QuestionA constant stream of thoughts and earworms
I’ve been taking 36 mg of Concerta for a month now. My concentration, ability to get started and emotional regulation have improved, but the stream of thoughts hasn’t gone away. I’ve heard that people say, after taking medication, that it becomes so quiet, with fewer thoughts and less noise in their heads. In my case, that’s not how it is. It’s easier for me to get started and carry out various tasks, but it feels as though it’s happening on autopilot. My head is still full of monologues, dialogues, music and random sounds. It’s exhausting. I’m still in the titration phase; perhaps it’s down to the medication or the dose. Has anyone else had a similar problem?
4 answers
Yes, I went through something similar regarding the racing thoughts and stream of thoughts. I was taking Concerta 36, the benefits regarding motivation and drive were good, though there was some anxiety, likely because I had stopped taking Atomoxetine (which was good for reducing anxiety and hyperactivity but no focus or drive) when I started Concerta. I then increased the dose to 54, thinking I would get better results, while my drive to work was intense, the anxiety became terrifying. My doctor then prescribed Seroxat starting at 12.5 mg, then 25 mg, and the anxiety began to subside. Afterward, I went back to the Concerta 36 dose and increased the Seroxat to 37.5 mg. I have continued with this for over a year now, with Ritalin 5 mg in the evening as a booster. My doctor plans to lower the Seroxat dose to 25 mg soon, now that I am quiet and no longer anxious. I think you need more time to find the right dosage and determine whether you need an additional medication alongside Concerta or if you need to switch Concerta entirely; the journey to finding the right medication always takes time.
When my Concerta 54 takes effect, I notice earworms softly tune out into the distance, like someone turning down a radio. You probably need to go to a higher dose.
This happened to me when I was put on concerta+wellbutrin, which made me follow thoughts I’d eliminated.
I had earworms before I switched from concerta to vyvanse. your dosage is not managing ADHD well, so I recommend talking to your doctor about increasing your dose or switching meds. currently, once I start hearing a song in my head on repeat, I tell my vyvanse is wearing off now.