Focalin

[Sy5636]

My 11 year old son has been on combo medicine (clonidine & Focalin). He’s been on this combo for a year and Focalin for 3 years (only takes Focalin during school days).

He is expressing that it makes him feel angry lately. Could be the crash.

Does anyone else kids report this anger feeling from meds that they’ve been taking for awhile?

[El-Eektrified]

I’m an adult (f) taking guanfacine and vyvanse. Clonidine/ guanfacine are in the same family.

I’m on guanfacine for a year now and since past summer my psychiatrist added vyvanse.

Last weeks Ive noticed that I could get quite emotional at certain evenings. This might be the vyvanse rebound effect. It’s not every evening, it depends how I feel or things that are on my mind.

So I can imagine that anger might be a stimulant rebound effect, maybe your son needs a stimulant that will last longer? He also might be able to better express what he feels, emotions can be complicated/overwhelming for us. Try to find out where his feelings come from.

[Hidden]

My son was on Methylphenidate (kind of the same ingredient but the generic name, not branded Focalin- it’s about the speed of release to the system I think) for 8 months and as the months were passing it was worse and worse- more and more neurological side effects such as aggression, impulsivity - worse and worse rebound effect.

The clue that maybe Focalin isn’t the best option for him is the fact that his doctor added Clonidine. If it was ‘perfect’ on Focalin , doctor wouldn’t have needed to add Clonidine. I’d say now you can go the path that the doctor will keep adding other meds to counteract - so let’s say now your son reports that ‘it makes him feel angry’ so doctor will add yet another medication.

Or you could revisit the whole medication schedule that he is on. Maybe try non stimulants group medications- there are lots of options in this group. Maybe you could find a medication that would be good enough in keeping ADHD symptoms at bay and also help with anxiety, improve sleep and eating because that’s what a growing up boy, going through puberty soon needs. Maybe you can find a medication which would mean that your son takes just one medication rather than just keep adding more . I’d say do your research, Additude magazine online and other resources, read medication leaflets that should be available online so you can see what side effects may happen, make informed decision. And also don’t give up, it might be that you try something and he says he has side effects, then try something else. I know it’s frustrating since you had it all ‘sorted’ but you need to listen to his perspective because it’s him who takes these meds and if you don’t listen to him, eventually he can rebel and say he doesn’t want to take any meds. Mind you- non stimulants take longer to kick in- small effect within 2 weeks but normally for a full effect about 6 weeks.

[willandgrace]

yes! my 18 yr old son has been on ADHD meds since he was in 6th grade. He started out beautifully on Vyvanse. After about 2 years he told me he felt "angry" and irritable as well as anti-social so we switched to Dyanavel. He only takes these meds on school days because overall he doesn't really like amphetamines. Well, after a few years on the Dyanavel he kinda had the same reaction so now we are looking into changing meds again. I THINK that maybe some kids run their course with meds while others may be fine on the same medication for years and years. My 23 yr old daughter stayed on Vyvanse for several years and did very well. So I think maybe your son's experience is not uncommon.

[Sy5636]

Forgot to mention the meds Focalin is extended release. We’ve tried Focalin on it’s own but saw a difference with anxiety when we added clonidine.

He’s also tried Guanfacine (that made him extremely aggressive) and Strattera (that made his HR elevated with the combo Focalin).

I’m not sure what else I can try. We tried him off Focalin because I wanted to honor his request and not rebel and start hiding meds/refuse to take it. So far he said he liked it because it made him eat and he felt better. But the report from school was that it was a little hard to get him to pay attention.