No meds, not even Focalin will last, HELP!

[mom23boyz]

Hello all, I haven't posted in a while but here is what our problem is. We started on Focalin back in late September early October after Adderall was causing major problems. My ds is 8 and is in second grade. We first tried Focalin XR once a day, not long enough this only got us from 8 am to 1 pm. So we added a second XR at 1 pm. Well this caused sleep problems. So we switched the afternoon dose to a short acting Focalin. Well just like all the other meds, Ritalin, Concerta, Adderall, after about 3-4 weeks of perfection it's like the meds only last half the time they are supposed to.
We are now taking more Focalin than the FDA recommends for my son. He is taking 15 mg at 8 am, 10mg at 12 pm, another 5 mg at 4 pm and then 1.5 clonidine at bedtime. The problem is the FDA recommends 20 mg per day and he is taking 30 mg per day. The 8 am dose now wears off by 10:30-11:00 am then they try not to give the noon dose until noon, so there is like 2 hours of issues, because if the noon dose is given too early it will wear off before he gets home on the bus. I am unsure about switching meds again but it just seems like too many doses and its like he needs more but we are already taking too much??? Concerta worked well but the 54 mg dosage is not enough, and the dr is unsure of going to 72mg and that may not be enough. I was wondering about Ritalin LA? Or the real Focalin not the generic?? His Dr says Focalin is stronger and lasts longer than Ritalin but we are only getting 3 hours out of short acting, and when he took the XR it only lasted 5 hours and never released the second dose? Please any information would help! He would not keep the patch on so that is ruled out! Thanks

[charliegirl]

Welcome back!

You still have several options you can try.

Quite often people have better results with the brand name med rather than the generic equivalent. It might be worth trying.

You could also consider the Daytrana patch which is worn up to 9 hours a day. It needs to be removed about 2 hours before bedtime but it would deliver meds throughout the day. There is also a med called Vyvanse which is supposed to last around 12 hours. Like the others, it doesn't last that long for everyone but it seems to last longer for more people. It might last long enough for him even if it didn't last the entire 12 hours.

Hang in there. Finding the right med or med combo is usually trial and error but once you find it, you will be glad you kept looking for the right one.

[misty]

I tried a patch for something once & it really bothered my skin so I understand why some kids, like yours, won't wear them. Another option is Straterra, if you haven't already tried it. Its not a stim & some kids do really well on it.

Charlie girl is right that it takes some kids a ton of trial & error to find the right med combo. It stinks while you are going through it, but eventually something will work for him.

[charliegirl]

Oops! For some reason I read that about him not keeping the patch on and it didn't sink in. Sorry about that.

[bugsmom]

Mom23...I so know what your going through. My son has been on almost every med you've mentioned with the same results. It can be very frustrating when you see an awsome break-through with the med, and then it just dosn't work no more.

I would suggest what Misty said, try Strattera. Strattera stays in the system for 24 hours, unlike a stim. We had some success with Strattera after the stims were proving to be too much of a problem. Strattera is not for everyone. There seems to be a lot of stomache and headache issues (we had this) for the first week or so. A lot of people have success with Strattera and a short acting stim, so that could be an option also.

If you could remind me, what is your son's biggest issues? If he's super hyper like mine, the Strattera dosen't take all that away. My son has anxiety, so the Strattera worked well with that. As for the hyper-activity, the stims always worked better, but you have to do what is best for them. As for focus, I think the Strattera was OK, but the stims were better for that also. We have been doing a combination of Strattera and Tenex for the past 2 1/2 years. Although I'm not medicating now because we're homeschooling, it was a pretty good alternative to the stims.

Hugs to you. I've been in your footsteps many times and it can be so trying. But, like the others said, it takes time to find the right med. I think your gut feeling about giving him too much for his age is a good one. You still have a few options out there to try. Don't give up...you will get there. (((((((((Hugs))))))))))))

[mom23boyz]

Thanks for the suggestions and support all of you. We were going to try Vyvanse after the Adderall, but like the others it was perfect and then all of a sudden major crying fits and meltdowns at school and home, and they all stopped when I took him off the Adderall. So since Vyvanse is an Adderall based long acting his doctor suggested Focalin XR. Which is great but doesnt last long enough. So this is why we are on the short acting now, it's cheaper than the XR and lasts almost as long for my son.

My ds is very hyperactive, impulsive. He will jump on his friends in line when his meds are wearing off, kick his best friend if he gets angry, and very hyper first thing in the morning. Starting this year he is also very inattentive, so he is a very good example of the combined ADHD dx. Like I said Concerta was awesome, but the 54 mg only releases 12 mg at a time and that is not enough. If you consider he is taking 15mg of Focalin, that in some opinions is like 30 mg of Ritalin, but his Dr says it's more like 20 mg of Ritalin.

I guess I am going to ask about trying the brand version of Focalin instead of generic. Or trying the Straterra in combination with some stim!! Our next appt is Feb 2. I will let you know how it goes. If anyone has any other ideas, please let me know!

[valerie]

My 6 yr old has been on the Focalin XR for a week today (first time taking ADHD meds). I've also noticed he doesn't get the 12 hours. We get about 8. Which sounds good, but in reality he needs to be able to get through homework and dinner and any errands/activities until bedtime. I'm going to be calling his ped on Monday to see what she has to say. My older son is ADHD inattentive type. He isn't currently medicated, but he took Metadate. My ped wantd to give that to my 6 yr old, but the insurance wouldn't cover it. Any opinions on the Metadate from anyone?

[puzzled]

Dec 29, 2008 23:36:29 GMT -5 mom23boyz said:

Thanks for the suggestions and support all of you. We were going to try Vyvanse after the Adderall, but like the others it was perfect and then all of a sudden major crying fits and meltdowns at school and home, and they all stopped when I took him off the Adderall. So since Vyvanse is an Adderall based long acting his doctor suggested Focalin XR. Which is great but doesnt last long enough. So this is why we are on the short acting now, it's cheaper than the XR and lasts almost as long for my son.

My ds is very hyperactive, impulsive. He will jump on his friends in line when his meds are wearing off, kick his best friend if he gets angry, and very hyper first thing in the morning. Starting this year he is also very inattentive, so he is a very good example of the combined ADHD dx. Like I said Concerta was awesome, but the 54 mg only releases 12 mg at a time and that is not enough. If you consider he is taking 15mg of Focalin, that in some opinions is like 30 mg of Ritalin, but his Dr says it's more like 20 mg of Ritalin.

I guess I am going to ask about trying the brand version of Focalin instead of generic. Or trying the Straterra in combination with some stim!! Our next appt is Feb 2. I will let you know how it goes. If anyone has any other ideas, please let me know!

I am wondering about adding Tenex/guanfacine to the focalin....tenex helps with impulsivity and hyperactivity and may just help smooth out the edges....it stays in the system for 12 hours or so...chase took it morning and night...but now only takes it at night. The generic is on the $4 list at Walmart....it helps with sleep and eating issues too....

Chase was on Ritalin LA for a year or so and we both loved it...had to switch due to insurance coverage.