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Original poster

adhd medication

34 replies

happymummy2010 · 20/12/2010 19:16

After much deliberation and loads of sleepless nights wondering what best to do I finally agreed for my DS (7) to trial medication to see if it helps his ADHD.

Today was the first day of the trial and he has taken 2 5mg tablets of Equasym and I have to say I have seen no change in his behaviour at all.

Could it be that the dosage is too low or does it normally take a few days for the tablets to take effect ?

Is anyone willing to share their experiences of their DC starting on medication ?

Thanks !

OP posts:

jellyhelly · 20/12/2010 20:06

Hi happymummy2010,
First time I have posted but a long time lurker.Just wanted to say hello, I have
no advice but am in the same position...waiting for perscription for DS1 to come from doctor and panicing about whether my DH and I are doing the right thing.
Good luck and I hope it works out I will be watching this thread very closely!

purplepidjbauble · 20/12/2010 20:15

I don't know about starting equasym etc, but I would give it a minimum of a week unless you see awful side effects. Anti-depressants take 4 weeks or more, but I don't know if it's comparable...

Good luck with it. Drugs are not defeat, they are just a tool to help you all cope

Original poster

happymummy2010 · 20/12/2010 20:21

Hi Jellyhelly

Thanks for posting - its comforting to hear that someone else is going through the same as me and that I'm not alone !

Making the decision to try medication has probably been one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make. As I said in my post I have had many sleepless nights and shed many tears before deciding to give it a go !

DS seems fine and at the moment doesn't seem to be suffering from any of the side effects I have read about. I know its early days yet, and I don't think the current dosage is having any effect on his behaviour. The Dr is phoning on Weds to see how we are getting on so will mention it then.

How old is your DS ?

Get in touch if you want to chat or exchange notes !

OP posts:

tibni · 20/12/2010 20:32

ds started a few weeks ago.

First couple of weeks he complained of headaches but they soon passed. I was told it takes time for the tablets to reach a medicating level- and to keep a diary to make notes of changes, even small ones.

I am still very much at the start of the process too. Ds primary dx is ASD.

HelensMelons · 20/12/2010 21:06

Hi ds2 (asd/adhd) is 9 and is on equaysm xl, 20 mgs. He started in September 2009. Our paed told us that we should start to see the effects after about 30 minutes of him taking his tablets and we do. He is more settled and concentration better, etc. He can become a bit anxious when the meds are wearing off and his appetite is affected (he eats very little of a packed lunch in school).

It may be that the dosage is just a bit too little - that can be trial and error; I have recently increased ds's dosage as he had been on 15mgs but I knew it wasn't really enough.

It is a very personal choice accessing the medication and I suppose I still feel guilty sometimes which I know is ridiculous. The meds really do help ds in school and socially a bit so it's worth it x

jellyhelly · 20/12/2010 21:28

Hello again
DS1 is 5.10 How old is yours?
So understand how you feel- our son also has ASD and I have always suspected ADHD but only had it confirmed last week. I'm not sure what medication is ( paediatrician used generic name on script) but I know it's 10mg and fast release. She expained that the dose starts of small and then they adjust it to suit.
I am so torn - I know it will make a big difference but at the moment my heart is ruling my head. So many people I've talked to can't see a problem- but when it's your child the emOtional impact is huge.
Thinking of you and hope you find the right dose- keep me posted !

purplepidjbauble · 20/12/2010 21:50

Jellyhelly - is it Methylphenidate?

I only know because I used to work with teens with ASD, and the company told us to call it methylphenidate in case one of them decided to refuse their meds because of Ritalin scare stories!!

Original poster

happymummy2010 · 20/12/2010 21:59

DS is 7. He has also been diagnosed with mild ASD.

Its now 9.50pm and he has only just dropped off to sleep, he is normally very good at going to bed. I know insomnia is a possible side effect of the medication but I'm hoping the excitement of Christmas is the root cause of him having difficulties settling down tonight rather than the first day of medication.(Fingers crossed !)

DS is on fast release at the moment, but if the medication is effective we hope to move to slow relese so he will only has to take 1 tablet a day and the school won't have to give a second tablet at lunchtime.

OP posts:

jellyhelly · 20/12/2010 22:02

Hi purplepidjbauble ( love the name) It might well have been- handed script in to pharmacy and didn't write it down - It did strike me as strange and Ritalin did cross my mind
Thanks for the info!

purplepidjbauble · 20/12/2010 23:25

Methylphenidate is the active ingredient of things brand-named Concerta, Ritalin, Equasym. AFAIK, it is from the same family as Speed, and acts on/regulates the same part of the brain. Another reason we were warned about calling it Ritalin is because the stuff sells for about £15 a tablet on the streets, and we didn't want the kids tucking it in their cheeks then flogging it (this apparently does happen!!)

r3dh3d · 20/12/2010 23:49

All depends on dosage and how appropriate that dose is for your child.

If they are on a high enough dose, you should get response in less than a week. My personal experience is about 3 days*. But if you are on a v low dose it will do sod all, and you have to up the dose and give the new dose a week or so. The issue is that some kids respond at v low doses so best to start at a dose that doesn't work for most and then increase till you find a dose that works.

I got response within 3 days, then about 14 days of mild side-effects which went away.

jellyhelly · 21/12/2010 09:00

Morning happymummy2010, did your little one sleep okay through the night? Hope day 2 goes well

Original poster

happymummy2010 · 21/12/2010 09:30

Hi Jellyhelly

DS finally went to sleep at 9.50pm and was awake again by 6am this morning. He has always been an early riser though !

He has just taken his first tablet of the day. We are off for an OT appointment this morning so its all go this week !

He's happily stting playing on his DS at the moment. Difficult to know whether he is calmer than normal as he has always been able to sit and play on that for hours ! We will only really know if it is making any difference when he goes back to school.

If we do decide to continue with the medication I'm keen to only give it to him on school days and let him have a break at weekends and during the holidays.

When are you planning on starting your DS on the medication ?

OP posts:

jellyhelly · 21/12/2010 10:27

Hoping to start sometime this week- we are snowed in so DH will have to dig out car to get to doctors! I really want to start him during the holidays- am preparing for crying and tearful moments. like you we hope to only give him doses during school day as it's here that his ADHD really impacts.
Glad to hear your DS settled and 6am sounds so familiar!!

mariagoretti · 21/12/2010 16:49

Another vote for giving it a bit longer.

The other thing to remind yourself of, is that meds don't result in 100% good days. Even though I knew that, I didn't remember it. Every time life went back to 'non-medicated' stress levels, I said to myself, "See, meds aren't working". But of course life was only reaching those levels half the time.

I wish I'd kept a diary.

jellyhelly · 23/12/2010 17:46

Hi happymummy2010,
just thinking about you and wondering how u and ur DS are getting on.

wendihouse22 · 23/12/2010 18:27

You need to give it time to kick in, I think.

My son started on meds for OCD additional to autism. I feel shocking guilty every time I crush those little white tabs into fromage frais.

So, not really seen any improvement but am told it takes time.

Original poster

happymummy2010 · 23/12/2010 20:24

Hello Jellyhelly

Thanks for thinking of us.

Well, he has been taking the medication for 3 days now and it had made no difference to his behaviour at all. He is still as active and hyper as ever. The Doctor said I would definately see a change if the medication was having an effect.

I'm assuming the dosage is not strong enough. The Doctor was meant to be phoning me either yesterday or today to check how we were getting on, check for side effects and see if there has been any change in his behaviour and potentially review the dosage but she didn't call ! I Think she is now on holiday until 4th Jan.

I'm not really sure what to do now - Do I continue giving him the tablets even though they don't seem to be doing anything or stop him taking them until I speak to the Doctor after Christmas ?

Has your DS started his meds yet ?

OP posts:

Original poster

happymummy2010 · 23/12/2010 20:30

Sorry, just realised I have been very rude and not thanked eveyone else who has taken the time to post with advice and words of support.

Many Thanks - I really appreciate it.

I thought the meds would have an imediate effect, or within 30 minutes of taking the tablet and then start to wear off after about 4 hours, but as I mentioned above he has been taking them for 3 days now and have seen no change in him at all.

OP posts:

jellyhelly · 23/12/2010 21:27

happymummy2010,
sorry you haven't seen a difference yet
I'm sure someone out there has better knowledge than me, but from all I read and hear it takes a while and keeping on giving it to your DS until you get word from your dr might be the best thing to do ( I wait to be corrected!)
We managed to get to the pharmacy today only to have confusion over what DS should be getting- Chemist didn't know if it should be Ritalin or Equasym- Apparently Equasym is being discontinued but then it turned out they didn't have either and will have to phone around to find a supply -ho hum.

Sending you a christmas wish that tomorrow night your son settles ok and sleeps in to a resonable time ( I think my DS might explode with the excitment of santa!)

r3dh3d · 23/12/2010 22:31

My understanding is that it takes a few days to work - usually you see an effect within 5 days, it was 3 for me. But it has to be the right dose, definitely, I had to increase two or three times to get it right. What I did was give it 14 days at one dose before upping to the next one, then I felt I'd given it a fair trial. But I'd agreed the whole plan with the doctor before starting. Bit hard to say what to do if she's not in now till 4th. Is there no-one else you can see between Xmas and New Year? If only a phone consultation?

On the plus side - at least no side-effects, which bodes well I think.

PotMarigold · 24/12/2010 00:14

our paed started us off with a low dose so relatively little difference was noticeable, this was just to make sure there were no bad reactions.

when the dose increased i still wouldnt say there is a sudden difference noticeable after 30 mins but during the course of the morning you'd notice some differences eg gets on better with siblings, is generally calmer, talks more intensely about a particular topic, remembers things.

i think it is absolutely right to feel worried about starting med - it IS a big deal, these are controlled drugs. in our case tho (to reassure you) the benefit has been some improvements at school and socially. it is not a magic button to cure but what else is going to help as much?

best of luck!

homeboys · 24/12/2010 10:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster

happymummy2010 · 24/12/2010 12:27

The GP won't deal with the ADHD medication - they won't even write a repeat prescription ! It is a Doctor at CAMHS that we have been dealing with and I think CAMHS is closed today.

DS seems a bit lathergic today - but I think he may well be coming down with a cold or something. He is lying on the sofa with a blanket on saying he is tired and cold. I think he may be milking it a bit so he can sit and watch TV all afternoon !

I'll continue to give his the medication over the festive period unless it becomes apparant he is starting to get side effects and then I will stop. This hopefully should be ok as you can have a break from the medication e.g at weekends etc

Thanks all for your continued support

OP posts:

purplepidjbauble · 24/12/2010 16:42

Hi all, hope the meds are working out?

Just FYI, "controlled drugs" means they have a high street value and/or have an adverse effect on people who shouldn't take them - insulin is also a controlled medication, to be kept double locked away in a care setting... I't as much to make care workers like me be more careful as anything else

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