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Concerta is a prescription medication that is designed to have a calming effect in people with ADHD. This eMedTV article explains how Concerta works, outlines some potential side effects, and offers tips for when and how to take the medicine.
Some of the most common Concerta side effects can include headaches, tics, and loss of appetite. This eMedTV segment also highlights some of the more serious side effects, such as hallucinations, fainting, and thoughts of suicide.
Weight loss may be a potential side effect of Concerta. This eMedTV article explores Concerta and weight loss, explaining that the drug can be prescribed to help with weight loss, even though the FDA has not approved it for this use.
As this eMedTV article explains, sexual side effects with Concerta appear to be a rare complaint. This Web page offers statistics on how frequently these side effects occur and also covers what to do if you develop Concerta sexual side effects.
This portion of the eMedTV archives explores Concerta and depression, explaining that although depression could be a potential side effect of Concerta, the medication is sometimes used off-label to treat symptoms of depression.
This eMedTV page explores Concerta and thyroid problems. This page explains that people with thyroid problems may want to avoid Concerta because the drug can make the problems associated with an overactive thyroid worse or can lead to other problems.
This portion of the eMedTV archives explores Concerta and hair loss, explaining that although hair loss can be a side effect of the active ingredient in Concerta, hair loss was not reported as a common side effect of Concerta in short-term studies.
Concerta affects certain chemicals in the brain, which causes a calming effect in people with ADHD. This eMedTV page explains how Concerta can treat symptoms of ADHD in children, teens, and adults. This page also lists off-label Concerta uses.
This eMedTV page explains that people who are taking Concerta should generally be started on a lower dose of the drug; if necessary, the dosing may be increased slowly. This page also offers some tips on when and how to take your Concerta dosage.
This portion of the eMedTV archives explores potential Concerta drug interactions with other medicines, such as certain antidepressants, seizure medications, and MAOIs. This page explains how these interactions with Concerta can lead to problems.
This eMedTV page highlights several Concerta warnings and precautions, such as the risk of increased blood pressure or heart rate, potential drug interactions, and possible vision problems. This page also covers who should not take the medication.
The FDA has approved the use of Concerta for adults with ADHD. This eMedTV segment explains why this was not always the case and discusses a few of the reasons why Concerta may not be right for some adults.
Concerta can cause withdrawal symptoms if it is taken in high doses and then quickly stopped. This eMedTV segment explains how to stop taking Concerta and highlights some of the Concerta withdrawal symptoms, such as extreme fatigue and depression.
This eMedTV resource covers some of the effects of a Concerta overdose (such as fast breathing, shakiness, and confusion) and explains how a recent Concerta overdose can be treated by pumping the stomach or administering certain medicines.
It may not be safe to take Concerta during pregnancy. This eMedTV article explores Concerta and pregnancy, explaining how the FDA has classified Concerta as a pregnancy Category C medicine and outlining some of the complications Concerta may cause.
It is illegal under federal and some state laws to use or buy Concerta without a prescription. This part of the eMedTV archives also explains why it is dangerous to use Concerta without the supervision of your healthcare provider.
This eMedTV Web page explains that snorting Concerta may be potentially dangerous because it allows for direct entry into the bloodstream, making it more potent. This page also lists the reasons for snorting Concerta and explains where to get help.
As this eMedTV resource explains, Concerta can be habit-forming when not taken as prescribed. This page also describes how Concerta abuse can have potentially dangerous consequences, such as an irregular heartbeat and/or cardiovascular failure.
This part of the eMedTV library explains how Concerta can be habit-forming and is likely to be abused. Because Concerta is a controlled substance, there are specific rules for how it is prescribed in order to help prevent abuse of the medication.
This eMedTV article explains the reasons you may want to avoid mixing Concerta and alcohol. This article talks about how taking Concerta and alcohol together may affect your ability to perform certain tasks that require complete concentration.
This eMedTV segment explains why there is currently no approved generic version of Concerta (the earliest date a generic version could become available is in 2018). This page also warns against buying anything claiming to be generic Concerta.
This eMedTV article describes some alternatives to Concerta, such as other medications and lifestyle changes. This page also outlines some specific stimulant and non-stimulant medicines, and lists some drugs that are used off-label to treat ADHD.
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