Eating Issues | ADHD Information

My son is on adderall xr 20 mg in the morning and then a follow up pill at 2 in the afternoon of 10 mg.  It works really well for controlling his symptoms.

On the meds though we have always had problems with him eating (and he has lost a very noticable amount of weight).  Previous is was pretty much breakfast we had a problem with but he still ate it.  (We have been on meds for about 6 months now)

Now the real problem, I have to force him to eat breakfast (even if I give him a choice of whatever he wants to eat), he says he is not eating lunch at school (waiting for the school to call me back to confirm), and he pretty much refuses dinner, doesn't eat snack when he comes home from school, occasionally takes a snack to school (a granola bar).   But I am really worried - I don't want to stand over him and force him to eat but know he needs nutrition. 

Anyone have similar problems?  Any advice?

This is not uncommon. I make things like corn chowder and other favorites for my youngest to eat for breakfast. Before meds she never ate much lunch. She will eat a snack after school even if not hungry because she knows she gets cranky. I use ice cream as a reward for eating a protein (chicken or fish) at dinner (she would live off tomatoes and corn if I let her). I slip a little olive oil or protein powder in her food to add calories and protein.

Some here have used carnation instant breakfast, boost or pediasure drinks to get the calories in. Allowing him to eat later in the evening when he might be hungrier can help.

Chasesmom has chase on periactin (sp?) which is an antihistamine that increased appetite.

Welcome to the board.   I REALLY know where you are coming from...I was in the same place you are back in October of last year.  I was frantic because my little boy was never hungry (on Concerta), losing weight and looking pale and sickly.  I tried all of the tricks, and some worked a little, but it was still a struggle, and every meal was like a business deal.....bargaining for each bite.

If you have tried all of the usual tricks...there are many posts with the same problems....if you do a search, you will find many suggestions...we have given dinner foods for breakfast with some success, doctored up carnation instant breakfast with peanut butter, cream, fruit, ice cream, pudding...anything to add calories without making it too junkfood like.

If none of this helps, ask the doctor about either tenex or periactin.  The tenex helps with some ADHD issues as well as appetite/weight gain, and sleep. 

The periactin (cyproheptadine) is an older antihistamine that is given to the elderly, the anorexic, as well as to ADHD children on stimulants because it has the happy side effect of appetite stimulation.  After Chase took this med for 3 days, he began to have an increased appetite.

Oh I feel for you.  We have been lucky in that M wakes up starving, and gets in a good breakfast before the meds start.  He is also able to eat a good dinner, and is usually hungry for a snack before bedtime.

But it is hard to see them lose even a little weight, and it worries my mind, but so far we haven't had too much problems.

There have been lots of appetite threads on this board, and lots of very creative ideas, perhaps you could do a search.

This is my first posting. I started researching information this week because my doctor is considering starting my son on periactin to stimulate his appetite. My son was started on ADHD meds at age 4 1/2.  We had been experiencing tons of discipline and safety issues and a year earlier he was determined to have had a cognitive delay. We were lucky to have been started on Focalin XR off the bat and it worked  like a charm. For us this drug has been a miracle!!! He is happiest he has ever been. He hasn't started kindergarten yet, but has started reading, telling time, and making lots of friends. The only side effects have been no appetite, difficulty going to sleep at night, and some anxiety. We use melatonin at night which helps with sleep. We have seen a psychologist to help with the anxiety and I have seen some improvements. We are still stuggling with food and weight.  He was small to begin with- only weighs 38 pounds at age 5 1/2.  Any suggestions for appetite (including those on periactin) or anxiety issues would be helpful. Thanks so much.

The periactin is great and no side effects except possibly helping a little with sleep, which is needed anyhow.  It is a tiny, inexpensive (in generic) pill that makes the child hungry. 

Other than that, I offer Chase whatever (within reason) he wants for breakfast (this morning it was a chicken pattie) under the premise that if he is hungry for something, he will eat more of it.  He has had leftover meatloaf, PB and J sandwiches, hamburgers, leftover pizza....he also likes carnation instant breakfast (I doctor it with cream and whole milk to add calories), others have suggested adding olive oil to soup if he likes soup to add calories.  Cook things with butter....basically all the things the experts tell us to do to lose weight....do the opposite!

But the main turnaround for Chase was the addition of the periactin...he started at 52 pounds in Oct/Nov when he began taking it and now he weighs about 61 pounds....and that is with a month and a half of almost constant vomiting while on fish oil...so who knows how much he would have gained if he could have kept it all down!

We also tried the periactin and my little guy gained about 6 pounds in about 6 weeks...he now weight 50 pounds and his slim size pants are tight .Make it special - let him pick out some healthy, fatty bedtime snacks at the store - our son loves yogurt and bananas with peanut butter. Make bedtime snacks a part of the routine. Good luck!We have the same problem our doctor told us to give my son milk shakes and i add instant breakfast to them more calories and nutrition to the shake. Some evenings he will eat two sandwiches before bed I try to have cooked chicken on hand for a quick meal for him. His meal time seem to be much later than ours are so when he is hungry I push as much at him as I can. Some days are better than othes.  We also use the anihistamine.I am in the same boat,  I have tried all the most nutritiuos fattening snacks and my younger one eats and drinks it all. He isn't on meds and gets fatter by the day.  I am stuck with going to the fridge at 8 or 9 and getting him something, he wont go himself.  I get very frustrated, so I do let him eat in his room so I dont have to sit the kitchen with my eyes closing.  Its 9 now I think I better go to the kitchen.  My sons doctor suggested LARABARS from wholefoods or trader joes.  My son likes them, sometimes.  My son has never been a good eater, even before any meds.  Now of course its worse.  He actually has not lost any weight, just has not gained ANY in 2 years!  He's a growing 6 year old boy, he should have gained at least a little.  His 4 year old sister weighs just one pound less than he does!  He eats pretty good at breakfast, but he gets so distracted cuz the meds haven't kicked in yet, so it takes him literally 30-45 mins to eat one bowl of cereal!  By then I'm like we need to leave, you can't eat any more!  Its frustrating.  At school he eats lunch in the office (with the nurse actually who he likes very much)  She kind of "mothers" him when I can't, so that makes me feel good.  He gets too distracted and overwhelmed in the cafeteria, so eating in a quieter environment helps him eat more.  The nurse also encourages him to eat more (just 3 more bites!)  After school I tempt him to eat with something like ice cream or "treat" foods.  He likes to drink Boost type drinks too.  Or I'll make a shake with whole milk, bananas, peanut butter, chocolate, etc.  The problem I have with this time of day is that his sister wants all that stuff too, but she is boarderline overweight and I have to really watch what I give her.  He eats a decent dinner, but is very picky so he sometimes just doesn't eat at all.  I am so busy, I just can't make whatever dinner each person wants!  I have started giving him a Cliff bar, or similar protein/energy bar as a before bed snack.  He thinks its candy!  Again though, I can't give them to his sister so I put her to bed a few mins early and sneak him the snack without her knowing.  Seems to be working ok!  I hope he starts growing at least a little soon.  Periactin is an antihistamine (I learned that from chasesmom), so if allergies are a problem, this med is a bonus in that area as well.