Expert: Dr Billy Levin - 12/8/2008

Question
I Have had 54mg of Concerta XL today about 10 cups of coffee and one pro plus tablet in an effort to keep me up, awake and able to carry on writing my essays. I am, however, feeling quite strange, can feel my heartbeat (which is quite fast) and my mind is racing and i can't really concentrate on anything much, i don't think, certainly not on my essays. should i be worried?

Answer
Concerta` is a stimulant that only works well if the dose is optimal. The range is from 18mg to 108mg. As I do not know your optimal dose it is difficult to comment,  but one thing is for certain if your dose is correct you do not need any other medication. Certainly not 10 cups of coffee which could give you palpitations. There is no need to take Pro plus either as it will probably make the racing pulse even worse. The optimal dose of Concerta is evaluated using rating scales. I suggest you consult with your treating doctor to have your dose adjusted.