MED BREAK | ADHD Information

Thanks for all of the responses. My son took Strattera during last summer's break from Aderall XR. But this summers break from AdXR, I thought I would let him go on his own. I really would like to see him gain some weight. I will get weekly reports on his behavior during the summer.  And also discuss it with his dr. Thanks again!

My daughter was on Concerta and is off for the summer and yes she is eating like a fiend and has gained 2 lbs so far.  She is 6 1/2 and 48 inches tall and weighed between 47 lbs and now is up to 49 and looks perfect. 

Strattera is not something that can be stopped and started at will.  It does need to be weaned down and then would have to titrated back up in the fall if you chose to have your son go back on it.  Adderall XR, on the other hand, can be given on a day-to-day basis.  We always gave med vacations on the weekends and over the summer when my son was taking stimulants.  You should definitely ask your doc about giving your son an Adderall vacation this summer.  It will also help you get a baseline read on his behavior as he's gotten older. I know that you cannot stop and start the strattera. Our doc does not have a problem with us giving our son a med break.  This summer he is still on meds but on a lower dosage.  So far so good

I think you need to talk to your physician about taking your child off these meds.  I'm not sure you can just remove the meds.  You may have to reduce them gradually.  SmallMom, a forum member, knows a great deal about the different meds and may be able to answer this question, too. 

When my son was on Ritalin, we did not give it to him during the summer or on the weekends, and our psychiatrist thought this was a good idea because it helped with bone growth and weight. 

My son is 6 years old. He has been on Aderall XR and/or Strettera since he was 4 yrs old. Now therapy.

Its summer time, he is in a very activity filled summer camp, and I want him to play and be as active as he can during this time. I also love to see how much he eats when hes not on his medicine. He weighs 42 lbs. soaking wet. And he eats so much when he doesnt take his medicine.

What would be so wrong about taking him off of his meds. for the summer? Is this cruel

Just my .02. New studies are showing that med holidays are not the way to go for every child. There are other ways to get children to gain weight while remaining on medication. I know my stepsons doctor advises against med holidays because my stepson is highly impulsive. His mom does not give him meds during the summer, but we continue to do so and he is much more capable of interacting when medicated. He struggles so much without his meds that I think it is cruel to not give them to him during the summer, just my opinion from my observations and when she does not give us enough meds for his visits. He cannot focus and learn things during the summer. There are many things that children learn when not in school and he definitely needs to learn these things as well. ADHD is a 24/7 physiological disorder that needs 24/7 treatment. As I said, Just my opinion.Straterra is an antidepressant. It's dangerous just to take anyone off an antidepressant. You have to get the doctor to help you wean it slowly. It isn't a fast in/fast out med and can cause horrible behaviors if you just withdraw it. Chuckles101301 I agree that we are all different and med breaks are not good for every child. You have to think of the safety of the child. The age of the child should also be considered. The fact that he is less mature then his peers needs to be factored in also. Not to mention the severity of his symptoms. It also depends on what med he takes. This is why it is important to check with his doctor first before giving med holidays.My son takes Ritalin on school days only. His doctor supports med breaks on weekends and school holidays. He eats better without his meds also. He has currently been off the Ritalin for 5 days and seems a bit happier.