Weight gain or loss always seems to be an issue for parents when deciding how to treat their children. A good Dr will warn you of the possibilities, advise you to give your child a multi-vitamin and do a blood test to check if the child is becoming deficient. I have never seen where it's been reported that a child's growth has been permanently stunted because of these meds. It's scary to us as parents because every year we take our children in for physicals, they weigh and measure them and then chart their size to compare them to the "norm." I have two grown sons that were on stims till puberty, it effected their appetites, but after puberty they grew to the height and size expected according to heredity As long as the children are not suffering from malnutrition, which can be monitored, I think we may be putting too much emphasis on size. If you obsess about this side effect too much and your children recognize what your doing when they get older they're going to want to stop taking the meds because of it. I speak from experience.
that may be true, but deficiencies dont show up for a long time. My daughter recently loss 6 pounds in 6 weeks because of stimulants. On me, that'd be fine and maybe on a lot of teens, but she is 13 and 5'2" and dropped from an already small 88 pounds to 82 pounds. Benefit MUST outweigh this. I will amicably disagree about not worrying about significant weight loss. It didnt make me quit altogether, but it has made her physician ( a very good doctor, pediatric psychopharmocologist) and me try some other options for her, we will add back the stim if necessary, but we should be trying to do what is best OVERALL for our childrens well being, we cant lose sight of the whole picture in our mission to have them focused. There's a reaosn weight is monitored in both children and adults, diet (among other things like excercise) are some of things that have proven studies for their benefit. i will agree, however, that obsessing is never good, but caution is.
It's all about balance.
Diane V39403.5490856481Diane, I can see why you would be concerned and in this day and age with all the med choices available that you would seek an alternative for your daughters condition. But so many avoid meds completely or play with the dosage that children's self esteem yo-yo along because of something that may turn out to be minor. In my case the choices for medication were very limited, it was either stims or nothing at all.I know and this is why I wanted to add my opinion to the mix. It's not always black and white and actually rarely is. It's not ignore appeteite or not, the same iwth all side effects, it's very individual and all options should be explored every time. People should not be afraid, and should not settle.
With a good phsyician you can explore all the options out there anad there are MANY. We're luckier than you were with your children as there are new options coming out every year.
well the dr stated 10 mg was fine. that is the normal dosage for his weight/age...
I was decreasing it when he is losing weight. then he begins eating better and if the school says he is doing fine, I leave him at 5 mg. if he starts acting out day after day, I go back to 10 mg.
There is no "normal dose for his age/weight", it is not based on either, but based by symptoms.
I would find another Psych, maybe another med, and a more consistent dosing. You don't take a way a child's glasses because they see better, then give them back when they cannot see. Try adding more fats, and protein to his diet? Maybe some carnation instant breakfast. Protein powders in milkshakes work wonders for weight gain.
edbson39402.6737731481we actually used to use 15 mg of Adderrall on weekdays and 10 on the weekends to attempt to help with weight issues, but it didnt really help.my son has been taking 5 mg for about 2-3 weeks now of Adderall XR. this a.m. my mom mixed in 5 mg into the applesauce (something I never do). I saw the spoon of applesauce and put 10 mg on it ( the most he has ever taken) as I wanted to put him back up to 10 mg. he took it and then I found out he actaully had the 10 mg (change from 5 mg ) and the 5 mg my mom mixed in so he was given 15 mg.
I called the school to let them know basically he had 3 times what he is used to right and to let me know if they see anything wrong.
no call yet. Do you think all that will happen is a sleepliness or robot type behavior? nothing major will happen right?
He will probably be fine, but watch for some serious rebound.
You should not be putting him up in disage without the Psych knowing and approving it.
edbson39402.636712963