longer lasting meds | ADHD Information

Wow, 5 is really young! Are you sure he has AD/HD? Perhaps he is just being a kid. .....I would think about that!! About the meds though....Adderall xr (long-acting) is a capsul filled with time-released beads. The pills can be opened and the beads sprinkled on applesauce so that your son won't have to swallow any pills. The concerta, however, must be taken whole because of the oros release mechanism. Good luck!i was really reluctant to accept the fact that he has adhd,but i'm sure he has been this way since birth.he never ate,never slept,had problems at preschool.then when he started in kindergarten he could'nt sit for storytime,he could'nt do the work,when he did some work he was very rushed and careless,he would look out the windows,bother the other kids who were trying to do their work.so once he started on the ritalin he was a different child,he could write his whole name which was'nt a easy name,this was within a weeks time.you can tell when the ritalin wears off,he is like a different person.his teacher sent me a letter after the meds and she said she has a huge improvment in him,he can focus,gets his work done,and has'nt had one time out which before he had one everyday.would you know how big the concerta pill is?concerta is larger than ritalin...about 1/2 an inch. supposed to last 10-12 hours but more like 8-10 with my son. It should wear off in plenty of time for bed.thanks so much for the infoi have two weeks to ask my son's dr about which med. to put him on,i was wondering if the longer lasting meds like concerta or adderall lets the kids sleep at night.my son now takes 5mg ritalin twice a day.also what are the size of the different meds like concerta or adderall,my son is 5 and just learned how to swallow the ritalin which is a really small tablet.thanks for all of your info

I actually find that I fall asleep better if my meds are still working. When they wear off, I lie in bed thinking a thousand miles a minute...but as walker313 said, they should wear off before bed-time if taken in the morning.

I'm glad to hear your son has seen improvement on the ritalin. One thing I will suggest is: keep an eye on his social life. Many kids seclude themselves and become almost anti-social when on medication. I've talked to many college-aged people who took medication....The majority of them say that the years they took ritalin/adderall were the worst years of their lives. Most of the time, their parents made them take it. They did well in school, but socially were "outcasts." They were so focused in class, that they never really talked, etc. However, this is not the case for everyone. I just want you to be aware of how your son's health is in all aspects.....not just from "the authoritative" view.

Good luck and keep us posted!

thanks for the replies,it seems like socially he is well,probably better than if he was labeled by the other kids as the kid who couldn't do the school work or who is always in time out.i am just not sure of what to do,because do has had a huge improvement in school,but evenings at home are the same as always tantrums,cant sit to eat,etc.part of me says to leave him on the ritalin and put up with the evening behavior which ive done for 5 years,but then i think that a longer lasting meds could help at home to where i could help him with schoolwork,and making projects,etc.Hi My ten and a half year old has been on concerta for a long time. For him it works exactly 12 hours, and you no when it is wearing off. He goes to bed around 9, but usually plays his game boy advanced Sp, until 9:30, which makes him tired, and he falls asleep. Except the nights he has practices, he is very tired and asleep by 9.

Hello Josh's mom.  I just started my 5 year old on adderall.  He couldn't swallow the concerta.  I put it in pudding and he takes it.  I still feel awful about giving him meds.  He's hyper but not wild.  Anyway, he has been going to bed by 9:30.  Let me know how your son does.

Carrie