Just for reference- in the early clinical trials on concerta, about 20% of kids responded to the 18mg dose; most responded to 36 or 54mg (there was no 27mg form at that time). My youngest was 56lbs and on 27mg concerta (we moved to focalin to try to gain weight); My oldest was 120lbs and on 36mg concerta (we moved to focalin because she had too much trouble swallowing the pills). Both did well at those doses (except for the issue noted).
The good thing is, that if you get good results but it is not quite right, there are other similar meds to try to get the best treatment for your son's individual needs.
My dd is also on Concerta 27mg... just increased this past Monday. she is very small for her age 8 1/2 and 40 pounds. We too were veery concerned with the side effects of meds. But on the Concerta the difference was amazing. I keep and eye on her weight and make sure she eats.
Getting her to eat when we wanted her too doesn't always work out. its when she is hungry. She has 2 dinners, one with her brother around 6pm and then another with me and my hubby at 7:30pm.
For us I told her teachers (including her special ed and speech) about the meds to watch for side effects... they have been very helpfully thru the whole process.
Good luck to you.
I am new to this board. My 9 year old son was diagnosed with ADD recently (something we have been watching and dealing with for several years). 3 weeks ago he started Strattera. There has been no improvement at school or at home. In addition, his meltdowns have gotten more frequent and intense. His doctor is now going to switch him to Concerta. He is small (54 lbs), so she is starting with the lowest dose possible. It took us a long time to get comfortable with the idea of medicating him, but we want him to meet his potential in school. Thankfully, he doesn't have any social issues. I am very worried about his appetite ( he had a little appetite supression on the strattera, but it was manageable). When reading about all the potental side effects, I am very nervous.
Hello and welcome to the board. Our dd also started on Strattera, then switched to Concerta. She didn't gain any weight for 12 months! We switched off of Concerta because of side effects to Ritalin LA. Eventually we added Tenex, which helps with appetite and impulsivity. Eating isn't an issue any more because of the tenex. For sleeping, we give her melatonin 1 mg about 1/2 hour before bed. That's an over-the-counter pill. Her doctor gave us the OK on that. So that solved the sleep problem. Good luck to you!Hi ,
I have a child on concerta 54mg . Your doctor is wise starting on the lowest dose. But remember that the dose depends on the child . Weight and size have nothing to do with the dosage. You will probably need to increase it. Every child is different and will experience different effects from the different adhd meds. You will have to experiment to find the best fit for your child. We ran the gamut of meds until we found concerta.
That sid, my child also takes a small amount of focalin after school to take care of rebound. He takes guanfacine[tenex] and melantonin at night to aid sleep. The guanfacine also helps with anxiety. I wish you the best in your search for the best med and dosage.