Advice for medication for my superhero - CHADD's ADHD Pare...

CHADD's ADHD Parents Together

24,366 members6,386 posts

Advice for medication for my superhero

TiffanyLorene profile image
12 Replies

My son is currently on intuniv and is still struggling with aggressive behaviors. The next medication that is suggested to us to try is Kapvay. Or trileptal with the intuniv. Have any of you tired or use these medications for your children? If yes what do you like about it and what side effects you see from your child taking it? Please let me know

Just a mom trying to help her superhero!

Thank you!

Written by
TiffanyLorene profile image
TiffanyLorene
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
12 Replies
Doglady28 profile image
Doglady28

I’m in the same boat - superhero 7.5 year old son taking intuniv. Today is our 4th day. No changes in impulse control or aggressive behavior. How many mg’s is your son taking? How old is he? Thx.

Ldydy24 profile image
Ldydy24

These also didn’t help my son with his impulse control. He was never aggressive We tried both Intuniv and Kapvay. He got severe stomach aches/diarrhea on Kapvay so we immediately stopped. The only meds that have helped. my son for both impulse control and focus is Focalin. He’s been taking Focalin for 5 years. Every child’s body chemistry is different so my advice would be if you don’t see any positive effects on the meds don’t wait too long before trying something new.

CKariya profile image
CKariya in reply toLdydy24

Hi! I have had the same experience with my son. Both Intuniv and Kapvay did not work. Straterra did not work either. He has been on focalin for 10 months now. Is your son on Focalin XR? How long does it work? For my son focalin works so well but lasts only 3 hours

Ldydy24 profile image
Ldydy24 in reply toCKariya

Hi we’ve tried the XR but it leaves my son with a flat personality and he still chews through it in 4 hours. Plus he doesn’t eat lunch! He has a very high metabolism so we have found he does better with several small doses of the short acting Focalin. He gets it 3 times a day as it only last about 3-4 hours. We overlap the doses so it doesn’t completely run out of his system during school.

CKariya profile image
CKariya in reply toLdydy24

This is exact same issue with my son! The long acting lasts only 3 hours. He also does not eat lunch. But it works well for him and he is ok at school. But I felt it runs out too soon. Does your son get it 3 times a day during the school hours only? If you don’t mind me asking when they give it to him at school? If I give the short acting afterschool he has problems sleeping

Ldydy24 profile image
Ldydy24 in reply toCKariya

Our day starts early do he gets a dose at 7:30 before school, 10:30 and 1:30 during school. He eats lunch at 12:30 so he has an appetite between doses. If he has sports at night we give him a small dose to help him. Even without the late afternoon dose of meds my son has had problems shutting down his brain. He take a melatonin gummy (1.5 ml) 1 hour before bed and this helps. I buy at Walmart or amazon and dr approved. He’s almost 14 now. Someone told me about a longer acting med called Mydayis that’s supposed to last up there 12 hours. I’m going to ask my sons dr if we could try it during Christmas break. Focalin is the only thing that has helped him over the years.

CKariya profile image
CKariya in reply toLdydy24

Thank you so much. This is big help. I think my son is very similar in metabolizing the medication. My son is only 6 years old. But seems it wears off same way. I will ask the doctor if we could try this schedule.

Cjkchamp profile image
Cjkchamp

My son doesn’t do well on Guanfacine alone either. He is 5 and has done well on a combo of 5 mg Focalin XR and Guanfacine ER 3 mg both given in morning.

CKariya profile image
CKariya in reply toCjkchamp

Hi... was wondering how long does the Focalin XR work for your son?

Cjkchamp profile image
Cjkchamp in reply toCKariya

Hmmmmm that’s a hard one for me to answer. I think the school would say early afternoon. He recently started having trouble and the psychiatrist has added a dose of short-acting Focalin at noon during the week. That is a 2.5 mg dose.

CKariya profile image
CKariya in reply toCjkchamp

Thank you very much. Same for my son. He needs a 5mg short acting At 11am. I wasn’t sure if this was too soon for long acting to wear off? Otherwise it works well. Thank you for your reply!

anirush profile image
anirush

My middle school grandson is on intuniv but also on Wellbutrin because he has problems with depression in the Wellbutrin helps with his ADHD. He's still struggling some. At least he's not hitting us or tearing things up

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

ADHD in my Superhero

Hello, I am new to this. My 5 1/2 year old son just got diagnosed with ADHD and we are going to be...

Give Zoloft/Sertraline AM or PM (along w/ Intuniv)

For those with a child that takes Intuniv and Zoloft do you give both in the morning? My son...

Dealing with ADHD and RAD hyper inattentive and angry

Hi we have an 8 year old who doesn't sleep well. He is on sertraline in the morning to help with...
TruSoma8 profile image

Looking for the light

I snap at times and end up yelling and feel awful. I called and made myself a counseling...
Yazzie123 profile image

Medication for son

My 13 year old has been on focalin er for years which has been great for him. But lately we've...
Numberate profile image

Moderation team

See all
JamiHIS profile image
JamiHISAdministrator
zlib profile image
zlibPartner

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.