ADHD medication thread

[Waitingforsleep]

I wondered if I could start a thread on ADHD medication?
I did post about Medikinet and it's all moved on since then I have new questions and updates that others may fine useful?
I will put the info in tomorrow but in brief-
Started Medikinet - was ok but then after 2 weeks dd seemed really explosive and angry a lot and it got worse so we had to take her off
Started on Elvanse but that was an odd one as it had an affect for 2 days (was a bit too
Much the first day as dd slept only for one hour and was so focussed she re arranged her whole bedroom the whole night) then didn't seem any difference so we have been told dd is probably one of the few who cannot tolerate stimulants so now going into strattera which we will try next week..

Anyone else share their stories as it's all so complicated!

[jokerreturns]

Am I too late to this party?

DD had recently been diagnosed with emotional dysfunction but now as ADHD. Is on Elvanse but the effects seem to last too long, can't eat after a breakfast, pretty much no lunch and picks at dinner, stomach aches, constipation and generally tearful and quite unhappy in herself.

Am in 2 minds whether it is ADHD or emotional problems as I have been told they carry very similar symptoms so can be hard to differentiate. Anyone have anything similar as back next week to see her consultant.

[MrsMartinRohde]

Hello. My DS, whoo is 10, was diagnosed a few weeks ago (already diagnosed ASD when he was 7). He's starting a trial of Medikinet XL tomorrow and really really hoping for no side effects he can't tolerate because he's not very open to meds and if he connects them with feeling ill he's unlikely to give them a fair trial... Are side effects really common?

[AGirlHasNoCake]

can I join in? My son has just been diagnosed - at 19!- at a private clinic. His diagnosis is "severe" ADHD, combined type.

We are still on private script and he's been started on Elvance 30mg

He cant eat. And he cant sleep. :( He gets to 8pm when the meds run out and he is bouncing off the walls, eats like a locust, stays up watching TV and no sleep.

I see some people looking at Melatonin as an answer for sleep? Is there anything available over the counter that he could try?

[Mumofboys30]

Hi! Having read through this thread. I wondering if anyone has had the same problems?
My son who’s 7 nearly 8 has been diagnosed with adhd recently ( I’ve known for years) he was put on Medikinet XL moderate release capsule 10mg. I didn’t notice much change but he was a bit grumpy! I put this down to being tired and it being time for the summer holidays! He recently got put up to 20mg to try and see more change in him. However !!! He’s so depressive, emotional, tearful etc telling me he wants to move away/die etc etc!! This is unlike his personality, everyone says he’s the happiest, most pleasant, fun loving little boy going. It’s been heartbreaking to see and made me feel so guilty for putting him on medication. The doctor has told me to stop immediately and to try quick release of 5mg in the morning then again at lunch and then again in the afternoon if he needs it. I’m scared to try anything now! As much as I know it’s not an over night fix. I really hoped he’d be fine and have a noticeable change on the first medication and if anything it’s made him even worse. He massively struggles to concentrate at school and on any daily task really and is so hyper so he does really need some medication after years of behavioural therapy and not a lot or change :(

[Emzo]

Hi everyone I am new here and really need some advice I'm currently going through the progress of my son having his adhd assessment and soon starting his medication now the doc have prescribed him melatonin 2 help him sleep 2mg tablet I managed to hide it in a yoghurt last night but tonight he had a complete melt down and refused to take it any advice on how I can give it him please he is 6 years old

[reytmardy]

DS(13) using Intuniv. He hit puberty suddenly and is now arrogant, terribly irritable, slow and argumentative. He can't tolerate a higher dose and can't take stimulants. Any ideas? (Clutching at straws)

[BGD2012]

Does anyone has experience of Medikinet? My 12 year old has been on 20 mg slow release for a couple of months. His appetite and sleep are unaffected but he can seem quite zombie like at times with it. He also has the faster release ones but I really dont like the effect they have on him (even more zombie like) so have stopped him taking them. Is all the medication pretty much the same?

[Medee]

On reflection, and in discussion with her doctor, we have decided to stop the methylphenidate for now to see if the absences stop. We will review in September after the start of the new academic year.

[Medee]

DD8 had two absence seizures on Saturday. Our ADHD appointment is on Tuesday but meanwhile I've emailed our epilepsy nurse. OH is reluctant to up the epilepsy meds again. I'm more open minded but as methylphenidate at the low dose she's on doesn't seem to be helping I'm not sure if we should just stop it.

[Medee]

My daughter mentioned a headache once when she first started, but not enough to accept calpol and she never mentioned it again. I believe it's a common side effect though.

[ChilliScallops]

My DD10 started taking the slow release methylphenidate during schools days only. She has been experiencing bad headaches which seem to get worse as the week goes on. She actually was off sick the last 2 fridays as the headache has been so bad. Only been taking the meds for 3 weeks for inattentive ADD not hyperactive.

Has anyone else experienced this? She is quite headaching anyway so thinking that the meds are making them worse.

[drspouse]

Bear in mind that after you stop taking the ADHD meds it can take a while to clear out of the system (DH was googling dodgy things about how to fake a work drugs test, basically, when DS was on his other meds and still seizing after 3 days off them).

We had something similar (is it an absence? is it a very short tonic/clonic?) as he moved onto a higher dose of methyphenidate but we were about to talk to the paeds doctor anyway so we rang him, he rang back straight away and boom bang he's on the new epilepsy meds.

[Medee]

Good news, DrS.

My DD had another brief episode yesterday that I am calling an absence seizure (they may not be, they look like the very beginning of her usual seizures but only last 30secs or so.) So no dose of methylphenidate yesterday and I might get in touch with our epilepsy team as that is the third one. We're back with the ADHD doc next week.

[drspouse]

Just popping on to say we have a new epilepsy med and no seizures for a week. DS is a LOT calmer and I really feel like I've got my lovely boy back. Now we need some concentration at school.
He hasn't been too anxious either - joining in more and refusing less.

[WeaselsRising]

My DD is on 15mg of Medikinet XL. The dose hasn't been increased for a couple of years. We were concerned that she always looks worried and at Parents Evening all her teachers said the same. The paed says that as the meds mask the ADHD it allows the anxiety to be prominent.

Meds have always affected her appetite. She isn't hungry at all during the day but when she gets home from school she's like a locust. When she first went onto the meds at primary we were giving her milkshakes and nutella to try to keep her weight up. It doesn't seem to have had any long-term effects; she has always been the tallest in the class and is having a growth spurt.

I take ADS and Elvanse, and gave myself a break from both over the Easter holiday. Really not a good idea. I felt OK at the start of the week but by the weekend I was getting really wound up by everything. Back at work (and on the meds) yesterday and I was shaking and sweating as if I was about to have an interview, most of the day. It was horrible.

[drspouse]

They do tend to be cautious about increasing.
We had another couple of seizures but the hospital paeds is great and even rang me from his annual leave and a different epilepsy med will be prescribed tomorrow. So we're very happy that's happening.

[BGD2012]

My son is 11 and started 10mg of the slow release a couple of weeks ago. I don't think it has done much and he also hasn't had a problem with his appetite or sleeping. I have an appointment with the Dr to review the prescription next week, I'll be asking for a slightly higher dose.

[Taiga]

Hello.

I'm new on this thread.
My son who is 10 was finally diagnosed in December. He has now been on medikinet fast release 5mg for 3 weeks. We saw the doctor at cahms today to review it but because the school holidays, we haven't had a chance to get feedback from school. In my and dad's opinion the meds don't do much and we were hoping to try a higher dose. The doc however decided to keep him on the same 5mg dose for the next 4 weeks. I feel pretty frustrated at this point and I don't really understand why the doc is so hesitant to up the dose. His appetite is just the same and there hasn't been side effects other than tantrums on the first week.
He's been off it today though and the tantrums have been pretty bad.

Anyway, I don't really know what was the purpose of this post other than rant a bit and maybe see if other people have had the same experience. We are still waiting for cahms to write to the school and the GP so not impressed about the time they're taking with that either.

[SleepyPaws]

@drspouse we aren't, we knew there was a 2yr+ wait so opted to go private straight away and not through the NHS.

[drspouse]

ThanksSleepy that's exactly our situation. Were you on a waiting list for NHS diagnosis at all? We are apparently still on ours.

[SleepyPaws]

@drspouse we went down the private route, we had to pay for the prescription until our DS was settled on the medication (around 4m) then moved to shared care with the GP. Changes are only made by his psychiatrist though so we have had to pay for the 1st month each time it's changed before the GP takes over again.

[Smorgs]

drspouse we are not in the UK. The doctor prescribing at the moment is a child psychiatrist attached to a hospital. Once we have found the right dose/formulation then our family doctor can do the repeat prescription, but only because she has additional training for this. Methylphenidate is a heavily scheduled drug here.

[drspouse]

If you are at the stage where your GP is prescribing - how many changes are they willing to make? We are currently getting private prescriptions, but obviously keen to get back to the NHS.

[Smorgs]

drspouse yes, exactly that. Hopefully it will mean fewer side effects in the late afternoon/evening - he is regularly not going to sleep until 10.30 and hardly eating anything for dinner.

[BGD2012]

We started my son on 10mg of Medikinet on Saturday. It is also the slow release.