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Clinical Pharmacology What is CONCERTA ® ?
CONCERTA ® is a once-a-day treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD. CONCERTA ® contains the drug methylphenidate, a central nervous system stimulant that has been used to treat ADHD for more than 30 years. CONCERTA ® is taken by mouth, once each day in the morning. How does CONCERTA ® work? Text Continues Below

Part of the CONCERTA ® tablet dissolves right after you swallow it in the morning, giving you an initial dose of methylphenidate. The remaining drug is slowly released during the day to continue to help lessen the symptoms of ADHD. Methylphenidate, the active ingredient in CONCERTA ® , helps increase attention and decrease impulsiveness and hyperactivity in patients with ADHD. What is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder? ADHD has three main types of symptoms: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. Symptoms of inattention include not paying attention, making careless mistakes, not listening, not finishing tasks, not following directions, and being easily distracted. Symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsiveness include fidgeting, talking excessively, running around at inappropriate times, and interrupting others. Some patients have more symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsiveness while others have more symptoms of inattentiveness. Some patients have all three types of symptoms. Many people have symptoms like these from time to time, but patients with ADHD have these symptoms more than others their age. Symptoms must be present for at least 6 months to be certain of the diagnosis.
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