I’ve been thinking of getting back on meds to help concentrate more since I plan to take a Comptia certs course and exam. I’ve been doing somethings to improve my focus without meds but I really want to get my act together and actually do something with my life. I used to take Concerta when I was in middle and high school and it did improve my focus in class. The only major downside I faced was loss of appetite. Since I’ve been off meds, I’ve heard of people taking Adderall which piqued my interest but I don’t how it differs from Concerta. What do you guys think? Thanks in advance.
Concerta and Ritalin are both methylphenidate medications. The “regular” Ritalin is instant release and Concerta is extended release. Because these two are the most well-known, “Ritalin” is often used as a synonym for “instant release methylphenidate” and “Concerta” for “extended release methylphenidate”. As far as I can tell, descriptions like “long acting” (LA) and “extended release” (ER/XR) don’t have clear definitions and are often used interchangeably.
So unless you’re specifically talking about the brand name or want to get extra technical with potential differences in the formulation, the person you replied to is correct. Concerta and Ritalin LA are both extended release methylphenidate.