New ADHD meds but no follow up appt

[popgoestheweezel]

I have been trying to get through to ds' Dr at CAMHS as I need to ask him about the medication ds is taking. Basically the new meds are totally ineffective. I have called four times now and he has not called back. I know he goes on annual leave on Friday and won't be back until after christmas.

Ds started meds for adhd at the end of Sept. He started on medikinet immediate release twice a day. However, he had a number of aggressive outbursts at school break times he was moved onto Concerta XL 18mg at first then a week later upped to 27mg. Things did improve with his aggression but his sleep suffered and he wasn't falling asleep until midnight despite 4mg melatonin. We had been having telephone appts throughout this time and then a face to face review appt where the Dr moved him onto 20mg equasym to help with the sleep.

I asked when our next appt would be and the Dr assured me I could ring him anytime. Unfortunately, despite giving it 10 days to settle down, ds' behaviour has been very unpredictable since we started the equasym. Lots of playground aggression and quite weepy too. I have told the receptionist every time that I've called that it is urgent that i speak to the doctor but still no one calls me back. Is this normal?

Unfortunately, it sounds like typical CAMHS administrative disorganisation.

We've had appointments changed and not been told about them and even had an appointment where we were left waiting because no one thought to tell the psychiatrist that we'd arrived, even though we'd announced ourselves over the intercom.

How long has he been on the equasym? you might need to leave it a while to see how the side effects settle down, though I know it's difficult not knowing if you're doing the right thing? My son is on Equasym XML 20 mg he is now 9 and started when he was 6, I'd say it took good 2 months for side effects to settle down, which were mainly weepiness, outbursts and trouble not sleeping. Hold on tight and give it a while yet.

Equasym xl

Ouryve, trying to get a repeat prescription a few weeks ago took 10 phone calls over the course of a week. Finally, on the day the meds ran out, they rang and told us the prescription was ready to collect but when we drove 10 mile trip and got there it wasn't! We had to wait a further hour (and frantically organise my mum to collect dc) for the dr to come out of his appt and then he asked 'what is it that you want?' Like life isn't stressful enough without this kind if thing!

Anyway, In the end I actually managed to speak to the dr at 5pm yesterday. He has increased the dose to 30mg which I am happy with.

Higher hill, reassuring to know that you found things wobbly in the beginning too. it's very difficult to wait patiently for the side effects to wear off though when he is attacking other children in the playground especially when they are younger girls :(

We had a few weeks of awfulness on the concerts at first but these settled once the dose was increased, although that could have just been side effects wearing off. I do think the equasym is certainly less effective but he is going to sleep now, which is an important bonus. Hopefully this higher dose will help.

I had to take our CAMHS letters with me for the first few months, until the GP got their act together. Thankfully, the practice is at the end of our street, so I can go backwards and forwards, if needs be.

Getting the prescription dispensed, locally, is another matter. DH has to go to ASDA, 20 miles away, on his way to work because the local chemist chain gets hardly any dispensing quota for atomoxetine and has often exceeded it, already, on the first day of the month.