FOCALIN XR | ADHD Information

anyone taking focalin xr? symptoms? benefits? Angelsent, I hope you are having your son evaluated by a good child psychiatrist to rule in or out bipolar disorder.  Stimulants (and antidepressants, for that matter) can make a child with bipolar much, much worse.  That may have happened in your case, and you need to have it checked out.

Glen, there's a really good reason parents use XR meds -- some kids refuse to go to the nurse for meds during the school day because they're embarrassed and don't want to appear different from their peers.  My 12-year-old son is one of these kids.  He wouldn't be caught near a school nurse's office.  It's better to have some stimulant in him than nothing.

 

[QUOTE=devotedtoyou]My son has been on Focalin XR for a couple of months.  It seems to work well, just not as long as I think it should.  My son has been med-resistant from day one, though.  The Focalin XR is designed to be an eight hour medication, though my son is only getting a maximum of five hours and usually only about four.  Along that line, the regular Focalin only lasts two hours for him, but it's good to use as a filler for when it's needed to do homework, etc.[/QUOTE]

Some kids don't do as well on XR dosages.  From what has been posted it seems that some require the smaller but more potent doses from SR.  Maybe get him sent to school with SR and get the school and teachers on board.  There are a lot of kids needing daily boosts at school so they should be used to it.

Seeing as it works so well why not remove the convenience that has the penalty of less efficacy and make the SR the only med?

My son (8) has been on Focalin XR since Sept. Started with 5mg.  Went up to 10mg in Dec. when realised that his focusing was not enough to finish his work.   He's been great with his teacher and peers.  Has made friends!! Woo Hoo!  That's dfferent for him.  So far we love this med.  We go to a counsler also and she told us last time that she didn't see a need for us to go ever week or two anymore.  Ever month or two is what we will do now.  Eats great, sleeps great, does his homework right away after school with no problems. His father and stepmom have noticed he is more caring and playful with his half-sisters and half-brother. His mood has improved alot.  I hope others find the right meds too and have the wonderful changes we have had.  He's on a school trip today and I'm not worried at all.

Rion'sMom38744.3225925926

that's a very good point mom.  So I'd assume if there's a nurse there that's the way the do it? I just wonder because I saw a report on CNN that there are more dodos on earth than american school nurses these days.  Up here in Canada even a big school rarely has a nurse - usually if you end up hurt (as I did way too often) they make you wait until a parent drives you to hospital or the teacher drives you (after reams of paperwork as you bleed all over... never mind). 

Whatever works is my motto.

Two weeks ago my son was admitted to the hospital after taking focalin. He went bullistic, beating on me, extremely angry, and sobing the next moment. I wish I had never gave him this medication.

angelsent - sounds like your son may have a wide-spectrum allergy problem!  You seem to have had no end of troubles with meds ( I see you posted troubles on another med as well with swelling and other allergic symptoms).

I hope you arent' blaming the meds - just that you know you had an isolated incident that doesn't hit the general population of children and adults. Most have no troubles at all and it helps ADHD very well.

A full check of allergies son may have would be a good idea I think.  Then you can rule out other dangers that may come up.

 

My son has been on Focalin XR for a couple of months.  It seems to work well, just not as long as I think it should.  My son has been med-resistant from day one, though.  The Focalin XR is designed to be an eight hour medication, though my son is only getting a maximum of five hours and usually only about four.  Along that line, the regular Focalin only lasts two hours for him, but it's good to use as a filler for when it's needed to do homework, etc.swampfox-  How much adderall was your son on?  5mg of focalinxr is a very small dose, my son is 8 and on 20mg with the possibility of going to 25 or 30 mg.  Why don't you ask your doc if he can go back on the adderall if it worked before?  Does Focalin xr come in 5 mg?  My doc told me it only came in 10 mg, hopefully he is wrong.When my son first started taking focalin for inattentive adhd, he took the a blue 5 mg capsule. No noticeable affects, so then he took a yellow 10 mg capsule. Anyway, he ended up after the first few months at the dose that works for him. He takes three 5 mg capsules each AM. It is so smooth he doesn't even feel it wear off.

He takes it to focus at school. He had become depressed a year and a half ago because he had been compensating at school for years, and it was wearing him out. It always took him the longest time to do his work.

Last spring, he started counseling for the depression, then in August we combined that with the meds. He is no longer depressed, and his counseler told him he can move to every three weeks sessions from every other week.

I can't describe how much better our entire family feels!

Koko

Crazymama, your doc is wrong -- Focalin XR comes in 5 mg capsules.  I have it sitting here in my house.  That's how we get to 15 mg (three 5 mg capsules). 

 

I guess I will have to educate him on our next visit.  We haven't been seeing him too long, so his reaction will be valuable.  Thanks smallmom

I'm really needing advice from those of you with experience w/ Focalin XR. My almost 9 year old son took Adderall XR for over 2 years and really did well on it (behavior-wise). The problems came about because he ***HATED*** to take it & even went to the extreme of acting like he had taken it but really hiding it. It was so obvious when he wasn't taking it because he was so hyper, inattentive, & socially inept. Another down side was that he got really, really skinny. He just would not eat.

I finally decided to take him off of it - it was making us all so miserable that I decided the detriments outweighed the benefits.

I was loathe to put him on medication to BEGIN with, but after a few weeks (in the summertime) without any medication, I finally got an appointment with a new doctor (not because I didn't like his old one, but because of insurance issues). Although I was interested in trying Concerta, she strongly pushed Strattera. We tried it - and really didn't notice a difference in his attention or behavior. After 5 weeks (which was how many samples we had), we sort of let it lapse. (Hurricane Rita hit our area & we just got distracted)

I tried NO meds for awhile - just motivations, rewards, etc. BIG mistake. This kid, who last year (while miserable on Adderall, but who had great grades, some friends, & pretty good behavior while at school) became a teacher's nightmare. He simply wouldn't DO his tests... went from A's & B's to 2 F's & a D, a C, & an A... lost the few friends he had.. and even got sent to the principal's office & was paddled!

In a panic, I started him again on Adderall XR (we still had most of a bottle left). Immediately the teachers (whom we hadn't told) said he was a different kid. Not a zombie, but could simply control his impulsive behavior, & participate in class. He seemed to be on track - but behind the scenes, he was getting frustrated with how it made him feel (unable to eat, etc.), and began hiding the fact that he wasn't taking it. After 3-4 weeks of utter confusion (occasionally he must have taken it, but mostly was not), we found him out & confronted him.

He was so upset that I brought him to our original doctor (whom I like alot, but who's been for the Adderall XR all along) who told me that he's "oppositional defiant" (because even though we didn't notice a difference w/ him on Strattera, he STILL would fight us on taking it) & that he didn't think that we should change his meds because the Adderall works.

I simply said, "There HAS to be something that will help him to not FAIL in school but won't make him this miserable!" He agreed (finally) to try Focalin

(Seems like I've been digressing all along, hasn't it!!!??! NOW I'll get to the point!)

He's been on 5 mg of Focalin XR for only 1 week. Unlike the Adderall, which seemed to work within 1 hour of him taking it (although he won't eat at all and always complains of stomachache), the Focalin doesn't seem to work. AT ALL.

Is this a med that takes weeks to "kick in"? Is it too low a dose?

I swear, he seems **WORSE** than when he's on nothing at all (if that even makes sense!!) He's been almost unable to focus in school or at home, he's been more smart-aleck than usual, and even my mom, who thinks the sun rises and sets on him, got SO mad that she even told me (with him in earshot) that we should consider cancelling his birthday party! (Now I know that sounds mean, but you have to understand that she ALWAYS takes his side and defends him. I don't think she MEANT it, but was so angry & frustrated at his behavior that she wanted to say something, ANYTHING, to get his attention!)

Does anyone have any advice or info?!? I don't know what to do! I love this kid. I hate that he has to take any meds at all, but I have to say that I just don't think he can function AT ALL in a social or scholastic way without some sort of medicinal intervention!

PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAASE advise me!

THANKS!!

My son is on Focalin xr.  He has been on it about 3 weeks.  We just found his right dose, I hope.  So far I have been very happy with it.  He goes to sleep ok, His appetite is ok, not as good as it could be but ok.  His moods have been good too, very stable.  He was on adderall and adderall xr before and I did not like it.

InmyPJs, that's the gist of my (longwinded) post!!  :o)

And to respomd to crazymomma, I don't really want to ask if he can go back on the Addrall yet... because he hates it SO much. Yes, I liked the way he behaved, but if it's WWII everyday to make him take it, it's not the right drug for us.

I'm hoping the Focalin will work - but am getting discouraged as it's taking SO long. Just now he came in the room - I could hear his dad telling him to STOP doing something he was doing - and he did it AGAIN. Then he walked in here, I asked him to stop, & he did it  (want to guess?!?!) AGAIN.

SIGH! How long before this stuff shows up as SOME sort of effect? I may call the doctor tomorrow & ask to up the dose (if he thinks it's a good idea).

 

 

Swampfox, 5 mg Focalin XR is a tiny dose.  Because it lasts 8 hours, that is 2.5 mg every 4 hours.  It is supposed to kick in the same day (within an hour) so if you're not seeing any change, I'd call the doc and ask for a dose increase.  My 12-year-old son is on 15 mg Focalin XR and sometimes we add a 5 mg dose of short-acting Focalin at 4 pm for homework.  Hope that helps.

Inmypjs, you can take a med vacation from Focalin XR.  We do not give it to my son on weekends, school vacations or over the summer.

 

I hav ebeen taking 40mg Focalin XR for four months, befor ethat I took
72mg Concerta. I much prefer the Focalin - it has a sharper effect , no side
effects.Glad to see focalin xr is still working for your son, smallmom.

We also don't give the Focalin XR on weekends, or holidays. We did have him take it when he went to camp. For some reason he was less homesick/anxious - I'm not sure why. A few Saturdays ago he asked to take it because he could not settle down to work on science fair and other homework.

I bet if you ask the doctor, Swampfox, he/she will give permission to try upping the dose a few times if necessary. Our said try this dose three days, then if no improvement up the dose to 10 mg and let Dr. know the result, and go on from there...

Best wishes for your son!
I am interested in the answer to swampfox's question about how long it takes for focalin to kick in. I want to know does it take wks, or is it immediate? Also, is this one that the child can take a "med vacation" on? I guess those questions are probably related, but I don't know either answer! Educate me, I'm considering meds for my poor DD.