robin21, even though Ritalin and Metadate both are methylphenidate medications, your daughter might respond differently to them. It's very common, actually. My child did not tolerate Focalin XR well (that's another methylphenidate medication). However, he's done great on Metadate CD.
Unfortunately, sometimes you have to go through a lot of trial and error to find the right medication, but it's fabulous when you hit on the right thing and have the ADHD under control.
I was informed that Medidate is just another form of Ritalin. Maybe you should experiment (and I use that term loosely since that is what I had to do with my daughter). My daughter was first put on Adderal which she had major side effects to, which at that point, her therapist suggested trying concerta. Again major side effects. I considered Medidate until her Dr informed me it was a form of Ritalin. That is when he said he had one other medicine that was new to him at the time but if I wanted we could try it and since it was a non stimulant I was all for it. I hated to put her on meds but it was needed and after alittle "experimenting" we found the perfect one for her.We had to try several different medicines and many different dose combinations before we finally got it right. It took a few months. My son started on Adderall and it did wonders for his hyperactivity and impulsivenes but he had horrible rebound. We switched to the long acting Adderall XR and it was better but he was way too emotional. We switched to Ritalin and he did much better but was still too emotional and aggitated.
We've finally settled on Ritalin along with guanfacine (generic Tenex) and it's been working wonderfully. Don't lose faith-there are SO many different options and combinations. There will be one that works for you. It just may takes some time to find it. Hang in there...It WILL get better!
Good Luck!
spookey how has your son been on the concerta?
My neice is on concerta and so is a friend of mines son and both have done very well on it. My neice was once on adderall (same effects as my son too) and then metadate (same effects too) and finally went on concerta 18 mg and it's been a huge diff. Dont know if reactions to drugs could be genetically similar, but it makes you wonder.
My son has been on concerta for 5 years. he couldn't handle strattera, nor adderall xr BUT concerta has been real smooth, along with his guanfacine. I hope they find the one that works for them!! When you find it, life is very different, for the better.
Much success to all!!
Well we did it, we finally started our son on meds. We first tried adderall xr but it was a horrible decision. He had horrible side effects from that. So that was stopped immediatly.
After the adderall we waited about 2 weeks and then our neurologist started him on metidate cd. First with 5 mg for the first few days (which we noticed no change) then increasing to 10 mgs. I know that decreased appetite is a commone side effect which was definitly shown with our DS and also insomnia showed as well. He went to bed at 11:15 (about 2 hrs later than he normally goes to bed, but he also had is cousin over to visit and sleep over so I summed it up to that) but then he woke up at 5:54 in the morning! I couldn't believe it. Then giving him his meds he's also shown nausea with no vomiting this time (adderall made him throw up) and he is EXRTREMLY emotional. He's been crying at the drop of a hat. For no apparent reason. Then when the meds wear off, he's super duper emotional. He is definitly less hyper and more "chill" but between the nausea and the constant crying at any moment i dont think i'll be giving him his meds tomorrow. I'm wondering if this extented release stuff is just too much for him. Maybe he needs good old fashioned ritalin or I've heard wonderful things about concerta.
What do you guys think?
We had similar adverse reactions to the XR meds in the beginning too- almost identical.
We started 5-7.5mgs of Ritalin 3x per day and that really made a difference. I could give him 5 or 7.5 in the morning depending on his morning schedule (test days!) and then the school gave him his 5mgs at lunch time and then we could give him 5 or 7.5 afterschool (again depending on the nights schedule and homework load). that worked very well for us for the school year.
For the summer we started him on Concerta because the camp he attends will not dispense the medication and I cannot trust him to do it himself. So far we are only on 18mgs of Concerta primarily because he is outside all day running around and we don't have to worry about the afterschool homework battles. once school starts he will be on a higher dose.
Hope you find the correct medication - keep playing with it, there IS something that will eventually work for him. Keep the faith!
My son is on Vyvanse. There are other drugs out there. But I would