ADHD and Medication

[Gomesmum]

Hi,
I'm new to mumsnet and was looking for some advice from other mums on ADHD and medication, after a lot of agonising and lots of different doctors later we decided based on doctors advice to try Ritalin, this seems to help but he gets stomach cramps and just sits there for a short period of time when it first kicks in, just wanted to know if anyone else has experienced this or if anyone has found other medication to be better that i could suggest to my doctor, any advice would be grateful.

I know nothing at all about this - well, only the ADHD bit.

Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will be along in a while to help out.

Just didn't want to think you were being ignored

Thank you Spinkle, hopefully someone will know something

Ds has been taking methylphenidate (Equasym) for almost a year, not a high dose (25mg a day) and it's been miraculous .

He didn't have any side-effects on short-lasting, though his behaviour worsened when we tried the Equasym XL. None of the stomach cramps you mention though. He's been back on regular Equasym since the XL didn't work, increased gradually when necessary, and he's been fine. We're looking at Strattera or similar as the next step.

Have you looked at the information sheets on Adders website? There's a lot of useful stuff on there, might find something about cramps.

The first doctor we saw prescribed Equasym but at the time I didn't want to put him on medication and it was all a bit rushed as he was running late, but as his behaviour was making him unhappy I thought I would get a second opinion and go private.

He is a specialist in ADHD and he prescribed Ritalin (only 10mg a day) but when he has had follow up appointments and I mention that it gives him stomach cramps and makes him really droppy for about an hour he says that it can't be true because it's a stimulant but even the school have raised it with me, not really sure what to do when the doctor that prescribes the medication doesn't believe the side effects he is getting.

I will look at the Adders website for more information, think I need to look at changing his doctor again.

Thanks for your reply, it has been very helpful, hopefully he will find a doctor and tablet that suits him.

A drop in appetite is supposed to be quite a common side effect, so his stomach cramps could be related to that. The appetite thing is one of the reasons why DS1 was prescribed Strattera, instead. It's a non-stimulant medication but tends to only be prescribed where there are problems or potential with methylphenidate, since it's relatively new and rather expensive to the NHS.

Hi my son was on Concerta XL for 18 months but "overrode" the med. Now on Strattera and working very well

Thank you for your replies, i may ask if they could try him on Strattera, he only takes one in the morning and then half in the afternoon, he does lose his appetite but by the evening when it all starts wearing off he doesn't stop snacking to make up for it but even so he is so thin.

Just wanted to say i work with children who have ADHD and the difference to their ability to learn with the meds is massive.

I know alot of parents really worry about giving them and find it hard but certainly in terms of educational achievement it makes a difference.

Hope that gives you some encourgement to keep trying

My ds had stomach cramps with short release ritalin though they improved after a while. He now takes a long acting version with no tummy pains at all. The droopiness can be simply the contrast to the manic hyperactivity you're used to. Or it can mean the peak effect of the dose is a fraction too high. Could you call the dr and say you want to try 5mg or 7.5 for a bit?

Thank you all for you replies and your help, giving me lots of useful advice and now hopefully I will be able to find the right medication for him.

Kurly I have noticed a massive difference in his abilities at school he has just finished year 3 and when he started the year he was of year 1 ability by the end of the term he had caught up with the rest of the class, its as if he knew it all already but the medication helped him let everyone else know that he knew it, we knew he had the ability because when he talks he is so articulate but he just couldn't focus his mind on his work, i'm definatly going to continue with the medication because I believe it's doing him a lot of good but just need to find the right one that doesn't give him the side effects that these ones are.

Mariagoretti, I will go to the doctors and ask about the peak effect of the medication, I don't think it's in contrast to what he normally like and thats why i think he is quieter, it is like he is not even with us at the time, he just sits there looking but taking nothing in, this only last between 30-45 minutes and then he is up and about again it's just not nice seeing that bit.