Adderall..Time released? - ADD / ADHD Message Board

Bren30 · 03-23-2002, 07:20 PM

Hello All..

I was just wondering if anyone has taken this new type of Adderall.. and if it has any new side effects?
I am starting my 13 year old son on it Sunday.
This is what we a dealing with.....

We have taken 10mg Adderall morning .. and 10 mg Adderall at school for the past 2 school years. I don't think We are gonna make the 8th grade this year. Grades come out next week,He just has an attitude that seems OH well..I tried and I failed.He just does not care about anything at all.He is very moody and somedays he is the most unhappiest person on earth.I hate giving him medication..but it's a must to make even a 'D' in class. He is so smart.. but just very unorganized.If its a test ..he makes A's.If its something he has to keep up with for two days.Forget it...So how can I tell new side effects?

We take him off meds during the summer and he always gains about 12 pounds and is a different person.I have read alot of the post here and see alot of other parents dealing with the same as we do.It hurts to see a child with so much potential.. just fail.He was reading when he was 5 and everything comes so easy to him.I know its there..he just refuses to use it.

We are also taking Abien now at night.He will sleep at last now.I hope after Spring Break he will feel rested.

I just want advice or a word of comfort about this new Adderall.Any Welcome..

Thanks..

***********Bren

mlgable · 03-23-2002, 10:43 PM

I cannot comment on the adderall time released except that it is basically the same as regular adderall but is a time released formula so that you don't need to take a second pill yet get all day coverage from the adderall. Side effects should essentially be the same as with regular adderall. Since you state your son has an attitude problem I am wondering if it has ever been suggested that he see a psychologist? My son also was blowing off school last year..........threats of making him stay in at lunch time etc didn't work because he had lost recess privilges even before he was diagnosed with ADD in order to help him try to get his work done and on time. When I talked to our MD about a possible increase in medication or a change he told me straight out that he didn't feel that a medication change would help at all and suggested he see a psychologist. This did help tremendously as the person he saw was extremely insightful about ADD kids. He is slipping now agin since the first of the year but hopefully I can get him back on track shortly. It sounds like you could also benefit from reading the book Homework Without Tears by Lee Cantor. This book really has some wonderul ideas for ADD kids. Also our psychologist suggested we have a specific area where the homework will be done each night and it should be stocked with all his school supplies he might need so as to minimize disruptions. There is to be a set time for homework each night. The back pack needs to come to the homework center every night and everything needs to come out of the backpack and nothing is to be put back into the backpack until it is checked by an adult. Be sure your son has a homework assignment notebook where he writes down every assignment in each class. This too should be checked by a parent to be sure that everything is completed at the end of the homework session. As for turning in homework assignments it was suggested that each teacher have a basket on his or her desk for assignments to be put into each day. I am hoping some of this will help you get your son organized if you aren't already using these techniques. Do consider asking your doctor about a referral (if needed) to a psychologist so he can work with your son on all aspects of ADD including organization. Good Luck.

jane1958 · 03-25-2002, 08:19 AM

my best friends son has ADD and the father is a doctor
the time release didn't work for them, so if it doesn't work for you go back to the twice a day meds at once, you'll be able to tell right away. In fact if your insurance allows it get 1/2 the prescription filled and do a test, no sense paying for a bunch of the pills if they aren't going to work for you.

MaggieB · 03-25-2002, 12:22 PM

My son has been taking Adderall XR for a month now and it has been working very well. He had been using Concerta before but he had been experiencing alot of aggression. I heard that Adderall XR didn't cause as much aggression so we tried it. It's been working well and lasting through school. I don't think that it lasts as long as the Concerta did but the behavior has been better. Everyone reacts differently to different meds so you have to shop around. Good luck. Maggie

letty · 04-07-2002, 12:48 AM

hello A.D.D.'er parents!
i'm a 16 year old that has a.d.d. too. i read your posts and i could relate all too well to Brens' boy.
A.D.D.'ers a highly intelligent, in most cases even more so than normal children. naturally school is often hard on A.d.d.'ers because we don't learn or function like everybody else. And schools are not designed to meet our needs.
but it seems to me like the two years that your son was on Adderal, it simply wasn't working the way it should have. if the meds don't help the kids and make life better for them...then it's not doing its job. not that meds are miricle workers, but they are supposed to at least give a good dose of motivation.even getting out of bed in the morning takes motivation and we lack a lot of that.
i had been taking adderall for a while, and at frist it seemed to work, but then it made me really irritable and i actually became a little hostile and mean at home. i took this to my doctors and they wouldn't hear of it. they told me that it was me and not the medicine, but i soon found out for myself that it was the medicine and not me. So you sort of have to evaluate the medicine yourlelf because you know what goes on....the doctors aren't really there first hand.
And i also had an absolutely horrible experience at school. i would come home and cry an cry because i couldn't understand what was wrong wih me. i was failing and i couldn't do it....i just couldn't do it. i would try to do some homework...anything, but i would wind up just blankly stareing at the papers. It's not easy. but depression happens to be a common side-affect of A.D.D.. they are iether born with it..or they accuire it. but it is really important to take care of the kids while their jumping their hurtles and climbing their mountains. my self esteem was gone. after a while i just gave up. but the whole time...the intelligence was there...we are like round peggs trying to fit in a square hole. self esteem is often damaged because of things like school.
may i suggest zeroing in on the things that the child is good at or likes- school oriented or not.their talents,hobbies, fave.subjects. the kids themsleves need to understand just what a.d.d. is and what it affects in their lives. it makes life a whole lot easier for them to deal with. and you might also try talking to their teachers and haveing them work with the kids and give them half the required work or just a needed extra hand. By law the schools have to be flexible. also make sure the medicine is right for them.you can tell if it's working or not. therepy is a good thing to look into.it helps a lot.
best wishes to you and your son and all a.d.d.'ers. i hope you reach the light at the end of the tunnel soon!

[This message has been edited by letty (edited 04-07-2002).]