Has anyone noticed their child on Concerta not growing or gaining any weight?

Kylie - posted on 04/27/2012

my son recently changed from ritalin to concerta and he is a bag of bones im takng hin off meds and going back to doctors he is so thin im scared !

Rosemary - posted on 07/29/2009

My son, is 12 yrs old and is weighing in at 71 pounds, he takes concerta, 72 mg. to help control his behaviors. my son will eat supper, but only if it is what he wants. Our dr. said that we just need to monitor him to make sure he doesn't lose any weight.

Sarah - posted on 07/29/2009

My 7 year old is on Concerta and he has not gained anything since he started but is still growing in height.But he eats really well most of the time.

Anne - posted on 07/28/2009

Yep! They are growing like weeds but weight gain is slow. My son is 6'-1" and weighs 146 lbs!!! strong as an ox but NO BODY FAT. Doc says he is fine. I have had to give up my no food after dinner rule. Both my kids can eat until they go to bed because the meds have worn off and they are hungry. Both kids (17/14) eat lunch because they know they must, not much but something. Weekends are a food festival....still working on PLEASE KEEP THE KITCHEN CLEAN! but they are healthy. It might be good to find out the times they are most hungry and go with it. It does get better as they get older!

Robin - posted on 07/26/2009

When my son was on Concerta 3 years ago, he didn't gain any weight. Then we went to Focalin, still the same problem. He was not eating because he wasn't hungry. We had problems with Focalin, so we went back on Concerta and he is doing ok. It might depend on the age he is. My son just now over 60 pounds and 4 foot 51/2 and he is 9. I was told they worry about the height more than the weight. I try to give my son something to eat like ice cream or something that has alot of calories before bed time. I was also told I could take him off he meds but why does he have to suffer. I believe the meds help him get through the day. It takes to long to get the medicine back into the system. I need all the help I can get with AD/HD.Good luck and let me know what you find out from your doctor.

Melissa - posted on 07/25/2009

My 12 year old Jeremy was taking Concerta and was not growing, also started to lose weight. His Doctor changed his meds to Focalin. I was told that Focalin would not effect his appetite as much. They were right he gained 10lbs in 3 months.

Lisa - posted on 07/25/2009

My son was on it for 5 yrs and he did grow. He went threw a huge growth spurt and shot up almost 5 inches in a few months. But weight wise. He was not gaining weight. So we gave him the med after he ate a good breakfast. Then made dinner around 6:30 at night and by then he was starving and ate a good dinner and a snack before bed. And he began to slow gain weight. He will always been skinny. He has my brothers make up but at least now his ribs arent sticking out. I also took him off his meds in the summer. 1 so he didnt build uo a tolerance to it and 2. since no school he could go without them and ate better during the summer.

Ann - posted on 07/25/2009

Renee, My son was on Concerta for 1 year and not only did he "not grow or gain weight" he lost weight and it was extreme. I spoke to an ADHD specialist who works out of Texas Childrens here in Houston and she suggested FocalinXR. She said the it was less appetite suppressing with the same calming effects and she was right. He has been on Focalin XR for over a year and not only does he not loose weight, it is a capsule and much easier for him to swallow! Thank Goodness for Dr. Sherry Sellers-Vinson and her recommendation!

TIna - posted on 07/25/2009

Yes. The Concerta will not let him gain any weight, you have to make sure that he eats. My son grew a lot on the Concerta even though it did not work for him. If he is still not growing you need to go see his doctor.

Vickie - posted on 07/24/2009

my 12 yr old has been on concerta for the last 2 yrs and is slowly gaining weight. sometimes it helps to let them eat away at fatty foods before taking meds and let them eat when the meds wear off late in the evening. she will be in the fridge at 11:00pm or later sometimes because she has trouble getting to sleep. i let her eat. i know this sounds crazy but i will let her go sometimes without her meds just so she will eat.

Ali - posted on 07/24/2009

No our son gains weight very easily and is on concerta. The medecine does make him sleepy which makes him cranky.

Tracie - posted on 07/23/2009

My son has been on concerta for about 6 years now, he's short for his age, but now that he's 13 and hitting puberty, he's getting a bit of a growth spurt.

Christina - posted on 07/23/2009

My son, 9 years old, also is on Concerta. His appetite dropped considerably and he didn't grow like he should have either. The doctor hasn't been too concerned because he's healthy otherwise. Since we are out of school for the summer, he hasn't been taking his medication daily like we would in school. So, he's put on some weight and is looking much better. I think he's probably caught up to where he should be. But, I know that once the medication starts again, he'll probably drop most of that weight in a week! But, Concerta wasn't the only medication that was like this. All of the stimulants had the same affect.

Patricia - posted on 07/23/2009

Yes, my grandson is 10 and has been on Concerta for about a year. He is geting taller but doesn't seem to put on much weight. I can't seem to find a pair of pants to fit him...he is so thin! Since it helps him so much in school I don't want to take him off of it. P.S. I am his legal guardian...find it interesting that he does want to eat more in the evening and night time.

Christne - posted on 07/23/2009

My daughter has been on Concerta for 2 years...she still weighs within 10 lbs from where she was 2 years ago. They say it is a side affect. To combat the problem we take her off meds in the summer and she usually gains 5 to 8 lbs. Then we try to keep that weight on all school year..not easy.
We are thinking about trying to not medicate her this year. Anyone have any advice on how to do that and keep her focused? Study tricks?

Heather - posted on 07/22/2009

yes, definitely...my son is 10 and very small...we also think he has an eye twitch (blinking thing) Dr. is taking him off and changing to something else. ADHD sucks...

Alyssa - posted on 07/22/2009

I actually took my Daughter off the medication because she had lost too much weight. My daughter is very thin anyway, but she was getting dark circles under her eyes, and becoming very pale. No matter what I would fix for dinner she would take two bites, if that, and thats it. She was involved in Cheer, and actually became weak from not eating. Every medication we have tried has had the same effect.

Gwen - posted on 07/21/2009

My little guy couldn't take the concerta - I tried for a week and when he pointed scissors at a teacher (he was only 6!!!!) I knew it was definitely not for him! The meds are usually stimulants and they suppress the apetite, not growth, and for my guy the concerta was keeping him awake later which made him exhausted and completely threw him out of whack...poor little bug. It's hard to make sure you have the right type of med and the right dose, but once you find it it's great - now to make him eat...

Stephanie - posted on 07/21/2009

My son was on concerta for a time and was the same size for almost 3 years, we took him off for the summer last year and he grew and gained weight for the first time in a long time.

Starla - posted on 07/20/2009

My daughter lost 11 pounds over about a 9 month period, .but she did grow several inches taller. She has always been tall and thin, but with that much weight loss our pediatrician switched her to Vyanasse. She gained weight back and had no other side effect! I highly recommend it!

Cheryl - posted on 07/20/2009

My son has been on Concerta for 41/2 yrs and I have not had the weight gain or growing issue with it at all. He is 11 and 5'2 120lbs. He takes his meds in the am and doesn't eat right away but then makes up for it later in the day

Sonya - posted on 07/20/2009

No, my daughter has been taking concerta for a while and I've not had any issues.

Colleen - posted on 07/20/2009

My son has been on Concerta for 3 years. He is already a small child but yes the COncerta does have an effect on his growth. We try to offer more substantial snacks in the evening and make sure that breakfast has a higher fat content. The benefits of Concerta are amazing. My son has gone fron D's and C's to almost all A's and B's.

Christy - posted on 07/20/2009

My son has been on Concerta for a few years. He did not gain much weight and it was always a fight to get him to ear. He has also had other medical issues and has had to add many other medications. We started an appetite stimulant and is now gaining weight.

Katie - posted on 07/19/2009

My son was taken off this last month because it was making him have a very short temper, very emotional and violent, his doctor said this was a new side effect. I did notice he lost weight on this medication and lost his appetite but this also is a side effect.

Micki - posted on 07/19/2009

My 9 year old daughter has been on Concerta for a while now and I have noticed that she isn't gaining weight like she should. They just up'd her dose from 18mg to 27mg. Her last appointment was specifically for a weight check; the DR says at this time she is good, but as a mom I still worry. I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one going through it. I think she has gained a pound in over 3 months. I try to make her eat prior to taking her meds as well letting her have a snack as late as she wants it at night. I have also found that her sleeping habits are a bit out of whack as well. She was always a late-nighter, so to say, but now it seems that she's staying up later. If any of you are having the same problem with your children, put them on Melatonin. It is a supplement that is sold over the counter for about $6 and works wonders. I even started giving it to my son as well, even though he is not ADHD. It relaxes them...kinda like turkey!!! And my peditrician recommended it!

Anne - posted on 07/18/2009

My son was taking it and stopped gaining weight due to the fact that he was never hungry while taking the pill! We changed him to Vyvanse and while it still effects his appetite it seems not to be as bad! My Doctor also suggested letting him eat later at night and eating high calorie and carb foods before bed! it has helped some- but seems to be a bad side effect!

Celeste - posted on 07/18/2009

My son is also on Concerta. He is 8 years old and weighs 48 lbs he is very skinny. I have noticed he tends to get hungrier in the evenings when the medicine wears off. I talk to the doctor once and she said to let him eat whatever if he wants. We try to do this but he is still small for his age.

Tyra - posted on 07/18/2009

i have 2 kids on concerta, both have lost weight, i try to make the eat a big breakfast because once they take their concerta they won't hardly eat lunch, usually it wears off around 6 and they will eat a big dinner. that is how we have kept them from lossing to much, but both of mine are skinny

Jennifer - posted on 07/18/2009

My son has been on concerta for over a year, he had a growth spurt about 6 months ago, but he has not gained any weight...he is still the same weight that he was when he started taking it. The doctor just says that we will keep an eye on his weight...he's taking 27 mg. and it works, but the weight gain is a concern.

Amy - posted on 07/18/2009

I have done a lot of research on the topic of medicating younwg children for ADHD as my 3 1/2 year old daughter has it. I have read that the medications will cause appetite suppression which may lead to lower body weight. It also mentioned it affecting the childs height, BUT it did say that it does NOT affect their height permanently, it just kinda like slows down growth rate and delays their growth spurt...
Hope this helps

Lori - posted on 07/18/2009

My son has been on Concerta for about three years now and is growing and gaining well. We have a specialist we visit twice a year to observe his progress. His advice to us is to make sure Jake is eating lots of protein. If he wants ice cream at night, I let him have it. We put chocolate on bananas... he's still eating the banana, sometimes for lunch etc. I notice he says he doesn't feel hungary, but I tell him that's a side effect of the meds, his brain still needs the food and so does his body even if he doesn't "feel" hungry. Something is better than nothing. My son is also very thin (I have a heck of a time finding pants to fit his width AND length), but he gains about two inches every six months and a few pounds too.

DANA - posted on 07/17/2009

my son is 11 to and we went through the same thing a couple of months ago. i took him to the doctor and we stop the concerta for about 2 months .we also gave him the pedi-sure to drink to help gain his weight back. it worked great. now he is back on the meds.

Sheryl - posted on 07/17/2009

My son has been on concerta since 1st grade. He is now 15 years old and when he was younger the weight thing was an issue but as they get older it will eventually catch up with itself. When he hit puberty everything just seemed to even itself out.

Darlene - posted on 07/17/2009

My 12 yr old daughter has been on meds for ADHD for 6 yrs. She has been on Concerta for a good portion of that time. She is a small person and gets picked on at school for how small she is. She does not eat as well as as she should. The concerta definitely effects her appetite. She eats really well in the mornings before taking it, usually not much (if anything) for lunch and then a small dinner. Unless we are having something that she just loves. But, if she forgets to take her medicine in teh morning, she eats like crazy. My doctor suggested giving her drinks like PediaSure, BOOST, etc. She likes the taste of the BOOST better and she can put it right in her lunch box. It gives me the satisfaction of knowing that she is getting the nutrients that she needs and will hopefully help her grow. The doctor also said that she is in her height/weight range for her age (at the low end, but still within it) and there is no need to be overly concerned unless they are lower than they should be.
My son was also on Concerta for about 6 years and was not really growing a whole lot while he was on it either. He has been off of it now for 2 years and he is about 5'9' and 150lbs.

Shawna - posted on 07/17/2009

For the longest time I thought the same thing. My daughter has been on it a 2 years, now all the sudden she is taller then me, and almost weighs as much as me. Its always best to get the them to eat a good breakfest before they take it. Their body will eventually get used to it.

Ginny - posted on 07/17/2009

My son is on Concerta he takes 36 mg in the morning and 56 mg at lunch.He is fine.He is also a 14 year old boy with tons of energy to burn off.He can not gain weight and thats just because of his metabolism but he is healthy as can be.He is not losing weight and he is not a stick.His picture is on my profile.

Jacqueline - posted on 07/17/2009

My son who is now a month and a half shy of 17 was on Concerta and at that time did have weight issues. He decided himself to stop taking the meds and after that did in fact gain weight. He is now 6' 3" and weighs near 170 and not lacking for anything. He also eats like a horse, if he had eaten like that when he was on the med he would have been sick.

Melissa - posted on 07/16/2009

Both my kids take concerta, every time we go to the doctors my son has gained, it would be like 1-4 lbs depending on how long we go without going to checkups. My daughter on the other hand lost 10 lbs in a month. We took her off of it, and tried something else. She gained back the weight, but the med wasn't working so we put on back on concerta. She lost 5 lbs the next month. I think it all depends on the kids and their metbolism. Neither one of my kids a heavy, they are just tall. At this point my daughter does gain weight but its like 1/2 to a 1/4 lb a month.

Amy - posted on 07/16/2009

My youngest when he came to me was on concerta.. he was 48 inches tall and 48 pounds.. this medication made him so angry and destructive as well as not eating anything to eat either. I quickly found another pill for him to work on his ADHD that was going to be better for him at school as well as home. He has done so much better off that medication. I also have kids at my work that are on that medication and some it works for while others it makes them destructive!

Kim - posted on 07/16/2009

This is an old rumor...Concerta does not affect growth. My son has been on an ADHD med since he was 4..he is 18, healthy, graduated with honors, is 5'10 and still growing....

Casie - posted on 07/16/2009

YES!! My daughter is fixing to be 13 in October and she is sooo skinny..Half the time she doesnt even wanna eat!! but we have to make her..lol

Jennifer - posted on 07/16/2009

YES!! it's one of the major side effects of the meds... My son's doctor does weight checks every other month just to be safe. If your doctor hasn't set that up do a chart at home too.. you can google the same chart they have 4 height and weight and that way you are on top of it.

Renee - posted on 07/16/2009

Thank you for all the advice. I'm glad to hear that weight gain and growth is possible on this medication because I really think it has been beneficial otherwise. With his father's and my genetics I don't see him ever reaching 6 foot but it would be nice to see atleast another inch or two during this next year! He is very active so he burns up every little bit he puts in. Protein shakes here we come!

Aidrean - posted on 07/16/2009

The Concerta kills their appetites. Feed them well at med time and allow them to eat late as it takes a long time for the meds to wear off. I found this out after my daughter lost 10lbs in 6 weeks. She eats a little at dinner time and finishes her dinner just before bed at 9p.m. and has started filling back out fairly quick. This was advised by her doctor. Hope it helps. P.S. watch the chocolate as the combination with the pills can cause tachycardia.

Amanda - posted on 07/15/2009

My son is eight and has been on concerta for a year .He is on the thin side but has grown 2 inches in that time. I give it to him after breakfast and he eats a good dinner,lunch is usually not sucessfull.His growth curve really hasn't changed since he started.It has been much better on concerta than when he was on aderall!

Ardeliah - posted on 07/15/2009

My son hasn't gained any weight but I am hoping that he doesn't get much taller. He towers over his father and I already. That makes him at least 6 foot 2 inches tall and he is only 13.

Jessica - posted on 07/15/2009

yes with concerta and adderal weight gain is a very big side effect my son is on meds and we monitor his weight gain very closely at the doctors office normally as long as there not losing weight it is ok but very normal to only gain very small amounts in a couple of months meds make child not hungry bad side effect

Laura - posted on 07/15/2009

My son has been on 36 miligram for a long time but he has my metabolism and that makes it impossible to tell his weight gain. He eats like crazy but like me, can't gain weight to save his butt. lol For our family, he's right on track. Don't compare your children to other kids. Compare them to how you and their father was at that age. That might help you get a better idea of how they should be.

Melissa - posted on 07/15/2009

Both my kids are on Concerta and I know that they are growing taller but not gaining that much weight. My kids are eating machines from the minute they get up until the time they fall asleep. If my kids want something to eat at 10 or 11 at night I usually give it to them like a pb &j sandwich, a hotdog, or something of that kind. They are both very active and I think that too makes a major difference in their eating habits.