Posted: 11 November 2009 at 5:50am | IP Logged

I wish I had started my son on meds in kindergarten. I waited until 1st grade, but then everything came crashing down. He too was on target with learning, but it was what he couldn't control, his adhd.

No of here can recommend any one drug. We can tell you our experiences but they will be different. Every person's body is different. What works for one may not work for another, or maybe with a different dose.

My son couldn't handle adderall xr (time released) it made him aggitated and he would get in the kids faces - the teachers had never seen that before! This med leaves the body completely once worn off.

Concerta works best for him, but he takes a higher dose than others. This wears off and leaves the body completely. We also have him on a med that helps relax him and control impulsiveness. It is called guanfacine.

He also tried strattera, this helps those who aren't really hyper just more inattentive, but it builds up in the blood over time, never leaves the body unless you stop taking it. BUT it has side effects that did not like my son. It depressed him and he wanted to kill himself at age 8. We stopped this med.

All have side effects, like trouble eating - loss of appetite, trouble sleeping, etc. BUT for us, my son adjusted to it and the postives ALWAYS out weighed the negative. We dealt with him being skinny and still eating and staying up late. We gave him lots of calories that after a while, his body adjusted and he started gaining weight. Now he looks normal.

He also uses a psychopharmacologist for prescribing these meds. Our ped. referred us. He told us this was not his specialty and wanted our son seeing a specialist in the field.

I hope this is of some help - but you will have to try the meds and try different dosages before you know where you are at.

I wish you well and praise you for starting in kindergarten, i still suffer guilt for what my son went though and sufferred due to it my fear and ignorance and waiting.   He was diagnosed just shy of his 5th bday and started meds just shy of his 7th bday. A lot happened in those two years that could have been prevented with the help of meds.

Posted: 11 November 2009 at 11:12am | IP Logged

Bethann is right.  The meds act VERY differently with each individual child so it's hard to say what works best...I know that the docs tend to prescribe Adderall to the younger kids because the label is for younger kids than some of the other drugs.  I think it may be 4.

My son was 3 when he started meds so they started him on Adderall.  It had an immediate positive effect on his hyperactivity and impulsiveness but made him angry and aggitated.  We ended up switching to the Ritalin family and he does much better with that.  His doc said that she has better luck generally with the side effects of Ritalin vs Adderall-but that's just in general. He's also on guanfacine (generic Tenex) to help couteract the annoying side effects of the Ritalin and it works very well for him.

Good luck on the medication journey!  It can be frustrating and tiring but if you keep fighting to get it right it will all come together and you'll be soooooooo happy you did it! Keep us posted!

Posted: 12 November 2009 at 2:54am | IP Logged

Great question and again, this is a personal decision.

My personal opinion is I would start it Saturday then you can observe how he is handling it and feeling. I wouldn't like it if he went to school and had a reaction. I would want it in the privacy of my own home.

This way between both Sat and Sun, you will know how your son is doing.

Also, this dosage is probably the lowest. He may need an increase. You will find if there is no change in anything, then he needs an increase.

Please post as to your observations and questions because again, every one is different. He may have rebound, he may not eat, sleep, etc.

We are here if you need us.

Posted: 12 November 2009 at 6:39pm | IP Logged

I agree, I would start it on a day that you can be with him. You may want to keep him home from school or hold off until Saturday. 

Also I recommend keeping a journal of any behaviors that you see or side effects and when they occur in relation to when he gets the medication.  This will help you (and the doc) identify what adjustments need to be made.  And watch for rebound.  If it's going to happen it will usually be as the medication is wearing off.  It can make him angry and emotional.  Usually it can be avoided by changes in timing or dose.  The first time my son got rebound I didn't know what to think!  I thought the medication was making him that way, when really it was the fact that it wore off! 

Good luck and feel free to ask questions.  This site is a wonderful place for information!