ADHD med increase = devil child from 5pm... normal?

[PinkSweetpeas]

Our 11 year old has recently gone from 10mg to 15mg of Medikinet XL.

Great. He's been a star during the day, school day he's been hardworking and an 'angel child' (big difference!). He's polite and 'himself' when he's medicated.

Jesus wept though, once the medication wears off though (around 5pm) he is AWFUL! Not just 'the benefits of the medication make us forget how bad he was before' but genuinely horrific. We didn't see such a big difference in behaviour on 10mg.

Antagonistic, defiant, aggressive, sweary, violent even; all with a manic laugh... just hideous. He can be all these things usually but it's like in concentrated extra-horrific form. Like, his worst hour ever in the past, every evening.

We've always said, 'as long as he's doing ok at school we can cope with after school' but actually we aren't coping too well. We've discussed later top up doses with his ADHD nurse but at the same time sleep is another major issue and I'm wary of a later dose having a knock on effect on sleep and then creating more issues than we solve.

Can anyone relate or offer advice?

Nw. Good luck.

We are using magnesium (from your supplements, we split the cap and pour it into a squash type drink) twice a day while not at school. Seems to be helping with focus/energy, does take a while.

We are using probiotics, bio-kult. I have read a post on MN today and will switch to Optibac for babies and children.

We also have homeopathic help.

I have also seen this book mentioned

www.amazon.co.uk/Children-Starving-Brains-Treatment-Spectrum/dp/1883647177?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

But for now I don;t have time to read it.

That looks good too. I have been giving my dd probiotics, she won't take anything other than her prescribed meds for some reason she is oppositional about it, so when she isn't looking I open the capsule of probiotics, and pour a little bit into her capsule of medikinet. I could try this with the magnesium too.

Perhaps read chapter 1 of the book and then decide?

I do plan on reading it soon. I am just giving minimal amounts. Her diet is so restricted so I am always trying to get extra nutrients in!

AFAIK there is no evidence that diet helps behaviour in ADHD or ASD- we also have a child who needs feeding up so we aren't going to be restricting diet.

@drspouse

AFAIK there is no evidence that diet helps behaviour in ADHD or ASD- we also have a child who needs feeding up so we aren't going to be restricting diet.

Okay.

Disconnected kids by Dr Robert Melillo is really helpful