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!

[ILikTheBred]

Didn’t know whether to start another thread but decided to post here as you all seem so knowledgeable.

DS (9) is diagnosed high functioning ASD/ADHD. He started medikanet slow release 5mg on Saturday. So far he seems calmer, concentration definitely better, more able to hold a conversation. However he has had some epic meltdowns over the last few days - he has meltdowns from time to time but these are far more extreme than we have seen in the last few months. Am wondering if anyone else has experienced this, and if so, did it settle down?

[DeltaDelta]

Sorry to be joining late. DS (14) has been on Concerta XL36mg since 2014 before that he was on 27mg. Its main side effect was loss of appetite and feeling a bit out of it also insomnia. He was never a big child on the 50th centile and his weight plummeted to 25th centile. He used to have a break during school hols but this caused a huge problem as his body tried to adjust once term started again and he resumed medication. In the end he felt so ill and it was all so exhausting putting him on and off it. Eventually i figured that what if he used a much smaller dose during the hols so that it remained in his system and once term starts could go back to normal full dose?

We discussed this with the paeditrician and she said this was a brilliant idea. So he now has 27mg during the school hols, i've also learnt to vary it so that first few weeks of hols he has a complete break then remaining weeks he has the lower dose or sometimes he just has it every other day. This has worked brilliantly. He now eats well and doesn't feel any different wether at home or school. The anxiety of resuming school (largely to do with his meds) has dissapeared.

Finding the right drug is not easy. They all have some kind of side effect and you never know how your dc will react to each one. We've tried another drug before (Clonidine) but it had disastrous effects and triggered emetophobia in ds. We had to stop it and he's continued with Concerta since.

[SleepyPaws]

@ILikTheBred we have found this with our boy when he increases/changes medication. It happens when the medication wears off. It usually settles within a week. If it doesn't definitely speak to to the Dr.

[ILikTheBred]

Thanks @SleepyPaws, that’s really reassuring! Not sure we could take that side effect in the long term! He was a lot better yesterday so hopefully it is settling.

[Gentlygently]

We have started EquaSym and I feel exactly the same as @64BooLane. Not sure it is working, and as if it is working they say you will notice a difference, I presume it isn’t! It has affected his sleep a little but not too much, and melatonin continues to be a god send, but only in conjunction with a regular early bedtime and dark. We really notice if we keep him up too late which gets tricky over Christmas.

Has anyone else found EquaSym didn’t work and something else did?

[SleepyPaws]

@Gentlygently it could be that the dose isn't right, you should notice it working from day one. Definitely go back to the prescriber to see what they suggest. It's very much trial and error to start with, our boy is on his 3rd different one in just under 2yrs. Good luck

[Gentlygently]

Yes they tried 10mg and now he is on 20mg, going back early Jan, but they keep him on each dose for at least a month before altering.

[Medee]

Hello. Dipping my toes in the water, as we have just had a diagnosis of ADHD for my daughter, who also has epilepsy. We're debating saying yes to methylphenidrate (not sure which brand at the moment) but I think leaning to a yes. I think the slow release will be the best option as I am not sure I can rely on her to take a dose at school. Can anyone tell me, are the tablets hard to swallow? She has only ever had liquid medicine before so not sure how she will be with a tablet.

[SleepyPaws]

Our boy started taking medication when he was 6 and has no problem swallowing them, they are capsules so no chalky taste. I've heard some children practice using tic tacs, might be worth a try. Good luck, hope it all goes well for you.

[Medee]

Thanks sleepypaws.

[Smorgs]

Hello, I've been lurking for a while but haven't posted as we've been awaiting medication. DS, 6, was diagnosed with ADHD in December. We live in France but returned to the UK to get a faster diagnosis (and possibly more accurate, as the assessment was in his first language). He's a bit more the attention deficit side than hyperactive, but he does struggle with impulsivity.
Today we got a prescription for 10mg Equasym (it's just called Quasym here), which we will hopefully start tomorrow.
My main hope is that he will just start engaging at school as he is very far behind his peers and is almost certainly going to have to repeat the year.
I'll let you know how it goes but if you have any other advice in the meantime I'd be glad to hear it.

[SleepyPaws]

Good luck @Smorgs hope it goes well for you. Our boy was medicated from age 6 and it has made a huge difference to his concentration levels in school he's so much more focused. He's now 8 and has tried a few different medications but we've hopefully now found the right one for him!

[Smorgs]

Thanks sleepypaws that is great to know. I think you also commented on my other thread looking for positive ADHD medication stories, really appreciate it, thank you!!

[drspouse]

Just dropping in as we are just starting meds.
Just put them up to 5mg twice a day, but we've been having a manic weekend so no idea of effects yet.
Complication is that DS has epilepsy and the meds can reduce the effectiveness of his Epilim so we are on close watch.
His ADHD is quite severe (very high Conners scores) and we are desperate for something to work, he already has 1:1 at school.

[Medee]

Good luck DrSpouse! Our neurologist was very much OK about my daughter going onto stimulant drugs - latest research she quoted said that there was no evidence of additional seizure activity. She is on Keppra though rather than Epilim, not sure if that makes a difference. We see our doctor tomorrow, with an expectation we'll be starting by the end of the week. I think my daughter's class PSA is with her 90% of the time - not sure if the school need to consider applying for funding for a 1:1 (we're in Scotland.) Our scores were also very high.

[Medee]

Sadly, after a successful three weeks on the methylphenidate, DD had her first seizure in >3y. Following up at hospital next week, in our scheduled review appointment, and in meantime will drop dose again.

[1shotcappuccino]

Anyone else's child on Intuniv? DS on 2mg, cannot go any higher dosage as it makes him excessively tired/angry

[drspouse]

Medee I just just re-read your posts. If you were going for quick release methylphenidate, school would not let her take it unsupervised or carry it around because it's a controlled drug - she'd be taking it under supervision, and it would be locked in a school cupboard or drawer.
We had a month on methylphenidate with no seizures (AFAIK, I don't 100% trust school to spot an absence seizure), but epic meltdowns after school when he came down off the short acting drug.

[drspouse]

Oh dear, another seizure today. DH has the DC at home as I'm away for a few days on a work project. He's calling the ADHD clinic now and checking with school re. behaviour today.

[drspouse]

The paeds clinic upped his meds but he still had a seizure again this morning. Not sure where we go from here. Paeds say this is the highest dose of this anti-epileptic.

[Medee]

I'm really sorry to read that DrS. Thankfully we had a lot of headroom in our dosage, and we just made a small increase, for now.

Dr hasn't changed our methylphenidate dose yet until we know there's no more seizure activity but you make a good point about the drug control.

[drspouse]

3 more today... Trip to A&E... All fine though we'll halve the dose of the ADHD meds and then have an urgent review of them.

[Starlight456]

Is anyone’s child on 2 meds my Ds takes equasym Xl 30 mg and medicate 5mg am before school and for after school activities ?