My 8 year old son has been on Focalin XR since he was 6.5. I just mentioned my son's (sometimes) rapid blinking on Focalin XR 10mg to his neuro. I didn't think it was a big deal, since it's not frequent, but the doc seems to think it's a big deal. So, he immediately put him on Concerta 18 mg and it did nothing for him, so he bumped it to 36 mg the next day and it worked for attention/behavior, but gave my son a horrible stomach ache each day he took it. So, I stopped the Concerta and they told me to put him back on the Focalin XR and I said, "well, what about the blinking?"
They called back today and said I could either leave him on the Focalin XR and hope that he doesn't start the blinking again, but that I would have to call them if I saw the tic again and immediately discontinue the med. They said his only other options now are non-stimulant Strattera or Intuiv. I'm really nervous about those because a) I'm afraid they won't work well with his lack of being able to focus/inattentiveness and b) I'm really concerned about the 4-6 weeks to see if they are going to work. School starts in 2 weeks and I really can't send him un-medicated. He can hardly finish reading a page and his writing is illegible when he's not on his meds--on the meds, he was a 1st grader operating on a 5th grade level.
So, is this true that if he has a tic on Focalin XR that he will have a
tic on all stimulants, so stimulants are now out for him? I'm not
really buying that idea based on the experiences I've read from others.
Please send any info and advice my way!
I've been reading a lot on this board about kids taking Focalin w/ Intuiv or Strattera, so maybe that's an option? I don't know; the nurse made no mention of that option for my son.
Thanks!
My daughter has had issues with tics off and on on a variety of stimulants. She been tics free for maybe the past 6+ months (maybe longer - can't remember for sure). She is currently on Concerta and Tenex. The tenex did help reduce the tics - though not make them totally go away - and just generally smooth things out in the evenings. The combo has been great for her. We tried Focalin XR for a brief time and she hated it. We also use Ritalin LA from time to time and don't notice any difference between it and the concerta in regards to tics.My daughter has tics realted to the stimulants. Some are really severe. I had to take her off of them. We then tried Tenex - before the long lasting was released - over time it made her so irrational and close to violent. I have had to go to natural help. It is really hard to navigate and I still don't know if I am doing the right thing. But, she is a much happier kids and sweet again.
I know that this is an unusual reaction, but something that you should watch for. It built up over time the longer she was on the meds. I was trying to figure out how I could possibly live with this child until she was 18. (She was only 7!) Now her grades aren't quite as good, but we are happy.
Good Luck!
They asked me to start him on 5 mg Focalin + Intuiv (don't know the dosage yet). Doc is still concerned about him developing the blinking again, but I told them I'm terrified to send him to school w/o the Focalin. I'm hoping this works great for him. Fingers crossed! Hopefully any sleepiness will pass before school starts, as well--he has 11 days until the first full day of school. I will keep updating.
Well, I am not sure how Tenex would have helped DD since she has only been on Intuniv, but it meds affect each of them differently. I did not see any improvement in hyperactivity or focus when my son was on Intuniv. It just didn't work for him. He is a rapid metabolizer, so extended release meds in general don't work well for him. I think Tenex works for him because it is short acting. I don't know why it works, but I am glad it does:)
I would ask your doctor about adding it and see what he says. My kids see a psychiatrist for their meds and he started my DS on Tenex for the tics. I was very reluctant to add a med for a side-effect, but it was worth it. The calming was a bonus.
Please post after you talk to your doctor, I would be curious as to what his objections might be. Good luck!
[/QUOTE]My son developed tics on stimulants. They develop, last for awhile, seem to settle, then he gets a new one. He was on the Daytrana patch for 2yrs and his most obvious tics were eye rolling, sniffing, and a head tic. He started Tenex and it really has helped, his tics are barely noticable anymore. He is now on generic Ritalin instead of the patch, and seems to be developing another nose tic, but again, on tenex it is not very noticable.
In our experience, he gets tics on all stimulants. But, it hasn't meant he can't take them. We did try Intuniv, but it did little for his hyperactivity, and made him very defient/aggressive/dark.
Hi Heather,My son developed tics on stimulants. They develop, last for awhile, seem to settle, then he gets a new one. He was on the Daytrana patch for 2yrs and his most obvious tics were eye rolling, sniffing, and a head tic. He started Tenex and it really has helped, his tics are barely noticable anymore. He is now on generic Ritalin instead of the patch, and seems to be developing another nose tic, but again, on tenex it is not very noticable.
In our experience, he gets tics on all stimulants. But, it hasn't meant he can't take them. We did try Intuniv, but it did little for his hyperactivity, and made him very defient/aggressive/dark.
[/QUOTE]Tenex is a blood pressure med, but it does help with my son's tics and hyperactivity. I would say that it helps more with hyperactivity than inattentiveness. It just seems to "level" him out a bit. My daughter has never been on Tenex because she can not take stims, but she takes 4mg of Intuniv(extended release Tenex) to help with her inattentive ADD. Like I said previously, Intuniv does not work well for DS.
Hope this helps a little bit! I know it SO hard to get things figured out. I am crossing my fingers that the med combo works for school, we will find out on Friday.
Heather
All very good to know. Do you know if MDs ever prescribe Intuniv w/ stims? I'm just wondering how I suggest to the MD that we try DS on Tenex + his Focalin XR without seeming like a pushy-know-it-all parent?! I'm just thinking it could prevent the tics, which he's had on occasion and, since it builds up in the system, it could help his hyperactivity when the Focalin wears off. Gosh, it's rough when it wears off. Fortunately, he's been great during school hrs. on the Focalin, which is why I would like to keep that the same.Tenex is a blood pressure med, but it does help with my son's tics and hyperactivity. I would say that it helps more with hyperactivity than inattentiveness. It just seems to "level" him out a bit. My daughter has never been on Tenex because she can not take stims, but she takes 4mg of Intuniv(extended release Tenex) to help with her inattentive ADD. Like I said previously, Intuniv does not work well for DS.
Hope this helps a little bit! I know it SO hard to get things figured out. I am crossing my fingers that the med combo works for school, we will find out on Friday.
Heather
[/QUOTE]My kids have both tried Intuniv with stims. My DS took Intuniv while on Daytrana, and my DD tried to take Concerta with Intuniv. Her issue is that she has OCD which is worse on stims, so she had to stop the Concerta.
DD(15) says that Intuniv does help her focus, not as well as the stims, but still an improvement. She would rather take it than not take it. I think it's much better for inattentiveness than hyperactivity.
I give DS a Tenex in the morning, and then as soon as he gets home from school. Since he is off stims at that time it really does help the evening go smoother.
Thanks for the well wishes, I am so nervous about him taking his med at school!
Heather:)
So your children have found that Intuiv is better for inattentiveness and Tenex is better for hyperactivity? I thought they were essentially the same thing, except Intuiv is long-acting.My kids have both tried Intuniv with stims. My DS took Intuniv while on Daytrana, and my DD tried to take Concerta with Intuniv. Her issue is that she has OCD which is worse on stims, so she had to stop the Concerta.
DD(15) says that Intuniv does help her focus, not as well as the stims, but still an improvement. She would rather take it than not take it. I think it's much better for inattentiveness than hyperactivity.
I give DS a Tenex in the morning, and then as soon as he gets home from school. Since he is off stims at that time it really does help the evening go smoother.
Thanks for the well wishes, I am so nervous about him taking his med at school!
Heather:)
[/QUOTE]Well, I am not sure how Tenex would have helped DD since she has only been on Intuniv, but it meds affect each of them differently. I did not see any improvement in hyperactivity or focus when my son was on Intuniv. It just didn't work for him. He is a rapid metabolizer, so extended release meds in general don't work well for him. I think Tenex works for him because it is short acting. I don't know why it works, but I am glad it does:)
I would ask your doctor about adding it and see what he says. My kids see a psychiatrist for their meds and he started my DS on Tenex for the tics. I was very reluctant to add a med for a side-effect, but it was worth it. The calming was a bonus.
Please post after you talk to your doctor, I would be curious as to what his objections might be. Good luck!