my son (6 1/2) was on 54 mg for almost a year when we started seeing the same behavior. i was devastated because we really couldn't go beyond 54 mg so i thought we had to start all over with another med. we stopped the 54 mg and tried strattera for 6 weeks (20 mg each morning for 7 days then up to 40 mg each morning). what a nightmare! he was better while on nothing. strattera turned him into a monster. we gradually stopped the strattera, took another week to think about what direction we wanted to go in. well, after taking this short break, our pediatric neurologist suggested revisiting concerta, starting at 36 mg and slowly working our way back up to 54 mg. it's now week 4 and we're still at 36! it's amazing how well this is working for him. it's almost as if his system reset itself. he's not fidgety and hyper like the higher dose made him. you might want to try this - bring it up to your doctor.
it does take anywhere from 60-75 minutes to kick in though. i wake him at 6:45 a.m., give him his pill and let him sleep until 7:45 when he has to get up for school. let me tell you, he is so easy to get around and just really relaxed and happy. there's nothing worse than starting off the day with a battle.
good luck!
Hi,
I am new here. My son is on concerta 54 and he is 10. Has anyone noticed and increase in hyreractivity and concentration after giving the med. Our first 1/2 hour after giving the med seems full of silliness and annoyance and no progress to getting him to school. Takes 10 minutes to put on shoes. Then at about 45 minute he calms down. He seems ok in am till I give RX.
Bernadette
I wish I could help, all I can say is, is it normal for a 10 year old to give a hard time right before school? I"m not being sarcastic AT ALL, I'm serious. Just wondering, but I can say that after about 20 min of taking my Concerta which is 36mg, I feel quite jumpy yet not wanting to get up.... off the couch lolJillybean38492.9286342593I never had this med work under 30min even on an empty stomach. And I have a fast metabolism. I felt the warm sensation in the stomach... but no solid feeling under an hour. But as mentioned above lol... I don't know any kids who are up and excited to be the first one in class. You just have to remember the basics and look back at yourself... It'll be years before a child realizes the importances of school... That's what makes a child a child... Their mind has so much stuff running around in it... Kids are always sucking up new information, although the mind has other interests. Responsibilities come with age. But 'one' can't compare a child to another... Each mind is different. Girls aren't into the guns and excitement stuff... so their mind is less jumpy. OR A family that you notice.. which has kids getting ready early... If a family has lots of toys, video games etc... the mind has lots to think about it vs. a family that doesn't have video games, but their kids read or something for fun. I don't over think kids. Everything I research/read and hear shows the child's mind as an amazing vacuum sucking information whether or not that child knows it. boy197638506.0360069444What we do for my 8 yr old is a combo of 27mg Concerta and 3.5mg of