My son 14, Adhd , currently takes Vyvanse 20mg/ Guanfacine 2mg combo . We started in the mid December. It looked like finally we found the right medication, but we didn’t. He became upset, angry, mean and disrespectful. We got to the point that I couldn’t catch 2 min of normal conversation with him. He would make faces, noises, give me inappropriate feedback etc. Not my child!
So I got scared , and did not give him the meds today . He got the worst day ever. Got in fight with a another student ( he is not physical and never before got in trouble for that) , was called in the office several times !
We have an appointment tomorrow, but slowly I am loosing faith that we will find the right medication
He tried Metadate, Concerta, Adderal, Methylphenidate, Guanfacine and Vyvance. All with initial ok, and then fiasco.
This time is the worst. I am fighting inside . I cry. I want to help him, but it is not working. I am exposing him for a failure every time he goes to school on new meds because of the unknown side effects. I feel hopeless and lost
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Oh Noooo….HUGS....Ok, he has tried all those meds since mid-December? I'm just wondering if something else is going on? There might be an additional diagnoses that hasn't yet been uncovered? and I know that a lot of people have to try so many different medications before they get the right one. Our pediatric psychiatric NP had us stay on one medication for a couple of weeks before we changed. My daughter is also bipolar so we had to try a few combinations before getting one that works and we're going to be adjusting again next week. It is SO hard to get the right combination and it is SO hard to watch them go through all this. I completely understand just feeling like nothing is working so why bother?
also I cannot recommend family therapy and individual therapy enough. Our kiddos often feel so disconnected from everyone else at school and don't understand what's happening at school. And yes they are mouthy and rude and disrespectful and EVERYONE here has cried at night and been exhausted and just felt like giving up. But I just know that you will not give up! Hang in there and see what happens tomorrow....
Hi there, I have Inattentive ADHD and take 10mg of Adderall 2x daily. I was diagnosed in my mid twenties, and vividly remember all the struggles and problems I had as an undiagnosed teenager. Side effects from stimulant medication are highly common. This is the reason why I highly recommend supplements in order to help fight off the side effects and help the stimulant medication work to its full potential, and keep working to its full potential.
I had unfortunately had multiple side effects due to not taking supplements with my stimulant medication. Stimulant medication wears off after about 6 or 12 hours give or take depending on whether the medication is instant release or extended. Once stimulant medication wears off, the neurotransmitters most stimulant medication work with (Dopamine and Norepinephrine) will be temporarily lower than usually, this is known as the crash, and many individuals get irritable, intense, or sad during this crash. In order to avoid the crash, I recommend the supplement N-Acetyl Tyrosine to be taken either 30min to an hour before the medication wears off. N-Acetyl Tyrosine works with Dopamine and Norepinephrine as well just like stimulant medication and taking it helps bring those two neurotransmitters back up. This is also my get up and go supplement that I take to get me going when I wake up.
People with ADHD lack multiple neurotransmitters, and the ones I mention below I believe are of the most crucial importance. When you have a low level of a neurotransmitter, it basically gives you major difficulty in the areas that it would otherwise be helping you out in. Stimulant medications primarily work with Dopamine and Norepinephrine, which takes care of those neurotransmitters, but what about those other important ones? Supplements, besides helping fight off bad side effects from stimulant medication, can also help with synthesis of these neurotransmitters we lack. I had side effects that did not stop until I started taking supplements.
A strategy plan when it comes to supplements and ADHD, should include aiming to help the brain with the specific neurotransmitters that give us the most trouble. The following neurotransmitters should be addressed.
Dopamine : A neurotransmitter in the brain that affects your levels of concentration, motivation, pleasure senses, and sense of pain.
Norepinephrine : A neurotransmitter and stress hormone that deals with attentiveness, emotions, impulse control, planning ahead, sleep, and interpreting actions of others.
Serotonin : A neurotransmitter that deals with mood regulation, sleep, nervousness, empathy, appetite, digestion, and sexual urges.
Acetylcholine : A neurotransmitter that deals with muscle contraction, pain responses, mood regulation, REM sleep, and coordination.
if you click my profile pic, it will take you to my profile, where in my bio you'll see theres a link of a google doc I made of every supplement I take that includes ones specifically to help those low neurotransmitters I mentioned above. It mentions what grocery stores and online stores (Amazon has all of these supplements a lot cheaper than markets like Sprouts and Whole Foods) sell these supplements, and some information about each of the supplements and how they help out people with ADHD, in case you're interested. Studying neurochemistry and ADHD takes time, and this is the exact reason why I made that google doc, to help out individuals and families who need the help. I am currently pursuing my PhD. as a Clin. Psych. and have worked with multiple families who are going through the same dilemma your son is going through. Supplements make a world of a difference.
Thank you for this break down! I struggle with the “come down” with my 9 year old son who has ADHD combined type. He takes 30 mg of Vyvanse and his moods tend are really “nasty” when the medication is wearing off. I was thinking to stop the Vyvanse but maybe I could try the supplements first .
Most of these can be found in grocery stores like Sprouts, Whole Foods, Trader Joes. I get all of mine from the Amazon website, since they are all a lot cheaper there. Some of them are vitamins and some of them are supplements. If you click my picture, it will take you to my profile, where in the bio section you'll see a link to a google doc I made that lists all that information and more.
Thank you so much! Do you know if there is another way to find that link, because when I go to your bio, the links are not allowing me to press them to take me to the links. I am very interested in the things you are studying
For what it’s worth... my 12 year old switched to strattera and vyvanse, and it’s working. Took about 3 different dosage changes and a lot of patience. Hang in there.... you will find the right combo...
my son normally is on generic Focalin XR 20 mg in the morning. His mornings started to get really challenging so we experimented with other meds, including Vyvance, concerta. It was a DISASTER! Luckily we did this during extended weekends so low risk to damaging relationships. Needless to say we went back to Focalin but I think we’ll try bumping it up to 20 or 25mg. For you, I wonder if you’re experiencing hormonal changes and that’s adding to the emotional issues? I can’t wait for that. NOT!
Our child's psychatrist told us there is a weight to dose calculation they use to help determine dose, but there is ALWAYS a range, please try a higher dose, it really helped our son.
I agree with the comment that your son may have ADHD and something else. At this age, depression is a possibility. However, if behaviors worsen on the medicines you listed, look and see if anxiety is also present and needs to be treated.
I never had the experience of medication making things worse. One grandson is on intuniv the other straterra because other medications made them not just angry but violent.
Both are also on mood stabilizers and mild Anti-depressants.
You need time things start to get worse after 2 to 3 weeks it's time to change meds. I have had psychiatrists try to talk me into upping the dose also which just makes everything 10 times as bed.
It's a long road good luck finding the right medication especially for someone with hormonal swings in their teens.
You are not alone. I know how crushing that is and I understand your hopelessness and sadness you are feeling, and so do a lot of other people. Your son is very lucky to have you fighting for him so hard and you are showing him that when you fail at something you have to keep trying by going through this process. Sending you positive vibes!
Hi, don't give up. You have a right to the way you feel and it is ok to cry. Sometimes it takes several different medications to find the right one. The doctor can adjust his dosages and time of dosage too. My 12 yo son tried 4 different medications. I took him off of his last one in the summer and he has not been on it since. Life at home is tough but I have become numb to it.
I do know how you feel though. We want the best for our kids and it hurts so bad when we see them struggle in school. They really want to be good behaved kids but their brains are on turbo blast. It is hard for them to control their impulses.
You could also try putting him in counseling to get to the root of his anger issues.
Thank you Janice. He is in counseling, see therapist once a week. He seems not to care . He would sarcastically say “ it’s not doing anything, why we even go”?
Do your son doesn’t take anything now ? How is he doing in school? Omg, it is so hard
Thank you for your supporting words. We just came back from the doctor. He decided to stop the Vyvance , but continue with 3mg Guanfacine am. We will see. Doctor also advised to set strict rules. No homework, no class work, disrespect=no privileges. My son manipulates a lot . Why it this sooo hard?
right?! Great question with no fricking answer! We have to set these boundaries and we have to follow them, but then again we love our kids SO much and it's a struggle EVERY SINGLE DAY! You are doing an AMAZING job, you really ARE! I say this all the time to myself: Okay, I never thought I'd be here, right? This is NOT want I wanted for my daughter. It's just not.I never thought I would be here. I thought we would have a blissful dreamlike existence. But that didn't happen.
I didn't want this for her or me. BUT it's what she HAS. So. My anxiety doesn't help. I have to support her. I have to get up every morning and try again. Yes, I cry at night. And yes, tomorrow is Thursday and by Friday I will be bone tired and I might lose it and I might yell and then she will cry and we will end up in a heap on the bed. And next week there is a good chance that she will forget her homework and there will be something that happens at school.
But you know what? We're all in this together. And I know you will fight through this will all of us. Rest tonight, just rest.
You made me cry . You said it right: I never ever would thing we are going to go through that shit . I am so upset, hopeless. Just this week: Monday , he got into little fight with another student. Tuesday I got a phone call from school that during ski trip ( they go every Friday after school) , he put melted chocolate on someone’s new coat, spilled soda on everybody around him, was threatening to stab his friend ( with a pencil, but of course , threat is a threat) . Wednesday, he was kicked out from every single class for making noises, not cooperating, not listening, throwing erasers etc, plus he texted me that he hates me, hates himself, is done with this crap and he is going to block me on his phone.
We went to the doctor. We took him off Vyvance, and upped Guanfacine to 3mg am. He stayed home Thursday. Today is Friday. He went to school a little calmer, but I think he was messing up with his school iPad. All of the sudden it shows an App Store, and his school stuff is missing. He broke the iPad security system in the past , so it is very possible he did it again.
I am home, basically waiting for a phone call from school. What will happen today? I can’t go and do my normal stuff because something else preoccupies my mind. It is terrible .
Not sure if anyone suggested this but have you thought about trying a non stimulant? Also keep in mind since he’s 14, his hormones are all out of whack. I’m going through a similar issue with my 13 year old. It’s almost like his ADHD & Impulsive behavior is magnified! I’m wondering if it’s the stimulants that are screwing with him and maybe his body just doesn’t like them. I wish you luck because we too are feeling so hopeless and like we will never find what works. 😢
He could be having side effects from vvyance. I would have his primary dr do blood work and see if there is chemical imbalance with all these drugs. Maybe alternative medicine could help you more an therapists working weekly with you. Reach out ask for help from his psychiatrist an psychologist. I also had this happen with my great grandson that I am raising. I still have days to. I reached out to the Yes program they have helped us through this past year.
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