New meds & my ds didn’t sleep at all! | ADHD Information

 

We started Ritalin LA yesterday for the first time.  The teacher reported that his day was great but he didn't each much of his lunch(typical of him)

But he couldn't sleep last night.  I gave him the melatonin and did our exact bedtime rountine.  He sat awake in his bed for 2 hours last night.  He kept getting up telling me that he couldn't sleep.  I didn't think much about it at first, so I would retuck him and tell him to try again.  Well 3 hours have gone by and I'm ready for bed.  So I bring him in our bed and put in a movie.  Well and hour and 45 mintutes go past and the movie is over and he is still awake.  By this time it is almost midnight.  So I tell him to go in the living and play playstation or something.  Hoping to get a few winks.  He was up until 2:30 a.m. before he finally fell asleep.   

I called the dr first thing this morning and of course it is his day off!!!   I wish I could get a day off of parenting.  So I left a message but the nurse said that the dr on call doesn't do children so it will have to wait until morning.  Ds has a pretty bad cold and cough so I kept him home from school today.  I gave him so cold med and rubbed vicks on his chest and I am not giving him the Ritalin LA.  Has anyone else had this happen when they switch to new meds?

 

Hmm this just shows how every child reacts do differently to each med! 

Chase had trouble sleeping and no appetite (w/o periactin) on Concerta, and even with the periactin, ate little at lunch...but on ritalin LA, he eats his lunch and demands a snack in his book bag for the bus ride home!  He also says that he much prefers the ritalin LA, but I am awaiting teacher reports to be given me back as to school performance...we have a med check on Monday.

I wonder if his dose is too high....what mg is he on?  I wonder if a slighlty lower dose would still help in school, but not disrupt his sleep as much....

Barring that maybe the doc could give something for sleep....guanfacine helps chase.....

Hi,

Hope you catch up on your zzzzzs.

Question: Did you happen to give any cold medicine on the night he wouldn't go to sleep? If so, how does he typically react to cold medicine? I personally get completely restless and spazzy on meds like Benadryl, Tylenol PM, OTC sleep aids, whereas most people crash and burn.I don't know what your melatonin routine is, but sometimes you have to take a melatonin break because it ceases to be effective.  Also, in my experience, if the dosage is too high, dd can't sleep.  So try the smallest dose possible.  Right now we do 1mg.

I agree with Squirrelgirl about the cold med,  cold meds seem to keep my kids up at night.  Hopefully it is just your sweet ds's cold causing his insomnia.  When my ds started Concerta 32mg the first few nights he had trouble falling asleep.  The first night it took a few hours,  next night maybe an hour, next night 45 minutes.....now we are at 54mg (he is 13) and it takes him perhaps 30-40 minutes to fall asleep.  Hopefully as your ds's body adjusts to the med and dose he will fall into a routine. I'm betting that his cold is not helping matters.  How about a long, warm toasty bath right before bed.....that always helps my kids!!!  Hopefully once he gets used to everything and his body adjusts the sleep patterns will straighten out for you!  Good luck!

Robyn, Mom to Alex 13 ADHD 54mg Concerta and a whole lotta energy!!