Methylphenidate for 11 year old son

[peudhrk]

He's being put straight on 18mg, is that a lot? Consultant wanted to do 5mg increments but was then told the clinic we use don't do it that way.

My son is high functioning AuADHD, I wasn't even considering medication when we first went for diagnosis but then I felt like maybe I'd be holding him so thought we'd go through titration to see how it goes. Feel guilty either way 🙄

I would say give it a try. Our dd was on medication from age 9 and it helped her so much, especially with school which was our main reason for giving it a go.
It also helped our family dynamics at home, she was calmer and easier to reason with/explain things to.
🙂

@MerryBerry12 it's funny you say that as family dynamics is what the consultant picked up on, our 2 fight like cat and dog which the ADHD exacerbates because of the impulsiveness etc. It would feel like a magic wand if it helped their relationship!

How often does she take it? We are trying the long lasting one, on school days.

If it's long acting then that sounds okay.

Normally they start on 5-10mg instant release, so an 18mg extended release would probably be about the same depending on the particular make up of the brand. (Some XR have 50% instant and 50% extended, some are 30/70)

DD (15) is on 30mg XR on school days with 5mg IR top ups if needed.

Get a copy of 'Parents Guide to ADHD Medication' if you don't have one.

Side effects we found were headaches on days without medication and horrendous come downs when meds wear off for a few hours for the first few weeks after a dose increase.

Plus difficulty falling asleep - so DD has melatonin on the side to manage that.

It helped us all enormously and reduced the meltdowns and improved things within the family.
Once a day, long lasting with a top up for later if nec for times where we might meet up with friends after school etc where friends children might find it hard to include her.

Thanks all, mad rush around town trying to find a pharmacy that actually had it in stock 🙈

Can I just ask about the come down, is that something that reduces as he gets used to the meds?

For us it tapers off over about 3-4 weeks. Then if they take a break over the summer holidays we have to go through it all over again.

Mine is simultaneously starving, hyper, exhausted and argumentative. I have learned to just avoid reacting to things for the first hour or so.

@OhCrumbsWhereNow thank you, do you just limited to school days? I will take a look at that guide.

We limit to school days and days when DD has a lot of extra curricular.
And occasionally days where I can't deal with the thought of her unmedicated.

I have hinted to the psychiatrist that it would be lovely if it was school and holidays... he is ignoring me 😂

@OhCrumbsWhereNow 😂 if it works really well, is it possible to do all the time? Or is that not recommended?

I think the jury is out.

It can potentially have an effect on growth - one of the reasons we delayed getting the Dx was that DD was incredibly tiny as a small child and as already seeing the endocrinologists (although they basically advised to get the ADHD sorted as she could be such a nightmare at appointments).

It also just seems to be the case that breaks are advised.

Hence I only get her to take them when I know that we will spend all day fighting without them. She's sooooo much more rational on them.

Thank you, I hadn't heard about growth, that's concerning.