< =text/>_popupControl(); Well, when we started our med journey, we were told that you have to give each dosage about a week to see how it does. A few days just won't cut it. We increased dosage by 5mg increments. A too-low dosage won't do anything, and as you approach the correct dosage you may see negative side-effects, like rebound (afternoon crying, anger, etc.). For example, 5mgs might not show any change in your child. Changing to 10mgs may produce a child that is somewhat more focussed but who cries at the drop of a hat or gets angry in the afternoon. Upping to 15mgs might cause that rebound to totally disappear (as time might also do) and your child may be focussed and attentive all day. It's the sticking with it that is so hard, because we all worry that we are doing the wrong thing.
Take your time and realize that there probably won't be an ultimate destination for you on the medication path. Every growth spurt and year could bring changes. We just have to be calm and go with the flow. Also, I'm concerned that your prescribing doc sounds too lax about controlling the med situation. Are you seeing a regular ped or a psych? If you are seeing a pediatrician, it might be time to see a psych who specializes in ADHD in children. We are talking about some very powerful drugs here.
We had been seeing a pediatritian who was overseeing my DS' meds. Yesterday, we started seeing a regular Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist who changed his meds to the Adderal and Risperdal. Sofar, the psychiatrist said that we would have my ds on the meds for a week, and I was to call and tell him how my son was doing, and we would go from there. He put him back down to low dosages because he said that the other doctor had him on quite high ones. So we would start again.. low, and work our way up. I know they're powerful medications, which is why I'm so worried about his health in relation to them and their constant changes. Thanks.My 6 year old DS was diagnosed almost exactly a year ago, and we've been on a med rollercoaster ever since (or so it seems). He started out with regular old methyphenidate and for the first month we (on our doctor's guidance) experamented with different doses of that. Then we went to Concerta.. and for about 9 months, experamented with different doses of that starting at 9mg and ending with 54mg. 2 months ago, we were switched to Biphentin and started at 30mg of that.