Equasym advice/reassurance please

[andperseand]

DS2 (AS) started methylphenidate trial last week. Began with once a day Medikinet then twice a day. 10mg in total. Earlier this week began 10mg Equasym with view to going up to 20mg tomorrow. Takes it at 8 am so should wear off by about 4 pm.

No noticeable behaviour change/improvement at all during the day (and my gut feeling is his issues are sensory rather than ADHD, but decided on trial on advice of psychiatrist). If anything he is even more unhappy with life and himself in the evenings now. DS is also on Sertraline for anxiety/OCD traits.

Never been a good sleeper, but as this week has gone on he has been worse, distressed, agitated, wide awake - he finally went to sleep ten minutes ago. (That is with melatonin too!)

I know that affecting sleep is a common side effect but does this improve? I am panicking as there is no way on earth I will cope if it is to be like this, especially as no benefit so far in the day for him (about to start ADs myself, sadly have succumbed to that too). Really scared to double the dose now.

I will phone CAMHS in the morning and check this out, but just wondered what others had experienced?

Anyone please??

my son is on equasym xl as well - hes on 20mg. i find that it does help during the day but by 4pm it is out of his system - mine also doesnt sleep very well. it may be that it is taking a little while to build up in his system - my son too has huge sensory issues and i have also been torn about whether he needs medicating but the medication does give him a window of 'calm' time - it is not a fix though because with the autism as well there is still all of that side of him to deal with as well and he has struggled still at school so im actually torn now whether i am doing the right thing - being a mum is hard! i would say give it a little bit more time -if you feel that it is making no difference to him then speak to the consultant - there are different brands etc and it may be that this one doesnt suit your son. you can also get melatonin which helps them to calm and then sleep in the evening so you could also ask for this as well

Thanks BJK. Like you I am torn and I suppose we really need to try the 20mg to see.
Decided to stop today though, spoke to CAMHS and they said that was fine, and will speak to his psychiatrist on Monday.
A very wise person asked me if perhaps DS was just excited about going away today... food for thought!
Also spoke with sleep practitioner today and I think actually what we need to do first is firmly sort out evenings and bed routine which I am first to admit I have totally lost the grip on. Then try meds again after summer.
So it is a plan of sorts!