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Original poster

Starting the equasym tomorrow.

29 replies

lottiejenkins · 18/02/2008 14:46

Hi. I picked up the equasym[ritalin] for my ds and am going to start giving it to him tomorrow morning! Fingers crossed it should help him!

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SparklyDYSONGothKat · 18/02/2008 14:47

good luck Dd1 is on it and it help a lot

Original poster
lottiejenkins · 18/02/2008 14:57

Can i ask Sparkly,,,,,, how long did it take for you to notice a difference? Did it affect anything ie sleeping eating etc? My ds has a monster appetite and I would hate for that to change,,i have been told too that it affects sleep, hes only a 10mg slow release dose to begin with!

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dustystar · 18/02/2008 18:29

It sadly didn't suit ds and we had to stop it but i've heard good things about it from others people. You should see an effect very quickly (within an hour)as its a short acting drug. Equasym is a longer acting version of ritaling (which only lasts about 3-4 hours). Ds had one that lasted about 8 hours but i think Equasym comes in 2 different types. One that lasts about 8 and one that lasts a bit longer.

It affected ds sleep a little bit but not too much. It definitely affected his appetite and we had to make sure he had it early in the day, just after breakfast, so that he had regained his appetite by tea time. He wouldn't eat much at lunchtime when on them though.

Apparently it can take a few days for them to get used to the way it makes them feel so you may not see an immediate improvement in behaviour and concentration. I hope it works for you

Original poster
lottiejenkins · 18/02/2008 19:27

Thanks for that dusty xx

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Original poster
lottiejenkins · 18/02/2008 20:43

Bump for any more experiences please.................................................

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magso · 19/02/2008 09:12

Hi Lottie, good luck with the equasym trial. My son started meds before the slow release equasym was available so cannot comment on this particular presentation. He started on the immediate release(original) equasym at age 5. The most obvious things were he started asking logical questions,(actually he became quite chatty dispite his profound language delay!), he was calmer (less spiky) he slowed down a little (reduced impulsiveness and hyperactivity), and oddly his coordination improved! The opposite happened as the medication wore off and this was frustrating to all! The effects were quite subtle at first. He is now on an extended release (Concerta), which suits him far better than the ups and downs of immediate release.( He doesnt seem to get the sudden down affect on extended releases, thankfully!) There appear to be long term learning affects.
As the medication starts to work, Ds behaviour can dip for about 10 minutes its as if the medication boosts his mischievious side before the sensible side IYKWIM! We need the 'sensible affect' to be up and running before we leave the house (road danger).
Yes it mildly affects Ds appetite' who is also a good eater! He has a generous breakfast with (or just before) his tablet and a generous tea and sometimes a supper snack once it has worn off. Lunch needs to be tempting - favorites or easy to eat. Sleep is slightly affected in that Ds is less hyperactive and needs a later bed time, and he is less likely to nod off in the car during the day.
It took quite a while to get the right presentation and dose, (too low a dose for our ds doesnt work we have no sensible effect!) so dont be discouraged if your first days are up and down.
Good luck !

Original poster
lottiejenkins · 19/02/2008 11:34

Thanks for that Magso, I gave him his first tablet at 8am this morning so will so how it goes..............

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Original poster
lottiejenkins · 19/02/2008 19:21

Well................. We(I) have survived day one so far......... if anything he is more hyper.......... I hope not though He's just had great fun "helping" the AA man jumpstart the language aides car. He even taught him how to sign Thankyou

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magso · 19/02/2008 19:42

Have you got him to bed OK?

Original poster
lottiejenkins · 19/02/2008 20:44

He's just gone up............ fingers crossed ................

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Original poster
lottiejenkins · 19/02/2008 22:04

He's still awake, i think the meds have worn off because hes started to get tricky again..........................

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magso · 21/02/2008 12:39

Hows it going Lottie?

Original poster
lottiejenkins · 21/02/2008 13:52

Hes definetly calmer, but i can tell when its wearing off at night, and he wont go to sleep 11 o clock and past last night!!!

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magso · 21/02/2008 14:26

Oh dear! Not going to sleep is difficult! I seem to remember some trouble with that when ds 1st went onto extended release! It gradually resoved. Does he stay in his room? Does reading bed time story in a boreing voice help (after a bedtime lavender bath)? We have trouble if bedtime is delayed as ds behaviour gets 'trickier' once its worn off and he can go more hyper, so I have to get the timing and wind down right. supper, TV/dvd (preschool a bit below his level!), bath, story bed.
Hope the sleep resolves!

Original poster
lottiejenkins · 21/02/2008 16:02

I cant do the story bit as hes deaf. But he stays in his room some of the time, i allow him to keep his tv on, but then he will want a different video/dvd and come down and look for another one!!

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Original poster
lottiejenkins · 23/02/2008 11:24

Just to update havent got to bed before 11/11.30 every night since the meds started! Ds is going back to school tomorrow so i will have to warn them!!!

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magso · 23/02/2008 12:02

Oh dear! Hopefully school will wear him out? Sorry about the silly reading suggestion my brain must have escaped! Hope others have some helpful ideas. How has it gone otherwise?

Original poster
lottiejenkins · 23/02/2008 12:10

He seems to have been much calmer, i havent had much response from others, one or two comments. Hes at his special needs club till 1pm.

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magso · 23/02/2008 19:00

And how are you?

Original poster
lottiejenkins · 23/02/2008 19:30

Knackered, i took him shopping and came out of the shoe shop over £50 lighter, then nearly got run over on a zebra crossing!!!
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/2724/483849?stamp=080223192719
Im going to make sure i catch up on my sleep this week when he's back at school thats for certain!

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magso · 23/02/2008 20:05

Very restrained! Hope the lack of sleep settles yours and his!

MissBrown · 23/02/2008 20:44

Hi.
My son started taking Equasym last week after changing from concerta xl. It lasts long enough to see him through the school day and he is back to normal by the time he is home. He is a changed child. On the Concerta he was depressed, thin and miserable, granted he was calm, but it is worth it for a depressed 7 yr old?
He is now bouncy but happy, he has put on weight and seems more aware of his own behaviour. It is the best thing that we ever did!
Good luck x

Original poster
lottiejenkins · 23/02/2008 20:59

Have noticed that he is finding it harder to go to the toilet since he started the equasym,he is on senna and lactulose anyway and is still straining..dont know if this is coincidence!![hmm..]

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magso · 23/02/2008 22:17

Hmm indeed! Ds also struggles with this although its a very longstanding problem so I cant blame the concerta - he has been on senna/lactulose much longer! It actually improved a little (better awareness of his need I suspect!) since tablets started. He used to be a thirsty child but now he has to be reminded to drink (as well as eat) during the school day. Maybe worth asking school to encourage your ds to drink next week?
Miss Brown its good the new tablets suit ds better! Just shows that a change of presentation (was there a dose change also?) can help.

MissBrown · 23/02/2008 23:16

Hi magso.
He was originally on concerta 18mg, then 36mg, but we thought that he was getting quite miserable so we went back dowm to 18mg. He got very thin so we decided to go without at weekends and hols. When we thought that we could cope with that we spoke to doc about a shorter acting med so he could cope in school and he is back to 'normal' by the time he comes home. He is on 20mg now. He is 'trying' at times but I would rather that that than thin and grumpy. The concerta did help with the hyperactivity, but seemed to exacerbate the moods and anxiousness. Our house is now chaotic to say the least! I have a 2 year old girl who is, well, 2! And she seems to make things even more crazy. To all, try to laugh instead of cry. It is my mantra!
About the poo thing. Pretty disgusting I know, but he used to fiddle 'down there' and wipe his fingers on his sheets but we have introduced the 'daily poo'. We ensure that he tries every night before bed and now it has become so routine that he takes great pleasure in annoucing to all, 'I am just going for my daily poo!' Very ammusing! Anyway he does seem to drink a lot, now you mention that subject. Blimy, what are are us Mums doing up at this time on a Sat night?!