Child ADHD meds help!

[L0309]

Hi all,

sorry to post here but not having much luck in sen group.

Just looking for some advice.

My 9 year old son was put on medikenet (methylphenidate)5mg twice a day (mornings and afternoons) in March.

We had a really great improvement with them and the school really noticed the difference. we noticed some old behaviours creeping back recently but overall still much better.

We went for a review in August he was put on Metyrol 10mg (methylphenidate) slow release once a day. The paediatrician said we probably wouldn’t see much difference as it was still a low dose for his weight/age.

He as been taking this dose for 2 weeks and the effects haven’t been good. He seems really irritable and ready down in the dumps 😞 also I keep finding his paints soaked in wee! This has never happened since he was potty trained.

What do I do? I know you have to give the medication time to get used to it but all I’m seeing are negative results.

Has this happened to anyone else? Should I go back to his original dose as it really did help him? I’m feeling like a terrible mum right now for upping the dose when it probably wasn’t necessary.

Has anyone ever gone back down to a lower dose after going higher?

Many thanks x

Hi
My experience with adhd meds is that the effects can be greatly different between the slow release kind and the "normal" ones.
I would get him back on the previous kind as soon as you can tbh

I'd contact the doctor. But in the meantime I'd go back to the old dose.

When I started taking stimulants the immediate effect was incredible. You can feel the increase in focus and initially this helps you to be more productive. However that initial euphoria, dopamine rush or whatever you want to call it does not last. Ideally, once your body is used to rhe meds the meds will just quietly help you with your symptoms without you actually feeling differently. I think, at this point many people start struggling with symptoms again. It may mean you need a higher dose or it may mean you need to learn how to be productive like a 'normal' person. It took me about a year to learn how to be productive on meds. A lot of thst requires behavioural strategies.

I take a different medicstion (lisdexamphetamine) but i feel irritable and down in the dumps with them as well. I crash really badly. I hate taking them. This side effect has only got better marginally with time so I'd definitely suggest changing back to instant release, which I think medikinet is. Everyone is different but 5mg twice a day does sound very low so it is possible that at some point you might need to (very slowly and gradually) up the dose. When you do, at that point when the increased focus and motivation hits him try to implement behavioural strategies (lists, planners, alarms, Internet blockers, whatever his particular symptoms need and whatever works for him) so that they will help him once his body down regulates again and the meds appear to slightly lose effect.

Don't feel bad. It takes ages to find the right medicstion and the right dose and it's different for everyone so you can only do trial and error. Best of luck.

My son is also on 5mg twice a day and was offered the same as you (10mg once a day). Decided against it for now as the 5 x2 works but he crashes badly in between doses (also autistic and global delays), felt it would impact him and school/evening time worse if it happened in the afternoon!

You're not a terrible mum, medication is tricky and you don’t know how it’s going to take effect until you try it. I agreed to my eldest having melatonin and it gave him a bad stomach- I felt awful but he was also exhausted and his behaviour severely affected by not sleeping! Changed the type and he’s been ok since (bar one hiccup trying a different brand). I’d ask to go back to what he was on.

Oh just to add. Do try to speak to the doctor first as they might not take kindly to you changing anything without consulting them as you are dealing with a controlled drug. Or at least call the admin person and ask them to check with the doctor. When you do speak to the doctor Also ask them what kind of dose changes you can make yourself without consulting them. I don't know how it's for kids but I only get one or two appointments a year so a lot of this stuff I had to figure out myself.