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Concerta Weight Loss
Concerta weight loss: A mutual side effect of stimulant medications is loss of appetite, which can lead to weight loss. Some people use Concerta specifically for weight loss, even if they don’t have ADHD.
Concerta & Weight Loss
- The Concerta is a brand name for methylphenidate, a prescription stimulant used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It may also be prescribed for narcolepsy (severe drowsiness or spontaneous sleep).
- Similar to many prescription drugs, Concerta is a Schedule II substance due to its high abuse potential and tendency to cause addiction and physical dependence.
- Many people abuse ADHD medication to improve their concentration or to lose weight.
- The FDA has not approved Concerta for weight loss. While Concerta is effective in treating binge eating disorder (BED) by decreasing the urge to overeat.
- It is not approved for that either. Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) is the only stimulant approved to treat BED.
Risks
- Taking Concerta for weight loss or in other ways against medical advice can be dangerous.
- It includes taking it without a prescription or taking more than prescribed, as well as taking it in any way other than swallowing the capsule whole (as intended).
- Substance abuse carries many risks that outweigh the potential benefits.
Side effects
If you abuse Concerta, you may have to deal with the side effects of stimulant use.
Common side effects of Concerta are:
- rapid heart rate (tachycardia)
- heart palpitations
- dry mouth
- nausea
- headache
- excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)
- dizziness
- irritability
- nervousness
- concern
- insomnia
- anxiety
- depression
- While side effects can occur with prescription medications, they are more likely to occur if you take them frequently in high doses.
Concerta Overdose
- Unlike some ADHD medications, such as Ritalin (also methylphenidate), Concerta is a time-release formulation. It hits your system gradually and continues throughout the day.
- Many people who abuse ADHD medications choose a fast-acting drug like Adderall IR (dextroamphetamine/immediate-release amphetamine). Standard-release stimulants take effect quickly and produce more of a high.
- It doesn’t matter how long the medication stays in their system for people who want to lose weight because they aren’t treating ADHD symptoms.
- If you take an extended-release medicine in a way it wasn’t intended (such as chewing or dissolving it), you risk an overdose. It is because too many drugs will enter your system at one time.
The risk of overdose is also increased if you combine Concerta with other drugs, especially other stimulants. An overdose of stimulant drugs can cause:
- confusion
- hallucinations
- high blood pressure
- heart palpitations
- fast heartbeat
- muscle spasms
- seizures
Concerta Addiction
- Concerta helps people with ADHD focus by stimulating the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine to correct a chemical deficiency.
- However, if you don’t have ADHD, Concerta can increase your dopamine levels too much, throwing your brain activity out of balance.
- After taking Concerta for a long time, you may need a higher dose to produce the same effect as your body and mind adjust (build tolerance). Taking larger quantities also increases the drug’s impact on your brain structure.
- The brain adapts to drug use by naturally producing less dopamine. For example, it can make you crave drugs and feel depressed without them.
- The inability to reduce the amount of Concerta you take or stop altogether is a sign of mental dependence (addiction).
- If you depend on Concerta for weight loss and experience weight gain if you stop taking it, that can fuel the cycle of addiction.
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