ADHD and Sleeping

[ElinaK35]

Hi everyone, our 11 year old son, it looks like, transitioned into a whole new phase. He is, for the time being, getting through the school day ok (though still without much motivation or effort) and his ODD and lack of impulse control seem to be in check. However, for the past couple of months his sleeping drastically increased. He naps during the day on weekends several times, whenever he is in the car, he goes right to bed after school, etc. His only interest is video games but even that on certain days gets pushed aside lately for just going to bed. He just turned 11 and we are wondering if it has anything to do with puberty? Is it depression? He says he is just tired but as adults we know that this can't be normal... Anyone have a similar experience? Any comments or suggestions?

[SylvieS]

That doesn’t seem normal. Has he started any new medications? When my son started Intuniv he was really tired. We ended up discontinuing it because he was so lethargic. If not, Maybe it would be a good idea to talk to his pediatrician and look into possible causes of his fatigue. For instance iron or vitamin D deficiency.

[ElinaK35 in reply to SylvieS]

Thank you, will definitely consult the pediatrician.

[Alliea79]

Hi! My daughter who from about the age of just one until this past summer has been a non stop ball of energy starting FULL speed at about 5 am and going until we put a mandatory shut down at about 8pm for her own health and our sanity!!! This summer has been full of change, not the least of which was moving several states away from our home. She began napping. It was so quiet and odd. But personally I am a professional napper. So I went with it. She was pretty reasonable in the summer and honestly she has always really needed to get more sleep somehow somewhere. Now in the school year it is a very consistent thing and even more on weekends. The was I see it is partially that she is almost 12 and going through all kinds of physical and mental growth as well as a new awareness of her challenges. But also I know she is trying so hard all day to keep it together, try to fit in and try to get something no matter how small it may look to us out of her time in school. She comes home tired. Yes, given the chance she can usually/sometimes stay awake to use her phone, but even that isn’t always enough. I’m just riding the wave. They always seem to come and go.

[Janice_H]

Hi ElinaK35, is your son on medications for the ADHD? My son slept alot when he was on his meds. Try to be sure he is getting sufficient rest at night by removing electronics, cell phone, etc. from his room at bedtime. If he can take supplements to increase energy levels that might help too. Lastly, depression can cause extreme tiredness. He may need therapy to get to the bottom of this.

[ElinaK35]

Thank you everyone for your comments. Our son is on medication for ADHD but there has been no change for the past year or so, hence we don't think it's the medication. In addition he is a horrible eater (carbs only and mostly stuff with sugar) so vitamin deficiency is very likely. Just the lack of interests or motivation in him is very sad.

[SuzetteIClarke in reply to ElinaK35]

I would suggest full blood tests. ‘Vitamins D and B’ are actually hormones and deficiency in them can lead to fatigue. Poor diet without sufficient protein and iron also can be huge factors, esp during growth periods. My dr recommended Trader Joe’s B and D - not fancy but the best quality she explained (and she’s a fancy doctor) She also said we should all take as mothers!

[roseofmyheart85]

I am sorry to hear this and you are not alone. Have you taken him to see his pediatrician? Take Care and God Bless!

[anirush]

My twelve-year-old grandson is the same, constant naps on weekends and holidays. We just had a sleep study done and haven't gotten the results of it yet but his EEG showed that he was having many seizures throughout the day and evening. This was keeping him from getting a restful sleep. We are changing medications to try to help control the seizures. The seizures were short like blips.

You might try a sleep study. Sometimes tonsils can keep kids from sleeping soundly etc. Insurance covered it and it will let us know how well he sleeping and if he ever gets to REM sleep

[Doglady28]

Did you ever get to the bottom of this? My son is going thru the same thing right now. He’s on intuniv 3mg, but it’s not a new thing so I don’t think it is that. He also started trileptal 3 weeks ago, but it seems weird that fatigue would take 3 weeks to set in. He is 9. Thank you!