How Long Does Concerta Last in Your System?

For How Many Hours Does Concerta Work?

Concerta lasts for about 10 to 12 hours since it is formulated as an extended-release capsule, meaning that it releases medications over a long period of time.⁶ Concerta is usually recommended to take in the morning. Doing so can also help avoid experiencing sleep-related side effects, such as insomnia, as this is a stimulant.^{1, 2}

The side effects of Concerta can include:^{1, 2, 3, 4}

• Decreased appetite
• Headache
• Dry mouth
• Trouble sleeping
• Anxiety
• Dizziness

How Long Does Concerta Stay in Your Body?

Concerta lasts about one day in the body, although the time it stays could be more or less depending on a person’s genetics and how they process the medication.¹ It may last for longer than a few days in your body if you have been taking it for months or longer.

There are several ways to detect Concerta, or methylphenidate, on a drug screen, and it would typically be by testing for Concerta or the byproducts of Concerta when it is broken down by the body. These are general estimates and may vary from person to person.^{1, 2, 7, 8}

• Urine: 1-2 days
• Saliva:  1-2 days
• Hair: up to 3 months

Factors Affecting How Long Concerta Stays in the Body

Each person processes medications in their own way. The length of time a drug such as Concerta stays in the body depends on both the characteristics of the medication as well as the patient’s individual factors. To figure out how long a drug stays in the body, you would have to factor in a patient’s weight, age, how well their organs work, and how the drug interacts with these details.

Factors affecting how long Concerta stays in your body include:^{9, 10}

• Dosage and how often you take it: It may take longer for your body to completely eliminate the medication if you have been taking it for months or longer.
• Presence of other substances in your body: Some substances, even other medications, can influence how long Concerta stays in the body. A substance can cause the body to metabolize and get rid of Concerta quickly or it could do the opposite and cause it to hold onto Concerta.
• Half-life of the drug: The half-life of a drug is how much time it takes for 50% of the drug to leave the body. Concerta has a relatively short half-life and that influences how long it stays in the body.
• Liver and kidney function: How well your liver and kidneys work impacts how long Concerta lasts in the body. These organs help to metabolize and break down medications, and the effects of the medication can be delayed, prolonged, or altered if you have liver or kidney disease.
• Age: People who are older and children process drugs at a different rate than adults.
• Weight: A normal dose might not be effective if a person is not a standard weight.

Is Concerta Stronger Than Adderall?

Concerta and Adderall are both stimulant medications used for ADHD, but they are also different in that Concerta is methylphenidate, and Adderall is amphetamine/dextroamphetamine. Neither is necessarily stronger than the other as they both have their uses, and one may be a better choice over the other depending on the individual factors of the patient.¹¹

For example, Concerta takes longer to start working than Adderall. Concerta also only comes as an extended-release formulation which lasts up to 12 hours, while Adderall comes as both an immediate and extended-release medication, working for about 4-6 hours and up to 12 hours, respectively.^{1, 2, 12}

Concerta Crash Symptoms

Concerta is a medication that should last about 12 hours, so it is only taken once a day, but for some people, the medication wears off and they experience a “crash.” A Concerta crash is related to withdrawal symptoms, where the person’s symptoms can come back stronger than when the medication isn’t taken at all. These symptoms can include fatigue, depression, trouble concentrating, feeling anxious, hyperactive, and irritable.¹³

How to Prevent Concerta Crash

Concerta withdrawal can be prevented in a number of ways. Primarily, the medications should be taken exactly how they’ve been prescribed, and if the person taking Concerta is not seeing any improvement, then they should not change their therapy unless under the direct supervision of their health provider.

Take your prescription as prescribed to improve the chances of it working as intended. Sometimes something as small as timing can change how a person benefits from the treatment. Also, communicate with your prescriber about concerns or questions about how you feel. If you are not receiving the effects you desire or are experiencing side effects that you find bothersome, then talking to your prescriber can help determine why that is the case. They can help find the reason for your troubles and prevent any issues that may come from trying to change your medication yourself.

Symptoms of a Concerta Overdose

Concerta is a medication with the potential for abuse and dependence. This can lead to a person taking too much of the medication, leading to an overdose. Overdoses tend to occur with stronger strengths of the medication but can occur at any dosage, and other individual factors such as weight and genetics will influence how likely it is for a person to experience an overdose.

A stimulant overdose is commonly characterized by dangerous overheating where the person affected often remains conscious. A person may start to breathe quickly, sweat, or become confused. This can become serious and may happen at any time.¹⁴

Common symptoms of a Concerta overdose include:^{1, 2, 3}

• Vomiting
• Confusion
• Headaches
• Hallucinations (auditory and/or visual)
• Muscle twitching/weakness
• Overheating or excessive sweating
• Fast, pounding, irregular heartbeat
• Seizures
• Abnormally rapid breathing
• Widening of pupils
• Dry mouth

If you or someone you know has taken too much of this medication, then call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek medical attention right away. Overdosing can cause serious, harmful side effects and should be addressed immediately to prevent any long-lasting effects.

Getting Help for Concerta Misuse

If you or someone you know thinks they are suffering from stimulant use disorder, then a healthcare provider should be contacted. Do not try to treat it yourself, as it needs to be treated under medical supervision. There are currently no approved medications for the treatment of, but medical treatments can help manage the symptoms. After medical stabilization, treatments such as psychosocial or contingency management may be used.

Contingency management is a treatment strategy with many forms, but at the core, it provides meaningful rewards to the person receiving treatment for meeting certain treatment goals (i.e. negative drug screens, attending meetings and appointments, etc).  According to SAMHSA, contingency management, community reinforcement approach, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are psychosocial strategies supported by clinical data. For the best treatment outcome, all three of these treatment types should be combined.^{15, 16}

Concerta use should be done only under the supervision of a primary physician, psychiatrist, or other authorized prescriber. Online psychiatry services are available if you need to find a provider. It is also beneficial to receive therapy alongside treatment for Concerta misuse as it can lead to better long-term results.

Questions to Ask Your Healthcare Provider About Concerta

Questions to ask your care team about Concerta includes:

1. Is it safe to take ADHD medication with my other medications?
2. Am I at risk for side effects from ADHD medications if I am already taking other medications, such as antidepressants or anxiety medications?
3. What ADHD medications should I consider for fewer side effects?
4. Will my ADHD symptoms get better without medication?
5. Are there any psychiatric or medical conditions that I have that may be a problem while on Concerta?
6. How long should I try Concerta before deciding to switch to another ADHD medication?
7. What should I avoid while taking Concerta?
8. What side effects should I watch out for while taking Concerta?
9. Are there any risks if I take Concerta for long periods of time?
10. How long does it take for Concerta to work?