"New" Ritalin | ADHD Information

 Hi, new to the site, and had a question. Has anyone heard anything about the 'new' ritalin coming out at the end of summer? My son was diagnosed at age 7 and we've tried them all, adderall, concerta, and ritalin. The time release works great, and helps keep his grades up. But his doc has recently told me about a 'new' improved ritalin that is ritalin in 'purified' form. Apparently it works as well as the 'old' ritalin with fewer side effects.  Anyone heard of it, or tried it? Please let me know. Thanks

I've read about it I think. Apparently it's a patch that you wear instead of taking pills. It's supposed to relieve people of their "up and down" moments when the pill form stimulants begin wearing off. I'm not so sure how it works, can't seem to find any more information about it other than that little bit.

Hi Dru's Mom,

Hawks is right -- long-acting Focalin is due out this August, according to our psychiatrist.  We are eagerly looking forward to it because my 12-year-old ADHD son has done extremely well on short-acting Focalin, but he refuses to take a midday dose from the school nurse.  While on Concerta, my son's appetite at lunch was suppressed, but we have not seen the same problem with Focalin, even when he takes three doses on a day when he's home.  In addition, my son had facial tics on Concerta and Adderall, but he doesn't have them on Focalin.  At least for my son, the side effects are fewer.  I hope Focalin works out as well for your son.

 

Hi again Dru's mom,

The reason Focalin is considered the "new" Ritalin is because it is a refined version of Ritalin that is supposed to cause fewer side effects.  From my limited understanding -- and I'm sure you can read more on the web -- Ritalin has two mirror image isomers that make it effective.  With Focalin, one of the isomers is apparently removed, leaving the effective stuff and taking away the negative side effect stuff.  Both our ped and the neurologist my son sees for migraines have reported to me that they really like Focalin for the kids who have had bad reactions to other drugs.

I'm so sorry you had to struggle all those years in school with your ADHD.  I'm sure that's what's making you so motivated to help Dru.

We, too, have been on the med rollercoaster since my son was diagnosed with ADHD in spring 2003.  He did well on Concerta for 1.5 years, but then developed facial tics and a feeling of flatness.  Strattera gave him whopper migraines and Adderall gave him worse facial tics than Concerta.  He also suffers from anxiety so we tried Celexa (apathy and lack of motivation) and Prozac (rage reaction).  We're going to a new doctor July 6 so I'm hoping we find the right med then.

I'd be curious to know what happens if you try Focalin.  (BTW, you could try the short-acting version right now to see how it agrees with Dru.)

 

Concerta didn't work for my son when he first started stims.  After using Metadate tho we retried concerta and then it worked....not sure why that happened.  However, Concerta then became great for us.  My son eventually needed a higher dose than 36 but the side effects were too great on higher doses.  We tried metadate again, but after raising that too he developed severe tics. 

I liked Focalin alot while it was working, but I noticed that my son was very defiant and angry in the evenings after it wore off.  I think it may have been related to the focalin, since it stopped when we discontinued the focalin.  However, my experience wasn't scientific....so not sure if the two were related.  The focalin was being used as a booster to the metadate, since the metadate wore off too soon.

Anyway, we've all seem to be thru the rollercoaster of meds.  Its a good thing, b/c we are all searching for the best for our kids.

Luckily I am enjoying a med break with my son.  He is actually doing very well so I'm not sure I'll be starting them again any time soon.  But they helped tremendously when we needed them.

 

 

Dru's Mom

Have you asked the Dr. about Ritalin Sustained release.  I s ritalin that lasts for 6 to 8 hours so that way he would not have to go to the nurse in the middle of the school day.

I used to have the same problem when I was in school so the DR.'s put me on the Sustained Release Ritalin to get me through the school day then when I cam home I took a smaller dose of ritalin 5 mg to help me get through my home work.

It worked well and I really did not have any side effects.  As a matter of fact I still take the ritalin sustained release 15 years later.

 

Concerta is considered the "new ritalin" (it is a time-released version of the old ritalin, same chemical).  Ritalin was derived from amphetamines (Adderall), and was made less addictive (and hence less pleasant), but also lost some of it's potency.  Adderall is generally more effective.  Have you asked your doctor to raise the dosage?  30mg is considered the ceiling for children, although doses twice that are still considered safe.

Stratera is also approved to treat ADD, although it is effective in far fewer the patients, some respond better to stratera than adderall.

Additionally, the antidepressant Welbutrin is the fourth line of defence, and rarely works, but might be worth a try.

Lastly, Desoxyn (methamphetamine) is the last and final attempt.  Most doctors will not prescribe Desoxyn.  Although it is safe in prescribed doses, it is VERY addictive (quite a bit more so than Adderall).  Chances are, if he responded to Adderall at all, Desoxyn might work better-- (I don't know anyone who got a script for Desoxyn).

Hi SmallMom

 I'm so glad to find someone that knows about this. Now I can research it some more on the web and hopefully find a med that Dru, his dad and myself can be happy with.  When I was 9 I was diagnosed with ADHD but back then they just called it hyperactivity. (This was in the 70's). And I was given Ritalin in the liquid form. Unfortunately, back then they hadn't made the progress then that they've made today. I was overdosed. My mom said I went from a half wild child that climbed the walls to a living breathing doll. It scared her to death, so she took me off of it. Needless to say, through school I suffered for it. I failed the fourth grade and I struggled to maintain a C average in high school. I would study at least two hours every night, (this was required by my parents before I was allowed to talk on the phone or watch TV) And it felt like I never could get it. I scraped by to graduation by the skin on my teeth and the thought of attempting college terrified me. People would know how 'stupid' I was. So I didn't go.

It wasn't until years later, after I had found ways to cope with my ADHD that I was given an I.Q. test. It seems that in reading I excelled. I have almost a photographic memory for things that I like to read.

When Dru was in 1st grade his teacher suggested I have him tested. She was a first year teacher, so I didn't really pay any attention to her. But when one of the 'veteren' teachers suggested it I was thrown into a whirlwind of emotions, first being denial. "Not my child." But I finally broke down and had him tested. Against his father's wishes I must add.

The doctor spent five minutes with my child and diagnosed him as ADHD. I broke down on the way home and cried. In the 70's and 80's having ADHD meant you had a learning disability, that you were one of the 'special' kids.

Then came the rollercoaster known as 'med regulation'.

Adderall made him violent. Ritalin worked, but he hated going to the school nurse at lunchtime to take his 'crazy pill' (that's what his classmates called it) Concerta didn't work even at the maximum dosage and strattera was like taking nothing at all.

During this time we changed doctors. And I found the 'miracle pill' Ritalin LA. And everyone was happy....for the most part. It was the side effects we couldn't get around. But I hope that the Focalin is the answer to our prayers. Sorry I went on and on, but it's just hard to express how I feel to people that have "normal" kids

 It's me again... school is out until Aug. 11 so I may ask Dru's ped. to try him on the Focalin that lasts a few hrs. He hasn't taken his meds the last two days and the child is making ME climb the walls. He really hates taking it... he says he can't eat during the day when he does and he's been taking the Ritalin LA 30 mg for the last two years.

I thought that with summer break he could go without it, but it seems that even now, with no school it isn't a possibility. Dru is compuslive and does things without considering the consequences of his actions. For example: helping 'paint' our new neighbors front door. The ones that run 300.00 that have the stained glass in them.... no one was home at the time and he called himself helping. Thank goodness we were able to remove the paint he had put on the door without damaging the glass, and didn't damage a possible new friendship.  We can't afford to replace things like that. And walking down the windshield of the SUV. Why was he up there in the first place, you might ask. He didn't know. Just felt like climbing up there. Whew.

Anyone else going through this???? lol

  Thanks for the replies. Hawks I think you've hit the nail on the head.  Dru's doc seems to think this would work great for him. My biggest concern after almost 4 yrs is his lack of appitite. He's 4'10 and weighs 72 pounds. The kids at school tease him and call him bone boy and things like that. But the kid gets it honest. I'm 6'4 and his dad is 6'0, and neither of us 'spread out' so to speak until the last 10 to 15 yrs.Unfortunately the Ritalin patch will not be approved until some time in 2006.  I just checked with the makers.I wonder if he was talking about Focalin.  It is only the active ingredient in ritalin and is currently available in only a short acting form, however the long acting form is due to be released soon.