30mg vyvanse to almost 6y boy - CHADD's ADHD Pare...

CHADD's ADHD Parents Together

23,062 members6,149 posts

30mg vyvanse to almost 6y boy

Jorge_L profile image
8 Replies

My son gonna make 6years, last 3 months we have been dosing in milk 10mg of vyvanse with some very good results.He is now more intolerant and agressive with himself (side effect or by left ritalin witch calms down)

But i can only think... What if...

He is diagnosed with adhd since his 3y.

Someone have experience in dosing 30mg of vyvanse on 6y children?

Thanks in advance!

Written by
Jorge_L profile image
Jorge_L
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
8 Replies
am3646 profile image
am3646

I can’t speak to its effect on a 6 year old, but I’ve been on and off Vyvanse for a few years. When I started taking it again after my son was born, it made me extremely irritable. I’m not an angry person but I was triggered by anything. I had to stop it after only 2 or 3 weeks. When I started it again recently, I no longer experienced that side effect.

Medicine affects everyone differently; my son had awful reactions to Clonidine and Guafacine which had the opposite effect of not calming him when he took those to help with his ADHD and severe sleeping issues. In fact, his behavior worsened and he spiked fevers constantly on those meds. He’s off those now and I’m guessing will need medication again soon.

Not every medicine will provide enough help to outweigh the side effects so even if the Vyvanse is working in one way, there are other meds that are effective he can try that may not have that side effect. I’m not a doctor or have any background to suggest that’s the best way, but I would immediately bring this up to his doctor and/or a behavioral therapist. He shouldn’t have to feel that way, especially at his age.

Side point: I also have a nearly 6 year old diagnosed at 3. This has been a trying and painful 3 years and I’m hoping both boys are able to find appropriate relief soon.

Jorge_L profile image
Jorge_L in reply to am3646

I was focus in improving his learning skills, not giving primary importance to his mood explosions. I will report that and adjust if necessary. Thanks!!

anirush profile image
anirush

My grandson did not do well on Vyvanse either. We had to switch to Straterra with Guanfacine as an additive. But everyone is different. You said he is doing better on the Vyvanse? Maybe a small increase instead of from 10 to 30?

Elijah1 profile image
Elijah1

What happened on 20 mg daily?

Jorge_L profile image
Jorge_L in reply to Elijah1

Im on 10mg, he is my son, not my pet or toy! I dont like meds, but i dont want my son to die on street because he dont pay any attention to traffic or something simple and fatal like that.

At 3years he was taking risperidone, at 5 we change to ritalin and now vyvanse.

My son at the moment dont know the letters (cant relate the letter with sound) , dont know the numbers (but he can count to 3 objects) .

He started saying words like dad at 3, but only now (5y to 6y) with meds, evolving to sentences. Thats why im happy with Vyvanse.

My son:

He is very very sweet but explosive (except when under ritalin) . He dont like to build, dont like mind efforts but like to destroy. He is not plastic (very hard to change his focus or goal). Cant focus, cant stop, and sweat alot at night (not with risperidone and ritalin)

Always been like that!

I started to know my son mind when at 4,5 years i intruduce nintendo games. His first contact i will never forget, he picks and drop "it is hard, i have to think" than he picks again and never drop more. His mind was far ahead of what i though. He learned games, keys functions solved puzzles like other kids or even better.

Since then i let him play, when he come from school. He is developing his mind, but now i have the challenge to make the school and learning attractive to him, thats my main goal at the moment (any sugestion how?).

I try my best and i hope sharing help me and others.

Elijah1 profile image
Elijah1 in reply to Jorge_L

Maybe I misunderstood your posting, but you asked about giving Vyvanse 30 mg in the original post. This suggests that 10 mg was not sufficient. That is why I asked if giving a smaller increase might be a more cautious next step.

QTinTX profile image
QTinTX

My son went through a full psychological evaluation at the age of 5 and was diagnosed with Moderate ADHD and possible ODD. We started on 20 mg of Vyvanse and slowly increased to 40 mg by the time he was 6 years old. We also started play therapy to help with his behavior challenges. The counselor determined he was not even remotely ODD. She assessed his frustration with the overstimulation of the environment was what caused him to respond in a way that resembled ODD responses. We also worked on many different activities to help him develop coping skills, process social cues, and evaluate his own emotions and filter his responses. To be honest the first two years of play therapy, it felt like I was the one in training. The Vyvanse helped his focus, but was only effective while he was at school. It took over an hour to begin working and would wear off shortly after school let out. So homework or after school activities were a constant battle. But the BIGGEST improvement to his behavior hurdles came from Therapeutic Limit Setting - which both PARENTS have to apply in order for it to be effective and get results. You'll have to look it up, but it's all about giving your child the power of CHOICES and connecting THEIR Choices with the NATURAL CONSEQUENCES... we as the parents had to learn to APPLY the consequences consistently and never once give in and change the consequence. If you do, the child will learn to "up the ante" every time in order to get their way. To give you an example, we had to learn to say, "When [child's name] finishes his/her meal, [child's name] may have dessert. If [child's name] does not finish his/her meal, [child's name] will not have dessert." It wasn't about Mom/Dad making the choice. It was the child's choice. And you have to say the child's name so that they associate the choice as being theirs. My son is now nearly 13 years old. He's still on Vyvanse at 50 mg. He's been on that dose for 2 years. We haven't been to counseling for 5 years, but we will probably be finding one again soon. Although that is more related to being a teenager than having ADHD. What I have learned over the years speaking with other parents about their ADHD kids, is that if stimulants work, for them, non-stimulants didn't; and vice versa if non-stimulants work for them, stimulants didn't. So if you tried non-stimulants and the side-effects created more issues, but the stimulants are working without the side-effects then stick with those and try a different dose. But NO medication is the final solution. You must also address the behavior, and their choices and consequences. At 6 years old, you can still use therapy books that you can read to your child. The best books I found were by Julia Cook and my son really enjoyed them. They helped him feel understood, and he learned words he could and should use, not the ones that he responded with impulsively. Another helpful tool was for us parents to key into his emotional responses. Whenever my son felt guilty or embarrassed, his reaction looked like anger. But he wasn't mad. He just didn't know how to deal with the emotion. Once we clued into that, we could "interview" him and trace what the trigger was and talk him through a better response that wouldn't lead to him being "in trouble" and him feeling like a failure. It was hard work and he's come along way. And although he may have preferred to hyper focus on playing video games instead, I'm sure some day he (or his future spouse) will thank us for all the time and dedication we invested in helping him learn the coping, social and life skills necessary to navigate adulthood, which is not really that far into the future. It really does go by fast.

Jorge_L profile image
Jorge_L in reply to QTinTX

Thanks alot for your time my friend, i will look further.

You may also like...

Vyvanse

My 7-year-old son was recently diagnosed with ADHD. We started him on Focalin last week and it...

Vyvanse need encouragement

The serious side effects are rare like with all medications! If she does have a side effect - it...

New here... Senior in high school | Vyvanse causing depression after 8 years

My son has been on Vyvanse (very low dose) for the past 8 years with little issues. He had a...

Vyvanse

Anyone has experience with their child taking Vyvanse for ADHD and ODD. Any strange side effects I...

Vyvanse for 6 1/2 yr old

if any other parents had experience with Vyvanse for their children ,my son who is 6 1/2 has been on