Bad week! | ADHD Information

My 4-year-old son has been doing well for almost 6 months on his meds. He takes Dexadrine at 8 and at noon, then Risperdahl at night. A few weeks ago, I thought the Risperdahl was the answer to my prayers - he had lost some of the impulsive, explosive behavior and was almost a regular kid.

This week, though, things have been very bad. We're back to screaming, meltdown tantrums when he doesn't feel like doing something. After tantrum, he's reclusive and quiet. He's also peeing in his pants A LOT lately and knows perfectly well how to use the bathroom. He's not sleeping well, and he's sometimes napping during the day, which he hasn't done in almost a year. The other night, for apparently no reason, he threw his dinner on the floor in a restaurant. It wasn't even a tantrum... but he looked at me the entire time he was doing it.

The thing that worries me most is that he's lost his smile. He's not the funny, goofy, crazy Madman anymore. He's just sort of zombie like.

Do you think this is a med issue? Is there a full moon? I don't know what changed this week, but he went from great to REALLY OFF.

I've already e-mailed his psychiatrist to see what he suggests, but thought I'd see what the wise parents here had to offer.

Hi what dose of risperdal is your son on? lethy proud mom39583.7615972222

He takes .25mg (1/2 tablet) of the Risperdal once a day at bedtime.

Dr. called tonight and said we'll discontinue the Dexadrine through Monday and see if that makes any difference... I am NOT looking forward to having an unmedicated child all weekend! (I did suggest that maybe the doctor wants to take him to "observe" all weekend, but he didn't go for that one!)