Withdrawing From Concerta: What Are the Dangers?

Concerta Abuse

As Concerta is a prescription drug, it is meant for those that need it for legitimate purposes. This comes with risks ³https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC181133/for those that abuse it, as it can be toxic and lead to overdose. When someone uses the drug for legitimate purposes, a medical professional will assess them to ensure they are healthy enough to take it. As it is a stimulant, it affects the heart. This means that it can lead to heart complications such as heart attacks or strokes for those that abuse it. There are many common symptoms to look out for if you believe someone has taken too much Concerta ⁴https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2007/021121s014lbl.pdfand may have overdosed. These include:

• Twitches in muscles
• Vision problems
• Feeling confused
• Feeling agitated
• Being overly happy
• Raised blood pressure
• A fast or irregular heartbeat
• Dryness in the mouth or nose
• Flushing of the skin
• Fever or flu-like symptoms
• Excruciating headaches
• Involuntary tremors
• Fainting or feeling faint
• Nausea or vomiting
• Seizures
• Death

As an overdose can be fatal, you must seek medical attention immediately.

Concerta Addiction

If you are worried about your Concerta use, then you may have an addiction⁵https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/drug-addiction/symptoms-causes/syc-20365112. As an addict, you can experience more intense withdrawal when you stop taking the drug, and there may be several other symptoms that you display. Recognizing an addiction is key to getting help and ensuring that you safely withdraw from Concerta. If you exhibit any of the following behaviors⁶https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/drug-addiction/symptoms-causes/syc-20365112, you may need to seek treatment for a Concerta addiction.

• Craving Concerta; feeling an intense desire to take the drug, even if you take it regularly for legitimate purposes.
• Trying to stop using the drug but being unable to and continuing use.
• Spending a large amount of your time trying to get ahold of Concerta.
• Spending more money than you can afford on Concerta, sometimes taking on debt to buy it.
• Having relationship problems because of Concerta and continuing to use it.
• Having health problems because of Concerta and continuing to use it.
• Thinking about Concerta a lot and being unable to focus on anything else.
• Using Concerta as a coping mechanism for stress, anxiety, or depression.
• Failing to meet your responsibilities at school, work, or home because of Concerta.
• Spending a lot of your time sourcing, taking, or recovering from Concerta use.
• Trying to get multiple prescriptions for Concerta.

If you think you have an addiction to Concerta, you must get the help you need to quit safely. Addiction is very complex and simply detoxing from the drug is not enough. An addict requires ongoing treatment and therapy to manage the psychological impact their addiction has on them. Although it can be tough admitting that you have an addiction to Concerta, doing so will give you the best chance of living a life free of drugs. Seek help for your addiction and regain control of your life.

Concerta Withdrawal – Side Effects

If you have stopped taking Concerta you may have noticed side effects⁷https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC181133/. Even those that take the drug as prescribed can experience withdrawal symptoms. If you take Concerta to treat ADHD, your ADHD symptoms will likely return after you stop taking the drug. This is the case even when tapering off. Those that go “cold turkey” will usually experience even greater withdrawal symptoms. To minimize withdrawal symptoms, a medical professional should assist you on your journey to quit Concerta. These are some withdrawal symptoms you may experience:

• Feeling irritable. You may feel in a bad mood and snap or argue with loved ones more than usual.
• Panicking. Panic attacks are common and can be scary if you’ve never experienced one. You may feel uncontrollable panic suddenly, or something may trigger it.
• Extreme tiredness. As the stimulant leaves your body, it is normal to feel extremely tired. You may have difficulty staying awake and find it hard to concentrate.
• Night terrors. As the drug alters the chemical balance of your brain, you may experience night terrors. Vivid or strange dreams are also possible.
• Depression. As you withdraw from Concerta, the level of dopamine in your brain will reduce. This can lead to mood changes and leave you feeling very down.
• Psychosis. Although psychosis is rare, it happens. People experiencing psychosis ⁸https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/123/2/611?download=truemay develop false beliefs, audio, and visual hallucinations, or become delusional.

Detoxing from Concerta with professional support can make withdrawal more manageable. If you’re ready to stop taking Concerta, contact us to see how we can help.

Concerta Withdrawal Continued

Although withdrawal from Concerta can be complicated for some people,⁹https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng87/evidence/i-withdrawal-and-drug-holidays-pdf-4783686309 it isn’t for everyone. The withdrawal process can be manageable with the proper guidance and support, and the symptoms you experience may reduce significantly. Those who abuse Concerta may find withdrawal more complex than those who take a prescribed amount for ADHD treatment.

Those that abuse Concerta may find that they experience extreme tiredness in the initial stage of withdrawal. They may also find controlling their thoughts and behavior difficult and experience mood swings. It is also common to find it difficult to focus when you withdraw and have headaches.

Mood swings can intensify after the initial 24 hours. It is common for people to experience a range of withdrawal symptoms over the first 4 days, including depression and anxiety. Some people find that their withdrawal symptoms become less severe by day 5, although it can take 2 weeks or more to feel “normal” again.

Other Concerta Withdrawal Challenges for Addicts

Addicts can find withdrawing from Concerta even more challenging. This is because of the way addiction takes hold of our brains. Many people think of addiction solely as a physical feeling. However, this is more likely the description of a dependence. Dependence on a drug can happen to anyone who takes it; it’s a physical dependence related to your brain chemistry. However, an addiction includes a physical dependence and a psychological dependence formed around the use of the drug.

For those with an addiction, giving up Concerta can bring a lot of feelings to the surface. Simply withdrawing from the drug is just the start of addiction treatment. Addiction is a disease that requires continuous management. If you abuse Concerta and have seen effects in many areas of your life because of this, a treatment program is the best course of action. A treatment program provides a comprehensive approach that tackles all areas of addiction to help you avoid relapse.

Many people underestimate the true hold addiction has over you. There are often an array of habits and behaviors that have led to someone having an addiction. These should be addressed through therapy and support from professionals.

Detoxing With Medical Supervision

Medical detox allows someone with a drug dependence to remove a substance from their body in the most comfortable way. For addicts, the detox is the first stage of their recovery. However, for those with a dependency without an addiction, the detox can still come with unpleasant side effects.

Your experience of detoxing¹⁰https://dualdiagnosis.org/guide-drug-detox/ can vary depending on many factors. These include the amount of Concerta that you use, history of addiction, and your overall physical and mental health. For some people, withdrawal can be very tough. This is especially true if they’ve abused the drug for a considerable time. Long-term Concerta abuse may lead to delusional behavior or psychosis, suicidal thoughts, or thoughts of harming others. This means withdrawing without support can be very dangerous for these individuals.

Choosing a medical detox is a good idea if you have concerns about your relationship with Concerta. A detox with medical supervision will not fix an addiction, but it is the first step to treating one. After detoxing, you’ll have a support network that will help you avoid relapsing. For many stimulant addicts, there is a lot of therapy needed to help them adjust to life without the drug. It’s useful to be around other addicts and discuss experiences in group therapy, as well as addressing psychological issues in individual therapy.

Get Help

If you think you need help with a Concerta addiction, be proud of yourself for recognizing this. Many addicts never get to this stage, and their addictions get worse as time goes on. If you have recognized you have a problem, and you want to access the right support, then you’re already one step ahead. You can call Windward Way Recovery today at (855) 491-7694 with any questions you may have or email us.