Medication

[momconfused]

My son was diagnosed with ADD about a month ago. He has been on two different medications in the past month. They have both made him very emotional. I am concerned about trying him on all these different medications every couple weeks. Is there anything that anyone has had any luck with.

[chocoholic188]

We were in the same boat back in January when we were on our third stimulant medication in two months. Our psychiatrist recommended we “stick it out” when the latest side effect was emotional meltdowns. The headaches were not something we could get through however our doc was right about the emotional meltdowns - they have tapered off significantly but with some modifications. We make sure our daughter eats before taking her medication in the morning and then make her eat again before the pm crash (so eats bw 4-5) and then we added in 1mg guanfacine at dinner time. Gaunfacine also helps with sleeping at night and 1mg is a low dose. The main thing is the food - she is sleeping better and more stable at night when she is tired and wound up. HOpe that helps.

[momconfused in reply to chocoholic188]

Thank you so very much this is very helpful and hopeful. This is my fourth child and the first with ADD. It has been a guilt filled journey as a parent but we are figuring it out and trying to do what’s best for our baby.

[Onthemove1971 in reply to chocoholic188]

I love your response, just wanted to add that Guanfacine is the part that helps with focus in school. Our son's dose is a 24 hour in length and also helps with sleep.

We have also been there, we just knew there was a great benefit to trying the medication and stuck it out because we knew this was a life long journey for him and once he is stable we would all forget it because the "perfect balance" gives him the chance to be successful.

[omary1 in reply to chocoholic188]

Your doctor continue prescribe the stimulant medication and added guanfacine?

[erickson336]

Onthemove1971 is Guanfacine a non-stimulant?

[Onthemove1971 in reply to erickson336]

No it is not.. Here is some information about it.

Guanfacine (Brand Name: Intuniv, Tenex) is a non-stimulant medication used to treat symptoms of attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD). It is commonly used as a monotherapy, or as a complementary treatment alongside stimulant medications. ... Guanfacine does not have a high risk of abuse or dependence.

Hope this helps. It really makes a difference for our son.

[Reeeba1 in reply to Onthemove1971]

Haven’t heard of this and very interested to learn more! Thanks

[Acfoger1018 in reply to Onthemove1971]

Hello :). My son has been taking Guanfacine 1mg for the last two years but recently stopped taking it (about 2 weeks ago) because it's being discontinued by the manufacturer. He has been doing really well without it but I have noticed that his lack of impulse control and attention span have really been affected. I am very grateful for the medicine while he had it because it helped him so so much. I am hopeful that he will continue to do as well as he has been even without any medicine.

[Pennywink in reply to Acfoger1018]

I haven’t heard of guanfacine being completely discontinued- perhaps your pharmacist can find another manufacturer, or get you the name-brand version, Intuniv. Have you discussed this with your prescribing physician? They may have other treatment options for you. Clonidine is very similar to guanfacine, so if you truly cannot get guanfacine, it may be another alternative to try.

[Acfoger1018 in reply to Pennywink]

I haven't discussed it with his doctor but I will reach out after reading your post and ask her about intuniv. Cholodine was the first medicine we tried and he was like a zombie when he took it. It was very sad and heartbreaking to see him subdued like he was so we went a very long time before trying medicine again. Guanfacine was the next medicine we tried and it worked wonders!

[Pennywink in reply to Acfoger1018]

I’m happy guanfacine worked for you! Intuniv is just the name brand of guanfacine, and I’m sure it’s still around. I’d imagine there are other manufacturers making a generic of it- maybe even try calling another pharmacy to ask. If not, you may need to talk to your insurance about what steps they require to cover a name brand medication.

We tried my son briefly on guanfacine, but it flattened his personality a little too much for us. Right now he’s doing great in a stimulant, though I suspect as he gets older or when tics ramp up, we may need to combine the stimulant with guanfacine or clonidine.

Best of luck!!

[anirush]

We too have had to discontinue medicines after 2 to 3 weeks because of side effects. Intuniv Is working for both my boys right now but they are also on mood stabilizers to help the emotional stuff.

Our pediatric psychiatrist has a different opinion about medication. He says the longer your off the harder it is to get stable again. So if one hasn't worked we either wean it off while starting another or stopped completely if the side effects are too severe.

My younger grandson who is now 12 has been on risperidone for years to help with his severe anxiety and emotional issues. He is on that and intuniv and pretty stable right now.

[omary1 in reply to anirush]

Good to know! my son is with concerta and zoloft because he went thru several anxiety..It's hard to known what is the best combination.

[christelferrer]

Welcome to the group.

I think I can say that everyone took the guilt road at some point...It has been tough for us too. We had to change 5 times within 6 months last year. However, once you find the right combo (my son takes 2 kind of medicines: zoloft in the morning, guanfacine at night. His ADHD has co-morbidities with anxiety and ODD), it is life saving.

Obviously medication does not do it all. What works best is meds + therapy + healthy foods + exercise + routine...and so on. It is exhausting but I am seeing amazing results compared to where we started.

Good luck, and do not feel guilty for anything, you only knows what's best for your baby.

[omary1 in reply to christelferrer]

Thank for share with us. Because I'm feeling so guilty and powerless ..

[christelferrer in reply to omary1]

I hear you. I spent a bunch of times crying over it but I invite to think of it in this manner: would you not give insulin to a diabetic child? No you would not, obviously. ADHD is not life threatening but in most cases, meds are needed. I wish we had a choice. It will take time to accept. Take care.

[Janice_H]

Hello, my son has been on 4 different med trials. The first two made him zombie-like. The third he slept all day. He is currently prescribed Straterra and I've noticed his mood is different. He is somewhat aggressive, easily agitated and just not himself until the medication wears off. Please keep trying until you find the right mix. You will not know if he will have success with any medication if you do not at least try. I felt unsure at first also. This is a normal feeling for a parent to have.