Ritalin vs Concerta: Which ADHD Medication Is Right For Focus & Studying

While choosing appropriate medications for disorders like ADHD, individuals have to go through a lot of trial and error. For most of the patients, Methylphenidate is one drug that has stopped all their searches for an efficient treatment option. It has proven its capability in numerous people and has continued to be one of the most popular drugs for treating ADHD patients. Ritalin and Concerta are two equally effective brand names of Methylphenidate. Both of these are quite similar in various factors, which may confuse you while choosing them. So in this blog, we will be discussing Ritalin vs Concerta to help you out in choosing the best option for your treatment.

Diffferentiating Ritalin and Concerta: Formulations, Dosage, And Efficacy

What Is Ritalin?

Ritalin is the brand name for Methylphenidate, and is used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Narcolepsy. Being a central nervous system stimulant, it does its work by releasing neurotransmitters in the brain and preventing their reuptake. Ritalin is vulnerable to causing dependency and addiction in individuals, for which it is placed under the category of a Schedule II drug.

The side effects associated with Ritalin are:

• Abdominal pain
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Headache
• Heart rhythm changes
• Nausea
• Skin rash

What Is Concerta?

Concerta is used for the treatment of ADHD in children as well as adults by improving memory and concentration. Methylphenidate is the active ingredient in Concerta, which acts as an norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor, helping people suffering from ADHD. This drug is approved for use starting from the age of 6 up to 65 years old. Concerta is misused by individuals for purposes other than medication, so it is placed in the category of Schedule II drugs.

Side effects of Concerta include:

• Nausea
• weight loss
• Issues sleeping
• Headaches
• Anxiety or irritability
• Increased sweating
• Dry mouth
• dizziness
• Abuse or misuse
• Seizures
• Panic attacks
• Hallucinations
• Serious heart events

What Is The Difference Between Ritalin and Concerta?

There are several similarities between Ritalin and Concerta, such as their scheduled category, mechanism of action, and uses. So, a question may certainly arise in your mind: are concerta and ritalin the same? The answer to this question is no, they aren’t similar to each other because various other factors are different in each of these drugs. We will be discussing all those factors in detail.

Available Formulations

Both Ritalin and Concerta are available in various forms in the market for use. Doctors decide which forms will be best suited for you and administer you accordingly.

Available Formulation of Ritalin

• Ritalin is available in the form of tablets, capsules, and solutions, and comes in immediate-release, sustained-release, and extended-release forms
• This drug can be taken with or without food and water, but the way must be similar every time.

Available Formulation of Concerta

• Concerta is available for use in the form of tablets, capsules, and solutions, which are available only in extended-release forms.
• These can be taken with or without food and water.

Onset of Action and Half-Life

The onset is said to be the amount of time a drug takes to show its effects, and the half-life is the time a drug takes to reduce its dose in half. These phenomena are different for different drugs.

For Ritalin

• Onset: Ritalin takes around 50 to 60 minutes to show its full effects on the body.
• Half-life: The half-life for adults is 3.5 hours, and for children, it’s 2.5 hours.

For Concerta

• Onset: The effect of Concerta is seen around one hour after its intake.
• Half-life: Concerta can remain completely in the body for around 12 hours, after which its effect starts to fade away.

Dosage of Ritalin vs Concerta

The doses of Ritalin and Concerta are highly subjective and must be taken as prescribed by the doctor. Similar to other drugs, their initial doses are very less, which are gradually increased by observing the condition. It’s better not to make any change to the dose and stick to your own.

Ritalin Doses

The doses of Ritalin can even vary according to the type of disease they are treating.

• For ADHD: The ADHD dose for adults is 20 to 30 mg per day. For children below 6 years, the initial dose is 5 mg, and for children aged 6 to 12 it’s 20 mg per day.
• For Narcolepsy: The doses of Narcolepsy are the same as ADHD for both adults and children above 6 years of age.

Concerta Doses

• For Adults: The initial dose for adults is 18 mg to 36 mg, which can increase up to 72 mg.
• For Children: For children aged 6 to 12 years, the initial dose is 54 mg once a day, and for children aged 13 to 17 years, it is 72 mg once per day.

Which Is Better, Ritalin or Concerta?

Ritalin and Concerta are equally effective for treating people, so it is difficult to decide which drug is best among them. Since Concerta is available in an extended-release version, it can last longer in the body and provide relief for a long period of time. This property also makes it useful for people who want to take a single dose of the medication in a day and get a stable effect. People who want instant relief from their symptoms and do not have any problem taking multiple doses in a day can opt for Ritalin. This provides instant relief but lasts for a shorter period of time in the body.

What Happens If A Person Tries Taking Ritalin and Concerta Together?

Doctors would never advise you to take the combination of Ritalin and Concerta together. Mixing these two substances has a high risk of getting overdosed on Methylphenidate, which would ultimately lead to other health risks. Even if the doctor has advised you to take the mixture for your symptoms, stick to the given doses to avoid various health risks, like:

• Bruxism
• Confusion
• Disoriented behaviour
• Aggression
• Irregular Blood Pressure
• Chest pain
• Agitation
• Nausea
• Dry mouth
• Headache
• Excessive sweating
• Dilated pupil

Alternatives To Ritalin and Concerta

There are various alternatives available in the market that you can take if your body is not suitable for Ritalin or Concerta. These can help you ease the symptoms without having to deal with heavy after-effects.

Ritalin Alternatives

• Strattera
• Vyvanse
• Adderall
• Guanfacine
• Daytrana
• Dexedrine spansule
• Focalin
• Clonidin
• Concerta
• Viloxazine

Concerta Alternatives

• Adderall
• Daytrana
• Strattera
• Vyvanse
• Focalin
• Methylin
• Viloxazine
• Evekeo
• Intuniv
• Procentra

Conclusion

At the end of this blog, we can conclude that you can choose Ritalin or Concerta according to your condition. Be very careful not to get confused between these two drugs, which would later create problems for you. Try to relax as much as you can and keep your body and mind calm to get better soon. If any of your loved ones are suffering from ADHD, then try to be there with them and support them in whatever way you can. Be strong and remember that you are not alone.