New & Worried | ADHD Information
Concerta has also done a lot for my son, he has been on it since March. We saw no out of the ordinary moodiness upon beginning the med....he has always been moody and the med helped it a little...we are thinking of addressing this issue as well as some frustration and aggression, and impulsive issues with a trial of Tenex (guanfacine), which seems to help these things as well as sleeping and eating issues...melatonin also is helpful with sleep issues. This med has totally changed my child's outlook and now he is upbeat and has goals that he is reaching as far grades and school goes...he went from barely pulling C's last year, to straight A's this year. He remembers to do homework and remembers to turn it in. He gets a lot accomplished at school as well which did not happen before meds.
If appetite becomes a big, ongoing issue, I am beginning to see some results with Periactin (Cyproheptadine), but have only been using it since the first week of November.
amala welcome!
hang in there. finding the right meds is not easy. dd is taking metadate cd after trying adderall xr for one day with horrible results. i thought 'how wonderful to find the right med on only our second try." the first month was great. it worked wonders with only a lose of appetite as a side effect. second month is not going so well. it seems to work when it wants to. one day she is great and the next day is hell. she has a follow up appt. on dec. 7th. we will see what gives. so hang in there. my family is constantly on my back about putting her on meds. i ignore them and try to use my best judgement as a mother. that's all we can do. keep a close eye on her and if things don't improve after a week i would definately ask for an appt. with the doctor.
(((((((hugs)))))))
HI Kelseasmama!
I just wanted to send good wishes your way! My son was diagnosed in Oct as ADHD-inattentive/impulsive. He is on 18g Concerta also. I was very nervous about starting him on meds. He is 6 and in Kindergarten. We had known for a long time that he was "different". The first few days he could not sleep. He would fall asleep at midnight and be up again at 5. That was the major side effect that we saw. I was so afraid that it would turn him into a zoombie or change his personality. Fortunately for us, it did not. We have only seen positives from the med. He brought home a page that he had colored and I cried. It was so well done. In the past he has never wanted to color or take the time to do anything that requires concentration. It was a milestone. His writing has improved...it is legible! It is possible to find the right med for your DD.
I hope that you find what works for your daughter and your family.
Laura
Welcome kelseasmama,
Your daughters feeling of depression could be due to her feeling as though she is a failure both acadmeically and socially and may have nothing to do with the medication in terms of side effects. Low self esteem for these children is very prevelant when they try their hardest and still come up empty. Concerta at 18 mil is the starting dose and a very low dose and unfortunately, it takes some time before the right medication and/or the right dose is acheived. As already mentioned, seek out a child phychistist for med mangement as pediaticians are not well versed enough to properly monitor your daugher as she goes through a trial of meds.Its not uncommon to have minor side effects intially but the depression may be coming from within, not the medication.
My 6 yr old daughter was diagnosed by her Ped with ADHD 1.5 years ago. Up until now we have been able to redirect her so she was never put on any meds. She is in 1st grade now and her grades dropped from all A's to D's. She has been coming home crying saying I tried my best but I couldnt focus so I still failed so why should I try hard mama? She is all the time worried about friends and ppl liking her etc. very soft hearted etc. I took her to her Ped last wednesday and they started her on 18mg of Concerta once a day. She does seem less impulsive but is complaining of bad headaches and cries at the drop of a hat and just seemed all around depressed, which is so not like her she is always so bubbly and happy all the time. Can anyone give me any advice I called the Dr and they said keep trying the meds for this week to see if her body adjusts to them. Im scared and worried all I want to do is help her but I feel like Im harming her. 
Some advice or encouragement please.
Welcome to this helpful site. As the body gets used to the meds the side effects can ease. You might make sure your daughter is getting lots of water. Dehydration can contrubute and can be worse on the stimulants. If she does not adjust, don't be afraid to try another med. People respond differently to the different meds, even if the meds are the same but in a different form.
You might also see about getting started with a psychiatrist. They are generally more experienced with med management than a pediatrician, and would be better at med adjustments as your daughter grows and goes through puberty.
Aslo, if you check the alternative board for omegas and magnesium. These have some scientific studies supporting thier use and if these help, the need for the meds might be reduced.
Sending a big hug your way...
Hey everyone!
This is my first post, and i must admit your site is a little overwhelming...can't beleive how similar the experiences of other parents are to mine ... It is such a relief to read posts such as yours kelseasmama..... my son was diagnosed 2 years ago and although he has made such great improvements over that time, i have felt rather alone and misunderstood as a parent of a child with ADHD.
You guys are lifesavers!!!
ps what does dd, dh stand for?
ps what does dd, dh stand for?
Welcome amala! dd.....dear daughter.....dh.......dear husband