likely) so i prefer to take it only 3 or 4 maayybe 5 days a week. the answer to todays problems arent drugs. they do help on occassion but that never means more is better. i am a really big guy and do competition fighting so its not like its a sedative or anything. it just stimulates your nervous system to concentrate. i hope this helps at least a little bit =)

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Robert, you must be awesome. Will you speak in tongues and tap my son on the head instantly curing his ADHD? or will you dance mystically round him with a coconut rattle and a chant scaring out the demons. Or will you tell me to teach him about consequence and metacognition? I too was a cynic until evidence proved otherwise... go forth and multiply, there are people in here pouring out their hearts looking for help not ill directed judgement.

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putting your 10 year old child on a dose that is above the highest dose for adults is a horrible idea. 72 is recommended max for adults.

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I know this ost is old but I just couldn't believe it!!! Kathy stated her mother gives her nephew concerta and had rutine bloodwork, where meth anphentamine was found present. Kathy seems to believe this is due to holding the concerta in her hand and the medication had seeped into her bloodstream.Kathy states she is a nurse and this information was part of her schooling to become a nurse.*** I am amazed in 1)she claims to be a nurse 2)would type nonsense with expecting to not be regarded as uneducated. 3)concerta chemical compound is {{{Methylphenidate Hydrochloride is methyl -phenyl-2-piperidineacetate hydrochloride MEANING~Methamphetamine causes the norepinephrine and dopamine transporters to reverse their direction of flow. This inversion leads to a release of these transmitters from the vesicles to the cytoplasm and from the cytoplasm to the synapse, causing increased stimulation of post-synaptic receptors. 4)Although there are some medications that MIGHT enter through skin contact, that can only happen when handeling for extended lengthy periods of time.Also concerta has a gel coating used to extend disolving rate so effects last longer due to constant flow.5)Kathy stated "methamphtamine was found in mothers blood stream" I would hope the lab used would certainly know the difference between methamphtamine and METHYLPHENIDATE!! Otherwise parents US wide would be questioned as to how thier child had cocain like substance in thier system!! I agree wholeheartedly with the gentalman who said your mother is taking drugs. Your mother is using her caretaker status as means to abuse drugs and use your nephew as the excuse. I suggest to you Kathy that you stop defending this sherad of a nurse and start looking into interventions for your mother and get that child out of her care!!! Why wouldn't that be where you looked first rather overlook undeniable evidence of drug abuse!!! Lastly ~"Methylphenidate usually is known as Ritalin and Methamphetamine usually prescribed is known as Desoxyn. Both can treat ADHD and narcolepsy. It just happens that both are very commonly also turned into street drugs, and meth is often made from psuedophedrine and common house hold cleaning chemicals where as Ritalin is usually snorted for a quick hit."~ educate yourself first before you speak.......

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You might possibly consider trying a different medication such as Adderall. Seems to has less side effects with more benefits.

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I am in the same boat as you right now. My 7 year old son has been on 18 mg of Concerta for a little over a year now. He has become more distracted and tuned out to the teacher for the last several weeks. I am also wondering if he has built up a tolerance to the meds. We are taking him back to Dr. next week.

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My son has been on 18 mg for almost two years he is 11. I started uping the dose to 27mg on school days only, on weekends he only takes the 18mg. I try to teach him how to control his own actions so he can servive in this world. As for his teeth no cavities at all. I am afraid to add a high dose. I am so scared for the kids who are taking 90mg and up breaks my heart. I took 27mg just to try it. I can't believe how strong it is. Prayer and a healthy diet is the best thing for all of us.

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Hi, I am really up in the air about starting my ten year old on concerta. He has been diagnosed with Aspergers syndorme. He is the high functioning type (had this diagonses three times) This last doctor diagnosed him with the comdined ADHD. I already have him on Clonodine for sleep(he will not sleep without this med. I had a struggle inside myself as to wheather I should put him on THAT one. It has been a god sent! He has lots of trouble at school so this is now a Concerta concern. I read blog/thread and I am now deaply worried and split. I do not want to put my son on something else if I do not have to. I am really scared here. He depends on me and trust me to a fault. I don't want to say "here take this because it might help son" I don't know what to do and need more info!!!! Oh, and I would have to take him off the Clonodine-don't want an interaction- He NEVER slept before that pill and that took me 8 years to consider because I finally was so tired of being tired from him! :P whew

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All of your children are addicted to something that can be remedied otherwise. Before wondering how to stop how, wonder how it is caused.

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Sorry, just saw the question to me. Our teeth are fine. My daugther has not had any cavities since being on Concerta. I have also not had any problems in the few months I have been taking it. I would have to say the only thing I could say would be headaches. I am not convinced it is a side effect of the Concerta yet. I suffer from migraine and have to be careful with not getting dehydrated. That is a bigger trigger for me as is stress in my job etc. For my daughter, I am getting her eyes checked and also keep a close check on how much water she drinks too. That is always my first line of defense along with a snack. Overall no real problems and can't imagine life without it now.

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Tanya, in response to the cavity question...this is fairly common with a number of meds...dehydration = less salivation = less natural protection = more cavities.

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Amy, how are you and your daughter's teeth? - it may seem like a strange question, but my son has gotten quite a few cavities since he's been on Concerta. I am suspecting that it's related since my daughter has perfect teeth (she is not on medication) and the two of them have practically the same diet and habbits. Obviously you are saying the weight is not an issue, are there any side effects you have noticed? And how do you feel about your daughter being on such a high dosage. My son is almost 10 and on 36mg a day now.

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