Concerta

Concerta is a methylphenidate which is used to treat attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and narcolepsy. Concerta is a mild stimulant to the central nervous system (brain and nerves) and works in fairly similar ways to the other popular methylphenidate drug, Ritalin. Concerta helps those with ADHD to calm down and keep their usually erratic behavior under control.

Concerta should not be taken if you have taken a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the weeks prior or during the time that Concerta is being taken. Other drugs to that your doctor should know about if you are taking include: warfarin (Coumadin), phenytoin (Dilantin), phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton), primidone (Mysoline), a tricyclic antidepressant such as nortriptyline (Pamelor), amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep), doxepin (Sinequan), desipramine (Norpramin), clomipramine (Anafranil), or imipramine (Tofranil), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor such as fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), or sertraline (Zoloft), clonidine (Catapres), and guanethidine (Ismelin). You should not use Concerta when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Concerta may cause dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision, or impair your ability to concentrate. If you experience dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision, or impaired concentration, avoid these activities.

Concerta, like all ADHD medication, has quite a few potentially serious side effects. Although when used as prescribed Concerta has proven to be safe and effective, one should still monitor to user of Concerta to ensure that they do not show any of the side effects. If any side effects appear, one should immediately stop using Concerta and seek medical attention. Side effects include insomnia, nervousness, dizziness, blurred vision, drowsiness, headache, tics (repetitive movements), weight loss, and abdominal pain.

Since Concerta is a methylphenidate and therefore is a stimulant, Concerta, like similar ADHD medication, has become a fairly popular drug to abuse. Concerta can be obtained either on the streets or has even been known to be obtained by potential abusers faking symptoms of ADHD and obtaining the prescription for Concerta or similar medication. Concerta is then usually grounded into powder form and then snorted or taken through a syringe.

In capsule form, Concerta is designed to be time-released and therefore the effects, or the potential “high,” are generally reduced and spread out. However, when put directly into the blood stream, the “high” is obtained very quickly and causes a high level of awareness. This “high” is why Concerta is abused so commonly. However, the dangers of abusing Concerta are very severe and even fatal at times. High blood pressure, seizures, comas, muscle twitching, hallucinations, tremors (shaking), and even death are all common side effects when Concerta is abused.