7 yr old on Concerta - DAY 3 | ADHD Information

Dawnie,

My son too is on Concerta. About a month and a half now. He too is 7 years old. He still is having fits of rage as you will see in my earlier post "Am I doing the RIGHT thing?"  My doctor said that he is STILL getting used to the drug. School seems to think it works wonders but, I see no change at home in behavior plus the new bouts of anger added to it. His physician seems to think we need to up the dose again. He went from 18mg to 27mg. But I just hate to see what his temper will be like at that time. I guess we'll just have to see. One thing that bothers me though, is that I keep seeing posts about kids that are 6 and 7 years of age and I'm starting to wonder if it's more about their age then anything. How do we know they are not being misdiagnosed? Only time will tell...

Mamaof2,

I know it makes you wonder "aren't they just being kids" and boys at that.  Society is to quick to pass judgement, especially the schools.  When I spoke to the Dr. he said he had never heard of a child having an angry reaction from Concerta.  It's very scary.  This is day 4 now and he had a great day at school again but seems to be a little more distant.  I hope he doesn't experience anymore angry fits.  I really feel for you that it has been going on for a month and a half.  It does seem like if you increase the dosage you would increase the rage.

Gosh, whoever said being a parent was easy....  I'm sure you feel a lot like I do.  There's always this knot in my stomach; I'm I really doing the right thing?  I'm against drugs but have resorted to them.

I worry about the long term side affects.  Some of the readings I came across said the active ingredients in Concerta are similiar to cocaine and a street drug call dexie which are very addictive.  This scares the you know what out of me.

Please keep in touch on your son's progression.  It's nice to relate to someone with a son the same age as mine on the same med.  If you don't mind me asking, does he get violent when he has his bouts of anger? 

 

My son age 8 is on concerta.  Whenever we change his doasge we see a few days of change.  Very emotional, angry.  We have seen that it tends to gradually go away.  After a week he is usually fine.

Our Dr. said that is pretty normal and actuallu wraned us as we upped his first increase.

 

He hasn't gotten violent yet...knock on wood. He yells at his sister for everything! When he yells, as I said before, he sounds posessed or something. Not like my old child who liked to give hugs to everyone. He also tells her to leave that he wants to be "alone". And he asked me if I could "sell her so we could buy a bigger house". I know that sounds like typical child things but if you knew my son before he was crazy about his sister. I guess it just has to do with changing the chemicals in the brain. I'd love to keep in touch. You can email me whenever you need to talk: babycakes77@sbcglobal.net . Good luck with your son and I hope his irritability subsides with time

Just an update for you all who were kind enough to share your thoughts and experience with me.  See earlier post for previous details "7yr old Irritable with Concerta 1st day"

Day 3 on Concerta - Monday, back to school and he had the best day ever!  Woohoo!  He is still having afternoon stomach aches and had a slight bout of anger at after school care but kept it under control.  Spoke to the Dr. and he said my son's body is getting acclimated to the 'drug'!  Gosh, don't you just hate that word.

Here we teach our kids to ban drugs then we stick them on them.  Couldn't agree with CWheeler more on how society has changed and is so fast paced anymore with very little outside time for the kids.  Anymore, I'm afraid to let my son out of my sight with all the wierdos out there.  When I was a kid I would run all day and come home when the street lights came on.

Anyway, now I'm starting to ramble. 

All please provide any feedback you can on Concerta.  It is very much appreciated. 

I know what you mean about how people don't understand his actions and think he's a brat.  They just don't get it, and then they look at you like you're not doing something right.  Dont' worry about what other people think, hang in there.  I've been so embarrassed too, but I want to raise awareness in my community about the symptoms of the disorder so people will help children, and understand how to manage their behavior.

edhmom

My 8 dd is on Concerta 27s too. She was on the 18s for two and a half weeks and after the first week it seemed to wear off and she became more like she had been before the medication. The first week was a miracle.  I gave her a day off of the medication and it seemed to help reel in the big emotional reactions to things. I took her off it for the weekend and then started her on the 27s on Monday. The first few days were great but by Thursday she was very emotional and Friday was a disaster. She was also exhausted by Friday. I don't know if that was from the meds or from a virus. She took the weekend off and started again on Monday morning. She had a terrible day today when she got home from school. Homework was difficult. Not as bad as it's been before the medication but worse than it had been on it in the beginning. I can definitely see when the medication isn't working any more. She is bouncing around like a top and is a lot more distracted. It's great that it is working for school but school was never really a problem. Homework, dealing with family life, that was the problem. So I need a drug that gives me a good afternoon.

The doctor wants us to do it for an entire month or more before we play with the drug anymore. <Sigh> I guess I just want that first week again.

 

mammaof2 and lydzoejke,

Thank you for your sharing. 

It's day 5 now and things are rough.  He had a pretty good day in school (better than before the meds), but now he's acting very defiant at home in the evenings.  Yesterday and now today, I asked him to sit down and start his homework, he looked at me and flat out said "NO".  He had never done that before the meds.  It was quite often a task to get him to sit down and do his homework but he was never this defiant.  He also, like your son mammaof2, was pretty much always lovable and huggable.  When he gets in this "defiant" mood he spews about how much he hates me and everything else and he doesn't want anyone touching him.   I wonder if if this dosage (18 mg) is not working anymore, after only 5 days???  The Dr did say they quite often up the dosage.  It's just breaking my heart to see him like this.

Before Meds - Ya now what's strange, he could sit down and watch a movie from beginning to end or play legos without moving, but trying to keep him seated in school for 6 hours is impossible.   I don't get it...  Where to you draw the line on is he or isn't he ADHD.

Anyway, I've called a counselor and I'm waiting for a call back to setup an appt.  Maybe this will help...

Have either of you tried any type of counseling with your child???

 

My son can be on the computer playing games for hours and not make a sound. I think that's because they've actually found something that could keep their attention. Most ADHD children are super smart and they get bored easily, but give them something that interests them and they feel challenged by it and they CAN stay focused. I noticed today at work I found myself moving from one thing to the next without finishing the other tasks first...who knows maybe Mom has ADHD  I've never tried counseling because other than the hyperactivity he's never seemed like he needed counseling. I don't believe that he does it for attention, etc. he just has lots of energy. Genetics play the biggest key, I have a nephew who was ADHD and has grown out of it. Just to give some hope, it will be a long haul before these conditions can go away but knowing that they CAN is the point. That's one thing that keeps me going.

You know I was so embaressed last Friday night. My children and I went to the in-laws for dinner. All my Husbands family was there because a relative was in town. Low and behold I forgot to give my son his pill that day! Boy did it show!! He was running around, sliding down the steps, trying to crawl up the doorways and everyone was yelling at him before I could even say anything to him. When I finally did say something to him, he ran and hid under the little card table they had the desserts on and almost knocked it over! Everyone that I really don't know that well from his family were staring at me like, "how could you have such a little brat". Has anyone else felt so helpless and embaressed. I'm not embaressed of my son, I'm embaressed of his actions. People just don't understand unless they are very close to someone with this. I love my son and I'm trying my best to be a good parent and help him along the way.

Hello edhmom,

Well thank you.I am glad to hear your son is responding well to the med.I am sorry to hear about your sons father and grandmother.No offense but I feel some people are ingnorant when it comes to this disability.Being "drugged up" is actually not what this medication does to a person with ADHD as i'm sure you are aware of.I am a nursing student and am just wrapping up my psychiatric rotation.I have had this disability my whole life and never knew it until i was half way through high school.I was always being put into "special" classes or had trouble with my teachers or friends because I couldn't concentrate.At this time ADHD wasn't as well known.Well let me tell you what hell I went through, I then I finally I knew what was wrong with me and it wasn't my fault.ADHD is a real disability and I feel sometimes people really understand.I do sometimes think it may be over diagnosed.I just went back on my meds after a year of school without them and I have already went fromC's and D's to high B's and A's...it's unreal.I don't know why you would have a problem if your son's father takes you to court because it is a learning disability which needs medication to function well in school.Good luck to you and if you have any questions I would be mroe than happy to help.

Liz

Hi lizzygrl79,

It is a relief to know that as an adult you are thankful not leary of taking meds and to know that they really help and there is a difference between a disorder and a "kid like" age appropriate defiant behavior.  It was wrenching starting my son with meds, but already I can tell you that he is a happier more successful little guy.  He gets in way less trouble nex to none anymore at school and I'm so thankful.  The problem I have is with his dad's denial and being irresponsible in giving our son his meds regularlyon his time.  (we're not together)  And now his mom, the grandma, lecturing me saying they just drug kids up now a days and she thinks giving him meds in unhealthy.  She won't even listen to how it's helped him because in her uneducated mind she thinks that diet alone can help.  Well in a perfect world, maybe, but not mine.  She won't even listen to me and called me a moron.  My ex is wrapped around his mothers finger and despite all the information I've given him (which he probably doesn't read) he agrees with his mom somewhat and won't go against her.

If our son is left with her, she refuses to give him his meds, so I told her that he won't be left in her care.  I told her that if she can't respect our choice to give our son medicine for his disorder then oh well.  But I can't control what my ex does or doesn't do in his time.  Do you think I'll just have to go to court for a court order? Has anyone ever dealt with this?  I just hate court.

edhmom

Hello Ladies,

I am 25yrs old.I was just put on Concerta after being on Dexedrine when I was in high school.Now that I am in college and was having a number of problems with grades not taking my medication, I went back to my dr for help. He put me on Concerta  54mg.I will tell you my grades have jumped from a failing grade to a high B low A average ( I am a nursing student).The meds are working WONDERS for me.I do notice as the meds are wearing off I am awfully moody and irritable.I try and drink a soda or something with a small amount of caffine.It helps me through the "coming down" period and doesn't effect my sleep.I am losing weight again like when I was on Dexedrine but it's a small price to pay for my grades.As a nursing student and going through my psychiatric rotation I learned a lot about my disability and how the medications effect a person with ADHD.If anyone has any questions or anything I would be happy to help. Hope this helps at least.

My son is 6 years old and has been on Concerta for about a month or so.  I have to say the results have been wonderful.  He has great days at school, and if he makes a bad choice he understands that his choices were not good and shows remorse for them.  He never used to do that.  I have noticed a big diffrence between the Strattera and Concerta.  Well first of all he is very attentive to what is going on and being said when it concerns him.  He started to come home and say these words like " I am still satisfactory"  you know like teacher WORDS.  I noticed it more and more, and then at doctor appts, he would quote conversations that his father and I had inregards to his medication.  On the days that he would make bad choices and just have a bad, emotional day he would come home and blame it on his medicine.  With the Concerta my husband and I have told him that it is like a special vitamin just for him, and when he makes good choices, it's hime making those choices.  He doesn't blame anything on the medicine, or quote someone's words, he has started to take accountability for himself.  Even though he is doing good in school, he will come home very emotional sometimes and he gets angry for the littlest things sometimes. 

Is it wrong to only give him his medicine during the week?  Sometimes we have forgotten to give him one on Saturday, but the wiered thing is even when he does not take it, he is not like before.  It seems as though he is learning to control his impulsive behavior, and that he has learned the diffrence between the good and bad choices, sometimes he gets a little crazy but then he has to take a breather.  I don't know, I guess I am hoping that as time passes he learns to control himself to some point and will not take medicine anymore.  Call me crazy.

Mommy

As far as my son's physician said, parents often make the mistake of not giving their children their meds 7 days a week. He said that it needs to stay in his system to be most effective and may control some of the anger issues. He said he understands that you may forget sometimes but not to make a habit of it such as "skipping weekends". If you choose to skip them it's your child and your choice.  Always ask your own doctor what he or she thinks. As far as him learning new behaviors I think that it is completely possible for the ADHD to subside with time (my nephew's did). I think it depends on what extent the ADHD is. Good luck with your son and I hope that everyday gets better and better!!