I have a couple problems....
Hi Julie, a few thoughts for you:
First, you might want to have your great-nephew re-evaluated, preferably by a neuropsychologist, to make sure you are dealing with ADHD on its own. Some of those behaviors off meds sound a bit over the top for pure ADHD. I'd want to make certain you are putting all the proper interventions into place.
Second, you did cut his Ritalin dose considerably by dropping 54 mg Concerta and then substituting 10 mg 3 times a day. 54 mg Concerta is slightly more than 15 mg every 4 hours (the dosing is not entirely even throughout the day). So if he had 15 mg in his blood stream from the Concerta at noon and then you added 10 mg Ritalin, that equals 25 mg Ritalin. The same goes for homework time -- 25 mg in his blood stream. No wonder he's acting worse -- he has a lot less Ritalin in his system.
Third, most schools have a zero-tolerance policy about teasing/bullying. The teachers should make sure that policy is being upheld. I would bring your concerns to school officials and let them handle it.
Good luck.
I haven't been here for over a year as we were doing so well, A short run down: we are raising my deceased niece's son who is now 10. He had been on 54mg. concerta in the morning. 10 mg. of generic Ritalin at noon and another 10mg. at approx 4-5 for homework time. He was doing really great and is on the honor roll at his private school. Then the new year came around and the new insurance company, won't cover his concerta.
This last week starting on Wed. he was give just the 10 mg. of generic Ritalin 3 times a day and was a real handfull at school. His teacher called me yesterday to find out what exactly is going on. She said that he was very agiatated the last few days and was not listening and was getting into fights. He was put out in the hall many times to calm down and at one point went into the bathroom and was banging his head. After that, she said he was fine the rest of the day. He is also very sensitive to sounds and says that everyone is too loud and he can't think. He is back to making noises that he doesn't know he is making. And just very irratating.
I guess my main question is, do we say something to the classmates on what is going on with him? He already says that everyone says he is "weird" and says that everyone hates him. The kids do pick on him and love to make him cry. Is there some way to explain him to the classmates without making things worse for him? The teacher said that the kids have been looking at him funny this week and she doesn't want to say anything to them without us approving it. Any suggestions?????
We are going to see the Dr. again tomorrow and see if we can adjust the meds again. I read online last night that the 54 mg. Concerta = 15 mg. Ritalin 3 times a day, so I'm thinking that his dose needs to be stronger...but I am just so confused.
He is a real sweetheart when his meds are under control. Of course we have a off days just like everyone. I'm just so mad at the insurance company for doing this to him, and how it is effecting everyone involved in his life.
I would love to hear some ideas on how to handle the class.
Thanks....
Julie
I have heard that sometimes the drug companies can assist when people cannot afford the meds...you may want to post this question on the medication board also
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Hi jbg1760,My ds used to take Concerta and I think it may have been the 54mg too. If he needed some Ritalin when the Concerta wore off he would take somewhere between 15.8, 16.25 and 17.5mg. I did this by breaking the ritalin into 1/2,1/4 or even 1/8.
We recently experienced the roller coaster effect of Ritalin when we were waiting for the mail order Rx of Rit. LA . We tried short acting Ritalin. It was pretty bad. First dose seemed okay, second dose didn't seem that effective and the third when increased by .8mg was lethargy. He was a mess that day. The next day was better but you could still see the rise and fall of effect.
He used to take 16.25mg every 3 1/4 hours ( I think) and that used to be pretty good.
I'd recommend trying 15mg of Ritalin to equal th 54 as small said and add fractions of 5mg tabs to get the dose right.
Good Luck!
I needed to reregister as jfla2
jfla
I agree with a re-evaluation by a NeuroPsych. As one with a child who was misdiagnosed twice, if new stuff pops up, and the child is seen as "weird" by kids (and not at ADHD kids are), I'd want to have him checked for ADHD mimickers or co-morbids and nobody tests as thoroughly as a NeuroPsych. Sounds like maybe more is going on.I agree with joemom. The other kids all know he is different and it won't help for them to know other than to add fuel to the fire. Speak to the teacher though, and get a good working relationship with her.
Have you ever tried just using nutritional supplements and changes in diet? I have never put my son on any medications but his symptoms are not as severe as the ones you are talking about.
He was diagnosed with ADHD a few years ago, but I never put him on medications. Just last week we started monitoring what he eats and drinks (no soda) and he started taking all natural nutritional supplements. We have seen real positve results in just this first week. Even he noticed a change in his behavior at home and at school. 
You may consider something like this as an option instead of more meds.
Definitely monitoring different foods, etc (like red 40) and soda could definitely help too.
Good luck to you
Yes, we have tired diet,behavior modifications, therpists, you name it. My husband fought for years not to have him on meds, but after we ran out of daycares in our area for him, we decided we had to do something else. He was kicked out of 6 daycares before the age of 5. We tried almost every alternative option out there for him. I don't like to have him on meds...but that is the ONLY way any of us can deal with him. He, himself says he would rather be on them as he is in more control of his actions. So he knows how he feels without them and let me tell you, you don't want him anywhere near you if he isn't on them. We have been dealing with this for 8 years, and it has been a real challenge. He is like night and day when taking meds, and we will continue to pray for the day when he won't need them. Hopefully that day will come. We aren't looking for more meds....just what is necessary and no more.
I don't think I would tell the other students. Kids can be quite mean. Rather I would talk to the teacher and ask her help in developing friendships and social skills.
Good luck to you.
Thanks for your thoughts. I knew we would have to work through the correct doses of meds for him. I don't feel we need to have him reevaluated at this time. He does have all the testing available to us done every year. So that isn't the problem.My main question was do we tell the other kids in his class what it is that is "wrong" with him or just leave the topic alone. I don't want to make this whole thing harder for him than what it now.
Again...thanks for your help...we are playing with the doses to get it right for him.
I understand the difficulty in wondering whether to discuss it or not with classmates. I would hate to see good relationships damaged through lack of understanding. I have been in a number of classrooms over the years and on occasion a teacher will talk to the class w/o the child having the difficulty present and explain without going into any specifics that the child is having difficulty at this time and expect them to be as supportive and understanding as possible. Also that if they were going through something difficult, they would probably appreciate that of others.
Best of luck through this difficult time
Leave a lone. Kids are mean regardless of the Dx. They seperate themselves from kids who are different. Our son prefers his Scout buddies over school ones. That is ok with us. He is never invited to their bday party's in 4 years.
Staff here allow kids to pass out invitations even if doesn't include everyone. What rude parents!
Yes Jfla this is a good Idea. Kids don't need any specifics.
I think the behaviors your son displays is most likely due to being under medicated after being accustomed to "normalcy" on meds. The behaviors are similar to what I have seen over the years when my son is off meds. He often doesn't realize he is tapping (vocalizing can be the same idea). Lots of body movements, irritation, insensitivity to others ,frustration. the difficulty with sounds may be difficulty being able to filter noises and focusing on a selected voice.
What happens when you try 15mg. of Ritalin?
I do have a good relationship with his teacher, so that isn't the problem. He already gets to do things differently than the other kids, like use a mechanical pencil, because he can't use a regular pencil or he writes too hard and his papers are terribly messy. So the kids already know he gets to do things that they can't do. The teacher tries to be fair and there are only 18 kids in the class. They are studying different cultures in the class right now...so the teacher is going to try and work into the class what makes each one of them different and how we shouldn't judge people on their differences. That we all need to tolerate what makes all people different. She is really super.Also we have increased his meds...and it seems to be better this week, than last, so hopefully that is all we need to do and it will just work out.
Thanks for all your help...it is nice to have somewhere to go where people understand how difficult it is for all of us dealing with this ADHD.
Julie
My advice would be to see the doctor as soon as possible, not to let this linger in hopes it will get better. But realize that it may take some trial-and-error to find the right combination of different meds, and that there may be some combinations that actually make things worse.
I don't mean to be insensitive but I don't know how to say this so it won't sound unkind. Please bear with me. If my insurance stopped paying for the meds my DD needs to be stable, I would go get a nighttime job cleaning toilets at the corner 7-11 if I had to in order to afford the medication. If you've found a solution, then I'd say find a way to afford it. Most people on this website are not as lucky to have found good solutions, you are one of the lucky ones!
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