Concerta Dosage: Forms, Strengths, How to Take, & More

What Is Concerta Used to Treat?

Concerta is FDA-approved as a treatment for ADHD. A doctor may prescribe a stimulant like Concerta in your treatment if you have symptoms throughout the day that impact your productivity.² It can be used as a non-FDA-approved treatment for some conditions, known as an off-label use. An off-label use of a medication is supported by research studies but has not gone through the FDA approval process. Prescribers can decide to use a medication off-label because, in their professional judgment, they believe it may benefit someone.

Concerta is commonly used as an FDA-approved medication to treat:¹

• Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Concerta can also be used off-label (non-FDA-approved) for treating^3,4,5,6

• Thought performance or memory
• Fatigue in adults with cancer
• Depression in older people
• Lack of interest or concern in Alzheimer’s disease

Concerta Pretreatment Screening

Before receiving Concerta, your doctor will diagnose you with ADHD. Criteria for children up to 16 years old include six or more symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity and impulsivity for six or more months.^2,7 At least five symptoms for six months should be present for a diagnosis in adolescents 12–17 years and adults 17–65 years old.

Symptoms include trouble organizing, avoiding activities that require great mental effort, losing or misplacing important items often, forgetfulness or being easily distracted, trouble waiting your turn, and fidgeting.^2,7 It is also assessed whether these symptoms occur without another cause and in multiple environments. These symptoms are looked for because they can impact your functioning or quality of work.

Concerta Dosing Considerations

You may need to take Concerta with caution or take a lower dose if you have certain medical conditions. Conditions include past heart issues, or you take medication for blood pressure, heart rate, mental health issues, or seizures.¹ Also, you may need a lower dose if you have Renaud’s phenomenon, blurry vision, or abnormal blood cell levels, as Concerta can worsen these.

Factors That Can Affect Concerta Dosage

Doses can vary based on a number of factors. Concerta’s dosage can differ for children, adolescents, and adults.¹ Body weight can also affect dosage, with a larger person potentially needing a higher dose than a smaller person. Your dose can also differ based on if you have certain medical conditions that require a lower dose.

Factors that can affect Concerta dosage include:¹

• Age
• Weight
• Medical history

Concerta Forms & Strengths

Concerta for ADHD comes as extended-release tablets in various amounts.¹ The right strength for you is determined by whether you are a child, adolescent, or adult and the severity of your symptoms. When doctors choose one form of medication over another, they may consider how long the medication lasts and how long your symptoms need to be covered.

Concerta is available in the following forms and strengths:¹

• 18 milligrams (mg) extended-release oral tablet
• 27 mg extended-release oral tablet
• 36 mg extended-release oral tablet
• 54 mg extended-release oral tablet

You should always take your medications as prescribed. Take Concerta daily in the morning with liquid and with or without food.¹ Concerta has a delivery system that delivers part of the medication immediately, followed by another release of the medication later in the day. So, take your medication early enough to give it time to wear off.

How to Take Concerta

Concerta tablets should be taken in the morning with or without food.¹ If it has an effect on your appetite, eat breakfast before you take your dose. Take it whole with 8 ounces of liquid. Do not chew, divide, or crush it. Concerta is an extended-release formulation, so crushing it could be very dangerous.

Concerta Dosage for Adults with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Concerta is an FDA-approved treatment for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).¹ It can help with ADHD symptoms within 30 minutes to an hour of taking it. To gain the most benefit in treatment for adult ADHD, it should be taken in the morning before work or other daily activities so it has enough time to kick in and wear off before bed. Your doctor may increase your dose if you feel your symptoms have not improved after one week.

Here is Concerta dosage information for adult ADHD:¹

• Typical starting dosage: If you are an adult, your doctor will start you at 18 mg or 36 mg per day. They may choose your starting dose based on your medical history or weight.
• Dosage increases: Doses can be increased by your doctor in intervals of 18 mg every week. However, a 27 mg capsule is also available if you need an in-between dose.
• Maximum dosage: The highest dose adults should be prescribed is no more than 72 mg daily.

Concerta Dosage for Children & Adolescents with ADHD

Considerations for dosing in children and adolescents include age, if you have other psychiatric conditions or seizures, and if a child or adolescent is still growing.¹ It takes Concerta about 30 minutes to an hour to improve symptoms of ADHD in children and ADHD in adolescents, Concerta should also be taken in the morning before school in children and adolescents to gain the most benefits.

Here is Concerta dosage information for ADHD in children and adolescents:¹

• Typical starting dosage: The starting dose for children 6–12 years old and adolescents 13–17 years old is 18 mg daily.
• Dosage increases: Doses can also be increased by your doctor by 18 mg weekly for children and adolescents.
• Maximum dosage: The highest dosage children should take is no more than 54 mg per day and adolescents should not take more than 72 mg per day. Also, adolescents should not take more than 2 mg per kilogram daily.

How to Know If Concerta Dose is Too High

Your Concerta dose may be too high if you have adverse effects or your symptoms appear worse than before starting the medication.¹ Common adverse effects include decreased appetite or weight, headache, dry mouth, insomnia, anxiety, dizziness, irritability, nausea, stomach pain, and increased sweating. Your ADHD may worsen from medication due to your body trying to compensate and increase your number of receptors.

Can You Overdose on Concerta?

It is possible to overdose on Concerta.¹ Overdosing on Concerta means you took too much at one time and are having severe effects. You can overdose even at the amount your doctor has prescribed. Signs and symptoms of an overdose on Concerta include vomiting, agitation, muscle twitching, seizures, confusion, or hallucinations. If you suspect you have overdosed, seek medical care immediately.

Signs of an overdose on Concerta include:¹

• Fever
• Pupil dilation
• Excessive sweating
• Headache
• Heart palpitations
• Fast heart rate
• Irregular heart rhythm
• High blood pressure

What Should You Do If You Take Too Much Concerta?

If you have taken too much Concerta, call 911 or the Poison Control Center immediately. Try not to eat or drink anything to keep the airway open in case a seizure occurs. It is best to try to stay calm, as Concerta can raise your heart’s function, and stress can make this worse.

Can You Become Addicted to Concerta?

Concerta has a risk of dependency and is commonly abused.¹ Misuse of prescription stimulants can be prevented with pharmacy tracking systems. Doctors may require you to visit them for each fill and limit the amount you receive at one time. They may also write on each prescription saying they are not to be filled until a certain date.

If you become addicted to Concerta, medical detox or supervised medication discontinuation may be needed. Medical detox is the safe discontinuation of medication using psychological and drug treatments. Supervised medication discontinuation may be done at home under a doctor’s direction by slowly decreasing your dose over time. Your doctor may monitor for serious side effects that can occur when discontinuing medications.

What if I Miss a Dose of Concerta?

If you miss a dose of Concerta, take it as soon as you remember unless the timing is closer to your next dose. If so, wait until the next dose and take it as prescribed. It’s important not to stop taking Concerta abruptly or try to catch up with extra doses. Serious side effects can occur if you take too much or too little at a time.

People may stop taking Concerta when they feel better or experience side effects in the first couple of weeks. However, you should continue taking your medication even if you feel better because this means the medication is working. Also, common side effects like dry mouth, difficulty sleeping, and lack of appetite often wear off after the first few weeks.

Concerta Withdrawal

Stimulant withdrawal is the physical dependence that occurs when your body gets used to a medication and needs time to adjust to the medication wearing off. You may feel a “crash” as Concerta wears off later in the day. Common symptoms of stimulant withdrawal include extreme tiredness and depression.^1,8 If you experience stimulant withdrawal, immediate medical care is required.

Symptoms of withdrawal from stimulants include:¹

• Extreme tiredness
• Depression
• Poor concentration
• Headache
• Irritability
• Sweating
• Increased appetite

Questions to Ask Your Health Team About Concerta Dosage

Questions to ask your doctor, psychiatrist, or therapist before taking Concerta include whether they think it is the right medication for you and how much you should expect it to help your symptoms. If you experience an emergency from taking Concerta, make sure you call 911 or a hotline or have someone call it for you.

Questions to ask your care team about Concerta dosages include:

• Is it safe to take Concerta with my other medications?
• Will Concerta be covered by my insurance?
• Does my medical history indicate a need to adjust my dosage?
• How long will it take before my symptoms improve?
• Should I let my therapist know I am taking this medication?
• What should I do if I want to stop taking Concerta?
• How can I prevent a Concerta crash?
• How can I prevent becoming dependent on Concerta?
• What other ADHD medications are available?
• Are there supplements that I can take for ADHD?
• Does my medical history increase my risk of side effects?
• How long can I expect side effects to last?
• What discounts, savings cards, or coupons for Concerta are available?

How to Get a Concerta Prescription

Concerta can be prescribed by your doctor, nurse practitioner, or psychiatrist. It is a medication with FDA-approved and non-FDA-approved uses. Your doctor will determine if Concerta is right for you by screening for ADHD symptoms and making sure your medical history is appropriate for it. Online psychiatry services may be a helpful option to consider.

In My Experience

In my experience, Concerta is effective and safe to take for people whose medical histories do not interact with it. It can cause common side effects, like loss of appetite, but this may go away after a few weeks. It’s important to talk to your doctor about this topic and follow their guidance because Concerta should be taken a certain way to prevent severe side effects.

For Further Reading

• ADHD Medication: Stimulants & Nonstimulants for Adults & Children
• Adult ADHD Medication: Types, Side Effects & Risks
• Concerta Vs Adderall: Differences, Similarities, Side Effects, & More
• Substance Use Disorder Information 
• ADHD and Complementary Health Approaches