ADHD medication problems- help needed!

[Manchestertimes]

My daughter was diagnosed with ADHD last summer and has been taking medication since. Started with medikinet which worked a bit and dose was increased to but no major improvement (but also no major side effects)
She was then changed to concerta and it has been a nightmare- very tired, irritable says she can't talk to friends as she has nothing to say etc.
Now just spoken to doctor and we are going to try Elvance. I feel upset as concerta was so terrible I'm scared by wat the reaction may be with Elvance.
I am close to the point of stopping the medication altogether.
Please help and give me you experiences of medication.
Thanks
Also posted on SEN board

Please don't give up. It was the same with my DS. Had to stop taking Medikinet and Concerta made him worse. He then started taking Elvanse and it was a life saver. He improved so much and took it for several years without having any problems. He's now 16 and stopped taking it as he manages well without medication.

Good luck!

Thanks so much for letting me know. My daughter is 16 so was diagnosed late. I just feel worried about Evanse as can't face another episode like concerta. Doctor said to stop taking concerta and wait for new elvanse prescription. Really hope it works

You have to just keep ploughing through. You will find the right one eventually. Its all down to genetics actually. There is a genetic test that helps to identify the best options, but I dont know if its available in the UK. Your genes code for the quantity of three or four different liver enzymes you produce. The enzymes break down the medicines. If you have lots of one type of enzyme you break it down really quickly, so dont see much benefit or only a v short duration. If you happen to not have much of that enzyme you break the medicine down really slowly so you only need a tiny amount and the side effects can be profound. Its then the interplay of all of the enzymes and it makes reactions very individual. The best way to find the right one is keep trying until you do.

Once you find the right one, it will be lifechanging. Do keep going