I can't tell you how happy I am to have found these forums. It's been heart breaking for me (I'm allowed to be selfish) to see my five year old skinny. He's getting taller and his eating habits are very inconsistent. I won't go into great details but some ideas on this thread just might do it.
TCM
oldermom has the right idea. Try to time meals when the adderall is at its weakest - later in the day mostly. Also if she isn't very troubled at home and the effect is mostly for focus and behavior at school think about taking her off it on the weekends. You can do that - it won't cause trouble. Many find it works better monday morning after the 2 days off.
Also remember that adderall's suppressant effect wanes after she's been on them for a few months typically. With dexedrine (related to adderall) I lost weight initially because I just didn't have the urge to eat. I had to force myself to eat at scheduled times or I could miss a couple days without shakes or anything. Now I find myself happily chowing down anytime I wish. But never crazy it still keeps me from craving heavily.
Think about the weekends off. Also med holidays help many - a week every now and then med-free. Besides it can help you compare how she is to how she is med-free so the dosages can be seen that way.
My ADHD 7 year old granddaughter that I am raising is on Adderal and never wants to eat. She's so thin that I can count her ribs. Anybody know how I can get her to gain some weight? She was always a little small for her age to start with. Making her eat is very difficult as she also has Oppositional Defiance Disorder. Help!!!!!! Jenny Mckenzie38778.4543171296Milkshakes, or meal replacement drinks helped my son when he was little. Because he was ODD, I would just give them to him, and hide the fact that I was concerned about his weight. I let him eat anything he wants after meals, the more fattening the better. He's 15 and 100 pounds, and has always had issues with eating, because of the medication. As long as you're doctor isn't concerned, just try to entice those fattening things into her diet, and giving her more frequent snacks that she likes. Good Luck. I'm sure others will have good suggestions too.If she can stand it, Ensure plus (has 45 cal/ounce; about three times as much as milk) is a great way to pack on the calories. and it is easy. My daughter loves it. She is very picky and eats very little but will slug these things down. She is also oppositional on top of her ADHD, and is on Focalin. The ensure is keeping her weight steady. She even gained some after the inial dip when she started meds.i make power smoothies for breakfast and pack in the calories...I use instant breakfast, whole milk, a goyougurt, and sometimes a bananna or other fruit...some people I know put in peanutbutter and or cottage cheese.
In addition to the smoothie, my son also eats mini pancakes, cereal and cheese sticks..
He is still a skinny guy but at least he is getting the nutrition
He also eats a pretty good dinner but I am sure lunch at school is minimal.
Thank you guys for all your help! These are good suggestions and I'll try it all. I call Danielle my grand daughter but actually she's the daughter of a cousin of my daughter-in-law (?). Her mother was only 14 when she was born and couldn't handle her so we took Danni in at two weeks old. She sees her mother about once a month now and lives full time with me. At 53 I'm still trying to get a child through primary school!!!
Thanks again
Damn.. want to trade? :P
I have add, so my metabolism is slow at best. Im kind of on the bigger side (wouldnt say i was fat or obese or anything), and i had no problems with weight loss when i started the meds. I've been off the meds over the uni break, but the bad thing is, over the first week off the meds i gained 10kg. Which is ALOT. I've stabilised at that weight, but i'd still like to get rid of it, as well as a little more. Out of everyone i've talked to on the medication, it seems there is no middle ground.
my son is on concerta for his adhd and i found when he first started it he lost alot of weight but now he eats before he takes his meds and at dinner he will eat like 2 helpings the meds have helped me in a few areas before i was concerned with child hood obesity because he was tather chunky but the meds slimed him down but not to wear it was unhealthy for him so try like the other ladies have said eat before u give her the meds and after it wears off. and gold bless u on raising ur granddaughter as u called her. the world needs more caring people like u My daughter (age 8) is on Adderall XR, and has the same problem. She was a picky eater, and very thin to start with. I give her a high quality children's vitamin from GNC, and try to squeeze ensure plus and Carnation Instant Breakfast whenever I get a chance. I also pack her lunch for school most days, as she will not eat school lunches. All that she will eat that I pack is a PBJ sandwich and cookies, but at least she is getting some nurishment that she would not get otherwise.I read this suggestion on another board: Feed her well before giving meds and after meds wear off. Stims are appetite suppressants and have been used as such for years and years. Thus maybe work around them.