My DS (12 yo with ADHHHD) has been taking 36mg of Concerta with great results for a number of years. Since reading posts on this board I am wondering if some things I have been noticing with my son could be caused by the Concerta. As I look back over the years I realize that starting last year he started becoming more sensative about things. It wasn't a big deal last year and I thought it was just his age. THis year it has become much worse. He comes home from school very upset most everyday and gets upset at soccer practice because of what he sees as people being mean to him. Definitely we have some valid issues with his teacher being a real B#*@$ to him (we recently moved and so he is in a new school) and kids being mean but I'm sometimes I wonder if he is just over sensitive or is suddenly reading some things wrong. He went through a stage over the summer where he felt I was favoring his brother over him (which was not the case) An example is I would call them for dinner and because he didn't hear me he thought I didn't call him and so was being mean to him. It is really hard to put into words. It has only been recently that I began wondering if the Concerta is causing this over sensitivity. I thought it was just his age.
Thanks for your input.
This can be hard to sort out. Anxiety can be made worse by the concerta or because he is not getting full effectiveness from the med or it could be mild rebound. Is this happening all day or when the concerta is expected to be wearing off or when there is no med in his system?
If it is when the med is wearing off, it can be that he is having difficulty with the transition from medicated to no med in the system.
If it is when the med is in his system, he may have anxiety due to the med.
If he has it when the med is out of his system then he may have anxiety from dealing with ADHD. My youngest has increased anxiety when her ADHD meds are not optimal for her needs.
If it is there all the time, he may be going through a stressfull time which causes the brain to be less efficient and the meds to not be as effective at controlling symptoms. A lousy teacher can really add to anxiety. My youngest has anxiety with bad teachers.
It can be alot to sort out so you might keep a diary of time of med administration and symptoms (good and bad).
I agree with Vickie! I notice different things when I change the dosage on meds or the meds themselves.
Possibly he may need to try another med all together? I know once they hit puberty...you basically have to start over with figuring out what meds are best for them.
The diary is a great tool to take to the doctor with you when you go back.
Good luck and keep doing a great job with him!
Thanks. I'll have to start writing things down. The anxiety seems to occur at all times. He comes home and tells me all the horrible things that have happened during the day (he writes them down in his agenda). When he gets home he tends to be very emotional so I think this is the result of his meds wearing off.
Thanks again!