Eqyasym xl

[Mum2606]

Hi there my 7 years old ds has been diagnosed combined adhd we have recently started equasym xl 10mg but didn't see any effects off it what so ever so consultant upped his dose to 20mg, we have seen a small improvement in his concentration and hyperactivity but nothing major his anger outbursts are still the same has anyone else experience this ? Did your consultant up to 30mg or would this be too high for him ? Can anyone help.

What time of day is his anger. My son is on Equasym (just gone up to 30mg age 13, prior to that 20mg from age 10) and he says it makes a big difference to his concentration levels in school, so that is good. But we see him outside school hours (apart from at a weekend) and after 4pm ish it has worn off - sometime he can have a anger episode then, or sometimes a bit later say 7-8pm depending on hunger, tiredness etc.

It doesn't solve all problems, sadly - what do he and his teachers say about school behaviour?

Hi there thank you for your reply, he is still having anger outbursts during the day when his medication is in his system but he is a lot more short tempered when it has worn off and his adhd symptoms come back with vegence around 5pm ish, he hasn't had any side effects off the meds he is still eating no headaches no nothing he never has had , school haven't had him yet during the day on his new dose as he started 20mg on the Saturday after they broke up so it's been 1 week yesterday they were upped. I have asked him how he feels when he takes his medication and he said his brain is slower (bless him).

My dd was prescribed this years ago. It made her feel very angry and we took her off it.

If it isnt agreeing with him stop giving him it and ask to try something else. There are different ones to try and what works for others may not work for him...... We persevered for too long with my dd and I really regret it.

So should his anger outbursts calm down whilst on meds ? If that's the case she is calling me tomorrow to see how he is getting on, ile mention his anger too her

Equasym is methylphenidate extended release isn't it? What I found with Stimulants is that when they start wearing out you crash badly. What helped me was to dose in very small quantities but more frequently. With an extended release formulation I'm not sure how that will work as you only take it once a day but maybe you can ask his psychiatrist if he could take the minimum size of an instant release formulation (Eg 5mg of ritalin) a short time before he normally crashes.

Otherwise maybe a high protein snack for energy, a little nap or alternatively rigorous play (exercise) around that time might help. Whatever it is that helps him unwind.

Is that why he gets angry as it wears off , she mentioned to me that he shouldn't crash as its a extended release medication so goes out of there system slowly 🤔 .... I'm new too all this so I haven't a clue.