This is the most common side effect of this class of meds (along with sleep difficulties).
My youngest is also skinny. I would feed her a large breakfast before meds and let her eat later when she was hungry. I added olive oil to things like soup to increase the calories. I made her protein shakes with ice cream. She did not gain weight for 9 months so the doc switched her to focalin (it is the dex isomer of methylphenidate-ritalin is both isomers). She slowly gained weight on focalin. We gave her a break during the summer and she gained 10lbs. Her dad was also a very skinny kid (he weighed 120lbs when we were married), so I need to keep that in mind and not worry too much.
Does anyone else have appetite loss with Ritalin? My son and I both have a lot of appetite loss with this medication. I never understood why my son who is eight did not want to eat much, til I started on this med a few months ago. Now I can relate to his situation. It is very obvious why he struggles. I barely have any ability to crave sugar, salt, carbs, and at meals struggle to complete an entire meal if even half. So far, I have lost 5 pounds. I worry about his growth. He is very tiny. I try to make him eat- ANYTHING mostly the good stuff- which he likes most anyway. But if it is high in fat- the better. He is skin and bones the way it is.
Is this normal for Ritalin?
Julie