Concerta | ADHD Information
My Dr and I have been discussing adding an additional Med for my son. He is on 36 mg of Concerta. But it's just not cutting it. I don't want him to jump to 54 yet. He's too young. (9)
Anyone else taking Concerta and something else ???
Rae,
I know exactly what you are saying about the guilt, no we shouldn't feel it as krobb says, but we do. We feel their pain that they are going through, not able to function in life as others and succeed....unless we give them these drugs that we know cause other problems. We feel torn everyday, at least I have. EVERYDAY I gave them their "pills" it hurt inside, but not giving them the pills hurts to b/c we watch them fail and struggle at things most people don't have a problem with.
krobb, thanks for your input and we shoudn't feel guilt, maybe it comes with the territory. (?) We long for something better for our children, but real;ity is what it is and we shouldn't make ourselves suffer more for it, but...........
I have realized very recently that I don't think I know a "normal" kid, I know some that do not struggle as mine do, but they have other issues to deal with, just not the inattention and hyperness, but other issues none the less, I don't know normal anymore and am glad I don't. I used to *wish* for normal, but now I know there is NONE. I guess some days I need to feel blessed that God thinks I can handle all this and it does take special people to be able to deal with these issues, it changes you and how you view others and life. I feel more rounded than others who have no clue how to deal with "less than normal".
today anyways
Chloe - I've seen the same thing with my son who is 11. We had him on Concerta for only 2 years. Once they were out of his system, he told me that he didn't feel as angry and the more explosive behaviours stopped. It's been a good thing for us, but I don't think he has much, if any, comorbid issues, so I feel very blessed.
Rae70 - quit feeling guilty - you are a great mom - I can tell from all of your posts. We are all searching for the answer to help our children be successful. I wish I had as much insight into my son as you seem to have with yours.
All of our kids are different and respond in different ways. This forum is such a great way to read about different experiences and solutions. One thing we all seem to have in common - overwhelming love for our kids, and hope that there are solutions for each one of them. It's why we all have bags under our eyes in the mornings - right?
Chloe - I fear for my son what you have described for your children. I know that he is not learning to deal with his adhd traits without his meds. I have learnt from research and drs that there is no real other option but once they thought we couldnt reach the moon either.
I do believe there are other answers, I just dont know what they are and like you were I am stuck with the meds - I hope to God I am not looking back in 8 years wishing that I never put him on them.
in 8 years time he will be 15 - to deal with adolescence on top of adhd - Overwhelming. But I did it and I am still standing, so therefore I know my son will. But being a boy and dealing with testosterone etc... just seems even that much harder.
My sympathies and I believe your experiences can help us all stay on our toes and let nothing stop us from searching for other alternatives. I pray that we never forget the strength and mind altering qualities of these meds that we are giving our children.
Every morning I hand him that tablet, I feel guilt, but I also felt guilt allowing him to fail school without them. It is hard.
Rae70
chloe,
i'm so sad for you and your kids!!! sounds like they have been "thru the ringer"
please don't blame yourself. meds are not for all adhd kids. yet most doctors still look to them as the only solution- and we look to them for guidance. be proud of yourself for realizing they were not working for your kids and pat yourself on the back for having the courage to look further!
we have had alot of success using homeopathy. a great website to look further into this is www.runboard.com/bhomeopathywellnesscenter . there's a children's section where you can post questions. very nice people here!
rocco posted a website that i now visit frequently http://adhdsupport.proboards23.com/ this is a great place to learn about alternative treatments such as nutrition, supplements and vitamin/minerals.
lots of parents have had success using other methods to help their kids. you'll find something that works for yours. get busy! it'll help you feel better!
good luck
kppy
Hi My son was 9 when they put him up to 54mg of concerta, right now concerta has been the only medicine to work for him, so don't know what will happen if it stops.I realize now after they have been off the Concerta for about 3 months what different personalities they have, and how much of the "side effects" I *thought* were part of ADHD and are not.
I am considering anything else before putting them back on stimulants, ANYTHING. I could cry at how awful I feel about giving them these meds for yrs b/c I thought there was nothing else to do, NOW I just deal with inattention, hyperness, and impulsiveness, INSTEAD of side affects, like explosive behavior when it wears off, emotional outbursts, crying spells, and not eating.
Someone at church said expect them to be difficult they don't even know themselves, which is true, they have never had to deal with just the ADHD symptoms, b/c they had so many side effects to deal with, they are just now learning who they are and what they are like, thank God.
Today as many of the dayus on them, I *HATE* the stims. 
My son was on Concerta from the age five until eight. It worked wonderfully for him except he had no appetite and a difficult time sleeping. His dose at age 8 was 54mg. We then discovered it was no longer working. We took him to the psychiatrist who said it is common for medications to need changing when a child is 8 or 9 because their brain chemicals or something like that are changing (getting ready for puberty). They put him on Adderall XR at that point and he was back to normal. We are currently weaning him onto Strattera because it is suppose to have more of a 24 hour effect.I have a six year old son who is on 27 mg of Concerta and he has been having some problems with moodiness, anger and crying. It seems to have started since we gave him the concerta. He was on Ritalin LA but that was not lasting long enough to get him through a school day. Today the doctor suggested putting him on a short acting med such as Focalin in the am and in the afternoons to help the inital dosing of the medication as well as the afternoon let down and homework rush. I will let you know. Our other alternatives were to bump the dosage up to 36mg or to go back to the Ritalin La. I am new to all of this and it just seems to me that there are so many choices and not very many answeres.
Jill
We bumped my kids up from the 36mg last school year as their grades were dropping and they were getting in trouble. The 56 worked and the grades and behavior was good, just no personalities. : (flat affect)
My 11 yr old recently was put onto "Remeron" for sleep problems and eating problems, since the concerta was a suppresant of his appetite. I tried it for a few weeks to see if he ate better and then stopped giving it to him, I felt so guilty giving him these, and did research about the affects on kids.
Then I stopped the concerta this summer. It has been wonderful....well except for the fact that they are still hyper and inattentive!! I'm so pleased with their eating habits since off the concerta and NO emotional outbursts anymore.
I am looking into the natural supplements now and hope and pray they work, cuz I don't want to go back to Concerta, my kids have been on stimulants for 7-8 yrs now.
Good luck and I hope you figure it out for yourself. Chloe
Well the Dr kept my son on 36 mg of Concerta and has also put him on 20 mg SR Ritalin. ?????
I guess we just wait and see 