OK Caleb is 10. He was on Adderall but due to the side effects we switched him to Concerta. Summer school started Tuesday. So he has been getting a pill every morning with breakfast. And every day he is having a stomachache from the Concerta. This has been happening since he started taking it last Sept. He needs the medication to focus in school. He is a complete wreck without it. But I feel bad for him with a belly ache every day.

Has anyone had their kids on Strattera??? I am thinking maybe he needs another medication.

Liam doesn't have ADHD that we know of, but I have had it lifelong. I remember Adderall was just about the only thing there was for me to take back in the day, and that hurt my tummy something awful.

I just wanted to offer some :goodvibes and :hugs and a :bump

My mds is on Strattera... He's been on it for about 6 months and so far we like it. He's been able to finally gain some weight (a major side effect for him on Adderall and Concerta). He passed all the tests that he needed to do and is now heading to the 4th grade. I also like it because he doesn't seem as zombish on it...

My DD has never been on that but she akes Foccalin XR(time released so it works for about 8 hours.It works really well.Good luck finding the right meds.

Liam doesn't have ADHD that we know of, but I have had it lifelong. I remember Adderall was just about the only thing there was for me to take back in the day, and that hurt my tummy something awful.

I just wanted to offer some :goodvibes and :hugs and a :bump

I need lots of :hugs. I am so stressed about Caleb. He has got to do well in summer school to pass the EOG in order to pass his grade. We have tried NO medication with severe punishments for misbehavior. And I honestly think that would work fine but his mom wont keep up her end of the punishments. He knows we dont put up with any bullshit here. But then he knows that if he is punished here it wont last at his moms. I am at a complete loss.

Have you guys tried looking for a support group or behavior study locally? His ped. might know of one. I remember a group I was in helped me a lot!

Here's more :hugs :hugs :hugs

My mds is on Strattera... He's been on it for about 6 months and so far we like it. He's been able to finally gain some weight (a major side effect for him on Adderall and Concerta). He passed all the tests that he needed to do and is now heading to the 4th grade. I also like it because he doesn't seem as zombish on it...

We are having issues with weight also. After breakfast in the mornings Caleb is not hungry the rest of the day. So he doesnt gain any weight. I am really thinking about calling the DR tomorrow and asking to try the Strattera for him.

We are having issues with weight also. After breakfast in the mornings Caleb is not hungry the rest of the day. So he doesnt gain any weight. I am really thinking about calling the DR tomorrow and asking to try the Strattera for him.
We had ds drinking whole milk with Carnation Instant Breakfast every morning with his breakfast and having the same thing before bed. We had to keep on him constantly to eat, and we couldn't rely on him to tell us that he was hungry... we would have to make him sit down and have snacks. It's really hard to make a kid eat when they aren't hungry!

Have you guys tried looking for a support group or behavior study locally? His ped. might know of one. I remember a group I was in helped me a lot!

Here's more :hugs :hugs :hugs

Study groups and such would probably require all the parents involved in his life to be active and willing. I dont see his mom being active or willing.

We had ds drinking whole milk with Carnation Instant Breakfast every morning with his breakfast and having the same thing before bed. We had to keep on him constantly to eat, and we couldn't rely on him to tell us that he was hungry... we would have to make him sit down and have snacks. It's really hard to make a kid eat when they aren't hungry!

He drinks chocolate milk with breakfast and before bed too. And yes I have quit asking him if he is hungry and just putting food in front of him and telling him to eat a little bit. He is 10 and only weighs like 52 pounds.

Crap. No wonder his belly is hurting!! He is on a 27MG dose of Concerta! Thats too much. I am calling the DR in the AM and ask about cutting it to a 10MG dose. He does need the help of the medicine but he doesnt need 27MG of help.

I could be wrong, but I think the minimum size tab is 18 mg... I think Ritalin comes in the 10 mg size.

I could be wrong, but I think the minimum size tab is 18 mg... I think Ritalin comes in the 10 mg size.

I am going to google it now. I think 27MG is just too much.

Yes it is 18MG. We are going to try that and if it still gives him bellyaches I will ask to switch to Strattera.

Is he going to be staying with you for a week or so? I am hoping that he his... so that you can watch and decide if the lower dosage is going to work. You are definitely the best person to help the doc with his dosages... his bio mom doesn't seem responsible enough to know the difference in his behavior. Caleb is really lucky to have you... :hugs

We had ds drinking whole milk with Carnation Instant Breakfast every morning with his breakfast and having the same thing before bed. We had to keep on him constantly to eat, and we couldn't rely on him to tell us that he was hungry... we would have to make him sit down and have snacks. It's really hard to make a kid eat when they aren't hungry!

My mom worked with a fellow nurse who's youngest son had SEVERE ADHD. He got the Carnation Instant Breakfast every morning and it helped. Also there's a patch (I'm SOOOO sorry I can't remember the name) that worked REALLY well for him. His tummy didn't hurt as much, he got some appetite back and they could put it on him in his sleep. (He fought it his meds HARD.) During the summer my bro watched Zack and Abby while Steve and Rebecca were in summer school and it was a cake walk.

Is he going to be staying with you for a week or so? I am hoping that he his... so that you can watch and decide if the lower dosage is going to work. You are definitely the best person to help the doc with his dosages... his bio mom doesn't seem responsible enough to know the difference in his behavior. Caleb is really lucky to have you... :hugs

Yes he will be here at least another week or a week and a half. If the lower dosage doesnt work as well I am going to have him switched to Strattera before the new school year starts. Thank God his bio person had me put on all his school and doctor paperwork so I can talk to these people about stuff like this.

DS is on Strettera, has been for about 8 months now because the stimulants were awful for him. It definitely does not work as well for focus issues. DS's grades slipped quite noticeably. However, it's better than the anxiety attacks and hallucinations brought on by the stimulants. Sometimes you have to pick the lesser of 2 evils. :sigh

DD has been on the Daytrana patch for about a year now and we love it. Before that she was on Adderall. We just have to go in every 3 months for a weight check. If she does not want a real breakfast in the AM I give her Carnation. Other than that no side effects to report and it works well.

DD has been on the Daytrana patch for about a year now and we love it. Before that she was on Adderall. We just have to go in every 3 months for a weight check. If she does not want a real breakfast in the AM I give her Carnation. Other than that no side effects to report and it works well.

That's what it is!!!! It's in like a light blue or teal ish box right?

My son has tried Concerta and Adderall, he is on Vyvanse right now. For summer, he is on nothing, he was on too high a dose of Vyvanse and we let him clear it out of his system (he was on the highest dose, at 90 lbs). Since he has gone off, he has gained 10 lbs in 6 weeks.

It is such a trial and error, though. good luck.