My DS (will be 11 in July) has been on equasym 10mg twice a day since he was 7 when he was diag with ADHD. He is not generally aggressive but extremely inattentive and restless and it had got to the point where he was becoming unpopular at school cos he was disrupting other children and struggling to keep up with work (despite being bright) and so losing self-esteem. He did go onto the slow-release once a day med but school said it didn't work. Since then I read that people with digestive problems can't always absorb it properly. DS seems a slow digestion - doesn't poo for a couple of a days then huge, so slightly constipated I guess.
My DH is not at all keen on the medication. I have an ambivalent view, but it definitely helps at school. We tend not to use at weekends or on holidays unless he is going out with other friends or needs to concentrate (church service or something similar). School always wants a supply when he stays away but the cubs do not medicate him when on camp altho we give them a supply if they wish.
DS has no appetite when on medication but makes up for it in the evening so his weight remains normal for his age.
He is sleepless but this comes in phases so not sure there is a link. I was worried about the side-effects of Melantonin - does anyone know anything about this?
We are also worried about sporting events. He is a good swimmer and takes part in comps but methylphenidate is on the banned list for ASA - does anyone have any advice or experience of this?
Does anyone have a child who's been on this med for longer than a few years?