Concerta question

[Cahtzi]

I just found out from Cody's teacher that there has been a good change in Cody with the meds, but, he is still pretty "wound up" during her class.

Daycare has said that he is doing GREAT! He is a little wound up during the time between lunch and heading off for afternoon kindergarten.

I specifically asked his teacher if that is continuing through her class or if the bus ride to class is giving him enough time to get it back together. Apparently not. She said that the only difference is that she is able to remind him of what he is supposed to be doing and acting and he can redirect (which he could not before). But he is still talking out of turn, running when he should be walking, not sitting still or seeming to pay attention.

Could he need a higher dose? Should I give him the meds later in the AM? Does anyone know what the timeframe is on the second dose being released into his system?

Most important thing to me is that this medicine is helping him during kindergarten and it isnt. At least not to extent it is at daycare and at home.

Any suggestions other than calling the doctor?

Thanks!

[jdmom]

I am assuming he is about 5 or 6? What doseage is he on?

Jarrett was in 1st grade when we started the Concerta. They started him out at 36 mgs, which I thought was kind of high, but he did well on it.

The thing about the meds is, the children still have "behavior habits". He is used to doing those things in class, and the teacher needs to break his habits of it. The medication helps to give him the control he needs, but he has to learn to apply it.

Before the school year was over last year, I bumped Jarrett's meds up to 54 mgs, due to teacher feedback. During the summer, I took him off meds and once school started I started him back out on the 36 mgs. It doesn't look like I will have to bump him up again this year. With a new teacher and different classroom rules, he is behaving wonderfully.

Before you bump up his meds, I would speak with his teacher about helping him to break his bad habits and give things a little longer to adjust.

[oliviasmommy]

I agree - they do need to "unlearn" the behaviors that were going on before the meds...the teacher has already seen that he can redirect now - she will probably need to pay a bit more attention to him in the next few weeks to help him in redirecting, and soon he won't need to redirect. Don't underestimate the fact that he can do this now - it is a HUGE improvement - the rest will come as he now is able to tell the difference between what he is doing and what he should be doing.

But by all means, call your doctor and discuss this with him as well - maybe he would have some suggestions too!

Glad to hear the meds are working! ;D

[Cahtzi]

Thank you for your responses. The wonderful this is that his teacher is very willing to do or try anything to help him succeed. I asked her to keep working with him and if she doesnt see any improvment over the next week or so to let me know and I will contact the doctor.

I agree that he has "learned" behaviors that arent just going to magically go away. I have seen that each day there is an improvement. Hopefully, his teacher will as well.

He is 5 years old and is on 18 mgs. Mind you though that he weighs 43 lbs. So he is a big kid. Dont know if that would have anything to do with it.

Gosh this is all so hard! You want the meds to work so bad that any "negative" feedback makes you wonder if you are doing the right thing!

Thanks again for your input!

[finnmom]

Cahtzi said:

Gosh this is all so hard! You want the meds to work so bad that any "negative" feedback makes you wonder if you are doing the right thing!

Cahtzi, we all know what you mean, that´s sucha hard decicion to medicate your own kid, every smallest problem make´s you think it´s wrong

You´re doing the right thing to monitor his behaviour and coping with the theacher, way to go Mom

He´s just 5, and he goes to afternoon kindergarten, right So it could be that he´s little tired and wound up already, then all that concentrating and trying.... it´s hard for a kid. Plus I think concerta start´s to wear off on about 6-8 hour´s.... so that could be the reason for that too....

It´s a try and error-kind of a thing to find the right doce and med....youre doing fine being so on alert on thing´s right now, you´ll get this sorted out!

[mothercat]

(just a suggestion)
We have Jared on the all day concerta.
I didn't realize till someone on this forum told me that the adhd drugs that are for all day can lose their effectiveness at different times of the day.. I think it was straterra they were talking about as it loses strength like 50% after so long into the day?? I dont remember who said it or the what ifs that were involved . It just sits there in my head that I remember being told that. We have always had good luck with concerta until it wears off at 3 but each childs meds wear off differently at different times. Maybe a call to doctor would help with your delimma and I bet he cn tell you how much is normal bevahioral habits and how much is med related. (just a suggestion)