Methylphenidate caused my teen to break down

[Anonymous]

My son is 17 and has tried almost all ADHD meds when he was much younger.

As a high school junior now, the workload is overwhelming for a kid with ADHD so we decided to start trying meds again. I only do it on weekends in case of a side effect.

He took Methylphenidate a few days ago and was fine until evening when he fell apart. He was agitated and upset - said he doesn't want meds. He just wants to be left alone.

I'm heartbroken. I never pushed meds - we tried them but if he didn't like them we stopped.

I'm guessing no other stimulants will work and dr said non stimulants won't help. We've tried Intuniv years ago.

Thinking of Qelbree maybe. I've tried some OTC things like Elevate with no success.

Anyone have reactions to Methylphenidate but found success elewhere?

[Anonymous]

My anxious kid with ADHD (19), takes Guanfacine daily to soften the side effects of stimulants. He takes the stimulants only on very busy/demanding days. This was our solution after trial and error and not being able to tolerate the stimulants alone.

[Anonymous]

My son has a tough rebound after dexemthylphendiate. We’re working through it. I’ve heard that sometimes a booster in a half dose can help.

We had a very bad experience with qelbree, but my son is young and maybe just too little for it.

[Anonymous]

I'm really sorry to hear this. Oldest started with methylphenidate but had too many side effects so we switched to guanfacine. He tried the methlyphenidate again when he was about 14 and has done really well. I think, for him, the biggest difference was that his anxiety was under control with and SSRI. If his anxiety isn't under control, stimulants just don't agree with him. Hugs.

[Anonymous]

These are strong drugs OP. Just let him
be unmedicated. He’s 17 and old enough to decide for himself. Many adults report they do not like the experience of ADHD meds and that stimulants do not actually help with producing work.

[Anonymous]

There are many formulations of the 2 main stimulant classes for various extended release timelines, and people react differently to different ones.

Strattera is a non stimulant, so is guanfacine.

Sometimes it takes trial and error.

[Anonymous]

DC tried methylphenidate but it didn't work. He kept trying and found a combo of adderall and zoloft to be best.

I understand you are trying to help but I don't understand why you are the one making decisions about what to try next - unless your doctor is not helpful (which may be the case since he said "non-stimulants won't work).

Your role as a parent is listening, encouragement and support. At this age, your DC should be developing a strong relationship with a psychiatrist and therapist - when he tries a med and he doesn't feel it's working, he should go back to the psychiatrist and explain why - they should talk and adjust. Depending in "it doesn't work" means specifically the doc may recommend trying a different stimulant med, trying a different non-stimulant med, adjusting dosage or timing, or adding another med. The therapist should be educating him about ADHD and teaching him non-medication ways to manage ADHD.

Does your DC have a 504 plan at school with extra-time, reduced work, copy of class notes, calculator, and ability to readjust deadlines? It is unreasonable to expect to solve an ADHD kid's overwhelming workload problem with medication alone. Part of that may be that he decides to cut back on activities or academic workload.

Your role is to listen to how he's feeling, encourage him to share those feelings with the psychiatrist and therapist, continue trying different medications, therapeutic tools and be kind to himself. This is a period of life when kids (and their parents) have little flexibility on their school schedule and classes and some (inappropriately) rigid ideas about what they need to do to be "successful" and "get into a good college.". Help him see there is room to maneuver and try different things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These are strong drugs OP. Just let him
be unmedicated. He’s 17 and old enough to decide for himself. Many adults report they do not like the experience of ADHD meds and that stimulants do not actually help with producing work.

This is such bad advice. Many kids at 17 do not have enough knowledge of ADHD to make rationale choices.

Many adults really find medication helpful - both stimulant and non-stimulant. I'm one of them. In fact, studies show ADHD meds work about 80% of the time.

OP, here is a good resource for understanding medication:

https://www.additudemag.com/slideshows/how-does-adhd-medication-work/?src=embed_link

Of course, if a kid doesn't want to take medication, a parent shouldn't/can't force him/her to. But, they're kids, so continued discussion and access to professionals is appropriate.

My ADHD DC didn't want to take meds or see a therapist and angrily refused both. Over time he changed his mind and today he finds medication helpful and is much happier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These are strong drugs OP. Just let him
be unmedicated. He’s 17 and old enough to decide for himself. Many adults report they do not like the experience of ADHD meds and that stimulants do not actually help with producing work.

This is such bad advice. Many kids at 17 do not have enough knowledge of ADHD to make rationale choices.

Many adults really find medication helpful - both stimulant and non-stimulant. I'm one of them. In fact, studies show ADHD meds work about 80% of the time.

OP, here is a good resource for understanding medication:

https://www.additudemag.com/slideshows/how-does-adhd-medication-work/?src=embed_link

Of course, if a kid doesn't want to take medication, a parent shouldn't/can't force him/her to. But, they're kids, so continued discussion and access to professionals is appropriate.

My ADHD DC didn't want to take meds or see a therapist and angrily refused both. Over time he changed his mind and today he finds medication helpful and is much happier.

He’s 17 and expressed that the stimulant was having really negative side effects. It would be horrible to try to force him to take medication he does not want and possibly does not need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These are strong drugs OP. Just let him
be unmedicated. He’s 17 and old enough to decide for himself. Many adults report they do not like the experience of ADHD meds and that stimulants do not actually help with producing work.

This is such bad advice. Many kids at 17 do not have enough knowledge of ADHD to make rationale choices.

Many adults really find medication helpful - both stimulant and non-stimulant. I'm one of them. In fact, studies show ADHD meds work about 80% of the time.

OP, here is a good resource for understanding medication:

https://www.additudemag.com/slideshows/how-does-adhd-medication-work/?src=embed_link

Of course, if a kid doesn't want to take medication, a parent shouldn't/can't force him/her to. But, they're kids, so continued discussion and access to professionals is appropriate.

My ADHD DC didn't want to take meds or see a therapist and angrily refused both. Over time he changed his mind and today he finds medication helpful and is much happier.

He’s 17 and expressed that the stimulant was having really negative side effects. It would be horrible to try to force him to take medication he does not want and possibly does not need.

No one is suggesting forcing him to take meds. But there's no reason to throw in the towel and give up on meds after one bad experience. There are dozens of stimulant meds, some that will work without this rebound effect and others that won't. Part of a parent's job is to help their teen (especially ADHD teen!) not see the world in black and white (medicine bad! Medicine good!) and instead work with a doctor to figure out appropriate next steps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These are strong drugs OP. Just let him
be unmedicated. He’s 17 and old enough to decide for himself. Many adults report they do not like the experience of ADHD meds and that stimulants do not actually help with producing work.

This is such bad advice. Many kids at 17 do not have enough knowledge of ADHD to make rationale choices.

Many adults really find medication helpful - both stimulant and non-stimulant. I'm one of them. In fact, studies show ADHD meds work about 80% of the time.

OP, here is a good resource for understanding medication:

https://www.additudemag.com/slideshows/how-does-adhd-medication-work/?src=embed_link

Of course, if a kid doesn't want to take medication, a parent shouldn't/can't force him/her to. But, they're kids, so continued discussion and access to professionals is appropriate.

My ADHD DC didn't want to take meds or see a therapist and angrily refused both. Over time he changed his mind and today he finds medication helpful and is much happier.

He’s 17 and expressed that the stimulant was having really negative side effects. It would be horrible to try to force him to take medication he does not want and possibly does not need.

No one is suggesting forcing him to take meds. But there's no reason to throw in the towel and give up on meds after one bad experience. There are dozens of stimulant meds, some that will work without this rebound effect and others that won't. Part of a parent's job is to help their teen (especially ADHD teen!) not see the world in black and white (medicine bad! Medicine good!) and instead work with a doctor to figure out appropriate next steps.

It’s not clear medication is needed at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These are strong drugs OP. Just let him
be unmedicated. He’s 17 and old enough to decide for himself. Many adults report they do not like the experience of ADHD meds and that stimulants do not actually help with producing work.

This is such bad advice. Many kids at 17 do not have enough knowledge of ADHD to make rationale choices.

Many adults really find medication helpful - both stimulant and non-stimulant. I'm one of them. In fact, studies show ADHD meds work about 80% of the time.

OP, here is a good resource for understanding medication:

https://www.additudemag.com/slideshows/how-does-adhd-medication-work/?src=embed_link

Of course, if a kid doesn't want to take medication, a parent shouldn't/can't force him/her to. But, they're kids, so continued discussion and access to professionals is appropriate.

My ADHD DC didn't want to take meds or see a therapist and angrily refused both. Over time he changed his mind and today he finds medication helpful and is much happier.

He’s 17 and expressed that the stimulant was having really negative side effects. It would be horrible to try to force him to take medication he does not want and possibly does not need.

No one is suggesting forcing him to take meds. But there's no reason to throw in the towel and give up on meds after one bad experience. There are dozens of stimulant meds, some that will work without this rebound effect and others that won't. Part of a parent's job is to help their teen (especially ADHD teen!) not see the world in black and white (medicine bad! Medicine good!) and instead work with a doctor to figure out appropriate next steps.

It’s not clear medication is needed at all.

We have no idea from the OP's post. But we do know that parent, child, and doctor thought that medication was worth trying -- and if it was worth trying, then the family shouldn't give up after one medication that didn't work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These are strong drugs OP. Just let him
be unmedicated. He’s 17 and old enough to decide for himself. Many adults report they do not like the experience of ADHD meds and that stimulants do not actually help with producing work.

This is such bad advice. Many kids at 17 do not have enough knowledge of ADHD to make rationale choices.

Many adults really find medication helpful - both stimulant and non-stimulant. I'm one of them. In fact, studies show ADHD meds work about 80% of the time.

OP, here is a good resource for understanding medication:

https://www.additudemag.com/slideshows/how-does-adhd-medication-work/?src=embed_link

Of course, if a kid doesn't want to take medication, a parent shouldn't/can't force him/her to. But, they're kids, so continued discussion and access to professionals is appropriate.

My ADHD DC didn't want to take meds or see a therapist and angrily refused both. Over time he changed his mind and today he finds medication helpful and is much happier.

He’s 17 and expressed that the stimulant was having really negative side effects. It would be horrible to try to force him to take medication he does not want and possibly does not need.

No one is suggesting forcing him to take meds. But there's no reason to throw in the towel and give up on meds after one bad experience. There are dozens of stimulant meds, some that will work without this rebound effect and others that won't. Part of a parent's job is to help their teen (especially ADHD teen!) not see the world in black and white (medicine bad! Medicine good!) and instead work with a doctor to figure out appropriate next steps.

It’s not clear medication is needed at all.

We have no idea from the OP's post. But we do know that parent, child, and doctor thought that medication was worth trying -- and if it was worth trying, then the family shouldn't give up after one medication that didn't work.

Besides that, you have to give the meds 2 weeks trial to see if you adjust to the side effects and to see if they are working.

[Anonymous]

The bounce is common as it’s wearing off. Use it daily and it can ease off, or there are other things the doctor can suggest.

This is worth solving.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I want to be clear that I am not forcing him. He told me he was struggling. We spoke to his dr who recommended Vyvanse. I called everywhere and cannot get it so we decided to try methylphenidate again since we had low dose pills we could start slow. If I could get Vyvanse, I'd try it but I cannot.

He is up until 3am studying. He has extreme anxiety. His ADHD is very bad and he wants to get better. He's not taking an active role in his meds I agree but he's open to help. He does have a 504 and an ADHD coach. It's just not enough. He has never really been on meds except to try them out. We stopped 6-7 years ago because nothing seemed to work. I always felt like I failed him but he was getting through school so I let it go. Now he is seriously struggling and I assume college will be the same so I want to find help.

We did the GeneSight test and while it shows some interactions, it shows many meds he should respond well to. It's frustrating that it just isn't happening for him. He always seems to get all the side effects and stops before we know if there are any benefits.