HELP!!.....My son has lost his appetite and some weight!!

Tina - posted on 12/03/2012

Hi, my son is 8, he has ADHD and has Oppositional Defiant Disorder, he is now on 3 meds, Concerta in morning, Ritalin in afternoon and a sleep med, he has had trouble sleeping also since age 3. He is fluctuating in weight all time :( while on these meds, he was 57-58 pounds in August 2012 and now is 55 since added the Ritalin and the Clonodine (sleep med) he is very picky eater too, won't drink water, don't like Pedialyte and he also don't like the shakes like pediasure or nothing. He takes a few bites and done. I was told now, to try and get him to eat fatty and high calorie foods. So, am trying that now. This morning he was a little dizzy and think the sleep med still in system. But, could be that and dehydration combination, he don't like juices either, so, I know how you all feel, Side effects for any ADHD med is loss of appetite. I know it's hard to deal with. I am having same issue. And trying to figure out, what else can give him for hydration. He will drink sprites and ginger ale, don't like much of anything else. Been on phone with drs all day. Am thinking about reducing the MG on the meds too or cutting out some. since on Ritalin and Sleep med, has lost more weight. His blood pressure was not registered until 3rd time when took him to dr recently. They said, dehydration can do that too our children too. He has had sleep issues and on meds for since 3 for that too. I have tried all the meds pretty much aderall made him more angry..and others not strong enough. Concerta and Ritalin was told same ingredients..he just needs to take both one morning and one in afternoon or he is bouncing off walls and can not focus. If I remember right his dr said, that he is one of worst cases seen. So, good luck to all of us..

Miranda - posted on 06/01/2009

My 11 year old daughter was the same way on the Adderall (she's now on Concerta). She was on the Adderall about a year ago and got down to just under 70 lbs and was about 4' 10". I had to start having her take daily vitamins, when we ate a meal she had to eat the main food item being served (the meat or whatever it was) and at least half of her sides before I gave her anything to drink. This seemed to help a great deal. Also giving her healthy snacks if she wanted them between meals. Doing this made a big improvement. As it did not make her gain weight necessarily but it she stopped losing.

Cindy - posted on 05/27/2009

My son (15) lost 20 pounds on Vyvanse, but luckily he had it to lose. He got some appetite back after being on it for 6 months, so he's doing much better. My daughter (14) is very skinny & very active and started to loose weight on Vyvanse too. We tried some meds that did not have appetite suppressants, but they did not work as well. When she went back to Vyvanse, I made sure she had a yummy breakfast, and I brought her fast food (always with a protein) for lunch every day - a bit of an inconvenience, but she ate it (unlike the school food that she wouldn't touch). Before bed, I always check to see if she wants to eat something, as the meds are finally wearing off by then. (Vyvanse works for 12 hours)

I tried Ensure & she HATED it. I now make her a supplement drink - 1 cup whole milk, one serving of instant breakfast (she like strawberry), 1 cup of "real" ice cream; mix that in the blender; pour in a glass & top with whipped cream; serve with straw. Good source of protein, vitamins & calories.

The doctors tell me she should be eating lots of protein, but she's a picky eater. So I make sure we have PB, hot dogs, and I try to cook with hamburger often. I know, it sounds more of a toddler diet, but she eats it. Since she's done SO much better in school with Vyvanse, I just do what I can to keep her eating.

Another suggestion, with doctor's approval, is to give your son a day off the meds once a week so he will eat well that day. NOTE: I don't give my kids their meds on holidays so they can enjoy the holiday feast.

Lori - posted on 05/24/2009

I took adderal , and had absolutely no interest in food for the rest of the day, a very common side effect . be sure he has a good breakfast before he takes the pill. I chose not to medicate my kids and am no longer medicating myself. Life is more challenging but so are the meds.

Nadina - posted on 05/23/2009

My son started taking medication at the age of five. He is now fifteen. When he started to lose his appetite, I made sure he had a solid breakfast and a good dinner. Overtime, he started to regain his appetite. He is now taller and weighs more than me.

Victoria - posted on 05/19/2009

My daughter had the same issue and was on various different meds. They finally put her on daytrana and gave her an appetite enhancing drug as she lost a considerable amount of weight. I often gave her high fat/caloric foods before bed when she seemed to be hungry. She stayed on both meds for a year, but has since switched to focalin. Since going on focalin she had stopped taking the other medication and her weight is stable.

LayToya - posted on 05/19/2009

My kids were the same way. My son is 10 and my daught is 7 (almost 8) and we had issue with ther appetite with the meds as well as weight loss. However, theire growth charts are normal per thier, pediatrician. now with that being said, I give them their meds everyday with the exception of weekends. On Saturday they are free to be themselves, hyper and all. Sundays I give it to them because we have to go to church and I don't need them being the center of attention. Although the chruch knows their situation so if the kids don't have their meds, it's not much of an issue. Now I know some may say don't miss giving them themeds. But on the days that I let them go free, the ids eat like pigs (literally), everything from their breakfast - dinner, and any snack they can get. So for me it balances out.

Also try to give Ensure to makeup for the vitamins and protein he's not getting when he doesn't want to eat. Ensure comes in different favors and my kids love it. (Ensure or Pediasure whichever is more reasonable financially, it's like a $3.00 difference). I hope this helps you out.

Sara - posted on 05/19/2009

My son started on meds when he was 5yrs old. He lost weight and never gained it back. He never did loose his appetite and he still could not gain weight. I remember one tacher comment to me about how he eats better than any kid on ADHD meds that she has ever seen. He was 9 when we took him off the meds because he only weighed 50 bs. That really worried me. Now in 1 year he has gained 10 lbs.



I have luckily found alternative meds that help him in school. I hope you find something that works out for your son.

Roberta - posted on 05/18/2009

Quoting Lynsey:

my lil girl is exactly the same iyou can see her ribs, when she gets ill im worried about her body not having enough to fight with, my friend said a tonic is best i give skye abidec which is a vitamin based tonic, tastes awful but there is something in tonic which makes em eat a bit more makes em hungry,dexamphetamin is what my daughter is on and i have been advised by her adhd consultant not to give it to her except when she is at school so i dont really see any benefit but maybe give high calorific food not sweets or choclate but advocado mashed up and hidden in something nice but it is a difficult one and something im constantly worrying over xx

Thank You Lynsey...where do I get this tonic?  Is it somewhat like a pop?

Lynsey - posted on 05/18/2009

my lil girl is exactly the same iyou can see her ribs, when she gets ill im worried about her body not having enough to fight with, my friend said a tonic is best i give skye abidec which is a vitamin based tonic, tastes awful but there is something in tonic which makes em eat a bit more makes em hungry,dexamphetamin is what my daughter is on and i have been advised by her adhd consultant not to give it to her except when she is at school so i dont really see any benefit but maybe give high calorific food not sweets or choclate but advocado mashed up and hidden in something nice but it is a difficult one and something im constantly worrying over xx