AD/HD Meds Question!

I know for a fact adderall and ritalin are two different animals because both my older kids were on both of them. They hated ritalin because it made them flat, no personality. Adderall doesn't do that but my point is you can't compare how adderall effects you to how ritalin effects him.

Is there a reason he doesn't take adderall? I know my son who has ADHD PDD, ya know, all the capital letters, can't take adderall because it makes him angry..er. He takes vyvanse and it seems to be perfect.

Stick with what works. Really, it is fine that he takes another pill after lunch. That's what the nurse is for. Let him grow some before trying a different medication.

My son started on Ritalin. That didn't work at all for us. He was extremely emotional on that crying, depressed etc. Just bad all the way around. The adderall worked great and got him through the school day. But our wonder drug is vyvance. Ask your Dr about that he is in high school now and it's going really good.

If the Ritalin was working then that's what you need to be doing. Tell the doc you want him back on it like before. Tell him that you want to see if it does the same thing. If it does then it's the right therapeutic dose for this child.

If this is regular doc and not a psychiatrist then please consider going to a psychiatrist from now on.

My grandson takes a whole pill in the morning then a half at noon. The secretary gives him his pill. She has him taking it with only water and not using the applesauce like we do. It works so well for him!

I can't tell you how many different meds and doses we tried for my 10 yo son but it took a good year before we found one that worked. Just keep trying. Good luck.

I would just stick with what works for as long as it works. Stopping in the nurse's office at lunch time to take a pill is not a big deal. You may get to a point where the Ritalin doesn't work at all and I would wait until that point to try another medication. No sense mixing it up and assessing side effects before you actually need to do that.

I seriously question the motives of a doctor that switched a medication when the current one is working well.

There are plenty of kids that take medication with lunch at school, for a variety of medical reasons. Talk to the school about it, but I doubt they will agree with the doctor about it being a disruption.

If it's working, don't change things up. Concerta has been fantastic for our son and I would definitely recommend trying it, but not now.

It's not a big deal to have to take a tablet mid-day. It's hard enough to find a medication that's just right so stick with what's working for now. Why give yourself the added stress of trying out another medication when you've already found a good match?

I agree with the rest - stick with what works.

Kids take meds all the time in school and the disruption is less than you would think. Teachers and nurses would rather deal with that than have kids completely off the wall after lunch. The problem is, are the meds working?

Would you consider nutritional solutions for your child and even yourself? There is an easy way to stabilize and reduce the ADD/ADHD and also feel the brain without using stimulants. It addresses PDD all forms including NOS. If you were thrilled with the meds, I wouldn't suggest anything else, but it doesn't sound like you are. Depends on your philosophy and which way you want to go.

But if you want to stay with the meds, I don't know that I'd worry about the doctor's suggestion that it's "disruptive." I can't imagine this doctor, if experienced with these kids, has a whole lot who aren't getting an extra dose during school.

My son takes concerta with no issues or problems at all. At one time he had taken adderal, and it made him aggressive and violent, something that he never is. :( Good luck. These meds can be scary!

My son is just ending his 2nd grade year and has been on Concerta since Kindergarten. We've had to up the dose a few times as he has grown but I am pretty happy with it. He is doing well in school on in it and I am personally glad that it's just once a day. I would want to avoid the lunch pill. First, I'd be worrying whether or not the school is administering the pill every day, or will they forget. I'd rather be in control of that stuff. Good luck.