That too was my concern when my kids (at different times) started on Concerta.
My son has been on meds for over 3 years now (started when he was 8) and he is 11 now. He was thin and grew very slowly for those years but just in the last few months his appetite has increased dramatically. In one month he gained 5 pounds and I see a cute little belly on him now. - he is on Focalin now - which is another form of Ritalin same as Concerta is a form Ritalin.
My daughter (9) also lost weight and stuggles with the eating until way after dinner time (when the meds wear off). But I know in a year or so it will change.
I allow them to eat as much as they can at dinner and what is left over they can leave to eat later (which for some reason is about 30 minutes later). Then an hour before bed they have a night time snack - Carnation Drink, cheese, mostly protein items and they scarf it down.
My kids see a therapist and the therapist has a son (now in college) who is ADHD and on meds - I saw him a year ago and he must have been 6'3".
I am not concerned about the height issues much anymore -but it is a normal reaction to having ADHD kids on meds in the early years.
fyi - I took my son off Tenex ( he was on the smallest dosage possible) over the summer - I read about the depression it causes and decided to try something - He was happier off the Tenex. I know many perscribe it in addition to a stimulant med for appetite help, calmness and help with sleep.
For my son - it was not a good choice to be on it. It took a few days to adjust since that one builds up in the system and is a BP medication. But I say after a week my son was smiling more and less quick to get angry. It was a huge transformation.
Now we did change him from Concerta 54mg to 72mg a couple months later but then changed altogether to Focalin 30mg with a afternoon boost of Focalin 5mg for homework help (Focalin isn't as long lasting as Concerta). And it has made a world of difference!!! His teachers say he is less fidgety and more willing to do something he dreaded doing before.
My dd is on Focalin and lost several pounds. The dr gave us an antihistime that in low doses increases appetite. That has helped her gain some weight.One more thing I forgot to mention, my son has also been on guanfacine (tenex) since the begining of meds. This med helps relax him and I think helps him eat. He is on 1 mg each day. I have the option to add a 2nd dose in the afternoon/pm but never do.
I hope this is of some help!
BETHANN40547.5073263889My 9 yr. old son has been on Ritalin for about a year now. He is doing so well this year in school , as opposed to last year when we were diagnosed with ADHD. My concern is his growth. We go to our pediatrician every 3-4months for a med. check, and we recently went before christmas and got the news he has dropped on his growth curve in weight and height. The pediatrician encouraged us to try to get our son to eat more and take a boost beverage once a day also inhopes of getting him to gain some weight. We have to return in March for a re-eval and if my son hasn't gained weight then the doctor said he would have to come off the Ritalin. I have read many articles online regarding stunted growth on Ritalin and I'm very concerned. I hate to see him off the Ritalin and start having problems at school and home again. But I want to do what's best for his health as well. Has anyone experienced this with their ADHD child and do you have any advice. I am very concerned and would appreciate any input. ThanksMy son was on concerta for over a year and was wearing slims. After several years, he grew like a weed, both weight and height. He is now 13 1/2 been on concerta since he was turning 7, and is 5ft 8inch and 155lbs. His dosR is not low by any means. He grew 4 inches and lost 1 lb september -december - his psychopharm did the measuring/weighing.
Hang in there, if this is the med for your son, as it is for mine, stick with it, the good outweighed the bad for us. His body will adjust and catch up.
hang in there.