I absolutely agree with the fact that it varies from person to person. As I mentioned before, my daughter while on it did not seem to have the growth delay effect (she had others, but not the growth delay). The only problem is, how do you know if your child is going to be the one who is affected by it or not? My sister also has 3 children, all of which at some point were on ADD medication. Two of them are in college now and one is about to begin 11th grade. The two oldest stopped the medication in high school because they said they did not like they way it made them feel. They have a good height. The youngest (16 yrs) about to begin 11th grade also took himself off the medication in the middle of last school year because he said the medicine was keeping him short. He is tall as my already short 13 year old.
So, to answer the question of has there been someone who has not been affected by the height side effect, I can tell you...yes, my daughter did, and so did my niece and nephew. But my son and youngest nephew weren't as lucky, and he's already well into puberty.
I would like for you to know that it has never been my intention to change anyone's mind, or to talk anyone into stopping the medication for their child. This has simply been MY experience with the medication. I truly wish that I would have been one of the lucky ones who was not affected by them, since it did do its job of getting the kids through school. Homework sessions sessions went from 4 hours to 1 hr, they were less stressed, and got good grades. This in itself was a blessing, but now it seems that for ME, its all come with a very big price tag. Hopefully, there will be more of you that are on the lucky end, and not the unlucky.
Hello! This is also my first time here or in any other forum for that matter, but I came across this site while in search for alternative remedies for the treatment of ADHD. I have two children, my son is 13 and my daughter is 11. They were both independently and at different ages diagnosed with ADD - the inattentive type with no hyperactivity. My son was diagnosed as Gifted/LD (learning disabled) as well as with dysalculia (dyslexia with numbers) toward the end of 2nd grade. Although he's extremely smart, he has a VERY difficult time concentrating, focusing and staying on task.
He began taking Concerta right before he began 3rd grade. Since we live in Florida, 3rd grade is an "FCAT retention year", where if you don't pass this test, you are retained regardless of your grades to-date. Therefore, due to this, we decided to put him on medication (Concerta). At first, there were no other side-effects other than the initial weight loss and lack of appetite, which was easily controlled by giving them dinner at a later time when they were hungry. I was able to keep him on 18 Mg's for three years and then on 27 Mg's dosage for two years, always stopping on weekends, holidays, summers, etc. But this year toward the end of the 2nd nine weeks, HE (my son) began to express his inability to concentrate and focus in school. Within a week I was also receiving emails from the teachers expressing their concern. After speaking to his neurologist and pediatric endocrinologist, he was increased to 54 Mg's just to be able to successfully complete the 7th grade. This is where I think I can provide some of you with at last with some information regarding the side effects that Concerta has had in my children.
After the first year on Concerta I began to notice that he was not changing pant sizes (length) when usually every winter, I would need to buy new uniform pants since the others would be too short. I began to address it with his pediatrician, and he had dropped from the 95th percentile that he had been on, but since he was still above the 50th percentile, it was dismissed as "normal". After the third year of height loss, I finally switched pediatrician and found one that listened and agreed with me. Fast-forward another year, and he is now on the 11th percentile! He is 4'10" tall and weighs 86 lbs. Two years ago I began the long and frustrating process to meet with a pediatric endocrinologist. It took me 9 months to get an a "first-time" appointment, and then there's been a lot of wait time, since we've had to do multiple bone age tests at different times. During our first visit, the pediatric endocrinologist agreed that ALL ADD/ADHD medications slow down the growth rate. Genetic testing was also done to determine if it was in the genes (although dad is 6'4" and I am 5'4") but this was not the case. Next week we finally have an appointment for him to undergo hormone-stimulation testing to see if he can begins HGH therapy/injections. Although all the literature states that it only "slows down" the growth rate and that they will eventually achieve their "targeted" height once they come off the medication, this could not be further from the truth! The endocrinologist has also told us that if he continues to be on the growth pattern that he is now, not only will he NOT reach his "intended" height, but there is also a window in which these HGH treatments can be done before it is too late!
As I mentioned earlier, the only side effects that he was showing were the initial weight loss and lack of appetite, but this was not the case with my daughter. She also began taking Concerta at the beginning of 3rd grade. At first, once again, the initial weight loss and lack of appetite. She had no "growth issues, but then toward the end of 4th grade she began having tics, the neurologist lowered her dosage from 27 Mg's back to the initial dosage of 18 Mg's. A few months later, now in 5th grade, she began having syncopal episodes (fainting) and beginning of seizure activity. Needless to say, she was immediately taken off the medication and can no longer take any type of ADD/ADHD medication, not the stimulant nor non-stimulant type. She completed 5th grade but with great difficulty, which also affects their confidence.
Due to all these medical problems, we've decided to look into a non-pharmaceutical approach to treat ADD. Therefore, if there's anyone out there that has been "successful" in accomplishing this through a homeopathic or natural approach, I would really appreciate any information - no matter how small....
Hi-this is my very first post. Just refilled my son's concerta and Metadate prescriptions and decided to really read the prescribing info. I never noticed one of the side effects was 'slowing of growth". this horrified me cause my son who is now 13 is 5'2" and only 87 lb. I feel he is losing ground as until a couple years ago he was in the 95th percentile for hgt. and according to his Dr. on a course to be at least 6 ft. he has been using concerta (now 54 mg) and ritalin (10mg in the eve.) for 2 years and they seem to help. We jsut added Metadate cause he does theatre and art classes at night so need the extra boost. Now I am re-thinking the whole medication routine. Is there anyone out there with tall boys who have been on regular Concerta therapy for a while? Does anyone else really feel their kids are not growing? Is there evidence this height can be "Made-up"? what is the reason for the growth slowing? i know-lots of questions. thanks for any responses! Hi, my son has been on Concerta and Risperdal for 6-7 years without a break, and honestly, it's been the best combination so far. He saw a new Dr. who suggested he take a "wash out" period for 2 months while not in school. He'll be 13 in two weeks. He feels he needs to be without meds so he can learn to deal with his emotions while going thru puberty, etc. My son tests me so much, but is completely different with his dad, so his dad is thinking the break is good for him, and I am getting stressed thinking about it. He is goofy, hyper, and impulsive when he doesn't take his Concerta. His Dr mentioned that Concerta could cause heart problems long term. I'm totally confused now...the other thing I've seen here is people posting about growth..does it slow growth? HELP!! Any advise would be appreciated.Suzy, it is quite common to take med breaks like this to see how your child has matured and does handle "things" off meds. The summer is a good time for that. Talk to the dooctr and see how "stuck" on the 2 months he is. Maybe if after a month he is struggling a LOT you can go back on?
How has your son been growing for the past 6-7 years?
I too worry about long term side effects. We took our son off of Concerta for the summer and are not even sure we'll put him back on. It depends on how he feels. He's only 8 but is very active in the decision making process. Obviously if I disagreed with him I'd over rule him as the mom but so far so good. My son is better for his dad and step dad than he is for me too. ALWAYS testing. Makes me wonder how much of it is add and how much he can control. Does he just feel more relaxed to be himself with me or does he know he can get away with stuff? Who knows? I wouldn't however let the doctor "scare" you into a decision if you don't feel it's right for you as a family. I say follow your instincts as a mom. Oh...and my son hasn't gained weight or grown on the Concerta but I don't really know if it's that or genetic because he has an uncle who's really small. My son is in a summer program. He just started last week and will go for a month. I think I'll keep him on in the camp, and then in August, I may take him off for a month until he goes back to school. When he was younger, he was way up in the 100% for growth. I'm not sure where he's at now. I'll have to check that out. Thanks for the info!!Diane V: He's off Concerta for the weekend and seems to be doing alot better than he did before. He's kinda goofy, and he has his more hyper moments. I'm trying fish oil, gaba, l-tyrosine to help him. Dr. recommended them. As for growth, this is where I'm real concerned because I see alot of talk about kids not growing. Have the stimulants been known to slow growth? What have you heard? He's 13, approx 5'3" and 130 lbs. He has grown 2 inches from 12/06. Not a whole lot?
Thanks!!
well, my daughter is also 13 and she is about 5'2" and only about 83 pounds. She has always been small to average. Her weight was alwyas on the low side even pre meds. Yes there are lots of studies on growth, most seem to show that kids catch up eventually. I think my daughter is growing fine. Although she is small she lawyas has been in the 50% for height and the 15% for weight and that is where she still is............I think boys do this HUGE growth spurt mid teens and they gros a LOT in a short time, but this is for sure you're call, and you should do what makes you comfortable. If he;s managing off meds ok, go with it. A lot of people take the summer off meds to give the body some time to adjust to no meds and normal appetite. We do not do that, but my daughter doesnt't do well off meds socially and she LOVES to do camp and recreationla acitivities, she ismuch happier when taking her meds so that is what works for her.