New Meds

[Janice_H]

My 12 y.o. just started a new medication for ADHD. He has been on 4 different meds since diagnosed in first grade. Does anyone have an experience with Ritalin? Is it effective, what side effects have you experienced? Please share. Thanks!

[anirush]

My adult daughter was on ritalin in school and it worked for her. My oldest grandson did well on focalin XR. The younger one couldn't do stimulants at all so Ritalin was a disaster for him. You just never know until you try something every child is different.

[Ldydy24]

Hi there. Ritalin didn’t work for us. It helped my son focus but did not control his impulses. I feel your pain with testing meds. It took us 7 different meds and 3 drs to find the right combination. Focalin is the only med that has worked for my son and he’s been on it for 6 yrs. He takes a combination of short and long (xr) acting doses. Highly recommend working with a child psychiatrist to help with meds if your not already. Don’t give up until you find the right med that works for your child. Good luck.

[ForrestGreen2 in reply to Ldydy24]

Hi Ldydy, i can relate. I am extremely impulsivenifnot wprks dont break it or fix it. The way my last employer talked to me was so bad that if i wasnt mwdicated i would of let it all out before rhinkong of fhe consdquences.

[Happle]

My daughter cannot tolerate the short-acting stimulants as it seems to "crash" (rapid wear-off). I kept a journal and she was having headaches and meltdowns during the time that the medicine was ending/wearing off. The physician told me that it is not uncommon, especially with the short-acting stimulants for kids. We ended up trying several different long-acting stimulants until we found the one that worked with her metabolism. I am not saying the ritalin will not work for your kid. Just know that every child has different digestion times, metabolism times, sensitivities, etc. Keeping a behavior/symptom journal has been very helpful.

[Janice_H in reply to Happle]

Thank you for the tips. His first dose was given at 5 p.m. to help with focus during homework time. It did not seem to make him more calm or more attentive. Hoping the week will improve.

[Kstox in reply to Janice_H]

My sons dr ended up giving him intuitive with his ad med when he was 10. It worked well for a few years. He is 17 now and we are back to changing meds again

[Janice_H in reply to Kstox]

Wow! I guess the trials with medications really never ends.

[ForrestGreen2 in reply to Happle]

Happle, same thing happened to me but i am an adult. Adderall wouls make me crash and burn. Dextrostat laats longer and its more left brain dopamine. I dont feel anything except what normal feel like wirhout fhe nwgative crashes. (Nothong ia full prood)

[ForrestGreen2]

I jave experience but medicine wffects everyone differenly. Only thing that was has worked forneveryone ive known adderall,vyanse, dexetrine_stat.