In this blog post, we are going to answer the question, “What is the best antidepressant to take with Concerta?”. Concerta is Methylphenidate, which is primarily used for the treatment and management of Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

It can also be used for other psychological conditions. Concerta can be paired with antidepressants and this is what we are going to discuss today.

What is the best antidepressant to take with Concerta?

The best antidepressant to take with Concerta is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Drugs belonging to this class of antidepressants are frequently prescribed with Concerta. However, this combination may not be a good choice of treatment for everyone as it is associated with some side effects.

Research suggests that the combination treatment should be used with a lower dose of Concerta because SSRIs can enhance the activity of this medication. We all know that when the activity is enhanced, side effects are enhanced too.

This is why the treatment should be started from the lowest effective doses of both of the meds as SSRIs are also associated with some disturbing side effects and not every person can bear antidepressants.

Concerta can be combined with Lexapro. This combination has proven beneficial in some people and has helped them with their conditions. However, it may not work well for everyone, and it has side effects of its own.

Several surveys suggest that the combination of Concerta with Lexapro may increase the effect of Concerta, which is a CNS stimulant. Studies suggest that Lexapro may increase the sensitivity of your body to Concerta and increase some of its side effects like nervousness, jitteriness, restlessness, anxiousness, etc.

Lexapro is also associated with some side effects. Although the doses of both of these drugs can be adjusted, they can still become intolerable in some people. This is why make sure you only take this combination if recommended by your healthcare provider.

Similarly, Zoloft can also be paired with Concerta, but the concomitant use of the two drugs can increase the risk of serotonin syndrome, which is a condition associated with too much serotonergic activity in your body.

This usually happens when the doses are way too high and not at all adjusted. This is why a combination treatment should only be used on your doctor’s prescription.

Concerta can also be paired with Prozac, but again, the concomitant may not work for everyone and you may need dose adjustment as the chances of a possible interaction exist.

The treatment should always be initiated from the lowest effective dose. This way, both of the drugs are given at doses lower than their usual doses that are prescribed when these meds are given individually.

Other SSRIs are also used according to the risk-benefit ratio. Not every combination works well for every single individual. If Concerta and Lexapro work best for you, it doesn’t mean the same combination will work in the exact same way for me.

My doctor may give me another combination to achieve the same therapeutic effect that you did with Concerta and Lexapro. This is why you should always stick to your prescription.

What are the side effects associated with the use of Concerta and SSRIs?

Both Concerta and SSRIs are associated with some side effects. This is why the doses at which you take these meds can make a huge difference. If they are higher, you’re more likely to suffer from the harmful effects.

If they are lower and adjusted, you will be safer from the side effects. Let’s look at some of the harmful effects associated with the use of Concerta and SSRIs.

Side effects of Concerta

Concerta is a CNS stimulant and it is associated with the following side effects:

Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Nervousness
Restlessness
Irritability
Insomnia or inability to fall asleep
Weight loss
Loss of appetite
Lightheadedness
Abdominal pain
Acid reflux or heartburn
Xerostomia or dry mouth
Drowsiness
Tightness of muscles
Muscular pain
Joint pain
Lack of sexual desire
Excessive sweating
Tremors or muscle jerks

Some of the rare and serious side effects include:

An allergic reaction
Arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat
Severe muscle tightness and pain
Tightness of chest
Wheezing
Hoarseness
Skin rash
Itching
Inability to speak
Blackouts
Mood changes
Painful erections
Erectile dysfunction
Convulsions
Agitation
Vision problems
Psychosis
Paranoia
Changes in skin colour
The appearance of unusual wounds and bruises on the skin
Peeling skin

These side effects can vary from person to person and depend highly on the dose at which you take Concerta.

Side effects of Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

Common side effects associated with the use of SSRIs include:

Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhoea or Constipation
Acid reflux or heartburn
Abdominal pain
Loss of appetite
Weight gain or loss
Excessive sweating or night sweating (nocturnal/night hyperhidrosis)
Frequent urination
Polydipsia or excessive thirst
Tremors
Muscle twitching and pain
Drowsiness
Dizziness
Excessive tiredness or fatigue
Insomnia or inability to fall asleep
Xerostomia or dry mouth
Dysmenorrhea or heavy periods
Flu-like symptoms, including irritation in the eyes and a runny nose
Loss of libido in both males and females. Males may suffer from an inability to release, while females may suffer from an inability to have a climactic experience.

SSRIs are also associated with some rare and serious side effects. These include:

Allergic reactions associated with symptoms like redness of the skin, itching, burning sensation, blisters, blue-purple patches, tightness of chest, wheezing, difficulty in breathing, hoarseness etc.
Auditory or visual hallucinations
Nose bleeds
Severe headache
Arrhythmia or abnormal heartbeats
Impaired memory and concentration
Convulsions
Swelling or tenderness in different parts of the body.

The occurrence of these side effects is different for different SSRIs. Some are safer than others. If we specifically talk about Lexapro (Escitalopram), it is considered one of the safest antidepressants.

However, when you combine these meds with other medications like Concerta that can affect your brain, this changes everything. There are a number of ways through which medicine can interact with another.

Some interact by acting chemically and can change the entire chemical structure of the active pharmaceutical ingredient. This can change the action of the drug and can result in therapeutic failure.

Some drugs interact by increasing the amount of one another in the body and lead to toxicity. This is why drug interactions should be an important consideration before taking two or more medicines together.

As stated earlier, the combination of Concerta with some of the SSRIs can increase the risk of serotonin syndrome. Serotonin syndrome can lead to dangerous symptoms, some of which include:

Excessive sweating
Fever with chills
confusion
Restlessness and fatigue
Headache, which often feels like your head is pounding
Changes in blood pressure and/or temperature
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Bradycardia
Tremors
Muscle twitching and muscle pain
Shivering and goosebumps

These symptoms can become extremely intolerable, and serotonin syndrome can lead to life-threatening complications.

Conclusion

In this blog post, we have discussed the combination of Concerta and antidepressants. We learned that Concerta pairs well with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Drugs belonging to this class of antidepressants are frequently prescribed with Concerta.

However, this combination may not be a good choice of treatment for everyone as it is associated with some side effects. Research suggests that the combination treatment should be used with a lower dose of Concerta because SSRIs can enhance the activity of this medication.

We all know that when the activity is enhanced, side effects are enhanced too. This is why the treatment should be started from the lowest effective doses of both of the meds as SSRIs are also associated with some disturbing side effects and not every person can bear antidepressants.

FAQs: best antidepressant to take with concerta

Can you take Concerta with antidepressants?

Yes, you can take Concerta with antidepressants, but only if prescribed by your healthcare provider. There is no way to tell which combination will work best as people react differently when they are exposed to such medications. Many such combinations have been tried and tested before.

Some proved to be beneficial for a certain number of people but failed to work on others. The combination that worked on other people did not work well for some. This is why you should consult your healthcare provider for such matters and always stick to your doctor’s prescription.

What antidepressants can you take with ADHD medication?

The best antidepressant to take with Concerta is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Drugs belonging to this class of antidepressants are frequently prescribed with Concerta.

What can I take for ADHD and depression?

There are a lot of combinations used for the treatment and management of depression comorbid with Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, you should consult your healthcare provider before you start taking any combination, as not every one of them will work well for you. This is why you should consult your healthcare provider for such matters and always stick to your doctor’s prescription.

What are the side effects of Concerta?

Common side effects of Concerta include:

Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Nervousness
Restlessness
Irritability
Insomnia or inability to fall asleep
Weight loss
Loss of appetite
Lightheadedness
Abdominal pain
Acid reflux or heartburn
Xerostomia or dry mouth
Drowsiness
Tightness of muscles
Muscular pain
Joint pain
Lack of sexual desire
Excessive sweating
Tremors or muscle jerks

What is the best antidepressant for ADHD?

There are some antidepressants which are proven to be beneficial for the management of symptoms associated with Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Although antidepressants are not approved for that, some do work. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) have shown good results in children and adults, but these meds are associated with some disturbing side effects. Common TCAs are Imipramine, Amitriptyline, Nortriptyline, etc.

Is it OK to take Zoloft with Concerta?

Concerta can be combined with Zoloft, but the combination may not work very well. The concomitant use of these drugs may increase the risk of serotonin syndrome, which is a condition associated with too much serotonergic activity in your body. This usually happens when the doses are way too high and not at all adjusted. This is why a combination treatment should only be used on your doctor’s prescription.

References

Vincent Van Waes, Joel Beverley, and Heinz Steiner (2010) – SSRI antidepressants potentiate methylphenidate (Ritalin)-induced gene regulation in the adolescent striatum https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2921647/#__ffn_sectitle
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Nonstimulant Therapy (Strattera) & Other ADHD Drugs https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/12959-attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd-nonstimulant-therapy-strattera–other-adhd-drugs
Antidepressants for Adult ADHD https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/antidepressants-adult-adhd
National Library of Medicine – Methylphenidate https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682188.html
Drug Interactions between Concerta and Zoloft https://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/concerta-with-zoloft-1606-976-2057-1348.html
Drug Interactions between Concerta and Lexapro https://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/concerta-with-lexapro-1606-976-1013-565.html

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What is the best antidepressant to take with Concerta?