Concerta Questions | ADHD Information

My son (7, 74 lbs) was recently diagnosed ADHD.  His Dr put him on FocalinXR, 5mg to start.  After 2 weeks he went to 10, after 2 weeks they switched him to Concerta 18mg, which he started this morning.  The FocalinXR didn't seem to work AT ALL on him.  It was like he was popping tic tacs instead.  My question is this......what is the difference in Focalin and Concerta, and what is the sucess rate out there on either?  Also, what are the side effects to look for.  I know what the DR told me, but he doesn't live the life we live either.  I'd rather hear it from the moms that deal with it day to day.   I will be so glad when they find what works for him, and the right dose! The calls from school are driving me crazy!  Thanks in advance for the support.

Concerta is methylphenidate in a pretty smooth 10-12 hour delivery form, which is a mixture of two mirror image forms. Focalin is one of the forms in methylphenidate (the dex isomer-the one thought to be more centrally active). The other part of the methylphenidate (the levulo- isomer) is though to be more peripherally active so may work for hyperactivity a bit better. It takes about 2x as much methylphenidate to equal the activity of focalin. The max dose recommended for methylphenidates (all delivery forms) is 2mg/kg body weight per day. Enough of that...

My youngest (10, 60lbs) did best on 27mg concerta and the oldest (11, 120lbs) did best on 36mg concerta. Both had great results. We switched to focalin because the oldest cannot swallow pills very well; and we are searching for a med that has the least affect on weight for the youngest (not because we did not like the results). When the oldest can swallow pills, I would get her back on the concerta for the longer effective time.

The original clinical trials on concerta showed about 20% of the kids showed benefit at 18mg; the majority needed 36 or 54mg for best results (there was no 27mg at that time).

Hope this helps.

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