New dx for my 8 yr old son | ADHD Information

Thanks Vickie and Ed.

Ed, Good point about the weekend--perhaps I will see how it goes with the med this weekend since we want to observe homework while medicated.I have an 8 yr old son in 3rd grade with new dx of ADD.

Testing was done this past month and I suspected ADD since 1rst grade due to his impulsivity and family hx (I have a 12yo with ADHD). We were watching and waiting since it appears his symptoms are mild and he copes well, is not a behavior problem and gets good grades.

Impulsivity has increased recently and we decided to begin meds--I started meds a few days before school began. His problem is that he will begin working before the instructions are given fully or he will start talking before the other person is done talking. He will start a test before full instructions are given--this has really hurt him on standardized tests. He takes Metadate CD 10mg before school. He is tolerating the med very well. The med wears off about 3 pm and homework is probably harder than it needs to be. I have discussed the Daytrana patch with his doc. That will be the next step.

My problem is trying to figure out if the Metadate/Metadate dose is doing anything for him. His 3rd grade teacher and I met immediately after school began so I could fill her in on my son's situation. I met with her again last week and she see's no problems with him in the classroom except unorganized (which many 3rd grader tend to be normally) Grades have been fine as usual. My son weighs 100lbs and is and is 50" tall. I have a feeling that the dose is too low for him since he is a big kid. My husband suggested giving him his med on the weekend just so we can see if homework is easier which I will do.

Anyone try this med at this dose? Any thoughts about the dose? He's a tough one to figure out since he is super good and never causes problems and he tries his best despite his disability. If I'm going to medicate, however, I want to be sure he is receiving the maximum benefit.

Thanks in advance.

Stims are not weight dependent, but symptom dependant with suggested maximums based on weight through safety studies.

10mg metadate cd is the same as 5mg immediate release given twice a day. This is a low dose used for starting the dose titration process. It is usual for the doc to start a child on the lowest dose and increase until effectivity is seen. This titration reduces or eliminates side effects and allows the body to adjust to each dose before increasing. Most of the clinical trials were done with doses between 20 and 60mg/day for effectivity.

For comparison, my youngest was on 27mg concerta/day which is equivalent to 9mg immediate release, 3 times a day (or 18mg metadate cd); and my oldest was on 36mg concerta/day which is equivalent to 12mg immediate release, 3 times a day (or 24mg metadate cd).

Metadate, and other stimulant meds are not dosed by weight, but by symptoms as Vickie said. The dose is low, because he is just starting, it needs to be titrated to the  lowest effective dose. It is trial and error, but everything about ADHD is trial and error. If he is doing well on the Metadate, do not change, it, raise it.

For comparison my DD is 10, weighs about 125 lbs, is 5'2"( big girl) and uses 10 mgs Daytrana patch.

Giving meds on the weekend is a personal choice, and some kids do ALOT better on Mondays if they have had meds all weekend. For some it is like starting over every week.

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