Key takeaways

  • Concerta, prescribed for ADHD, can cause a range of side effects. The likelihood of upper abdominal pain being a more common Concerta side effect in children than in adults.
  • Serious side effects of Concerta can include heart-related issues, mental health complications, and the risk of drug dependence, necessitating caution and consultation with a doctor.
  • It’s important to discuss any existing conditions like anxiety, glaucoma, or a history of substance use with your doctor before starting Concerta, as it may exacerbate these issues or lead to misuse.

Concerta (methylphenidate) is a brand-name oral tablet that’s prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children 6 years of age and older, adolescents, and adults up to age 65 years.

Concerta side effects may differ based on your age and other factors.

Concerta can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days or weeks. But if they last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Concerta in clinical studies:

Mild side effects can occur when taking Concerta. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Concerta’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with Concerta include:

  • decreased appetite
  • dry mouth
  • insomnia
  • dizziness
  • abdominal pain
  • increased sweating
  • headache
  • nausea
  • anxiety or irritability
  • weight loss
  • decreased libido
  • upper abdominal pain, in children
  • diarrhea
  • feeling more tired than usual

For more information about some of these side effects, see “Side effect specifics.”

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days or weeks. But if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medications safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking Concerta and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

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Concerta may cause other serious side effects as well. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Concerta’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Concerta, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

For more information about some of these side effects, see “Side effect specifics.”

Allergic reaction

For some people, Concerta can cause an allergic reaction.

In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Concerta, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.

Side effects of Concerta in children and adults are similar. However, children taking the drug in clinical studies were more likely to have upper abdominal pain.

Other side effects reported in children, but not adults, taking Concerta include:

However, these side effects were not common in children taking Concerta.

If you have additional questions about how side effects in children compare with those seen in adults, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also view Concerta’s prescribing information to view a full list of side effects reported by children and adults in clinical studies.

Learn more about some of the side effects that Concerta may cause.

Anger

Some people may experience anger while taking Concerta. But this side effect was rare in clinical studies.

Concerta can cause side effects that may affect your emotional state. In addition to anger, the drug was also reported to cause:

  • agitation
  • aggression
  • frequent or intense changes in emotions or mood
  • hostility
  • tension

It’s important to note that aggression and hostility are often seen in people with ADHD. It can be difficult to distinguish between symptoms related to this condition and side effects caused by medications prescribed to treat it.

What you can do

Talk with your doctor if you experience unusual or increased anger while taking Concerta. They’ll likely recommend you stop taking the medication and suggest alternative treatments for ADHD.

Depression

It’s possible you’ll experience depression from taking Concerta. This was a rare side effect reported in clinical studies.

Symptoms of depression can include:

  • feelings of hopelessness
  • fatigue
  • loss of interest in things you typically enjoy
  • ongoing feelings of sadness
  • insomnia

What you can do

Talk with your doctor right away if you feel depressed or have changes in your mood while taking Concerta. They may want to monitor you more often while you’re taking this medication. They may also recommend stopping treatment with Concerta and trying a different therapy for your ADHD.

Anxiety

Anxiety is another possible side effect that was reported in clinical studies. It’s one of the more common side effects reported by adults. It was also one of the more common side effects that caused people to stop taking Concerta in these studies.

Symptoms of anxiety can include:

  • feeling nervous or restless
  • feeling weak or tired
  • increased sweating
  • trembling
  • trouble concentrating

What you can do

Talk with your doctor right away if you feel increased anxiety or have changes in your mood while taking Concerta. They may want to monitor you more often while you’re taking this medication. They may also recommend stopping treatment with Concerta and trying a different therapy for your ADHD.

Decreased libido

It’s possible you’ll have decreased libido from taking Concerta, but this was rare in clinical studies.

With decreased libido, you have a reduction in your sex drive.

What you can do

If you’re concerned about decreased libido while taking Concerta, talk with your doctor. They may recommend ways to treat this side effect. But they may also recommend you stop taking Concerta and try a different treatment for your ADHD.

Drug dependence

Concerta has a boxed warning for the risk of drug dependence. This is the most serious warning required by the FDA. Boxed warnings alert doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.

Concerta should be taken with caution in people with a history of drug or alcohol dependence. This is because regular use of Concerta can cause dependence. With dependence, your body needs a medication or substance to function like usual. Dependence can cause behavior that is different than usual in some people.

What you can do

Be sure to let your doctor know if you have a history of alcohol or drug dependence before you begin taking Concerta. They may want to monitor you more often while you’re taking this medication.

Help is out there

If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:

  • Call or text the 988 Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. Caring counselors are available to listen and provide free and confidential support 24/7.
  • Text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 to connect with a volunteer crisis counselor for free and confidential support 24/7.
  • Not in the United States? Find a helpline in your country with Befrienders Worldwide.
  • Call 911 or your local emergency services number if you feel safe to do so.

If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.

If you’re not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Concerta side effects.

In rare cases, taking Concerta can cause long-term side effects. For example, if you have a heart attack, you’ll need to take medications long term to help prevent another one. Stroke, a rare but serious side effect of Concerta, can also cause long-term damage.

Most side effects caused by Concerta are temporary and should go away after a few days or weeks.

If you have side effects that don’t go away, bother you, or become severe while taking Concerta, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can discuss how to manage your side effects. They’ll likely recommend you stop taking Concerta and suggest other treatments for your condition.

It’s possible. But clinical studies of Concerta didn’t look at whether side effects varied based on the strength of the drug.

For a full list of side effects reported in these studies, see Concerta’s prescribing information. If you have questions about side effects from Concerta, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

It’s possible to experience withdrawal side effects from stopping Concerta. Withdrawal symptoms are side effects that can occur when you stop taking a drug that your body has become dependent on.

Withdrawal side effects reported when people have stopped taking Concerta include:

  • priapism (prolonged, sometimes painful erection)
  • severe depression, if misused by taking more Concerta than prescribed over a long period of time

If you’re interested in stopping treatment with Concerta, talk with your doctor. They can help you safely stop taking the drug.

Depending on your dose, they may have you slowly decrease your dose over time. This can help prevent withdrawal side effects when stopping your treatment.

For more information, see the “Concerta and misuse” section.

Concerta and Strattera can cause some similar side effects and others that vary.

Concerta and Strattera are both approved to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These drugs may cause some of the same mild side effects, including:

  • decreased appetite
  • dry mouth
  • nausea
  • dizziness

Concerta and Strattera can also have different side effects. In clinical studies, people taking Strattera reported urinary hesitancy (trouble starting or maintaining urination). This wasn’t a side effect seen in clinical studies of Concerta.

If you’d like to know more about how Concerta and Strattera are alike and differ, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

There are important precautions to consider before you begin taking Concerta. These are discussed in detail below.

Boxed warning: Risk of drug dependence

Concerta has a boxed warning for the risk of drug dependence. This is the most serious warning required by the FDA. For details, see the “Side effect specifics” section.

Other precautions

Before taking Concerta, discuss your health history with your doctor. Concerta may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

  • anxiety or agitation
  • glaucoma
  • tics or Tourette’s syndrome
  • Use of an MAOI drug in the past 14 days
  • heart problems
  • mental health conditions
  • seizures
  • circulation problems in your fingers or toes
  • digestive problems
  • a prior allergic reaction to Concerta or any of its ingredients

Concerta and alcohol

The prescribing information for Concerta does not specifically discuss whether it is safe to drink alcohol while taking the medication. If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much alcohol, if any, is safe for you to consume while taking Concerta.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Concerta

Pregnancy. It’s not known if it’s safe to take Concerta during pregnancy. More studies are needed to know if this drug is safe to take while pregnant. Before you start taking Concerta, tell your doctor if you’re pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Breastfeeding. It isn’t known if Concerta is safe to take while breastfeeding. This is because it’s unknown whether the drug passes into human breast milk or if it can cause side effects in a child who is breastfed. If you’re breastfeeding or considering it, talk with your doctor. They can talk with you about the risks and benefits of taking Concerta and recommend healthy ways to feed your child.

Concerta is a controlled substance, which means it is a drug regulated by the government. A controlled substance can lead to misuse, dependence, and withdrawal.

Misuse refers to using a drug in a way other than how it’s prescribed. With dependence, your body needs the drug to function like usual. And withdrawal symptoms are side effects that can occur when you stop taking a drug that your body has become dependent on.

Concerta is classified as a Schedule II prescription drug. Drugs in this category are considered to have a high risk for misuse.

If you have a history of drug dependence or misuse, your doctor can help determine whether Concerta is safe for you.

Most Concerta side effects aren’t common and are usually mild when they do occur. Most mild side effects tend to go away on their own within a few days to weeks. In rare cases, Concerta can cause some serious side effects that may require treatment. Talk with your doctor if any side effects last, are bothersome, or become serious.

If you’d like to learn more about Concerta, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects from taking the drug.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.