should we keep up the meds over the summer??

Amy - posted on 06/19/2009

I have one son who has ADHD and a Mood disorder he is on concerta 36mg and My older son was DX with ADHD 6months ago.. I asked the Dr what we should do over the summer? He suggested that I keep them on it for the whole summer due to their impulses and they could not focus on a gosh dar n thing...lol

Felicia - posted on 06/18/2009

Do you find thta your son has trouble sleeping at night on the Focalin XR?

Katrina - posted on 06/18/2009

definetly!! or u are asking for 6 weeks of hell. medication is prescribed 4 a reason, cause the patient needs the help! what meds is the person on? x

Uriia - posted on 06/15/2009

My 11 year old daughter has been diagnosed with ADHD for about 2 years now. She has been taking Concerta. The Dr. said it was up to me if I wanted her to continue meds over the summer. She hasn't taken any since school got out and her appetite is getting better. It is really up to you. I think she is doing fine right now and don't think it is necessary. Her body needs a break....

Liz - posted on 06/15/2009

My advise is to ask your son. Mine would highly disagree if I said we should "give it a rest". He simply cannot control his impulses and says he can "feel" when he's not on his meds. Your son may be young but he is the best judge.

Terri - posted on 06/15/2009

My daughter is 13 now, and has been on medication since 1st grade (Concerta 1st and now Focalin). She made the choice not to take it in the summer this time around. I feel like she's old enough to choose for herself, as long as she's getting her chores done, acting appropriately etc. This year we "tested" going off for 2 weeks in the 2nd semester and she decided she does need the medication during the school year. Again, I felt it was good to have her make the choice. I do wonder if this is a lifetime thing for her.



On another note, she was very underweight while on Concerta but is in normal ranges on Focalin. I beleive the meds delayed her period starting because of her low weight, but that's just a gut feeling.

Catherine - posted on 06/14/2009

I think it is important to keep the meds going over the summer cuz that way it stays in their system and it makes it easier to adjust to the next school year.

Meesha - posted on 06/14/2009

Thanks for all the advice..I spoke to the Dr. and we are spending our summer med free!

Cidalia - posted on 06/12/2009

Quoting Patricia:

Well last summer when my daughter was 7 I talked to the Dr. and asked about serious withdrawals from the medication. My daughter takes Concerta. We agreed to keep it in her system. This also helped when re-entering school because she did not have to wait 4 the med to start workin or to build up her resistence grad with dosaging again. Although I was not worried about her "bothering" me with her adhd I just realized it is helping her focus on her one thoughts that roll around a million miles a minute and also with stability with her emotions from being high strung or nervous.

I find it unusual that your doctor would suggest that there is a waiting period for Concerta to start working or to even refer to keeping it in her system... Concerta doesn't work that way.  Concerta is the same drug as Ritalin, only in a slower-release formula, so it lasts longer during the day (the drug name is methylphenidate).  Methylphenidate works quickly (unlike some drugs that need to be taken for a two-week minimum before they start to work), and it's out of the system quickly, so by the next day, there is NO drug in her system, and she needs to take it again.  Because of this, some kids on Concerta or Ritalin don't take the drug on weekends because there are no withdrawal symptoms.  Only the obvious return of their ADD/ADHD symptoms (which for some parents is enough of a reason to keep it up during the summer).

Cindy - posted on 06/11/2009

I agree with Kristie. You should discuss it with your doctor, so that you can make a better educated decision based on the medication and your child. However it goes, I hope you have a wonderful summer.

Kristie - posted on 06/11/2009

The best thing would be to ask the doctor that prescribed it. Every medicine is different. There isn't a "right" answer out there for everyone.

Kristen - posted on 06/11/2009

My 12 yr. old was diagnosed with ADHD a year ago and is taking Concerta. It has helped her so much with school. When we started her on it, the Dr. said that we could not give it to her on weekends, if we wanted too. In the case of homework, on weekends, if she has a huge amount, we'll give her a short acting Ritilan, so that she's able to finish it. As for the summer, we don't give it to her, because that way she's able to enjoy the summer more. She'll have more of an appetite also, if she's off the Concerta.

Sandra - posted on 06/11/2009

My son is taking Focalin XR and it is a short acting form, therefore after 6 - 8 hrs it is gone out of the system. Doctor said no problem if you do not give it to him on weekends and not during the summer.

Patricia - posted on 06/10/2009

Well last summer when my daughter was 7 I talked to the Dr. and asked about serious withdrawals from the medication. My daughter takes Concerta. We agreed to keep it in her system. This also helped when re-entering school because she did not have to wait 4 the med to start workin or to build up her resistence grad with dosaging again. Although I was not worried about her "bothering" me with her adhd I just realized it is helping her focus on her one thoughts that roll around a million miles a minute and also with stability with her emotions from being high strung or nervous.

Patricia - posted on 06/10/2009

Well last summer when my daughter was 7 I talked to the Dr. and asked about serious withdrawals from the medication. My daughter takes Concerta. We agreed to keep it in her system. This also helped when re-entering school because she did not have to wait 4 the med to start workin or to build up her resistence grad with dosaging again. Although I was not worried about her "bothering" me with her adhd I just realized it is helping her focus on her one thoughts that roll around a million miles a minute and also with stability with her emotions from being high strung or nervous.