7th May 2008
VioletRose -- I know I've responded to one of your previous posts and several other posts on here so I don't remember where I've put this info before ... so if you've already seen this, please forgive ...
My son has tried the following meds (diagnosed ADD inattentive type 5 yrs ago - he is now 13):
Concerta - began at 18 mg and has now just upped to 54 mg
A few years ago we tried Straterra with the Concerta (as a pick-me-up in the afternoons) and it did NOT WORK WELL.
Recently, it seemed to me the Concerta (36 mg) was not cutting it anymore - would get notes from teachers that he was playing with objects in his desk instead of paying attention in class or that he would refuse to do his work (I've made one post on another page about how my son hates to write and that's the problem with not doing classwork) and I didn't want to increase the dose because my son is a small boy for his age and I knew the increased dose would just decrease his appetite more and make the insomnia worse (only two side effects we've seen with Concerta).
So we tried Vyvance (he would not eat at all and complained of headache & nausea); then tried Focalin XR. The Focalin XR did not affect his appetite as much but even at 30 mg it did not last a full school day.
So, I've made the plunge and increased the Concerta to 54 mg. We can handle the insomina part of it because his doc says he can take OTC sleeping pill when needed and I will just have to try and make him eat as much as I can.
Hope this helps as far as the side effects / benefits of the meds that are out there.
MSmomof2
My son has tried the following meds (diagnosed ADD inattentive type 5 yrs ago - he is now 13):
Concerta - began at 18 mg and has now just upped to 54 mg
A few years ago we tried Straterra with the Concerta (as a pick-me-up in the afternoons) and it did NOT WORK WELL.
Recently, it seemed to me the Concerta (36 mg) was not cutting it anymore - would get notes from teachers that he was playing with objects in his desk instead of paying attention in class or that he would refuse to do his work (I've made one post on another page about how my son hates to write and that's the problem with not doing classwork) and I didn't want to increase the dose because my son is a small boy for his age and I knew the increased dose would just decrease his appetite more and make the insomnia worse (only two side effects we've seen with Concerta).
So we tried Vyvance (he would not eat at all and complained of headache & nausea); then tried Focalin XR. The Focalin XR did not affect his appetite as much but even at 30 mg it did not last a full school day.
So, I've made the plunge and increased the Concerta to 54 mg. We can handle the insomina part of it because his doc says he can take OTC sleeping pill when needed and I will just have to try and make him eat as much as I can.
Hope this helps as far as the side effects / benefits of the meds that are out there.
MSmomof2