The stimulants are dehydrating, so maybe the headache after exercise is due to the combo of the stimulant's dehydrating affects, and the same affect of exercise being dehydrating. Try to make sure that he takes in enough water throughout his day, and before and after exercise, and see if that helps.
My husband was on ritalin as well, in varying doses, and it did not affect his appetite either...it is very individual, and I am sure that you read more about the appetite suppressant than the opposite, because no appetite is so worrysome to a parent.
Is he doing well otherwise on the ritalin? Is he able to get through school work without issues? Does he get in trouble in school for not sitting still, not keeping his hands to himself, or other disruptive behaviors? If not, and the weight gain is not enormous, I would put it down to normal growth.
My non adhd son had a huge appetite and weight gain starting at just the same age...no meds at all in his system....he chunked up quite a bit, then this past year (age 13, 14 in April) he finally grew over 5 inches taller, and I am sure that he is not done yet!
Hi , I am new to this site and was just browsing the internet for information when I came across it. I was hoping that some one could give me some advice. I have a 9 year old who has been on ritalin since june 2006, 10mgs twice a day.
Recently I have noticed that he has been complaining of headaches probably about 3 times a week and normally after a period of exercise. also he has a huge appitite and has gained a considerable amout of weight since being on the ritalin, this seems to go against everything that is said about ritalin suppressing the appitite! has anybody else had these problems. His next hospital appointment is not untill 23rd feb should I be worried and should i bring the appointment forward?
Hi thanks for the replies, makes me feel a bit better, he is doing really well at school since starting the meds although he does have learning disabilities and is about 3 years behind his age. That said since staring the meds he is progressing and is a lot happier at school thank god!
He is on no other meds but I do give capol ( liquid paracetalmol ) for the headaches.
When I say weight gain I mean 14lbs since June and he has not grown in height, his eats food, not junk but he will eat the same if not more than my husband if I allowed him to, and he is hungry all the time.
he is a big boy! what i don,t want is for kids to start making fun of him at school for being overweight, now that things are settled and he not percived as the naughty boy anymore, I don,t want anything to upset the peace.
first time in years I have started to relax about him going to school!
Is there anything else u r giving him other than Ritalin?
any drugs or even supplements/vitamins?
also, some kids in that age (before puberty) do gain a lot of weight. It goes away after puberty. I was one of them.
mashtee200339110.6892013889It may just be puberty growth...my 13 year old did that too...added tons of weight at age 9-12....went from very skinny, to kinda chubby (others said he was fat, but ??, my mom is paranoid!!) he also was hungry all of the time and could eat as much as his dad....and doesn't eat a lot of junk food...he is not medicated for ADHD, takes some asthma meds sporadically, no steroids though...
As I said, he finally started growing taller this Fall, and is maintaining his weight but grew 6 inches, and now even my Mom says he looks good!
Ask the doctor, but I really think that it may be just age related.