Will goes thru this all the time, unfortunately. I wish I had an answer for you, and for me too.
Right now, we are on Vyvanse. It was perfect in the beginning but now, terrible..
Ugh.
At least I know that there are others. Let me know if you find out anything and I will do the same. This is common. Our kids all have different metabolisms and brain chemistries. Add into the mix growth and puberty, etc., it is not unusual to increase doses over time. Trying to find the correct med/dose and or med combination (if you are dealing with comorbid conditions) is a roller coaster........it took us years....not weeks or months.I believe my dd has a high tolerance to medications. She was on 27mg Concerta before she started Vyvanse last July. The Vyvanse was awesome at first, and then it was terrible, like someone else mentioned. She is back on Concerta 36mg right now and is doing pretty good. I am afraid in the next couple of months she'll tap out and need an increase. She's also on a med at night to help her sleep, which has been working good as well (knock on wood).
I agree with everything Okiemom had to say. It is a rollercoaster all the time and every day is a struggle. Finding a dr. who knows what they are doing w/ the meds is important.
Thanks, guys. It is comforting to know that others have experienced this.I was just curious... maybe someone here may know. Can you take a stimulant and Straterra at the same time or is it just one or the other?
yes we went from a stimulant (actually every one out there) to Strattera. Appetite is terrific, sleep is terrific. Not perfect for symptoms. We just tried adding Progivil (acts like a stimulant), we hate it only day 3. We are using it in conjunction with the Strattera, but I am going to go back to straight Strattera. It is the best she has been on everyhting we've tried. The stimulants are just too much for her, even this Provigil, we thought it'd be less side effects, it's not. You arent going to see the same calmness you see with a stimulant, but for us her mood is even, no anxiety. First day on stimulants (and on the Provigil) instantly tics, picking.....etc., etc...Yes, we have seen an increase in tics also, but were expecting that. Doesn't make me any happier about them, though. At this point her behavior at school is beginning to slide downhill and her appetite (or rather lack thereof) is really concerning me. It seems the attitude I'm getting, though, is the whole"that's just how it is, loss of appetite is just something you have to deal with" and no move has been made to try something different. We have an appointment next week, and I am really going to push for something else.You won't see the appetite suppression with Strattera. BUT remember it's not a stimulant and works differently. It also takes a long time to take effect. You start low (like 10mg) and very slowly ramp up to a target dose (depending on weight). It then takes about 6 weeks for optimum results. That doesnt mean you wont see results sooner though. We saw results (from no meds) within a couple of weeks. It peaked then slowed back some. Which is sort of why we're still "tweaking" with meds, but I keep settling back at the same place. For us it's the high end of her weight dose split twice a day. The best for us is no tics, no anxiety and she eats, it is helping with her symptoms and school is great this year, so I am going to have to help her get by on the days "she feels rushing thoughts" (her words).My boys are taking Vyvanse and that has worked as well as anything yet. The doctor prescribed Periactin for it's side effect of appetite stimulant and that has helped them to not lose weight.We started on the meds about 4years ago. It took my son almost 6 months to finally level off at the right dose on the right med. We quickly eliminated adderall xr, then just kept upping the concerta.
Once he reached HIS level, he stayed there for 3 years. But i'll tell you it is worth it. HE will be 11 the end of June and every morning until the meds take effect, it is as if he is 6 going on 7. But when they kick in and pretty much until the next morning, he is so awesome.
He is right now going through a hard time of not being able to eat due to the meds until late afternoon/pm. He hates not eating lunch in school, even some of the school lunches!! Poor kid!
This easter, my husband and I are not going to medicate him so he can enjoy the easter brunch we are going to. Fingers crossed we all survive the brunch!!
One more thing, my son became skinny with the meds, but within a year, it all went away. His body adjusted, he was growing, gaining weight, etc.
when he gets to eating, he makes up for all the lost time during the day, and calories. We do keep an "eye" on it, making sure it doesn't become a gaining "too much" weight issue, just in case.
But we did almost take the med to give him an appetite, it is still in the cabinet, but I wanted to let things occur, including sleep issues as well
both worked themselves out, no sleep issues, and he is NOT too skinny!! Very healthy young boy.
I am also in the middle of having to have my daughter's meds adjusted...she is on 20 mg of Metadate a day and seemed to be doing well until about 2 weeks ago...she is 6 and has regressed as far as toilet training goes and is having insomnia, only sleeping about 4 hrs a night, also increased anxiety. I was told by another parent to ask our doctor about Strattera...has anyone had experience goin from a CNS stimulant to a non-CNS stimulant? Her appetite is nonexistant, she has lost down to about 35 lbs. I was told that appetite loss is not an issue with Strattera, but that it either works really well or not at all. Thoughts?We are currently going through the not eating lunch issue w/ dd. I get the feeling she's embarased to be not eating at lunch time. she comes home from after care and has a small snack then eats about three adult size plate of food for dinner. she also eat heavily in a.m. before meds kick in. She's growing steadily according to ped. at last med check. Eating too much won't be an issue though for now, she's quite active with sports.diane v, my son found strattera to be VERY appetite suppressing.......
Well, it's been almost a year for me. The meds really haven't been working for a while...and I haven't been here in a while because I never think to come anymore. In fact, true to my condition, the novelty of the ADHD thing kind of wore off, probably when the meds started not to work, and I never really did anything about it. I think, primarily, that I am never going to be helped by meds, because the whole condition (novelty wearing off, not following through, starting things and not finishing, etc.) has become who I am. In some respects, I don't think it's a bad thing. I may think differently when, in a few months, I am back to where I was a year ago and it's all falling apart :o) I need to pursue this with the doc, but never seem to because I don't like to push and usually forget anyway. I've been meaning to ask him for a note to get me out of jury duty for almost a year (I can't work out the logistics with the kids and work, and I can't sit on a jury), and haven't. I haven't dealt with the fact that both kids are ADD/ADHD because it seems so involved (I know that's bad). My tax guy is waiting for a piece of info from me that should take a minute for me to get and the clock's ticking. My mom passed away a month ago (which threw everything off and the doc said it was understandable, all through the time she was sick, that I was distracted) and I still need to send five thank yous. I see him tomorrow and maybe I'll try to discuss it but it's usually easier to get in and out and I don't know if he understands just how ingrained this is in me. I'm on 72 mg Concerta, and Wellbutrin (can't remember the dose and I keep forgetting to get it filled) and stopped the Ritalin boosters long ago because they didn't work but made me feel jumpy when they wore off. I am always tired, but I've always been, so I guess I accept that, too.