Opposite side effects of adderall | ADHD Information
We are told try Concerta/adderall if the vitamins don't work.If your child is lethargic and has lost her sparky personality, that could indicate that the dose of medication is too high or its the wrong adhd medication for her. Also, for the child who is impulsive/ hyperactive, if medication is effective and at the right dose for the child, the child is no longer acting out impulsively nor are they bouncing all over the place. In the absense of impulsivity, they now act before they think instead of taking risks and thowing caution to the wind which people might perceive as a child with a spunky, adventourous personality prior to medication, when in fact it was impulsive behavior. In the absence of hyperactivity whereas the child is bouncing all over the place, people perceive the child as a high energy kid when in fact its a child that is so highly distracted that they cant sit in one place for too long.
However, you know your child best and if its your observation that your child is sullen and lethargic, contact your childs doctor as soon as possible because when the medication is the right one at the right dose, it should not change your child's personality. You should have the same child on medication but the difference is that now the child is able to make a choice rather than act on impulse and the child is now able to meet their full potentail academically because there is no longer that high level of distraction.
Everyone responds differently to adhd medication so comparisons cant be made in that respect. What will work for your child is very individual and thats why patients are put through a trial of meds. Unfortunately, it can be a very frustrating experience doing a trial of meds but once you hit on the right med and the right dose , both the child and the family start to experience quality of life. Speak with your child's doctor and explain your concerns and see what he reccomends. Good luck and hang in there.
I remeber when my son was in first grade and first took adderall. The same thing happened, it changed his personality. We reduced the amount of adderall and it helped a lot. In fact, he is now in 8th grade and is now taking the same amount he started out with in 1st grade. So maybe you need to reduce the amount! One more thing, we were giving him such a small amount, the doctors were surprised that it worked! tmbromann38961.248912037My 7-year-old daughter was recently diagnosed with ADHD and we put her on Adderall. It seems to curb her hyperactivity, but when she is on it she's lethargic and sullen and has completely lost her sparky personality. Everyone who is close to her has noticed this. I just want to find out if anyone else has experienced this type of behavior, since all the literature on the side effects of Adderall mention just the opposite types of behaviors such as inability to fall asleep. If so, I would love to know what other meds you have tried that may have worked since the trial and error technique is really starting to take a toll on her. Thanks!
you might want to try Strattera. It is the only non-stimulant adhdmedication. And if she didnt do well on adderall, i dont think she would do
well on other stimulants. So i think strattera is the way to go.When my son was almost 5, the doc put him on Adderall. For him, it was so bad that he became suicidal. He destroyed things that were special to him (like a Christmas decoration he had made). I quickly took him off that med. Each child is different and reacts differently. I had him on another ADHD med for elementary school. that went fine. Then in middle school (last year), I took him off the meds altogether (very stupidly, I might add, in hindsight). This year his behavior is pretty extreme, I received 3 phone calls and one email in ONE day this week from his school, and here I am about to give him some more ADHD meds, this time concerta. I hope his body does well with it. I want to thank the writer luvmykids2; I really needed to hear that reinforcement for meds. My son is so cute and fun and full of life; my fear is that the medicines will change his personality. luvmykids2, you said the perfect thing that I needed to hear.Our fear is Daniel seems to respond the opposite with drugs the way label says.
lunal wrote:
I want to thank the writer luvmykids2; I really needed to hear that reinforcement for meds.
Your very welcome lunal. I started this journey with my son 13 years ago when he was 7 so I have been where many parents are now and I am more than happy to share the benefit of my experience and the knowledge I have gained through the years, There are many preconceived notions and tons of misinformation about ADHD and medications so it is important for parents to take the information they read about and share it with the professionals who are trained to treat and diagnose these disorders. Accurate information is crucial; when we are making life changing decisions for our children. When the child succeeds, its the child that deserves the credit, not the medication because the medication allows the child not to be the best but to bring out their personal best in all area's of life. The right medication at the right dose does not change the child but rather changes the odds in favor of a much higher rate of success in life
Feel free to pm me anytime