RITALIN LA | ADHD Information

MY 7YO SON WAS DIAGNOSED IN KINDERGARTEN, HE IS IN 2ND GRADE NOW.  WE ARE SWITCHING HIS MEDS TO RITALIN LA 20MG.  HE WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL ON DAYTRANA FOR CLOSE TO TWO YEARS AND HE HAS BEEN ON FOCALIN FOR ALMOST A YEAR, EVENTUALLY THEY STOP WORKING......DOES ANYYONE HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT RITALIN 20MG???We really liked Ritalin LA, the only thing was it dint last the whole 10 hours so we needed an afternoon booster, but for my daughter it was very smooth. She also took 20mgjoejoesmom we gave it at the same time as breakfast. Who told you not with food the pharmacist?I read that kids can't eat for 30 or 45 minutes after taking Ritalin LA.  Is this true our doctor just switched us from Concerta and that can be taken with food.  I was going to fill the presrciption tomorrow but I'm thinking my son will not get up an extra 30 or 45 minutes to take this med.  He eats as soon as he gets up it only takes him a few minutes to get dressed so we rush off and that's it.  Anyone have experience with taking this with food.  Also if my son takes the meds before eating he won't be hungry for his breakfast.

I actually read on the internet on a website that lists all the meds that it should be taken 30 - 45 minutes before having breakfast.  I asked the pharmacy and they told me that he could take it with his breakfast if necessary.  Today he had his first pill of 10 mg and he ate some food with it not much.  He did complain later that his tummy hurt but he ate a cheese sandwich for lunch and then quite a bit of food for dinner and then asked for some more dinner after I had cleared everything up.  I was shocked he has barely been eating on Concerta so that is a big improvement.  Now I can tell though that the 10 is not going to do the trick he was really silly and wild today.  But it's O.K. while he's at home the doctor said we have to do the 10 for this whole week and then move him up to 20.  He feell asleep by 9:00 which is so much better than 1:00 a.m. so I'm pretty happy tonight and hopeful that it won't all go down hill when we increase to 20.  If it does I guess 10 will have to do.  As I told our doctor some relief is better than none.  I just hope his grades don't go back down he's doing so well lately.

My daughter used 20 and that's till a fairly low dose, we would've increased it, but she's the side effect queen and we couldn't. Keep usmposted.

I agree some silliness beats no eating or sleeping.

Both my kids did well with Ritalin LA but it just did not last long enough. Now, both are on Vyvanse and it is been the best although not perfect. Well, for my daughter who is 9 it has been great. For my son who is 11 it has been the best but we still see some problems but probably always will because of other issues. I was surprised my kids did so well on Vyvanse because both did horrible on Adderall. And, both did horrible on Concerta. When I say horrible it was the rebound issues. Just expect needing a booster in the afternoon with Ritalin LA.

Hey there!

We just picked up the Ritalin LA from the pharmacy for our son tonight. (10mg) and I actually sat and read the whole insert.  (I'm weird like that, I read almost everything I can get my hands on, esp if it relates to the kiddos!)

I couldn't find anything in there about food, either way.  I think it's probably fine to have ds take it with his b'fast, but of course, the pharmacist would know better than me! :)

good luck!
My son has now been on the Ritalin LA for a week and two days.  The first week was the 10 mg and he was O.K. still pretty wild I could tell he needed more but he was at least not getting in trouble at school.   But he could not pass his fast math that he usually does pass.  He was able to eat and go to sleep at the correct time so no problems there.  On Sunday we increased him to 20 mg and he did not eat a thing all day until around 8:00 p.m.  He was pretty quiet all day.  Then yesterday at school when I picked him up he was so wild like crazy talking so fast and running all crazy and running into other kids laughing and bugging the kids.  His best friend told me he was teasing him all day calling him silly names.  He could not fall asleep until 10:30 last night and was just all crazy silly in bed very hard to quiet him down.  So I asked his teacher this morning about yesterday and she said he was pretty wild all day and got into trouble in art class and also he had to change his pin for acting up in class.  Now I'm not sure if I should give it a few more days or phone the doctor.  I know we can go back to 10 or we have some 5 mg of the quick release maybe I will have to drop him down to that.  I'm finding it weird that the meds made him more hyper.  Anyone notice this happen when you first increase?Actually, it is best if the kids eat a good half hour before taking adhd meds.  The meds can flatten their appetite.  Bext to eat breakfast and then take the meds.  45 min after taking the meds, they have already begun to kick in. That's stange because with the Ritalin LA it said to take that 30 - 45 minutes
prior to eating but we have been taking it at the same time as breakfast.
Who can get their ADHD kid up 30 - 45 minutes prior to breakfast to take a
pill. Not me my kid is such a sleepy head. But he loses his appetite for
most of the day. Now today after school he has asked for ice cream and I
am deligted to indulge him.