sleep problems with metadate CD - ADD / ADHD Message Board

rebecarooni · 05-28-2002, 06:42 AM

My son is 5.5 and has been taking metadate CD 20 mg for about a month and a half and recently is having sleep issues. He went on a mini vacation with his grandparents last week and hasn't slept well since he returned home. He had two nights where he just couldn't sleep and the last few nights, he gets up in the middle of the night and goes into the living room and goes back to sleep on the couch. Part of me is relieved that he's sleeping but I need to break this habit before it goes too far. Any ideas? I started him on the Omega-3 and it is making a difference with his anxiety but now this sleep thing. Yikes.

mlgable · 05-28-2002, 09:08 AM

Insomnia and sleep problems is one of the common side effects of this type of drug. You need to update your doctor and discuss this with him to decide what you would like to do. Always be sure to read the literature that comes with your medication so that you are aware of what the possible side effects are. You need to be aware of possible side effects of all medications so that you can catch them early and update the doc when you have side effects.

rebecarooni · 05-29-2002, 06:28 AM

I have read the material on the medication and it is only in the last week or so that he's having trouble. He's been on the medication for almost two months with great results. I was just wondering if there is anything else that could be going on.

mlgable · 05-29-2002, 06:51 AM

Since it takes between 2-4 weeks for the medication to really get into his system fully I would rather tend to think the medication is causing some of his problems but if not why not make an appointment with is psych doc and the three of you can discuss this issue and try to figure out what is going on.

Megherc · 05-31-2002, 01:10 AM

It's the medication. Children need their proper sleep even more than us adults. Get him off it before other health issues arise in the future....but always taper it slowly because it would be dangerous to just quit, even if he has only been taking it for 2 months. The effects can be cumulative; maybe even taking years but by then it's too late. Their is a doctor named Peter Breggin who has a website with lots of info on all psych drugs, which are actually toxic to the brain(that's how they work).

Lots of people have had success with only the fish oil.