ADHD meds?

[redmama2]

Starting my 5 year old on medication this summer! He is incredibly hyperactive and has a lot of aggression (punching, kicking, pinching, etc.) usually towards me and other caregivers, he's able to control it at school and around his baby sister (thank goodness).

Any suggestions on what would be a good medication to start with based on these symptoms?

[Trying1978]

They will likely start with a stimulant, depending on your doctor.

Then it can be simple (It works!) or a long process.

My son (7 now, 1st Grade) was simple at first (Ritalin CD ER), but since it has been a long process. We might add on a non-stimulant drug this summer, then remove the stimulant at some point before next school year starts because we've been having so many issues and changing stimulants and doses so much during this school year.

My daughter (almost 9, 3rd Grade) just went on Ritalin CD ER on day one and never changed; it helps clear about 75% of behavior, and therapy helps work on the rest. That's the goal, they say.

So I'd do your research--I feel like this whole process requires a neuropharmacology graduate class--and give your input. Hopefully, they will listen.

I would go for the longest-acting version of whatever is being talked about to help attenuate the crash, depending on when he gets home from school. That is a big consideration.

Last year, when my son was in half-day kindergarten, and I was at home, there was no crash because we were always doing some together. But there definitely was as soon as he started full-day camps last summer.

Watch the effect on appetite and weight, too. My son was slight initially, but eating has been a struggle with the stimulants.

For my son, our original pediatrician wasn't much interested in our feedback, but his new behavioral health place, with a real child psychiatrist, is.

After many different doses of the Ritalin CD ER, then Vyvanse, we are currently trying different doses of Focalin XR (a slightly different version of regular Ritalin CD ER) and if that doesn't help, I think we are moving away from stimulants because of the crash, increased volatility, etc.

Hope that makes sense. This may all sound negative; I hope it doesn't! When they work, the meds are amazing at helping the kiddos focus and do the therapy kind of work. We've just had two weeks of crisis and changing medications, and many doctor visits with my son about all of this over the past two weeks, so that's likely inflecting the tone of my post!

It's trial and error. Keep notes! It helps.

[Fish1fish in reply to Trying1978]

See about getting a Genesight test. It can be useful in providing you with info on what may and may not work based on his genetic profile.

We had my daughter tested and it more or less stated that stimulants were not a good fit for her, sure enough stimulants caused her aggression to worsen.

genesight.com/product/

[Trying1978 in reply to Fish1fish]

OK, great! Thanks for the info. Will do!