concerta rebound and agression | ADHD Information

I have a son (11 1/2) who has been on concerta 54 for about a year. Things seem improved in school but home is about the same or worse. He seems more agressive at home with more violent temper tantrums at home. We take meds on weekends too but some days we forget. Last month we were away from home for the weekend and we forgot meds. A terrible thing happened, my son attempted suicide by trying to hang himself with a necktie on a stairway railing. The necktie broke thank God and he fell and landed on his face at the bottom. He broke his jaw and several teeth. He had surgury and his jaw wired shut. Now the jaw is healed and we are starting to fix the teeth. We are also reevaluating his diagnosis and his meds. We are seeing a psychaitrist, a counsolor, a new pediatrition, along with the jaw and teeth doctors.
    This event was completely unexpected. We saw no signs of depression. I know it was an impulsive act. I am quite sure he thought of it and acted immediately with no fore thought or any concept of consequences. One of my observations with his meds is that when it wears off he seems to have an even stronger rebound of his behaviors. Doctors seem to discount this as not possible.
    I know this is complex and a long road but any insight from anyone out there?
   Attempted suicide is very serious...I would get him off that medication and see a doctor asap.With my granddaughter on Concerta, there is some rebound and aggression but not nearly so much, thank goodness.

So sorry to hear about what happened to your child.
I am so glad your son is okay. My child was just given a script for concerta was that a side effect?

I read your story and I have three grand children I am raising and it sounds like your son might have more than depression and his adhd going on I would suggest to him to have a new evailuation done reason is my oldest grand was just dx bipolar with her adhd !! so get another evail.. ok

Also I know that when they get home from school they seem to act up also and I feel that even on the medicine they have to maintain all day at school and when they get home they feel it is safe for them to act out!!! ..

roserere38820.8862037037

eenerme,

I am so sorry that you have had to go through such a shocking thing. Our families are so precious to us!!

Personally concerta made me feel down. I liked Adderal much better, but it did not work for me after about a year. I had to up the dose, etc.

I am trying exercises from the book Stopping ADHD which have really helped me. I am no longer taking any medication and feel very confident.

Good luck to you, I would for sure get some second opinions and some reevaluations for your son's prescriptions.

My 9 year old son had horrible rebound from all stimulants that we tried...including Concerta. He had horrible rages, was angry, and generally not very happy. We took him off all meds and he is so much happier, he is eating like he hasn't eaten in 2 years, sleeping better. We won't be going back to stims...even though they helped him in school, it made our home life horrible! BTW, he was evaluated by every mental health profession possible and it is just adhd...not bipolar which is what people on this board were saying if your child has rages. The psychiatrist said that stimulants can cause rages.Thanks for your replies. We are in the process of new evaluations. There are sure some terrifying things on the web about side effects. I wish I could know what is accurate. I do know that my son is more agressive now than ever. By the way, school is slipping too now. Partly because of so much missed time but not entirely.

For two days since beginning the Concerta my girl when it wore off was real irritible and crabby and miserable, i was told to give it a few more days and I am glad so far this evening no meltdown.

Hi eenerme,

first of all let me say how sorry I am that your son is feeling so bad sometimes.

A short introduction of myself: I am a 47 year old Icelandic adhd-mother of a 10 year old adhd-son. He takes 36mg of Concerta and is doing well (started taking it september last). I have tried Concerta (90mg for a few months), but stopped taking is 3 weeks ago. Haven't given up though, will try a lower dosis after my next session with my doctor.

I just wanted to tell you about my cousins son, who had similar side effects from Concerta. He became extremely despressed after taking this medicine for some time. When he was taken off the medicine he was cheerful and happy, but coudn't cope socially or in school. As a result of a new evaluation he now takes 50mg of Strattera and is doing much, much better. And as "a bonus" Strattera works around the clock, so the evenings at home are much easier on him and his mother. He for example doesn't show as much aggressivity towards her as before. It's a though "job" being a mother: your child sometimes only has you to vent his or her frustration. He has to restrain himself the whole day, and with you he can let go; you will not leave him because of his tantrums, like maybe friends have done.

Just wanted to share this with you, good luck with everything!