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Post by finnmom on Sept 22, 2004 9:23:04 GMT -5
Hi I just got out of phone with our neorologist. She is adding 5 mg of ritalin to my ds for afternoon´s, he now has only 18mg concerta on schoolday´s. His theacher tell´s me he is doing rather well at the morning hour´s, but then around 11.00 am he sort of loose´s it. Ritalin is supposed to help this, as well as those trouble´s with schoolwork at afternoon´s Have any of you used this compination, if so, did it work, any side effect´s......  I´d apresiate your answer´s, thank you. Also; the concerta-dosage: in here ped. neurologist´s hesetate giving "too much" of med´s to kid´s, so she told me my ds; 9y, 37kg, 140cm, is too small for 36mg of concerta. How does this sound for you Thank you!!! |
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Post by eaccae on Sept 22, 2004 9:54:01 GMT -5
that would 81.57 pounds. I have to tell you that I haven't used Concerta but I am SURE that at that weight he could have a higher dosage. Alexander (9) weighs 39 pounds - 17.7 kg and is taking 20mg Ritalin LA.
We are having a problem with the afternoons as well - more so when he is out of school - is is wearing off by the time he steps off the bus - I have a call in to the pediatrician to ask about a booster pill for when he gets home (I was trying to avoid this but now that homework is getting more intense and we have hockey on Monday's - it has become something I think we need to do . . .)
I will try and see if I can find the comparison chart for Concerta and Ritalin.
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Post by jdmom on Sept 22, 2004 10:03:22 GMT -5
Well, Jarrett is currently on 36mgs of Concerta. He is 45 lbs and 7 years old. My doctor had no problem prescribing it. At the end of the school year last year, he was on 54 mgs of Concerta. Personally, I thought the 54 was too high. He didn't ACT like the dosage bothered him, but 54 just SOUNDED high to me, you know? I'm hoping the 36 that he is on now will last us the school year. The teacher he has this year seems to be able to handle him much better than last year's. Her classroom is much more structured, and Jarrett seems to be doing well with that.
So I definitely do not think that 36 sounds too high for a 9 year old. I have never used Ritalin, or any other med in combination with Concerta, so Ican't help you there. Sorry!
Can you guys not get the 27 mgs?
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Post by eaccae on Sept 22, 2004 10:13:56 GMT -5
Marja - I'm sorry - I know there was either a posting here or on Millermom's board that gave what the dosages of Concerta equaled compared to the other meds - but I can't find it.
I *believe* that with the 18mg of Concerta - the time release is supposed to mimic 5 mg of ritalin (it could be 10 but I *think* that it is 5) - either way - it is on the lower end. I seem to remember that reading the chart - Alexander would be on the 36 mg of Concerta if he were to switch over.
I guess my point is - DS is on the lowest dosage of Concerta - and for his weight I don't think it can hurt at all to try the 27mg! You all can always go back to the 18 if the 27 is too high!
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Post by AnneM on Sept 22, 2004 10:30:37 GMT -5
Hi Marja ... Sam was on Concerta - 36mg which was topped up with 10 mg of ritalin at lunchtime for a while earlier this year ... it seemed to work well for him ... but he got fed up taking the ritalin at lunchtime and often "forgot" to go and get it from the nurse !! ... so it sort of fizzled out and he went back to just Concerta ...
But I really think the combination can be a successful one !
Please let us know how it goes !!
As for your sons age and size - I understand that 18 mg of Concerta is a very low dosage and I know kids of your son's age who are on much higher doses than that ... Also I have always understood that Concerta dosage is nothing to do with weight (unlike Strattera which IS based on weight) ... not much help on that but it does sound like they are erring on the side of caution ... which might not be such a bad thing!
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Post by finnmom on Sept 22, 2004 11:02:01 GMT -5
sound like they are erring on the side of caution ... which might not be such a bad thing! Yes, you´re right Anne they are being (over) cautio´s, because all this med´s- bisness is so new in there(only used concerta for couple of year´s in here) But I agree with you, I kind a like them being carefull with my kid´s med´s  Thank you all for your replie´s; summary seem´s to be that he could be on higher dosage and combination of concerta and ritalin has worked for some, thank you!!! We have only 18mg and 36 mg pill´s in here, so these are the only possibilitie´s. Oh, I hope this´ll work...... |
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Post by AnneM on Sept 22, 2004 11:42:44 GMT -5
Marja .. the 18 and 36 dosages are exactly the same here !! .. We only have those too ... Many is the time when I wished I could get a 9 mg dosage which would in turn allow either a 27 or a 45 !! But the UK is the same as Finland ... and in fact THAT is the reason Sam was given the Ritalin as an "extra" because 54 was too high ... and we really needed at the time a 45mg dosage!!
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