Inattentive ADHD teen - meds experiences?

[Pantoufle23]

Hi, I have a recently diagnosed 15yr old dd. Academically able and school were completely unaware whilst she has been completely falling apart at home with homework and revision, massively propped up by us. Appt with psych in a few days to discuss meds as we’ve tried pretty much everything else, though it hasn’t been an easy decision. Keen to hear experiences of those of you with dc diagnosed in teens, esp girls. How much have meds helped and any problems with them? Big thanks x

Not a teenager, but I was just like your daughter as a teenager, academically able but absolutely falling apart. Was diagnosed as an adult and started on a very low dose of Concerta and it was amazing, completely lifechanging for me. It felt like I suddenly found an hour within every hour and I can concentrate on stuff that's boring without losing my mind.

It does have a mild appetite suppression effect on me, but I only lost half a stone so it's not crazy - something to be aware of if your DD is already skinny though. It also took me a few tries to get the dosage right - I take a low dose, but it wears off quickly, so I take a booster at 3pm if I need one. I find that I can often skip the afternoon dose though as being organized in the morning enables me to get through the rest of the day IYSWIM.

Thanks so much for this - sounds hopeful. She just can’t concentrate/ organise her thoughts especially for essays etc which are actually the subjects she has most aptitude for and interest in. Did you feel some benefit from the concerta almost immediately? I’ve heard it can take a few months.

Fourteen year old DD on Concerta here, it has been life changing for her. Worked from the start even as the dose was slowly being increased.

Do DM me if you want to know anything else

Thanks so much, I will

35 here rather than 15 but can relate to your daughter's experience in my own teens. I was diagnosed a few months ago and am in week 2 of Elvanse. It's been life-changing already - it's a subtle difference but I am already finding I can do things like tidy the kitchen and sit down to send emails much more easily than ever before in my life, and friends have commented that while I'm still likely to go off at tangents and tell mad stories, I am circling back to the relevant discussion which I've always found impossible before.

I'd say definitely worth trying!

(and like a pp, it's definitely an appetite suppressant and I'm sleeping a bit less, but much more deeply - so at the moment the benefits absolutely balance the side effects. I don't know if dose will increase any more but happy to chat any time :)

Thanks and glad it’s helping hilariousnamehere. Was Elvanse the first one you were given? It seems most adolescents started on concerta/Ritalin

It was, although that might be due to my age? Leaflet that came with it says Elvanse is used for young people if the (name I can't remember, possibly concerta) isn't effective :)

@Pantoufle23 Sorry - returning a bit late. I noticed a difference within a couple of days. I was walking to the gym first thing in the morning and suddenly realized my mind was quiet and not racing a million miles an hour. It was amazing.

I did find the difference quite stark when the low dose wore off, but the booster, and getting better habits in place, has helped with that.

Thanks - we start a trial of Ritalin later this week. I am trying not to expect too much from it, but on the other hand it feels like the only way forward. Fingers crossed.

My dd (12) has been on concerta for 4 weeks building up gradually.
She's really struggled to swallow the tablets so success rate has not been great, so we're moving to Elvanse which is water soluble.
She is a lot less impulsive with her words (was never really impulsive with actions), her ability to take on new information has hugely improved and her appetite only very mildly affected.
Good luck op!

Great news - hope things continue to improve! Good to know side effects not a g issue .

Upping here for some advise. Dd now on 10mg methylphenidate/Ritalin 2x a day. No significant side effects but no clear sign it’s working either. Dr seemed to think we’d se something at this dose and as I understand it we will prob need to do a couple more dose increases before being able to try something else (Elvanse?). Is there still hope we will have a sudden change at a higher dose? Dd feeling very despondent. Thanks

Following as I think my just turned 13 year old has adhd. Academically very able but just this year everything is falling apart. Scored 120 in maths sats for year six and has just been moved (about to go into year 9) into the bottom of 7 sets.

I've always felt there was something wrong. How did you all go about getting diagnosed? She is impulsive and massively disorganised. She came to me and said she thought she might have adhd so clearly feels frustrated. I just don't want her to not be able to things she is capable of. I'm certain my husband has it too.

Hi nonmoneytreehere, well the good thing is you have time on your side but even so I think you might struggle to get a Camhs diagnosis or even referral in the currently climate . Have school noticed anything? Most of us go private (psychiatrist) which is pricey and then pay to titrate up through meds if appropriate. At that point a GP may agree to provide meds if you remain under the private psych.

thank you this thread is very helpful

Hi, I'm watching with interest on this, for my DD12, who is in Year 8.

Her brother has Aspergers and ADHD, but DD has always been assumed to be fine. But now, start of year 8, is falling apart with stress and anxiety, trying to stay on top of things.

Our local private facility for ADHD isn't taking on new patients though. And I've assumed we won't get anywhere through NHS without a massive wait.

In the meanwhile, I'm trying to work with her on some strategies we learnt with DS.

@Pantoufle23 sorry I missed your reply. So we had my dad assessed in school and the assessor also thought adhd traits. They also suggested dyspraxia. Ive tried a couple of private people but all so busy (and so expensive!). I've been quoted £900 before meds. Is that normal? I can't even get a gp appointment so I think nhs is a no go.

Im really keen to know if the meds really help.

@Pantoufle23 please could I ask who your DD got her adhd diagnosis from? My 14yo son shows so many inattentive adhd traits- however, he masks in school and is quite high achieving. I've always helped him make sure he remembers what he needs for school and gets his homework done so as far as school are concerned he has no major issues. I'm hoping to get him a private assessment (probably through Psychiatry UK or The ADHD centre) but there are so many clinicians to choose from and I'm really hoping to find someone who really will take the whole picture into account when it comes to how his teachers perceive him.

I have a teen Ds who's been recently diagnosed after a depression & anxiety diagnosis. The ADHD was a total left fielder & picked up by the psychiatrist during the course of the MH. appointment.

Ds tried Concerta in two different doses which seemed to work for a few days and then wear off. But he lost 8 Pounds over a couple of weeks and just couldn't eat during the day. He's now on Elvanse for the second week at a slightly increased dose. He says it's helping and there isn't such a reduction in appetite compared to the Concerta.

He's completely stopped playing computer games which is interesting. This was his only way of having fun before. There's a link between medicating yourself as an ADHD brain by playing games, inducing a dopamine reaction. Though I need to read into this more.

For those who want to know more about ADHD there is a very good online Magazine called Additude that you can register with. Excellent articles & seminars about the latest research conclusions.

My Dd (16) has recently been diagnosed with ADHD on top of ASD and SPD. She started Elvanse a couple of months ago (because it works well for her brother and her father, but Ritalin did nothing for them) and it's been life changing. We always thought she'd escaped without it because her executive function was so much better than her brother's (which was non-existent) and a need to control came with the ASD. The educational wheels came off massively for her from Y7 onwards (very bright, but collapsing at home, like others) and Elvanse has just got her back into the Sixth Form.