Adhd medication for autistic child

[Suz555]

My 10 year old son has level 2 autism and adhd. He recently started taking methylphenidate 10 mg for adhd but I am seeing negative effects such as much less engagement and speech (he has very little speech to begin with and this has now reduced). Would love to speak to another parent who autistic child takes meds for adhd and hear how the journey has been.

This can happen for some people. I would speak to the HCP who prescribed. For some it settles down, others need a different medication.

Thanks for your reply. He's only been on the meds for 3 weeks, hopefully it will settle down. If not we will ask to change the medication

My ds also has ASD and ADHD and I heard from many that once the ADHD is reigned in with meds, the ASD gets more prominent, and I'm worried that this will happen with ds. My dd is autistic, level 2, same level as ds, but she comes across as much more severely autistic (won't leave the house, can't attend school, won't speak in online lessons, can't tolerate being around people, extreme dependence on routines). Ds currently is much more open to socialising, going out, talking etc. But I think that's the ADHD. If the ADHD wouldn't interfere with learning so much, we wouldn't try meds as I see it as a saving gift for his ASD. We'll see how it goes, still on the waiting list for titration.

I've read that it's very much trial and error with adhd meds as there's a few different ones you can try. I've also read about autistic children with adhd finding one that does suit them. Fingers crossed for me and you we will get there eventually!

Hi @Suz555my son is 6 with autisms and ADHD, he has been on methylphenidate since April, we have made the decision this weekend so stop the medication, and speak to paediatrician to try alternative medication.

Although the medication has helped him focus for short periods of time, the fall out is not worth it. He is aggressive, fixated on things, less social, and it has been a really tough few months.

Thanks for your reply. Yeah sounds like this particular one doesn't suit your son. Hope you have better luck with the next one. Let me know how you get on.

I have 2 adhd kids.

Ones pure adhd however she has routines for food since food became an issue.
Concerta 36mg shes 10 weighs 32kg she was 35kg before meds then went to 29kg and she looked like a skeleten was awful. So happy shes 32kg now. Anyways no meds today or yesterday as we arent socialising this weekend anyways and i want her to eat more. She decorated my mums bathroom yesterday 2 bottles of shaving foam (my mum told me today) we are all adhd so is what it is. Anyways on meds shes quiet subdued and focussed so its normal. Without shes fighting at school bullying otheds not focussed and well how she was yesterday.
Effectively your used to a hyper child.

My elder child is 15 sef asd as very black and white.
Without meds she was running between boys and couldnt focus shes internal hyper but more add.
She takes methylnate xl 40mg and x2 instants at lunch time.
Meds wise shes calm focussed kind caring
Without shes horrible to me. But either way still very black and white and lost a lot of weight with elvanse and concerta so these meds are a better fit.
But yeah meds make you listen and focus thats the whole point. I take concerta. But instants make me feel so calm and listen

Elvanse is quite good though for the dual ive found but the come down is awful and the weight loss can he drastic since its basically a weight loss pill

However if you do have a come down then top up of dex help with elvanse.