concerta mood issues | ADHD Information

Hi...my situation is exactly the same as yours...I have a nine year old son who is very thin and has been on Concerta for 5 months. The med worked great for a little while but now doesn't seem to have any effect other that make him sad and or angry. I took him off the Concerta yesterday and he has been a bit off the wall since...I am hoping it is just some rebound that he is having from the Concerta. We are now trying Stratterra although it is too early to tell if it will help him. Last night he ate dinner like he hadn't eaten in a year and he fell asleep on his own which he hasn't done since last summer. I will let everyone know if the Stratterra is a success. I am also trying "Focus" a natural supplement to see if that works.

Hi everyone,

I have a 9 (55lbs) year old with ADHD.  We have tried a few meds and the last one was concerta.  ALthough it did work for a while, my son would not eat at all until 9 at night and more recently, he was having a lot of sadness.  He said that he wished that he could shoot himself and that is when I took him off it completely.  I had taken him to a really bad shrink who planted that lovely idea and said that he needed a higher dose.  I tried the higher dose (23 mg) and he was very weepy.  He has been on 18mg for several months and it did help with concentration.  Now that he is off, he is happier unless he has to focus or is in a new situation.  Are there any meds for a kid as sensitive as mine that help with concentration but won't make him sad?  I have an appointment set up with a new doctor next week who seems a bit more normal.  Thanks.

 

As a last resort (if Stratterra doesn't work out) , you may want to consider
just using a short acting med (like Ritalin) on an occasional/as-needed basis
for concentration.I just posted on another similar issue... but the irritiablity feeling of the come down is awful on this. I'm 28yrs and know my moods and the defining points of each.. As a child may not know the word irritable or further a definition of. When it wears off.. I feel like crap. But I know it's the med and I sleep. A child can't take in the irritable feeling or explain it because it's a feeling you learn/define as you age/grow up... So if you're child is having these thoughts or saying these things at night or mid day 4pm as the meds wear off... Then that could be your answer. You could further more keep him/her on it knowing these moments and talking with your child until the mind becomes strong enough for the child to understand their mood. I'd be a grumpy kid if I took this med at a young age... I know I would've have. boy197638506.0217708333Thanks for all of your comments. It is so great to get the thoughts of those who have experience with these meds and not just a doctor. I started giving my son the stratterra right at bedtime and it has helped avoid the anger episode at night. I'll let you know if we stick to it and if there is any improvement.