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Post by Christiansmom on Dec 12, 2003 19:17:31 GMT -5
Hi- My 5 year-old son was diagnosed back in November and has been on Metadate CD since the week before Thanksgiving. His appetite has gone downhill drastically since he started this medication and although the Metadate is really helping him in school, I am terrified at how much weight he has lost. Today when he took his shirt off, I almost could not believe my eyes!!! It was like he was skin and bones... I did not realize how fast the weight was coming off!!! I immediately called the nurse and she has made an appointment for him to see his pediatrician on Monday. I feel so terrible because I have tried so hard to make foods he would enjoy for school lunches, and even his teacher sits beside him everyday in an effort to coax him into eating. If he does not finish lunch by the time the lunch period is over, she lets him eat in the classroom. He is a very picky eater and I have to beg him to eat or drink things that many other kids would jump at!!! No milkshakes, ice cream, etc... I have not tried Ensure for that very reason... he most likely would not touch it.
Have any other parents out there been through this? Did your child switch meds? We chose this medication because ds won't take pills and 20mg is the beginning standard for this medication. We have had such luck in his schoolwork with this medication and I am so leary about him switching to anything else, but I am still really worried about his weight loss. I am trying to keep everything in perspective but I can't stop worrying about everything. I suppose this is natural when your child has only been on one medication since the diagnosis.
Any words of advice/ encouragement would be wonderful!! Thank you, Beth
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Post by Jorgy on Dec 12, 2003 19:47:07 GMT -5
Beth, this also happen to us when my then 5 year old was started on Adderall. This is a pretty common side effect of stims. I also was very concerned as anyone would be. It actually didn't get much better. I let him eat anything he wanted to because if I could get 2 bites a day in him it was wonderfull. We finally switched meds due to the many problems we were having. The cons of the med were more than the pros at that point. I was afraid this would happen with the next med we tried also but it didn't. He was put on another stim but has no side effects from it thank God. Good luck, Sue
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Post by Mishamom on Dec 13, 2003 16:22:48 GMT -5
My 5 year old daughter started taking her first medication, Strattera, about 37 days ago give or take a few. She has had some of the side effects that are the most common - loss of appetite and sleepiness. I am told that it frequently resolves itself after 6-12 weeks. The payoff at school and rehab have been worth the side effects in our case.
She has lost 2 pounds so far. Her starting weight was 39 and she is now at 37. Since we were going back for our first check up after only 30 days we didn't mess with making changes in diet or routine. We wanted to see exactly what sort of effect the medication had on her.
w that we've been able to see a definite weight loss and depressed appetite we're making some changes to adapt. She is hungrier in the evenings after 7 pm. So we let her eat dinner late and encourage an evening snack. We also give her medication with a pudding cup first thing in the morning (extra calories - she loves it - makes the medication go down easier).I also am starting her on a Pediasure daily since by my math it makes up for the calorie loss it took to lose the two pounds in 30 days. There are different flavors you can try. You can also try putting them in the freezer about an hour before hand like a shake or you can put them in the blender with some fresh or frozen fruit like a smoothie. If you want to add an extra punch put in a spoonful or two of protein powder from a health food store.
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Post by LitlBaa on Dec 14, 2003 2:14:03 GMT -5
Weight loss was the reason we took DD off Concerta and tried Strattera. She would NOT eat, to the point where I was ready to hold her nose and stick the food down!
Nine months on Strattera, and she's put on 12 pounds. She's still thin, but doesn't look like a bag of bones with skin over them anymore. 
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Post by BBW4EVR1 on Dec 15, 2003 9:11:49 GMT -5
Our son was on different stims. for way too long. In July of '03 (at 10 years old) he had dropped to 54 lbs. and was dispondent and lathargic from lack of nourishment not to mention looking like a skeleton and pasty white. It just wasn't worth it--we took him off of stims and started him on Risperdal. He now weighs in at 87 lbs. and is happy, healthy, and doing better than he ever did while on stims. It was scary watching him waste away and lose interest in life. We made the choice that we would do all we could for him and if I had to be at the school every day to help him, that's what we would do. Since taking him off of the stims., he has renewed vigor for life and he laughs, runs, plays, and is doing much better in school. Risperdal isn't for everyone, but it takes the edge off for our son and we are learning how to help him in new ways. Whatever you decide, remember just that, YOU decide! You are the parent-you know best! Good Luck!  |
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Post by milesofsmiles on Dec 15, 2003 9:36:15 GMT -5
Our son is on Concerta. He does not eat well in the morning because it is too distracting. He does not eat well at lunch because of the meds, and he does not want to eat until 8pm (just when he has to go to bed). So we encourage snacks, let him eat later, and don't give him meds on weekends/holidays. He has maintained weight, but also grown 2 inches, so he is losing ground too. Miles  |
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Post by jdmom on Dec 15, 2003 12:13:37 GMT -5
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Post by NativeLI on Dec 16, 2003 16:53:01 GMT -5
Metadate is a type of Ritalin, and a short acting ritalin can help with weight. You can give it after breakfast, and if your child can get a dose at lunch it will wear off around dinner time. Then they will eat. That way they miss only one meal. I just started concerta and am having eating problems with my son. I"m hoping its only temporary. He's 54 pounds and 8 yrs old so theres not much room to lose weight. I'm going back to regular ritalin if his appetite doesn't go back to normal on concerta.
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Post by finnmom on Dec 17, 2003 12:05:19 GMT -5
???I´am totally lost in here, I have to ask: how is lb compared to kg, living in a metric-system in here. If my son weight´s 36 kg, how much would it be in your measurement´s  Ds8 just started concerta, no loose of appetite as for now, but it has only been for 4 days, so... Marja |
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Post by Jorgy on Dec 17, 2003 12:29:56 GMT -5
 Marja, 1 kg=2.2 lb- so 36 kg is approx 72 lbs. Sue
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Post by finnmom on Dec 17, 2003 15:39:15 GMT -5
Sue Thank´s I kond a thought that, I had an idea that lb might be somewhere around 4oogr. Thank´for this lightning ;D Marja |
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