Help... | ADHD Information

Thanks a lot--I will ask around and try to find a child psychiatrist.

I agree - a pediatric psychiatrist is the best.  Doctors try to keep up but honestly that's very tough. 

Give the meds time as long as major side effects don't pop up (violence, heart racing very strong for an extended time, etc.)  You should phone the doc and let him/her know your concern. 

Meds take about 2 weeks to settle in for most.  Everyone is different.  You should see some changes now though - attentiveness increasing, ability to stay on a task longer, etc.  Do watch and maybe ask the teacher to let you know how its going.  You may just be seeing the affect of the meds wearing off and they you may want to consider a short acting dose for after school - it's not unusual.

 

This is my first post...I have a 5 yr old son who started Concerta 2 days ago--How long do I have to try it before I do something else if it doesnt work??

He seems angry and has had some tantrems.  He told me today he feels angry, not at anyone in particular --just angry.  That makes me sad for him.

How long do I keep this up--what is the recommended length of time for a new med?  This is the first medication he has been on.

I agree with Vickie, I have found an experienced child psychiatrist knows a lot more than the pediatrician.  I had problems with Anger and concerta.  I found that Focalin XR worked better for us that way.


What kind of doctor is it? Did the doctor offer any explanation for the reaction or why she thought things would be different when the meds were restarted? Because of the potential difficulties getting the correct med and dose for your child, I would prefer a child psychiatrist that has lots of experience with ADHD and medication management (if one is available). My daughter's doctor tells me what to expect and when to call him. This is a difficult journey and it is important that the team is working together. Experiences like yours can turn a parent off to meds and cause you to give up finding an appropreate treatment.he is on concerta--18mg.  The anger is during the time the meds should be in his system.  I called the doc today and she said to stop the meds for a couple of days and try it again after 2 days off.  This seemed odd to me and I don't think I am going to do that.

Keep notes on what you are seeing and when so that you can discuss it with the doctor. Is the anger during the time the meds are in his system or when they should be wearing off? If the anger is when the meds should be wearing off, it could be rebound. Rebound could go way on its own or be helped with a low dose short acting form. If your son is having the anger during the time the med should be in his sytem ask the doctor if he/she thinks the med should be changed. What dose was your son started on?

You can call the doctor anytime you are having med issues, especially negative effects such as you describe. The doctor should have given you instructions for potential issues and all.