Concerta was tested on children between the ages of 6 and 12 and were evaluated in classroom settings. The children's behavior was recorded and ranked based on the occurrence of inattention and overactivity. Both traditional methylphenidate (Ritalin) and Concerta showed themselves as effective. The difference being that Concerta needs to be taken only once for all day effectiveness. A small number of participants in the clinical trials experienced side effects such as headach, stomach pain, and sleeplessness. Oncerta was developed by ALZA, a research-based pharmaceutical company on behalf of Crescendo Pharmaceuticals Corporation. It became available for sale in August of this year. In my area, drug stores reported not yet having the drug, but they did say they could get it within a couple of days of being presented with a prescription.
I can think of a number of advantages to this extended release tablet. Those who take Ritalin sometimes complain of becoming irritable when the drug wears off. Concerta would certainly address that problem. Also, children would not have to interrupt their school day to go to the school nurse for their afternoon dose of medication. For some children, this is an embarrassment to them; they feel 'different' from other children because they have to take medicine during the day. Concerta could be taken before the child leaves home and there would be no interruption to their school day. After school activities are sometimes affected because the child's afternoon dose has worn off. Concerta would last through the child's afternoon activities as well and perhaps make everyone - the child, the teachers, and the parents a little happier!
I'm sure Concerta is not for everyone, but for a forgetful ADDer like me, were Ritalin my drug of choice, I'd certainly want to give it a try. I commend the ALZA corporatjon for their research and desire to improve the lives of those with ADD. It's good to see companies out there who want to make our lives easier to deal with!
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