Are ritalin and concerta the same?

Do you ever get confused about the differences between similar things? Like whether croissants and crescent rolls are actually the same thing or if cilantro is just fancy parsley? Well, let me throw another one at you: Ritalin and Concerta. Are they the same thing or what?

Let’s dive into this debate head first by examining some key differences between these two prescription drugs.

The Basics

First things first, let’s define each drug so we’re all on the same page.

Ritalin

Ritalin is a central nervous system stimulant that affects chemicals in your brain that contribute to hyperactivity and impulse control. It’s typically used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as well as narcolepsy.

Concerta

On the other hand, Concerta is also a central nervous system stimulant but it contains an extended-release version of methylphenidate (the active ingredient in Ritalin). So, while it might seem like they do essentially the same thing because they’re both CNS stimulants, there are some notable differences

Dosage Forms

Now that we know what each drug does generally speaking, how do their dosage forms compare?

Ritalin

Ritalin comes in three different forms:
– Immediate-release tablets
– Extended-release capsules
– And chewable tablets

So depending on your needs/level of comfort swallowing pills/Rihanna playlist queued up on Spotify for motivation purposes…you have choices with Ritley-Roo!

Concerta

As an extended-release medication, Concerta only comes in capsule form.

For some people who need more immediate relief of their ADHD symptoms but hate taking pills constantly throughout the day — like Steve Buscemi from “Reservoir Dogs” piercing Mr.Blonde’s ear over-and-over because he’s so dissatisfied with the heist– Ritalin may be the superior choice.

However, for people who need more consistent symptom relief throughout the day (and also don’t want to be in a Tarantino movie) — Concerta might come out ahead.

Duration

OK but what does that actually mean for how well these drugs work? How long do they last?

Ritalin

Immediate-release tablets of ritalin tend to take effect within around 30-45 minutes after ingestion and then last until about two or three hours later.

Extended release capsules can relieve ADHD symptoms for up to eight hours.

Concerta

Concerta, on the other hand, lasts much longer than regular Ritalin since it has an extended release mechanism. It releases slowly throughout 12 hours once ingested.

So if you’re looking for immediate short-term rapid relief – go with Ritalina! If you’re planning on spacing out your medication intake throughout the day and enjoy things that kind of just build suspense over time (like card castles or Rubik’s cubes)- try Concerta!

Side Effects

Obviously any drug you put into your body is going to have side effects related risks associated. So let’s not ignore those!

Usual side effects

Both medications share many common ones:
– Headache
– Nausea
– Dry mouth
– Anxiety/Depression-like feels

But some patients feel a weird one:

Rit-Alone
Some folks prescribed straight-up RITALIN experience aggrevating physical tics like repetitive eye blinking, facial grimacing/shrugging shoulders etc..

Ooooft.. Not ideal..

A ConcerT-Angst
Others prefer taking CONCERTA since they feel less impatient jittery vibes opposeed ot Rit-fanatics.
That being said there are othter itches such as nervousness or irregular/fast heartbeat.

Conclusion

Overall, there are some similarities between Ritalin and Concerta considering that they both contain the same active ingredient. However, differences in dosage forms and delivery mechanisms result in varying onset times and lengths of action as well as unique side effect profiles depending on who’s consuming it!

So all one can truly do while comparing these two is:
– Talk to yo doctor about each specific medication
– Research online about other people’s experiences with different meds/costs
– And most importantly, trust your own mind/body system when making decisions for next steps.

Take care of yourself away from those pesky Tarantino films y’all..