I'm sorry that I have no answer, but I will add my own concerta concerna to your question. I have been on Concerta 5 days now and feel that I should be noticing something by way of improvement. (I'm 33 yo male, diagnosed in May 09 after another mental health visit redirects a 15 year-long course away from "just depression") I started on one 18mg, and upped to 2 capsules of 18mg. This morning per doctor's advice, I have taken 3 capsules of 18mg, which I guess is my target dose (?) I still feel no improvement, and would wager, I'm worse. My doctor is "very" confident that I'm adult ADHD. I admire her commitment and have tried 5 weeks of strattera (ended at 100mg) and more than 2 weeks of adderall (discontinued at 60mg, I think, twice daily.)

I feel no better; my poor wife said "nope, you seem...no different." My doctor said "well, let's try another," and I was really hoping this "kiddie cocain" would become my legal drug of choice. (Having thought the drugs that work on norepinephrine--first cymbalta for depression/pain management and then strattera for the ADHD--have zero positive (countless negative) effect on me. I only hoped that tapping into dopamine or another would be the pharma fix that sorted me all out and made me the next inspiring ADHD success story waiting in the hanger to be told.

I grow discouraged and frustrated of all the stories I'm reading of "wow, blessed be, this stimulant _X_really worked for me; like a fog that's been lifted; like eyes been opened; like my mind's turned on; like I've been rewired; like my birth is virginal" (maybe not the last) All I can claim is that Jared can keep his Subway weightloss--my fortune be made marketing this non-stop trial of ADHD meds as the next, new diet fad Add for the inattentive masses. I'm worried no sort of miraculous medicinal metaphor will ever pass these lips--more convinced than ever as experts chime in saying "well some stimulant will almost always work for ADHD....so it must not be that."

The hope I desperately needed, one that sparked faintly following the ADHD diagnosis, dies out while I wonder is this strike three? (and in the meantime continue to consume so many vitamins, supplements and fish oil I find stray cats licking me sore in my sleep. I'm raw, starving for answers in a miserable situation that be complex.) But having said that, I honestly do hope the concerta works for you--even if it leaves me jealously witnessing another success story while I flounder left hoping for that off-label-use (insert: spider bite or accidental irradiation) something that comes along and saves my life by some serendipity. (All seeming more likely than courses of traditional therapies, modern medicine, faith/meditation, alt. treatments, exercise, etc.)

Quote

Basically, Concerta only stays in the system 24 hours at most. Part of the issue for you may be, it may not last that long.

I'm a 50 yr old (diagnosed last year) and have been on concerta since October. I started at 18mg which gave me a little more focus, but not enough. 36mg was better, but not quite enough. 54 mg was too much all at once. I dropped back to 36 mg while on vacation, and when I came back, we discussed the meds. I asked to try 36 mg in the morning and then 18 mg later in the day. It actually worked. I was able to stay focused all day, and it wore off just in time for me to head for bed in the evening.

I know my nephew was on 108mg of Adderall, and he found it too much. You might also have a higher tolerance, and need more. It might take going up another level to actually see the effects, or it may not even be that at all. Concerta isn't for everyone. There are other meds which might work for you better.

Quote