Concerta Addiction & Treatment
Concerta is a scheduled substance and while it has medical benefits and uses, there is a high risk of Concerta abuse and addiction. Once an addiction has formed, it can become increasingly difficult to break the cycle of substance abuse while problems throughout one’s life multiply.
What is Concerta?
Concerta is a medication prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Concerta is a brand name for methylphenidate which is a stimulant. The substance increases alertness and concentration, allowing a person to stay focused on an activity and better control their behaviors. It also helps to improve listening ability and organization skills.
Methylphenidate is also sold under other brand names including Ritalin, Aptensio ZR, Metadate CD, Ritalin LA, Ritalin SR, and Metadate ER. It can be snorted, swallowed orally, and injected intravenously when abused. Street names used for people who misuse Concerta include skittles, smarties, kiddie coke, pineapple, kiddie cocaine, and kibbles and bits.
Concerta Effects
The drug Concerta causes a person’s dopamine levels to quickly increase when high doses are taken. It causes euphoric effects which are often why Concerta misuse occurs. Abuse of the drug can lead to addiction and a variety of detrimental side effects. There is also a risk of drug overdose if too much of the drug is taken and with heavy, long-term abuse, the risk of overdose and death increases.
The short-term side effects of methylphenidate abuse can include the following:
- Panic attacks
- Anxiety
- Headaches
- Aggressive behavior
- Irregular heartbeat
- Increased blood pressure
- Rashes
- Excessive sweating
- Numbness
- Nausea
- Dilated pupils
Signs of Concerta Abuse and Addiction
When Concerta abuse occurs, the person will have a reduced need for sleep, reduced appetite, increased energy, and hyperfocus. There are many physical and psychological effects of Concerta misuse and addiction that either the user may experience or others may observe. These signs of abuse and addiction include the following:
- Spending all money on the drug even if the person can’t afford it
- Cravings for the drug
- A desire to stop but being unable to
- Neglecting responsibilities because of drug use
- Seeing problems with mental and physical health but still abusing the drug
- Doctor shopping to obtain multiple prescriptions
- Problems with personal relationships
- Buying more of the drug without a prescription or from friends
- Developing a tolerance to the drug
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms after not taking the drug
- Using the drug in dangerous situations such as while driving or combining it with alcohol or other drugs
Concerta Withdrawal Symptoms
Once an addiction has developed, you can expect withdrawal symptoms due to the body adjusting to the presence of the drug. The body becomes imbalanced when suddenly stopping substance abuse and it leads to various withdrawal symptoms such as:
- Nausea
- Irregular heartbeat
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Dysphoria
- Psychosis
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Irritability
- Panic attacks
- Foggy thinking
- Nightmares
- Increased appetite
Long-Term Side Effects of Concerta Abuse
The long-term abuse of Concerta can cause serious mental and physical problems. Mental health problems are common with long-term abuse of the drug. Some of the long-term side effects of methylphenidate abuse include the following:
- Depressive disorder
- Constant anxiety
- Chronic insomnia
- Psychosis
- Mood swings
- Drug tolerance that leads to increased risk of overdose
- Hallucinations
- Weight loss
- Delusions
- Paranoia
- Violent behavior
- Addiction and drug dependence
- Seizures
Concerta Addiction Treatment
If you or someone you care about is addicted to Concerta, then professional help may be required especially if attempts to stop have fallen short. An accredited addiction treatment center such as Novo Detox can provide you with comprehensive residential rehab and outpatient rehab programs that will guide you through your recovery. While addiction may seem impossible to break alone, there are effective treatments available, and long-term, sustained recovery can be achieved.
At Novo Detox, we can offer a medical detox program to help you overcome the many withdrawal symptoms from the drug. Detox will be followed by behavioral therapy and various whole-patient treatments to help you to sustain your recovery by treating the underlying causes of addiction.
Call our detox and addiction recovery center today to get help for Concerta addiction for yourself or a loved one.
