Everyone reacts differently to the different meds. There can even be a huge difference for a person on different delivery methods using the same active ingredient, so it can be a frustrating trial and error until fingind the best med for th individual.
Sometimes, stimulants can increase emotional lability, and anxiety. Are the problems during the time the meds are in his system or when the meds are supposed to be wearing off? This wearing off time can cause problems as a child goes back to the pre-medicated state or they can even experience rebound at this time. If the meds are increasing anxiety, you may need to get that under control before the stims will work well.
72mg for a teen is not alot, and the med is dosed on symptoms not weight. The max dose recommended is 2mg/kg of body weight, so you are not near the max dose.
Try to get him to understand that he needs to eat a little food and to drink plenty of water, even if he is not hungry or thirsty. Lack of food can add to the emotional issues and dehydration can increase side effects and make a person feel miserable.
It is not uncommon for a person being treated to be the last one to see the benefits of the meds. Those around the patient will notice more coherant conversation, less restlessness, etc.
I hope this helps.
vickie39211.4879861111The medication trial can be quite exhausting. It is so difficult to know what is side effect and what is not. I've learned over the past several years and many different meds, that if something changes quickly after a med change, it was most lkely the med.
Vickie is right that medications affect everyone SO differently and so does delivery method. My daughter has done generally well on the long acting Ritilan, but cannot at all tolerate the regular.
Try to be sure he has a good meal before he takes his meds and at the end of the day when they wear off. Try not to get on him too much about lunch, just encourage him not to skip it altogether.
Adderrall and Concerta are totally different families of medications. Concerta is Methylphenidate and Adderrall is dexedrine.
Hello All. First, I apologize for the length; I feel lost. I will appreciate any intput on the following. I am the mother. As background: we have recently agreed to allow our 14 year old boy to try meds for ADHD. He is in the middle of his second trial. I feel as if we are finally taking steps to acknowledge and address a problem that has lurked in the background since second grade. His father . my husband, tho, still thinks he just needs to be more disciplined.
Currently my son is on 72 mg of Concerta. This is day # 5 of 7. Will we make it to day # 7 ? His irritability and anger and bitterness is driving me to tears (and I am generally stable !). Specific questions :
1. I cannot tell if this is a documented side effect? It is unusual for this particular kid to treat me like this. It is disclosed in the pharmacy insert, but isn't everything ?
2. 14 year old boy emotions are notoriously difficult to address. I cannot get anything out of him regarding how the mes are making him feel, whether they are helping. Any thoughts?
3. Does 72 mg seem like a lot ? The M.D. is trying it because my son claimed up to 54 mg had no effect on him. He is 5 ' 10" and weighs 147 lbs. He rows. He is very lean.
4. Relevant to above, I am worried about his lack of eating too. Any thoughts?
5. He moves on to Adderall next week. Any comments on the comparison of the 2 meds or the transition?
Again, I appreciate any thoughts. I am adrift as I struggle to help him. And sad about it - not about the ADHD diagnosis or the medication trial, but about my helplessness as I watch him struggle.
Oh good for you!!He did work up to it. He has done weeks at 18 mg, 36, + 54. He reported no affect (tho I notice improvment) so the M.D. had him try 1 week at 72. He is now doing his first course of Adderall (lo dose) and that is going much, much better mood wise. Thank you for your responses which are both informative and encouraging. I WILL hang in there! Notably yesterday he forgot to take his meds in the morning (which meant he did not take them at all). He was back to his pleasant self w/ more normal range teen moods at end of day. I watched him take the Concerta this a.m. + it will be interested to see what happens tonight . . . .Just a question... did you doctor start at that dose or work up to it. Concerta is not weight based. My daughter is 40 pounds and on 27mg. Her ped. said that she has a football player that is 200 pound and is doing great on 18mg. I am just thinking maybe the dose maybe too high.
Good luck to you and your son.