Thank you so much for the replies. Since I last wrote, her stomach is still bothering her enough that she complains daily but has not thrown up again since Monday (4 days ago). She went BACK to the doctor on Thursday (again, "looks like the flu"...."never heard of Concerta withdrawal") and I took her for bloodwork on Friday (won't get the results until next week so I will post again). She complained less on Friday night so maybe she is getting better but still says her stomach is "not better".
Because of my own experience with Effexor, I have unfortunately lost any faith I had in general practicioners and pediatritions as far as their knowledge of the side effects of withdrawing from psychotropic medications. I have felt that lack of knowledge personally and have read about it on hundreds of posts from all over the world. I don't really think most docs are saying the wrong things on purpose, I think they just probably don't know that people are having these reactions. And the drug companies don't exactly make these "bad withdrawal reactions" front-page news.
When I posted on this board, I couldn't find any info on withdrawing from Concerta, so I instead researched it's real name (Methylphenidate, which is the same as Ritalin) and found my suspicions to be true. There are flu-like withdrawal symptoms associated with this med. So, I spoke to my own psychologist about stopping the meds for the summer. She wasn't sure of the flu-like symptoms but DID know for sure that withdrawing from Concerta causes irritabilty, slight depression, exhaustion, withdrawal, irritability, and suicidal feelings.
She thinks it best that she stay on the medicine even throughout the summer. She says that if it's really needed (and she beleives that in this case, it is) then stopping the medicine only causes kids to begin questioning themselves once they realize the difference in themselves when they are on or off the meds. She says that they begin to focus (and sometimes obsess because their minds are much "simpler" than ours) and question whether they like themselves ON the meds or OFF the meds. She says that medicating her (my daughter) should be presented to her as more of a physical solution to a problem (the whole "diabetics have to take insulin....." theory). She says that if it's presented this way to kids and they stay on the meds everyday, their confidence grows and they don't even realize (or realize it less) that the difference is the MEDS and not just them. But once they go off the meds and see such a difference in themselves, their confidence is shot down and they realize what a difference the meds make and may even come to resent having to take the medicine.
So now I don't know if she's right or not - but given what I've gone through myself over the last 18 years with anti-depressants, it sounds alarmingly logical (and horribly familiar) to me. I started her back on the meds on Thursday. She's still complaining of her stomach but no more throwing up and seems to be much better so I'm still not sure if that was it or not. Hopefully the blood tests will find something or she will begin to feel a lot better soon.
Either way, I will let you all know. Thanks so much for your comments and answers, I appreciate all of you taking the time to write....these boards can really help to put your mind at ease. I will be sure to keep you posted.
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