Concerta vs Ritalin: Which ADHD Medication Works Best?

Concerta and Ritalin are both used for the treatment of ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder), mental disorders, and sleeping disorders. It can affect both adults and children. It can decrease your thinking ability, attention, and focus. Basically, it can increase the level of norepinephrine and dopamine in our brains. The central nervous system can help to improve attention, memory, focus, and other cognitive functions. Both drugs are addictive and have various side effects like Anxiety, depression, and high blood pressure. It is not suitable for children under 6 years or adults who are more than 65 years old. Doctors can prescribe this medicine after a proper checkup and test of the patient.

What are Concerta and Ritalin for ADHD Treatment?

What is Concerta?

It is another name for Methylphenidate. It can increase the level of dopamine and norepinephrine in our minds. Concerta is used for the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD It can improve your focusing power, attention, control, etc, in our mind. Concerta can mix in your bloodstream and reach every part of your body, and start affecting your body. It can keep its effect in our body up to 12 hours. Basically, it is used for long-term symptoms. It is addictive in nature; people are dependent on it in the long term. The doses start from 18 mg and go up to 72 mg. It is suitable between 6 to 65 years.

What is Ritalin?

Ritalin is basically used for the treatment of ADHD, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and narcolepsy, which is a sleeping disorder. It is another version of Methylphenidate. Ritalin can increase the level of neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters can help in transferring messages from one cell to another. The effect of Ritalin can be seen in your body for 3-4 hours. It is used for short-term benefits, and the Ritalin doses start from 5 mg and go up to 60 mg. It is very addictive. The long-lasting disorder of Ritalin is known as Ritalin LA. Excessive use of Ritalin causes various side effects such as anxiety, high blood pressure, depression, weight loss, etc.

How To Choose Between Concerta and Ritalin for ADHD Treatment

Both medicines are made with the same elements with different names. They are the different names of the same drug, Methylphenidate. Concerta shows its effect in long-term treatment. It can naturally increase the chemicals in our brain, like dopamine and norepinephrine. It is used by children above 6 years of age and adults less than 65 years. Whereas Ritalin is basically used for short-term actions. This medicine can help in increasing the level of neurotransmitters in our brain. It is another name for the drug Methylphenidate. It is not suitable for adults above 65 years and children below 6 years. Children under 6 years can use this after a proper prescription from a doctor. Both medicines are used for ADHD treatment. These are the Best medications for ADHD.

What are their Dosages and Side Effects?

Concerta dosage depends on various factors, like the Age of the patient, the types of disorders, psychiatrist can prescribe according to the needs of the patient. They can guide you on how to take concerta medicine. They can slowly increase dosages, like starting from 18 mg per day. For children, 54 mg is suitable and 72 mg for adults. You can take the dosage 30 minutes to 1 hour before meals. It is not suitable for those under 6 years and adults more than 65 years.
Whereas Ritalin dosages depend on the condition of the patient. A doctor can increase slowly from 5mg to 10 mg per day. You can take it 30 to 45 minutes before your breakfast or lunch. It is not suitable for less under 6 years and more over 65 years adults.

Side Effects of Using Concerta and Ritalin

There are various types of side effects of Concerta and Ritalin, it cause due by excessive use and dependency on these medicines.

There are some common side effects of Concreta, such as:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Headache
• hair-falls
• mood swings
• weight loss
• Heart-related problems
• Chest pain
• Difficulty in breathing

Some Common side effects of using RItalin, such as:

• Anxiety
• High blood pressure
• Dry mouth
• Excessive sweating
• Hair fall
• Weak eyesight
• Skin rashes
• Itchiness

Who Should Avoid Concerta & Ritalin?

Concerta vs Ritalin are medicines that are addictive; children under 6 years and adults more than 65 years, heart patients, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, the person who suffer from glaucoma, anxiety, and the person who suffer from mental health disorders, and people who are suffering from allergies and stomach problems must avoid this medicine. Both ADHD medication side effects, such as it can change the hormones of the body, like irregular mensuration cycle, reduced sperm counts in our body. So, before using this medicine, take proper precautions from a doctor and try to avoid them.

Conclusion

In this blog, I hope you understand that Concerta vs Ritalin contain the Methylphenidate drug basically used for the treatment of ADHD. Sometimes people misuse them by using them without need. It creates many health issues. Mostly, students can use it to increase attention, focus, concentration, etc., so do not use this medicine without a proper prescription from a doctor, because people use it without any prescription or precaution. Before using these medicines, consult with a doctor or pharmacist. and always try to avoid such kind of medicine.