Concerta xl | ADHD Information

my child has ADHD but not on meds  as he is too young but i am on concerta for my ADD.I find myself less lethargic,more focused.i only just started thought and it is not major changes.I am in a better mood.

my sleep hasn't been affected but i am off my food a bit .

hope that helps

i have done it again,it is scotmama here,forgot to sign in

have you tried melatonin to help him sleep

scotdaddy38923.045162037My daughter is doing very well on concerta. Her eating was never good (55lbs at 10 years old-like her dad) before meds and is no different. I make her a small milkshake of pediasure and icecream before bed, just to make sure (and suggested by her doctor). Sleeping has been a problem since she was born, but has improved in the last 6 months (just before starting the meds). Do you notice when your son is coming off the concerta, and what time that is? Some people seem to rebound when the meds are wearing off. Vickie, I can personally vouch for Ritalin helping me get to sleep. If the concerta wears off at 4:00p.m., why is the dose of Ritalin at 5:00 p.m.? It can take 30 to 60 minutes for Ritalin to kick in. Ask your doctor if your son can take the Ritalin at 3:00p.m., perhaps, so he still has medication in his system. Ritalin wears off after three to four hours.

Thanks for your replies

Scotsmama- going to see gp soon for referral of melatonin-what is it like for them, do you know if there are any side effects.

Vicki- son takes med at 8ish in morning and starts wearing off around 4.00pm, consultant recommended a 10mg of ritalin at 5.00(so weary of doing that as he has trouble sleeping)

Melatonin has been recommended.

I can understand why you are wary of adding a stimulant late in the day. However, some people do find that a dose of short acting ritalin will ease any rebound and extend the calming affects to allow an improvement in falling asleep. This might be why the 10mg of ritalin was suggested (you might ask for the consultant to explain their rationale for the suggestion). Melatonin seems to work for many as well. Please keep us up to date on you progress.

Thanks IMac,

I tried to find where I had read about the benefit some find using the stimulants to help with sleep so that orangegiraffe could read the posts. I just could not remember where they were. I learn so much from everyone here, which has been helping with my daugter.

Hi  my name is orange giraffe.

My son was diagnosed with adhd 2 years ago, I wish I had found this website then.

My son is on 36mg daily, I find that this medication suppresses his appetite more so than ritalin and sleeping has become a problem.

But his schoolwork has considerably improved and his concentration is much better.

Anyones children had experience with Concerta xl and did they benifit or not benifit  from this medication?

Thanks

orangegiraffe38923.043587963Hi, my 16 yo son is on 72 mg concerta at 6am then 10 mg of Ritalin at 2 and at 6pm. We find that the concerta only lasts until about 2 for him. We have just received a prescription for the patch but I was wondering if anyone has tried concerta in the AM and then another dose in the early afternoon so that the child is covered until 9 or 10. With a 16 yo he needs coverage until 9pm or else he is unbearable!!!  He also cheeks his meds sometimes. Seems like he just doesnt care about the effect his unmedicated self has on his family. If the patch doesnt work ( or he removes it ) then we will be forced to have his meds converted to liquid form. I used to take conserta but when i got older (into adulthood) it stopped
working. When i took it i was at over 100mg.[QUOTE=orangegiraffe]

Hi  my name is orange giraffe.

My son was diagnosed with adhd 2 years ago, I wish I had found this website then.

My son is on 36mg daily, I find that this medication suppresses his appetite more so than ritalin and sleeping has become a problem.

But his schoolwork has considerably improved and his concentration is much better.

Anyones children had experience with Concerta xl and did they benifit or not benifit  from this medication?

Thanks

[/QUOTE]

 

Hi.  My 8 1/2 yr old son is on 36mg Concerta and has no appetite when he is on the medication. Sleeping hasn't been issue since we had his adenoids removed (not once, but twice in 5 yrs) but his lack of appetite has become a small issue. The Dr recommended peanut butter sandwiches before bed, but my son is unable to eat peanut butter (his throat closes instantly).  We try other things out like bananas, yogurt (he loves the ones with the granola and chocolate bits to sprinkle in) and we've gone as far as offering a ding dong before bed (all of which was recommended by his Dr).  We monitor his weight every three months.

i take my concerta at 10 am but i don't have school to worry about ,i do not notice at all when it wears off,i have not noticed much difference at all,except no more headaches and no more sleeping during the day.jude is on melatonin but after 6 months on it ,it does not work anymore so it is back to square one.My  daughter's doctor said that he likes to find a concerta dose that works and then add a second dose if the time of coverage is not long enough. We are waiting until school starts to finish working with my daughter's dosage. I am very happy with this doctor; he has many strattegies for managing the various issues related to individual therapy. The only issue I have had, is that without school during the summer, we cannot really optimize treatment.