ADHD medication breaks - is this normal? - CHADD's ADHD Pare...

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ADHD medication breaks - is this normal?

Simcha12 profile image
8 Replies

Hi

I would be very grateful for thoughts on the following.

My six year old son is on Medikinet XL 10mg for ADHD which does appear to help him. Side effects on the drug are mild and manageable. However, if we do not give him a dose the following happens. On the day that he does not have a dose, he behaves as if he is still medicated. However, the next day, even if he has a dose, his ADHD behaviours are much worse than before medication. I do not understand why this would be the case and it worries me.

Grateful for any thoughts, advice or experiences with this.

Thank you

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Simcha12
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8 Replies
N_37 profile image
N_37

I don’t have advice but the same thing happens in our home with my stepson- and the negative symptoms that occur are typically giant blow ups that are just exhausting for all involved. We told the psychiatrist and she said give him his meds daily with no weekend breaks, he doesn’t need to struggle for no reason. I also notice anxiety in him on his first break day, something I don’t love for him either. His mother disagrees with dosage directions and only gives him his meds when he has to be at school - so if he has any days he doesn’t have school or weeks without school - he will not be medicated. This affects his memory, his ability to control his impulses, and his emotions are all over the place. It’s hard to see him struggle but she thinks it’s good? I do not. So when he comes back to us and he’s medicated daily it’s a 360 in behavior with the first day of meds a stimulant rollercoaster until he’s used to it daily. I take note of all the patterns.

All I know is that you’re not alone on this - but I do know that at least you can see a pattern and anticipate this. I know there will be breaks in meds sometimes so I guess just buckle up for that ride when it occurs. What does your psych or physician say about this? I would be interested to understand why symptoms are actually the opposite than what’s expected.

Tina1010 profile image
Tina1010 in reply to N_37

Is it the same Med that was mentioned? My oldest is on adderall xr which I know is not long lasting (it doesn’t stay long term In body) but I did ask to add a non stimulant which would be longer lasting for the times the adderall xr wasn’t helping her. I asked about guanfacine as I had seen a lot of positive feedback and I don’t know if it was too small of a dose or what but I didn’t notice any difference with or without it. The adderall xr I do Med breaks from, usually on weekends depending on the plans because her appetite is already bad, add that to it and she barely eats to the point they added something to help her appetite 😩

N_37 profile image
N_37 in reply to Tina1010

No / we do concerta but the generic - slow release. Lowest dose for his current weight. It lasts from 9am to about 3pm (prescribed to last 10 hours.) so that gets him through school. I have noticed over the course of six months the only thing is helps with now is emotional stability in terms of lashing out less and less tantrums. Focus is a little better - still need to explain things a billion times and redirect (but now without so much fighting.) only time I’ve noticed low appetite is when he’s anxious which happens every so often. We give it to him daily now - his mother gives it to him just for school.

mrl12 profile image
mrl12

We take breaks, but it's not so much because we feel our 7-year old needs a break from the medication itself, it's for a few different reasons. 1.) It's really expensive. 2.) She takes the transdermal patch which leaves a red, itchy spot when it comes off, so we try to five her skin a break when it's not critical for her be able to focus and control her impulses. 3.) It's very hard to get her to eat on days she wore her patch. Her weight was one thing her doctor has us monitoring. So on non-school days when she doesn't have her patch she eats a lot to make up for all those days she had no appetite.

It's not an ideal situation by any means, but we try to weather it as best we can. As she's able to take pills by mouth we might reassess, but will still need to make sure she eats enough.

Tina1010 profile image
Tina1010 in reply to mrl12

My daughter originally had the issue with pills, I did A LOT of research, First we tried opening the capsules in everything suggested and more my daughter fought it so bad it was like a half an hour of fighting that ultimately ended in both of us crying. We switched to one liquid which took a lot to get insurance approval and the dr that prescribed said it was the same as the capsule she was taking but I noticed her anxiety going up and her irritability going up to the point her sisters singing made her cry. I knew there had to be something different, sure enough it was in the same family but not the same drug Ritalin Vs adderall. The Ritalin was the one she didn’t tolerate well. Soon she started fighting over the liquid and in my research I found talk of a liquid one that tasted like bubble gum!! Of course I had to jump through hoops again but finally got approval and she was taking that for a while I bought tic tacs like a lot of people suggest and m&m’s but I still was worried she might choke, but I let her pick the tic tacs. I didn’t pressure her to try right away but I did explain that when you swallow the pills you don’t taste anything…. All of a sudden one day no practice she decided to try it and I explained how and she swallowed her first pill!! I was so happy because I was always told it was very limited what we could try to help her since she wouldn’t take capsules or crushed pills (even in apple sauce, Ice cream, etc) but unfortunately after that I found out the dr we waited a year for isn’t actually what she really needs 🙈🤦🏻‍♀️

Super_Mom profile image
Super_Mom

I don’t have advice as I am still trying to navigate life with the medication. My son takes methylphenidate and I just give it to him for school Monday- Friday so that he can get the best out of his school academically, but on the weekends I don’t give to him so it can honestly be a kid and run around and be his own personality, as long as it’s positive and I don’t know if that’s a good thing. I honestly don’t know if I’m doing him any good by not giving it to him on the weekends. There’s no real rule to this. Sometimes I feel bad for giving it to him I know he’s only 9 but if I don’t he won’t stay still to learn .

ADHD_DAD profile image
ADHD_DAD

We took medication breaks in the early days but were advised to stop by the prescriber for two reasons. 1. it results in peaks and troughs like you are experiencing. 2. the idea is for the child to learn good habits and to function as their best self, which is medicated. The medications do not change my son's personality. ADHD is not my son. My son has ADHD. Sometimes I think of ADHD like the Hulk. The medications keep the Hulk at bay so my son's personality can come through. Good luck to you.

Simcha12 profile image
Simcha12

Thank you everyone. I am grateful for your responses.

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