Hi, I am new to the board and my 9 year old daughter has been newly diagnosed with ADHD and mild learning disabilities. We are in week 5 of Concerta. The ped thought this was a good cholce to start with. Week one and two she was on 18 mg and there was really no difference. The plan was 2 weeks at 18 mg and then up to 36mg automaticly. He said that the low dose was to let her body adjust slowly. There was really no difference when she was on 18 but now that she is 3 weeks into 36mg the changes are dramatic. She is in grade 3. For the last two years I have gone to school to express my concerns and of course they just blamed my husband and I for not spending enough time doing homework with her etc. It was a nightmare. At home she was explosive, angry all the time, could not stand a hug, impatient. Stomach aches all the time, headaches, peeing in her bed at night not sleeping. Towards the end of the school year last year she sat down at my diningroom table and said "you know what mommy?" "What?" I responded to which she said "I am the stupidest one in my class". Right there and then I knew I had to start playing hardball with school and get to the bottom of this. I went to a phych recommended to me by somebody I trust and had an assessment done privately as school waiting list is up to 2yrs. Writen report was filed at school and they had no choice but to co-operate. They are now bending over backwards to help. Week 5 of Concerta and extra help with the resource teacher and D. is a doll to be around. The stomache aches, headaches, peeing in bed are all gone. What a horrible mess the stress of being "different" was putting on D. Thursday she brought home a math test 47/50. She is walkin on air and so am I. Kids at school are responding better to her and as I keep in touch with her teachers they have noted a big change in her. Her gym teacher walked up to my Tues. Touched my arm and told me "what a gift" I have given my daughter. My house does not feel like a war zone. I was concerned that it would take the beauty out of my daughter and make her a zombie but it is allowing her beauty to shine. I feel that I am just getting to know my very special treasure of a daughter. My understanding is that even if a drug works. It take time to fine tune the dosing. Hang in there and good luck.
Thanks so much to all who answered. She didn't do well on the first try which was Adderal - she seemed to get worse. Then put on the Straterra and did well until the blood/bruising problem. Concerta was the psychiatrist's next choice. God only knows what's to be the next one. Hope we hit on something soon for all or our sakes. Again - good luck to all and thanks for the info.I have twin sons on concerta. They both started on concerta (18mgs.) The teachers and I saw no change in anything. They were upped to 27mgs. With one of the boys we (the teachers & I) noticed a big difference. It was like a miracle had hit our home. The teacher said the same thing. However his twin was the same, no difference. So he was upped to 36mgs. and we are seeing the same things in him that we see with his twin. They are identical twins but on different dosages, so it really is different with every chils...When I took Concerta, I noticed very dramatic results in about an hour, and they lasted about 10 hours. I do not think Concerta has a 'buildup' effect like Straterra, it is daily dose, daily result type medicine, I believe.Does this mean that the Concerta won't do her any good since we have yet to see any real "benefits
What it means is that the dose may have to be adjusted if your not seeing any benefits. Concerta, like other stimulant medications are not blood level medications so they dont have to build up in your system. In fact, they flush out of the system once the dose has worn off. When its the right med and the right dose, effects of stimulant medication should be seen not too long after taking them. This is why when starting medication, the patient is put on a trial of meds because everyone responds differently. Its rare that the right med and dose are found right away so hang in there and give your childs doctor a call. Im sure he will make and adjustment. Good luck
it begins to show whether or not it is working. Nine year old grand-daughter started it last Friday and we have yet to see any positives. Her anger and angry outbursts are showing themselves again. She had previously been on Straterra for about 8 weeks but had to be taken off of it as the doctors felt it was the cause of her heavy bruising and the thinning of her blood. Does this mean that the Concerta won't do her any good since we have yet to see any real "benefits"?