Intuniv

My son is doing well on methylphenidate but his doctor wants to switch to intuniv to decrease some of his impulsive and hyperactive behavior. Can anyone share their experience with this medication?

[Onthemove1971]

Cmfrogan82-

Glad you reached out to the group.. My son takes both methylphenidate and intuniv. But he takes the intuniv in the afternoon and it has really helped us a lot. It did not work to only take methylphenidate by itself. He needed the focus plus the impulse control. Things have really gotten much better for us since we have been on this medication. This medication is always trial and error. Are you working with a pediatric psychiatrist? Ours really read his personality well and knew what he needed.

I recommend the medication for your child, but not by itself, my child has serious impulse issues and must have something to control that. But it was to much to take both at the same time so givining it in the afternoon work great.

Hope this helps.

[Hidden in reply to Onthemove1971]

Thanks so much for your reply. Yes we work closely with a developmental neurologist. She’s very in tune with my son’s challenges. Sounds like the combination of the 2 might be just the thing to improve the impulsivity but not regress on the focus. Fingers crossed!

[Onthemove1971 in reply to Hidden]

So happy you found a Specialist you trust, ours really changed my son's life. Best of luck I hope it will be just what he needs to prove things.

[Cjkchamp]

My 6 yr old son is actually on a combo of dexmethylphenidate 5mg extended release and Guanfacine 3mg extended release. He takes them both in the morning and seem to be helping more than when he took one in the morning and the other at night.

[Hidden in reply to Cjkchamp]

Does taking both in the morning make him drowsy?

[Cjkchamp]

I thought it would but it doesn’t. Some days he is a little more tired in he afternoon but he is a go go go kind of kid. So on a car ride he might fall asleep but once we are where we need to be he is wide awake. No negative complaints from school either, but he was in morning kinder.

[Hidden in reply to Cjkchamp]

Good to know. Thanks!