Length of effectivemeness - FocalinXR | ADHD Information

What dose of Focalin XR does your child take?  If you move up to a higher dose, you should see coverage for more of the day.  This would be advantageous if it's logistically difficult to do a booster dose.  It's also less expensive than taking another medicine.

My child's Focalin XR starts to wear off about 10 hours after taking it, but it still helps some at that point.

He takes 20mgXR in the morning.  We started with 10, had great results but I think there was a honeymoon period after about 2 months because now we went to 15 and finally 20 to see the effectiveness again.  No side effects with the 20mg but  he will rebound some afternoons if he doesn't get a short acting 5mg around 3:30.  Also, homework is tough without the extra short acting dose.  He's 9 and 55 pounds.

I don't mind dosing him after school but I'd prefer to just use something in the morning.  Sometimes that after school dose is enough to affect his sleep which of course we don't want.

Thanks.

Hi all,

Just wondering what your experience has been with how long the Focalin XR works for your child. I know the drug information says 'all day' but I'm finding it's much less.  DS takes his at 8am and he definitely needs a short acting dose by 3pm to get through homework.  What are your experiences?

8 hours is the length of effectiveness for Focalin XR. It is one of the Shorter acting" extended relase meds"ditto... I was told the same thing about the citrus lowering the effectiveness.  We had to do that for our son as we were giving him orange juice in conjunction with his med.  Good point made.  My 9 year old son is currently on 15 mg of focalin XR. I give it to him in the morning when he wakes up and I can't really tell when it is wearing off (we may have to increase to 20 mg because there is not much difference between how is on on the 15 and how he is normally...)but I was told by my doctor that it lasts 12 hours. It doesn't sound like that is anyone's experience though... My friend's son takes 15 in the morning and then 5 after school. I have to say I am pleased that we are not really seeing any side effects with this medication. We just need to get him to the right dosage level.I meant to add too that I have to sprinkle the capsules onto applesauce for him to take it. He won't swallow a pill, so I wonder if that changes anything as far as how it is absorbed or the length of effectiveness. I think it is supposed to work the same though...I sprinkle my ds's too.  We've been fortunate enough that we don't have to give him but one dose of f xr a day.  He gets 5 mg and it seems to last him the day and into the early evening or longer.  I do notice that when my son doesn't get adequate sleep because we go to bed late or when he doesn't eat properly that sometimes he has minor issues.  I really believe that each child is different in how the med works.  I also believe that we have to look at the whole picture. By this I mean we need to look at diet, and therapy in some cases in addition to the drug. 

It is supposed to last ~8 hours. You need to be at an optimal dose to the the actually time your son will get from the med (as stated by Mom2ADHD boy). For a 12 hour med you need to look at concerta (cannot be sprinkled) or daytrana patch.

My youngest (10yo, ~65lbs) is on 15mg (whole capsule) and I cannot tell when it leaves because she also takes guanfacine. The oldest (11, ~120lbs) takes 20mg (sprinkled) and again I cannot tell when it is gone because she is inattentive; although she likes how it helps in her hardest classes before lunch. I have the option of a second dose for my kids but have not needed it thus far. This med does not affect weight on my youngest like concerta did and the oldest only wishes there were a weight effect.

Kids can vary quite a bit on how fast they metabolize meds. Some are very quick. Sprinkled should not change anything. Make sure there is no citrus taken with it (that can lower the effectiveness).

My son takes Focalin XR 20mg - it lasts almost 10 hours.  However when he was on ritalin la that only lasted 6 hours. 

I think it's very dependant upon the individual, how the med works for them, and their metabolism.  My doc has never claimed that any of the meds we tried or discussed lasted a certain amount of time, she just wrote us a perscription for the short acting "just in case."  With the ritalin we used it with the focalin it's still sitting on the shelf.