Problems with Concerta for ADD?

Question

My son just started taking this med today is it possible for him to already have side effects from it. Says he is seeing things and its also after midnight and he is still awake. This is the only one of my 3 kids that actually goes to bed and to sleep on time every night. Any suggestions or similiar cases. What are the pros and cons of this med? Thanks for any answers in advance.

Answer 1

Hi there:
My son is also new to Concerta. He started it on March 12. I noticed the first week, in the evening he was having a rebound effect similar to your son's and he couldn't settle to sleep. This went away the second week he was on the med.
Concerta should be taken first thing in the morning, as it lasts 10-12 hours, and is then out of their system.
I found I had to start giving it to my son no later that 7:30am and this has helped with his bedtime routine.
The pros of this med are:
-taken once a day in the morning (no need to take it at school)
-wears off in 10-12 hours
-gives an initial "dose" within 1/2- 1 hour and then slowly releases over the remaining 10-12 hours; the peak is reached at 6 hours after taking it and then it slowly wears off from there.
cons:
-I haven't really found any cons yet myself
-the literature and my doctor said there could be loss or decrease in apetite.
-you son shouldn't be on the med if he has cardiac or thyroid problems or seizures

the website for the makes of concerta is: www.janssen-ortho.com
I would suggest you google ADHD as well...there are a lot of sites for ADHD support.

Hope this helps

Answer 2

Yes, my son also couldn't sleep on Concerta and didn't eat well. My son was also extremely moody on the Concerta. I would call your doctor, although 1 day is not very long to be on it before taking him off, but if he is seeing things...that would really worry me! My son is now on Focalin and doesn't have any side effects from it. All kids are different though, some work for some kids and what works for mine may not work for yours. I would call the doctor in the morning though and I definately wouldn't give it to him before school tomorrow if he is having those side effects. What time did he take it this morning? My son takes his when he first wakes up, but we still had the sleeping problem with Concerta. Good Luck and I hope that this helped a little!!

Answer 3

My son takes Concerta for ADHD and seems to be doing well with it. They say it takes about two weeks to determine if the medicine is going to work or not. I would give it a few more days and if he continues to have these symptons talk to your doctor.

Concerta in combination with Strattera have worked well for my son. We are going to slowly ween him off of the Strattera this summer and see if the Concerta will do as well on its own.

Good luck.

Answer 4

MY DAUGHTER TOOK THAT SAME MED AND IT DID THE SAME THING TO HER.SHE HAD THE WORST TIME TRYING TO GO TO SLEEP,IT WAS SOMETIMES AFTER MIDNIGHT.SHE ALSO STARTED GRINDING HER TEETH AND BECAME VERY IRRITATED AFTER 3PM. AND CRIED ALOT.I WORK AT SCHOOLS AND HAVE HEARD ALOT OF THE SAME THINGS FROM PARENTS AND FRIENDS.STOP IT IF YOU CAN AND TRY A MED CALLED FOCILIN.ASK YOUR DOC,OR BETTER OFF JUST TELL THEM THAT YOU WANT IT CHANGED!!!!

Answer 5

ADD/ADHD are not just children's ailments. I am 23 and still suffer from ADD. I probably always will. You may or may not need medication, though. Neurofeedback has been very helpful for me.

Answer 6

mi brother takes it, and you should have him take it right at the exact time that he should, because if not it coul lead to him not being tired, and as for the seeing things, maybe its just the normal mind games that your mid plays on you, try to talk to the doc also

Answer 7

CALL THE DR RIGHT AWAY DISCONTINUE THE MEDICINE UNTIL HE SEES THE DR.
TRUST ME