May I ask another question about ADHD and meds?

[Nakia]

My daughter, Cora, has been on Concerta for about 5 months or so. It has been soooo good for her and for our entire family, actually. I am enjoying my little girl again!

 

For the past few weeks, though, I've noticed her ADHD symptoms on the rise again. She seems to be more easily distracted again and will hardly sit still to get any kind of school work done. She is really really really LOUD! She cannot seem to control her noise level at all, even with constant reminders. Our biggest reason for starting meds was her lack of impulse control, which became a safety issue. I haven't noticed that lack of control coming back, but I'm nervous.

 

She takes 18mg of sustained release Concerta every morning. She's getting plenty of sleep and exercise. She eats really healthy with very little processed foods.

 

So my question is: is it time to change/increase the meds? We tried her on Adderall at the beginning, but she didn't eat for 11 days. She lost 2 lbs, which is 5% of her body weight, so we had to switch. I don't really want to change the Concerta if we can help it because it has been so helpful and she still has a decent appetite. We have a follow-up appt with the behavorial specialist in December.

 

Thoughts?

[Unicorn.]

It might be time to increase the dose. They will probably go w/ the next highest dose, which iirc, is 27. 18mg is pretty low.

[Nakia]

It might be time to increase the dose. They will probably go w/ the next highest dose, which iirc, is 27. 18mg is pretty low.

 

Even for a little one? She's almost 7 and about 45 lbs. Average size, I think.

[Unicorn.]

I think dd was 9 or 10 when she was on concerta. They said most kids her age were on at least 36 or maybe even 54? I don't remember the exact numbers, but I do know that we were told that that our dc were on low doses. I gave up on the concerta, because the impulsiveness did come back. I had a 10 yo that was running into the street by the Alamo- heavy traffic area, then climbing over the banister at the museum, etc. Both of mine are now on vyvanse, and lower doses than most people I think.

 

I would make a list of behaviors, and talk to the doc at your next appointment, or go ahead and call for an earlier one if you are worried. I hate the ups and downs of the meds, and feeling like my kid is an experiment, when trying to find what works. :grouphug:

[Pink and Green Mom]

Having been on them myself, once the symptoms return (and stick around across multiple facets of life) that is usually a signal that the dosage needs to increase or a change in medication is needed altogether.

 

Sometimes switching between one long lasting dose per day and two shorter lasting doses can help. Are her problems more pronounced later in the day? I find some of the sustained release doses start to become less so after time.

 

Good luck. :grouphug:

[TravelingChris]

Especially with my dd, we were always having to change and adjust dosages and medications. They worked well for a while than not. For the last two years, my adult dd has been on one sustained released (Vyvanse) and one additional ritalin in the later afternoon. So finally she is basically stable. However, as she is an adult now, hormones come into play and she is always more hyper closer to her cycle. We just live with that.

 

Doctors who are familiar with dosing for ADHD are also familiar with needing changes.

[greenvneck]

My daughter w/ ADHD has always had difficulties with stimulant meds; after years (12+) she has finally found something that works, Strattera. It might be that Concerta just isn't the right choice for your dd now (but could be in the future) or the dosage she's on might need to be changed. It is so difficult, trying to find the balance of medication and every life change can alter that balance.

 

FWIW, I also have ADHD and take Adderall; when I finally received a diagnosis several years ago and started taking it, it changed my life. When I forget to refill my prescription, my family notices and starts (gently) reminding me. So stimulants *can* be positive, but for many people, especially children, the side effects outweigh the positives. I hope you find something that works for her soon, it truly does affect the entire family! :grouphug:

[jujsky]

It might be time to increase the dose. They will probably go w/ the next highest dose, which iirc, is 27. 18mg is pretty low.

 

:iagree: My son has been on 27mg for the last several months. 9 and 18 didn't do anything for him. It's worth it to talk to the doctor. You'll know pretty quickly if they bump her up if the medication is working or not.