Is there a better medicine than Concerta for ADD?

Darlene

Thank you for your question and welcome to ADHDCentral.com.

There are many different medications available for treating symptoms of ADHD. It is impossible to say whether one medication is better than another as people react differently and while one medication may be effective in treating symptoms of ADHD in one person, another person may feel it is not effective but may feel symptom relief from a different medication.

Your second question regarding generic forms of Concerta:

Concerta is currently protected under patent laws and a generic form would not be available until, at the earliest, 2018. Other medications for ADHD, such as Ritalin and Adderall, are available in generic form, however, these are short acting medications, not extended release as Concerta is.

You can talk with your doctor about trying one of the generic versions to see how your daughter does on those medications.

For more information:

ADHD Medications

I hope this helps. Please let me know how you are making out.

Eileen

Darlene

Thank you for your question and welcome to ADHDCentral.com.

There are many different medications available for treating symptoms of ADHD. It is impossible to say whether one medication is better than another as people react differently and while one medication may be effective in treating symptoms of ADHD in one person, another person may feel it is not effective but may feel symptom relief from a different medication.

Your second question regarding generic forms of Concerta:

Concerta is currently protected under patent laws and a generic form would not be available until, at the earliest, 2018. Other medications for ADHD, such as Ritalin and Adderall, are available in generic form, however, these are short acting medications, not extended release as Concerta is.

You can talk with your doctor about trying one of the generic versions to see how your daughter does on those medications.

For more information:

ADHD Medications

I hope this helps. Please let me know how you are making out.

Eileen

Hi there. I actually took concerta for about 6 months and it wouldn't farely well. It's def. a good place to start. My co-pay is a hundred dollars no matter what pill, but after that co-pay they go down to like 25.00 a month or so. See if your doctor can provide her with a free trial. All of the medications are expensive. Another option is adderall Xr but I'm not sure how old your daughter is and it can be a bit to much for her if she is still in elementary school ,middle or high. A lot of the kids abuse that drug in particular because it gives a happy, peppy feeling to. That is what I take and I absolutely love it, it also provides a great way for me to maintain my weight which Ive struggled with forever. If she does not then I wouldn't recommend the adderall XR. It decreases appetite. I wish you the best of luck and give concerta a try. ADD/ADHD medications are a dream come true for those of us that struggle with it. I have tried a few others but these work the best. Let me know if you have any questions. This is just friendly advice from experience. :)

Toodles,

Brooke

Darlene,

Go to www.concerta.com and you can sign up to receive notices from them.  They will also send you coupons periodically to help offset the cost.

Good Luck,

Paula

My daughter is on vyvanse but she is 15 and a big girl and I am not sure how it would act on someone else--I lke that it goes out of the system everyday.

I have 2 nephews that have been on medication for ADD/ADHD.  One is an adult, now, working full time at Home Depot & playing hockey 3 nights/week---& off of all meds.

The other is a junior in high school.  They were both put on "Ritalin" many years ago--in different doses.

Now the younger one takes Concerta on school days---just early in the AM.. He told his grandma:  "If I don't take this pill, I can't concentrate in school"----He's done/is doing very well on the Concerta.  There's no generic for Concerta--yet!

But, as recommended by other responder----ask the prescribing physician about "samples" of the Concerta-----physicians are inundated with samples of SO many different meds from the different pharmaceutical companies.  Ask!

Mary