How many meds? | ADHD Information

We've used 9. That has been over 5 years. We're now using Strattera AND methylin ER togetherI knew it would take some "playing around" to find the right med, but after three and not a whole lot of success, I was starting to wonder if we were going to run out of meds! I'm new to all this, but it makes me feel better knowing this is fairly normal.

Oh yeah it's very normal to have to change meds.  Unfortunately not every medicine works the same on every child since all of their brains work differently and they have different body chemistry (at least that's what the doctors tell me).  We are on our 4th.  Concerta has worked wonders for our daughter for 4 years but they may be switching her to something new because she has just recently started having "auditory hallucinations".

Just hang in there and keep with it.  It will just take time and patience.  Good luck.

My son was diagnosed this past October.  He started with Daytrana and had very bad wear-off effects, tried Straterra which didn't help, and is now on Vyvanse (3 weeks so far) with excellent results (and us keeping our fingers crossed). 

So, in the 8 months we have dealt with this, we are on our third med.

I just wondered how many meds ya'll went through before you found the right one. My son was diagnosed at the end of January and we've already been through 3. Concerta made his chest hurt, Focalin XR didn't seem to do much of anything and now we are on Vyvanse. It seems to help some with his concentration, but he still talks incessantly and is pretty hyper. He has also started "seeing things" at night. I am having a hard time deciding if this is just a ploy to get to sleep with his brother or if he actually *is* seeing things. I know that one of the side effects of Vyvanse is hallucinations, but it seems odd that it only happens at night. Even though it's frustrating, I'd be inclined to believe him until "proven guilty."  About the seeing things at night, that is.  I've taken meds for ADD myself and have had some strange "things" occur to me at night...almost like an image that pops into my head very suddenly.  One was extremely freakish (a white-faced clown with black pointy teeth and red eyes...shudder), and that's when I decided it might be the medication wearing off.  Kids sometimes don't know how to explain things... I know  my daughter sometimes needs my help to clarify things.  Make sure he's able to explain things to you well by asking him questions in different ways with different words.

I've tried three meds, none of which have been perfect...one (Daytrana) has had a lot of positives with some significant negatives.  Currently I'm unmedicated.

Drug stability is a transient state for any adolecent.  As they gain weight, sexually mature and obtain emotional stability, their need for meds constantly change.  If you have a stable period of 3 months or more then savior it and enjoy.  But don't be disapointed if all of a sudden focus begins to wane and emotional stability fluctuates.   It's normal and requires constant tweaks to keep things stable.  Eventually when you reached the weight limit of the med your using it maybe time to move on to something new.  I think all ADHD parents should take up part time jobs as pharmacologists with the knowledge and experience we gleam from our kids.  Good luck.

Paul

My son is tall for his age, but he's also skinny. He's 7 and only weighs about 45 lbs. The doctor watches his weight very carefully, he lost a pound last time he went and she was concerned. I have gathered from reading the posts that loss of appetite is a big side effect with ADHD meds, but so far he eats like a horse. I don't know where it all goes, but there's no problem with his appetite. Anyway, she is nervous about putting him on too high of a dosage of something because of his weight, but so far we haven't had any luck with 10 mgs of Focalin XR (she didn't want to go to 15 at his weight) and now 30 mgs of Vyvanse doesn't seem to be doing much good either.