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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by TexasChic on March 14, 2008, at 20:39:19
My nephew has been prescribed Concerta, and my sister was telling me how expensive it is, so I looked it up to see if there was a generic. It listed it as Methylphenidate. Then it said both Ritalin and Concerta as brand names for it. But the doctor told my sister Concerta was not the same thing as Ritalin. Other info I read seemed less clear as to whether or not these were all the same med. Any info is welcome. Thanks!
-T
Posted by Phillipa on March 14, 2008, at 20:43:16
In reply to Is Concerta the same med as Ritalin, posted by TexasChic on March 14, 2008, at 20:39:19
T I don't think they are exactly the same I hope someone comes along that can answer the question. Good luck. Phillipa
Posted by your#1fan on March 14, 2008, at 20:46:12
In reply to Re: Is Concerta the same med as Ritalin » TexasChic, posted by Phillipa on March 14, 2008, at 20:43:16
yes, its just a extended release form of Methylphendate, that cannot be opened.
Aka Rililin.
Posted by Phillipa on March 15, 2008, at 17:19:03
In reply to Re: Is Concerta the same med as Ritalin, posted by your#1fan on March 14, 2008, at 20:46:12
Fan you're very right. Phillipa I thought it was weaker.
Posted by Molybdenum on March 15, 2008, at 19:12:10
In reply to Is Concerta the same med as Ritalin, posted by TexasChic on March 14, 2008, at 20:39:19
They are indeed the same drug - methylphenidate but the delivery systems & hence effects differ.
The problem with this drug is that it has a very short half life, so taking plain old generic methylphenidate will give you a peak effect in an hour or so & then run out a couple of hrs after. When what we humans need is something that works pretty evenly all day & then wears out well before its time to sleep. So the manufacturers bring out all these different preparations. Some contain 1/2 "immediate release" MP & 1/2 with the granules coated in something that takes a set time period before it gets worn off & the MP released. These ones are the same as taking a dose of MP now & the same dose again in x hours.
Trouble is that this only partially relieves the very short 1/2 life problem. The "ideal" way to take this drug is to work out what's the right dose for YOU & then have some way that you can take say 20% of it 5 times a day in between waking up & early afternoon. This way, your body gets a new little burst dose at regular intervals.
There's 2 ways to achieve this:
a) work out what the right dose is for you & then take fractions of the dose say 5 times during the day as per above *or*
b) buy one of the more expensive preparations that do this for you. Some of the new preps have not just "immediate release granules" + "2hr-dissolving coated granules" they now sell ones with a third bunch of granules that take longer to release. But all this is doing is trying to give you little bursts during the day.
So......if you want to save money, then go get the generic immediate release 10mg tabs. Take 1/2 tab at 8am, again at 10am, 12pm, 2pm say.
The problem is that people forget & then they feel crap & then they take it too late in the day & can;t sleep which makes them tireder the next day, etc, etc.
If this is for a child, then I imagine it would be very hard to get them to make sure they take it at the right times. Anyway, run it past the Dr as you can technically achieve the same result with the cheaper versions.
Here's a good article on it: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/462703_5
Read as much as you can stand (!) & then zoom in on the graphs in Fig.5 & fig.6. A picture's worth 10E3 words...:)Good Luck ;)
Posted by Molybdenum on March 16, 2008, at 17:51:08
In reply to Re: Is Concerta the same med as Ritalin, posted by Molybdenum on March 15, 2008, at 19:12:10
Actually, here's a nicer article for you:
http://www.adhdnews.com/testforum/test1896.htm
- :)
Posted by your#1fan on March 17, 2008, at 1:07:03
In reply to Re: Is Concerta the same med as Ritalin, posted by Molybdenum on March 16, 2008, at 17:51:08
good info! you surpased me. I know the same, Concerta seems to be used with children the most.
But Must i say yes, rililin is awful by itself, it wears off so quicky!
dexamphetamine has always worked well over methylphendate for me.
But right now i just take Xanax to calm down... before i check myself in!
your#1fan
Posted by Molybdenum on March 17, 2008, at 19:55:39
In reply to Re: Is Concerta the same med as Ritalin-molly, posted by your#1fan on March 17, 2008, at 1:07:03
> good info! you surpased me. I know the same, Concerta seems to be used with children the most.
>
> But Must i say yes, rililin is awful by itself, it wears off so quicky!
>
> dexamphetamine has always worked well over methylphendate for me.
>
> But right now i just take Xanax to calm down... before i check myself in!
>
> your#1fanWell thank you but I only know what I know - I tend to want to find out all about what I am taking & hence no nothing about what I'm not ;)
You seem to have a lot of issues to deal with at the moment. I think that 80% of everyone at PB just really needs to spend 6 mths on a tropical island with no drugs save for a cold beer or two.
But we either can't manage it or can't afford it or just never get around to it. Pity.
Funny - my grandfather lived to be 101. People used to say to him "what did you eat to make you live so long?"
And he said "not a lot of anything".
Now go buy that bargain laptop that someone else mentioned ;)
Good Luck !
Posted by tunguska on March 29, 2008, at 18:45:40
In reply to Re: Is Concerta the same med as Ritalin-molly, posted by Molybdenum on March 17, 2008, at 19:55:39
I'd settle for any island, skip the beer. I'd just like to get the cereal in my breakfast bowl before someone starts telling me why I'm their problem.
Posted by Molybdenum on April 1, 2008, at 1:35:25
In reply to Re: Is Concerta the same med as Ritalin-molly, posted by tunguska on March 29, 2008, at 18:45:40
> I'd settle for any island, skip the beer. I'd just like to get the cereal in my breakfast bowl before someone starts telling me why I'm their problem.
I think I married that person.
No, actually it was more like "your problems are yours and I don't want to know about them".
Probably related though... ;)
This is the end of the thread.
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