Changing medication?

[Brightside99]

Our kiddo has been on Focalin for about four years now and has great success at school. We struggle so much in the mornings (prior to taking meds) , and it has been getting worse. It’s to the point where it’s affecting my other children, and frankly myself and my mental well-being. I’ve been reading about Jornay PM for some time and wondering if that might be a good choice for us. I’m hesitant to change, though, since Focalin is working well throughout his school day. Any thoughts would be helpful, thank you in advance!

[Onthemove1971]

Sorry for your struggles..Out son is 17 years old and has been on medication for many years.

When he was younger I asked him if he remembered the previous medications and he said he did not. I say this becuase at least for my son he doesn't "feel the medi cation". He says he just know he doesn't get into trouble when he takes it, becuase it helps him to control himself.

It sounds like your child's doctor is the one giving it to you guys. Usually they are a general doctor that doesn't specialize in medication. As life gets harder and there are more pressures medication often has to change.

Each medication does its job. Focalin is a stimulant. It's main job is to decrease impulsive behavior.

There is so much to think about, could you give your child the medication right when they wake up, then give them time for the medication to work? If you do that then it will not be effective in the afternoon, you could as for what they call a booster dose in the afternoon.

Or do you introduce a non stimulant ( yes, I almost died when I know our son needed 2 types of medication) but it really works and helped him so much. He takes Initiv, which is a non-stimulant and it is given in a 24 hour dose and he takes it at bed time.

When they have a greater need then asking for help from a child psychiatrist is very helpful to manage medication, this is what our child needed.

Best of luck in deciding what to do.

[Stressedandstriving]

I don't have any advice unfortunately. But perhaps I can offer a little hope? My son is on Focalin too and grades are great but getting lost in the mornings was always a challenge. I don't know how old your son is. Mine just turned 13 and I can tell you that for us it has gotten better, especially in the last six months. He went from having to be really micro managed perhaps similar to what you describe, to getting up, dressed on his own, getting his own breakfast and even lately packing his own lunch. Fingers crossed the same happens for you.

[Mamamichl]

I’m not sure about journay… but in other groups I’ve been hearing about some parents giving kids their meds, then letting them sleep for 30-70 mins while the meds kick in.

[ADHD_DAD]

Hi. My son is now 18 and has been on meds since 2nd grade. Like you describe, the mornings (before meds) and at night (when meds wear off) can be excruciating. When he was younger, my wife or I would actually go in his room and give him his meds about 20 minutes before he got up (he'd fall right back to sleep). Now that he takes them himself, that doesn't work. I just try to "ignore and tolerate" until he hits the shower. He's better after that (when my real son and not ADHD is charge). At night, we used to be able to get through his evening routine before he "hit the wall" around 9:30pm. I had posted in the past about my noise canceling headphones which I used to use sometimes to maintain my sanity. Now, we just kind of agree that by 9:40pm, we all need to retreat to our various corners (we learned during COVID of the importance of one's own space). I've posted often of the need for "lifestyle modification" as part of our 3 legged stool approach to ADHD management (1. meds, 2. lifestyle modification at home, 3. accommodations at school). This is an example of the "lifestyle modification." It works for us. It's not perfect, but whose life is perfect? We are content.

So, my practical advice is give him his meds 20 minutes before he wakes up. The rest is just sympathy/empathy from a parent who understands what you are going through