? about anxiety side effect of stimulants | ADHD Information

Hi,

Thanks for the advice.  I don't trust my son with the patch, he would throw it away.  I am going to try a few things that could help him swallow a pill again.  I would prefer if he took strattera, I like the idea that it is non stimulant.

Many people try Daytrana patch if they cannot manage swallowing pills. We've never used it, but sounds like people do have success with it.

Hi KarenR,

My son had a horrible time on adderall. He has been successful with concerta. From what I have been told by his doctor, any med that gives someone bad side effects should change meds. So they would say instead of giving him a mood stabilizer, change to another med that doesn't do that to him.

That is what has been explained to us. Any med that offers bad side effects is not the right med for the person. I bet there is something better for your son than adderall so that he doesn't have to take a mood stabilizer.

I personally think that adderall is doing that to your son so he needs another med that won't. Adderall made my son horrible, he also looked high. His eyes were dialiated, he got in other kids faces, the teacher said she had never seen him like this. He had a doctor's appointment so he witnessed it. Adderall was stopped immediately.

I would switch meds, there are too many out there to have your son suffer.

Just my opinion

Hi,

My son takes Adderall and this does cause anxiety.  I was told if he could take a pill then strattera would be better because it is nonstimulant.  He is 7 & still can't swallow a pill so he takes seraquel a mood stabilizer to help counter act this side effect.  I hate the meds but it is a necessary evil

 

There were some tips n tricks on here for parents who had to give pills to kids including a device you buy at the drugstore that helps and teaching them to swallow smarties by giving them one to swallow and then letting them eat the rest of the box

I wouldn't want to be giving my kid seroquil if not necessary. It's an extremely strong medication to be giving a 7-year old.
My child has experienced an increased amount of anxiety lately.  I'm trying to figure out if it might be due to the stimulant.  He is anxious all of the time, not only when the stimulant is in his system.  If it is a side effect of the medicine, would I still see the anxiety when the stimulant wears off at night? 

My youngest has anxiety worsen when the meds are not quite working well enough. We had her on guanfacine alone and it seemed good (her grades slipped to Bs which was acceptable to us) until the anxiety started increasing and we realized she was struggling silently. We added back the stimulant and the anxiety went away for a while. It has come back with an increase in teasing incedences and we are dealing with that now.

This can be so hard to sort out, because the meds can increase anxiety, or it can be increased by new (or different demands) in life. Is it posible that during the last part of the school year, when everything has been new for a while (compared to the begining where there is a lot of review)? Or just that he is ready for a break...

Sorry to say stimulants increase my daughters anxiety and no they hers did not subside when the meds wear off or if she did not take them for a day. We've had to treat both for years. We've noe reached the point we are no longer taking stimulants because of this and other similar side effects, resllessness, tics, even recently trichotillomania (pulling at her hair). All of this is decreasing since stopping. Well, most, anxiety still there but we're working on it.My children become more anxious when too much meds in system and then it will continue during rebound. I can give my son 15mg Ritalin and he become too anxious and cranky.  Give him 10 and it's not enough.  Give him 12.5mg and he is much better!!