Concerta | ADHD Information

My 10 year old was diagnoised with ADHD 2 years ago, I deceided not to medicate him I thought if I changed his diet and worked with him things would get better and they did until last year things got worse he was barely passing the forth grade he would get upset about everything and this year in the fith grade has been a total rollar coaster, we are not even thru the first nine weeks, he was getting out of his seat and walking around during class not bring home any of his assignements so I deceided to medicate him, he just started today on Concerta. Has anyone had sucess with this medicine and what are the most common side effects with it? I debated about putting him on meds but I was at my wits end I wasnt sure what to do and this was my last resort I was even considering military school at one point. I am a single parent and he is my world I am just hoping I am doing the right thing. 

 

     Had to look twice to make sure I wasn't the one who posted this.  My daughter was diagnosed yesterday and put on Concerta also.   I have been searching all day to get more information on it.  She took one yesterday morning and seemed calmer but took longer going to sleep last night.  She had a stomach ache this morning but so far nothing else.  We also stretched it as far as we could before seeking help and medication but she started middle school this year and the teachers are not as tolerant and helpful as we had in elementary school.  She is also reacting a lot to peer pressure from older kids on her bus (they ride with the high schoolers).

Well yesterday seemed to go well until last night  he had problems going to sleep but other than that I have not seen anything else but its only 2 days into it now. I was very surprised that last evening when I picked him up after school he had already done his homework and he was calmer. I have the school watching him too to make sure he doesnt experience any other side effects. I dont think I am going to medicate him on the weekends just dont want him to get addicted to medicine that scares me alot.  His teachers in elementary school were the best they worked with him and now that he is switching classes he is so not orgnanized . I am working on that with him but I know that will take time.I was thinking of maybe instead of him going to bed at 8pm maybe I would extend it to 830., but I cant do much more than that because we are out of the house every morning and on our way by 6am at the latest.  

 

     They started my daughter on 27mg.  I'm not really sure how they figure that but I am supposed to let them know if she has trouble sleeping or staying awake.  From what I have read the side effects should go away in a couple of days.  Please post how it works to not give it on the weekends.  I think that would be better too if possible.  I am with you, I am scared to death doing this but our home and school life has been miserable since August.  My husband thinks she's just lazy and doesn't want to do her school work so we argue over it and the school just keeps sending papers with low grades home to be signed.  I think a lot is the transition from elementary to middle school so maybe it will get better in time.

Concerta is the same thing as Ritilan as they are both (Methylphenidate), the difference being, ritilan is short acting and Concerta is long acting meaning the effectiveness  of the medication could last up to 12 hours whereas ritilan is effective up to 4 hours. Ritilan has been around for over 50 years and has been proven to be the most effective treatment in combination with behavior modification, counseling and accomodations in school. Stimulant medications are not addictive when taken as prescribed and the under the supervision of a trained professional. Entering middle school is a total transition as ADHD'ers have a problem with organization skills and children of that age are expected to be more responsible so that is why the issues become more complexed as children get older. More is expected of them and the pressure to conform leaves them overwhelmed and anxiety ridden and when you add peer pressure into the mix, it brings about a entire new set of issues. Below is a link that might prove to be helpful.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/adhd.cfm

 

 

Hi Saphire, i can relate i am also a single mom with a ten and a half year old on concerta. He has been on this med. for a long time, and it really helps him. H e uusually takes it any where from 6:30 am, to 7 am depending on how long i can last in the morning without it in him. The only side affects  for my son are loss of appetite, so he is usually eating his dinner at 8:30 or so when he is Hungary. My son is usually in bed at 9 on school nights, but is not tired and will play his game boy until 9:30 or so to help him unwind, then go to sleep. On the weekends  he stays up late, and goes to bed when tired. He does get very moody when the meds. are wearing off, good luck to you.

My 8 yr old has been on Concerta for 3yrs. and it helps !He started out on 27mg and now takes 54mg. Yes, eating is a problem, and sleep was a problem. The doctor gave him Clonidine to help him sleep and it works. I actually give him a 1/2 of Clonidine in the a.m. to help him until the Concerta starts working. He eats me out of house and home at night and gets to sleep no later than 9:00. There are times that he fights the meds and he stays up later and we run into problems. I am finding that the Clonidine has side efffects of aggression. Sometimes I feel that this is a no win situation, I hate to keep "trying new meds" but it is something that has to be done. ADHD is so hard to work with, I wish it would just go away and leave our kids alone!!!!!!! Good luck w/your son.