My son was recently diagnosed with ADHD. He is almost 6 years old and we have just begun medication. Anyone else have experience with stimulant medications used to treat ADHD? We have tried Adderall ....first day was great, but had a complete emotional meltdown after 9 1/2 hours. On day 2, he had an emotional meltdown after 2 hours. Not sure if it going to continue to be a roller coaster.... Thought about giving 1/2 tablet at 8 am and the other half at noon.
Day 2 has been horrible all around. He's emotional, crying over the smallest things and even hitting. I will call the Dr on Monday.
Thanks for your experience!!
My 8 yr old takes Focalin XR 15mg and it is the best thing that has happened to him. Well that and taking melatonin at night to sleep.
My oldest has tried a few different medications and none has worked for him. He either gets angry, emotional or they just didn't work.
If the first medication you try doesn't work don't give up but try something new or mess around with the doses.
Not sure how to respond, since you are speaking half tablet I am assuming it is not the XR. Don't cut the dose in half after only a couple days.
Really only a doctor can tell you what to do so call his doctor.
Adderall can have some negative responses but you should get the same thing every day. It is not a build up kind of med, it is in and out. By not build up I mean it is full effect from day one.
I occasionally crash off my Adderall. Stupid stuff like crying because the whole world is mean to me, totally irrational. Happens maybe once every six months or so.
Thing is cutting the dose won't change a bad reaction it will just render the med useless. There is a specific dose that works. Over it you get kind of twitchy, under it you are unable to focus. Anger can be a side effect but changing the dose won't change that as a rule.
Like I said, talk to your doc! Everyone in my family has no issues with Adderall so I am not well versed in the dark side of it. If you want to message Riley I think I read someone in her family or maybe she had a bad reaction.
Yes, we've been at this six years now and our son has been on every stimulant, except the Daytrana patch. Adderall (and its relative, Vyvanse) seems to have a lot more side effects than others. Its nickname is Madderall because it tends to make kids angry as it wears off. It made our son go into rages. I've also heard of the meltdowns before.
What I have learned in my experience is not to wait to complain about the side effects to the doctor. I've never seen it get better over time, other than with appetite. With Adderall, we saw it get worse.
It really can take a lot of trial and error to find the right medication for your child. When you do, though, it can make a hugely positive difference. Concerta is the best match for our son.
There are a lot of medications out there and you shouldn't put up with unacceptable side effects. I would call the doctor on Monday and ask about trying something else.
Good luck!
just wanted to say it's great that you are tracking how he responds. keeping a notebook or some kind of graph might really help you figure out what is working for him. good luck!
My Dd started Foclain XR. 3 years ago.. She was 6 then. Works well for our DD.. Best thing that has happened to her.. She is happy, healthy and thriving in school.
L
Both of my grandchildren take medication for ADHD. The first medication didn't help. Finding the right one is a matter of trying out different ones. Both of my grandchildren benefit from the medication.
Talk with the doctor about your son's reaction. It does take time for the body to adjust.
This should not be happening - personally, I would stop use until you can talk to the doc.
Let me know if you'd like to hear about a nutritional supplement that has helped many kids with ADD/ADHD. Several of my friends' children are seeing great results and are off meds. Good luck to you!
This book was written by one of my good friends. I recommend you purchase it and read it. I found it very insightful and it helped me to have a better handle on what the kids go through.
http://www.amazon.com/Straight-Talk-about-ADD-ADHD/dp/055...
It will be awhile for the medication to take full effect, however, I would talk with his doctor before adjusting a dose. You might do more harm then good that way. Adderall has some side effects as well, so I would look into those. It may just not be the right medicine for him.
Terri S- would you post the supplement here? I'd be interested in learning more about it.
R. B- I know from friends' kids on ADHD meds that it's a trial and error in reaching the correct dosage and the correct medication. Call your doctor today rather than trying to adjust dosage levels yourself.
