Concerta
Each person responds differently to medication.
My son was prescribed Concerta when he was 5 years old. Concerta was the second ADHD drug that we tried. This is not a recommendation to put children on Concerta. It was prescribed to replace Vyvanse which made him overly fearful and heightened his senses. He also began taking Strattera with it. We stayed with the Concerta for almost a year before I told the pediatrician it was definitely not going to work. On the Concerta, he was a whole lot more emotional than normal, he was very anxious and irritable, and he was very tired.
Purpose
Concerta is a stimulant medication. In essence, it stimulates the brain and nervous system for the purpose of improving hyperactivity and impulse control in people with ADHD. It can help people pay attention, stay focused, and control behavior. It can also improve listening skills and increase organization skills.
Pros:
Improves academic issues
Increased ability to focus
Price
Cons:
Caused major fatigue/insomnia is a listed side effect
He became very emotional/depression is a listed side effect and can lead to suicidal thoughts
He became very anxious/nervousness is a listed side effect
Concerta is addictive and withdrawals can occur upon stopping the medication
Long-term use can slow the growth of a child
Price
$34.85 after insurance. This was a good price in comparison to other ADHD meds. Prices start at $183 without insurance.
Overall Rating
3 on a scale of 1-5.
If you have any questions or would like to share your personal experience, please be sure to leave a comment below by clicking on the response link next to my name. I welcome all feedback and will respond to each comment.