concerta weekend break | ADHD Information

You should discuss it your Dr. My daughter started Concerta last Sunday and her Dr wants to get to the optimum dose for awhile before considering breaks. He said it makes it easier to get the correct dose, see the results and have something to comapare to when you make modifications (including breaks).

hth,

vickie

Well, we're heading into the weekend - our first full week on Concerta. I still don't know if the school has seen any changes. I'm waiting to hear. Anyone know if it's okay to give a break from Concerta on the weekends? Our Dr said my DD didn't have to take it on the weekends or school breaks.  I gave it to her solid for the first 2 months, and then I gave her a 1 week break over spring break.  I gave her a 1 week vacation during the last week of school.  What I noticed was that the first day off and the first day on, she was tired and just not her active self.  Not exactly depressed, but just kind of sitting around.  After a couple of breaks though, that seems to  have gone away and she goes off and on better now.  So I don't give it on the weekends, but I do give it during the week because she is in a summer program.

That was our experience.  Yours may be different, but I guess my main point is, if your child has a tough time on the first day off/on the meds, it may get better as you give more medication breaks.

I do think that giving a break helps them from building up a resistance, and having to increase the dosage.

But do ask your doctor and go with what he recommends.  Everyone is different.
Our doc said it was ok to take breaks as well. I do, and I know my son is off the wall on weekends, but I can handle it. I only give it to him on school days, or days off where something special might be happening. |I am trying to get him to eat alot on weekends, since he is getting so thin. Good luck.

It can be looked at on a case-by-case basis.  Many people continue using them over the weekends because face it - the troubles of ADHD aren't limited to the classroom or you wouldn't have chosen medication right?

There is no harm in using the med 7 days a week.  It should be cut off every now and then (med holiday) to both see if the ADHD med is working (by seeing if the behavior returns) and to give the body a rest from it and restore the usefulness of it.

As with anything check with the doctor.