Script in hand | ADHD Information

Well,   sigh ......  

Its been a terrible couple of weeks...spending most of his time in the principals office and a one day suspension.  We are at our wits end...  Our son, 7 years,  was dx with ADHD in November, but we have been muddleing and struggleing through until now on our own.  He has excellent teachers and an IEP.  He is extremely bright but because of the classic adhd symptoms has not been able to excel in class. 

After exhausting all of our other resourses and alternatives that we felt were viable, we saw the pediatrician today for a trial of meds. She gave Ritalin SR 20 mg/qa.m.  Is this a standard starting doseage?? I am afraid that it was a LAST option for us and now I worry what if it doesnt work.....????. We will give it a trial run on the weekend just to see how he reacts to it.    Please keep your fingers crossed for us ! thanks  

Welcome charlene,

20mg is the standard low starting dose for this ritalin sr.  Starting low allows you to watch for side effects (if there are any) while they would still be mild and allows the body to adjust to the med. Then the normal route is to increase for maximum effect with minimal side effects. Here is a chart of many of the ADHD meds. It is from 2004 so is missing newer ones like the Daytrana patch.

http://www.myadhd.com/treatment_tools/medicationchart.html

The methylphenidate meds (ritalin and others brand names and generics) comes in many forms with many delivery options. Other meds include amphetamines, strattera, antidepressants and alpha 2 agonists.

My daughters have responded well to the first med or med combo they were placed on, and the only side effect was weight loss (now managed) in the younger child. Both kids have high IQs but difficulty in school. The youngest was failing last year and is now all As and Bs, homework is done easily and she is happy and doing better keeping friends. The older one just started and is showing a good response so far. Some people have to try several meds to get the one that best fits their needs.

Good luck, you will find lots of help and support here.

20 mg Ritalin SR releases 10 mg immediately, then 10 mg again 3-4 hours later. Good Luck this weekend. And remember, if you don't like it, you don't have to keep him on it.