Vivaynse | ADHD Information

My son just started the medication Vivaynse about two weeks ago.  He started on 20 mgs and is now up to 40 mgs with another 20 in the evening if we feel he needs it.  I'm told by his teacher that he is performing and is not disruptive in class. 

Frankly our biggest issue with the drug/ADHD/etc. are the mood swings and irritability.  Has anyone tried anything in combination with their ADHD medication to lesson these symptoms?

We're about to start occupational therapy so maybe that will help some, but in the interim we need some kind of help.

I guess by mood swings I'm talking fine one minute, royally annoyed the next and then back to happy go lucky mood.  We have a history of bipolar on his father's side so that' is definitely a possibility compounding everything else. 

We're on drug 3 and he's on 7...I'm scared for his future if we don't find some solution soon.  He's sleeps fine on the vivaynse remarkably...

I guess we just have to wait and see.

What kind of doctor does he have? There are medicine specialists who won't
just go from drug to drug, but will be able to find combinations that work
for your son. I definitely wouldn't settle for this one. Sounds like you've got
to take this up a notch.

I'm sorry this is such a struggle. It's so worth it when everything clicks into
place. Keep searching. :)Just thought of another thing - what are you doing beside medicating him?

My son is in therapy, he gets "friendship training" at school, and we use the
methods in The Explosive Child to teach him how to interact and deal with
his impulsivity and anger. When kids are really young they're supposed to
learn social cues, but ADHD kids are too busy dealing with they're buzzing
brains to pick it up. So they need to be taught it. Is OT going to do that for
him?My son is on Vyvanse 50mg daily and he is very irritable
when it wears off but it wears off about 1 hour before bed
so we will take it!!!I'm wondering what you mean by mood swings?

When a drug wears off there is a period of transition when some kids
actually are worse than before they are medicated. It just lasts a short
while, and the easiest thing to do is plan for it and not try to put demands
on your child during that time.

However, if what you're describing is happening throughout the day, that
your child can't control his emotions or is more sensitive during the day,
that's another thing entirely. When my son started medication we made a
deal - if it changed his personality, I would stop the drug. And the first
one we tried did make him much more angry. So we stopped it.

You know your child. There are multiple drugs out there. If his
personality is changing radically, tell the doctor about it and change his
meds.

And one last thing - how's he sleeping? My son takes Vyvanse in the
morning and it affects his sleep. I can't imaging giving him more at night
- he would never sleep! Your son could be irritable because he's
exhausted. If so, clear it with his doctor, but try using melatonin to help
him sleep at night and see if it helps.

Good luck!