Booster med or non-stimulant to get through homework? Any experience?

[Anonymous]

My son just started seventh grade and each year has become increasingly more homework and we barely got through last year. We talked to his doctor about having a booster dose, but decided against it last year and muddled through. Fast-forward to this year and he spending much more time on homework and is very unfocused. We’re having to email the teachers to say that he’s spending hours and not getting assignments done so we definitely need to do something.

Have you done the afternoon booster of a stimulant and did you decrease the amount of the morning stimulant out of curiosity?

Has anyone switched from a stimulant to something like Strattera to give continual color coverage and not have to worry about being dosed at school?

I will obviously be asking the doctor about all of this, but I’m curious about personal experiences. My son is resistant to having the dose at school as I think he finds it embarrassing though he won’t say that. Also, I hope the school will be good about administering it, but I don’t have 100% confidence based on other things I have experienced with them. So that made me wonder about the movement to a non-stimulant? Just curious about personal experiences and if you found it as effective, etc. In general, looking for advice.

[Anonymous]

My son is also in 7th grade. He takes 27 mg of generic Concerta in the morning. This year we started a 5mg booster dose that he takes at lunch at the nurse’s office. He has said that it helps him get through the end of the day. He has been pretty good with homework so I think it’s still working then. You could probably do that booster dose right at the end of the school day to get through evening activities and HW. The real question is would he still be able to fall asleep. My son is able to taking it at 12. He doesn’t go to sleep until 9:30 or 10, so I think he zooms be fine taking it at 3.

[Anonymous]

My 5th grader takes an afternoon booster on days he has evening activities that require attention or focus. He also tends to get homework done on those days. Its definitely something many kids need to function.

[Anonymous]

Mine takes 10 mg of immediate-release Adderall when he's got work to do. He needs it, unfortunately. Wish we could get off of it because he wants to be a pilot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine takes 10 mg of immediate-release Adderall when he's got work to do. He needs it, unfortunately. Wish we could get off of it because he wants to be a pilot.

OP here—curious how this affects sleep etc

[Anonymous]

We need drugs to get through homework now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We need drugs to get through homework now?

Troll. Kids with ADHD often need meds to get through many aspects of life to help stay focused and control impulses. Homework would be no different. IYKYK.

[Anonymous]

We did/do am afternoon booster and we did not decrease the XR dose. According to our doctor, a bigger dose doesn't last longer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We need drugs to get through homework now?

Did you know that you're on the SN forum?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We did/do am afternoon booster and we did not decrease the XR dose. According to our doctor, a bigger dose doesn't last longer.

So is it the same dose as before, just split up? Or same dose PLUS a booster?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine takes 10 mg of immediate-release Adderall when he's got work to do. He needs it, unfortunately. Wish we could get off of it because he wants to be a pilot.

In addition to a daily morning dose?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We did/do am afternoon booster and we did not decrease the XR dose. According to our doctor, a bigger dose doesn't last longer.

So is it the same dose as before, just split up? Or same dose PLUS a booster?

Yes. Continue with whatever dose of XR works for school because that's still the dose needed to get through school. Then a booster of short acting. Taking the booster doesn't change what they need during the school day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We did/do am afternoon booster and we did not decrease the XR dose. According to our doctor, a bigger dose doesn't last longer.

So is it the same dose as before, just split up? Or same dose PLUS a booster?

Yes. Continue with whatever dose of XR works for school because that's still the dose needed to get through school. Then a booster of short acting. Taking the booster doesn't change what they need during the school day.

Got it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We need drugs to get through homework now?

Troll. Kids with ADHD often need meds to get through many aspects of life to help stay focused and control impulses. Homework would be no different. IYKYK.

Not to sound old school, but this was not typical for kids with ADHD a decade ago and not how adults who have used the medication for decades take it. I would be concerned about this creating a precedent that could feed into abuse when a child reaches an age where they self administer the medication. Where do you draw the line around taking a booster dose for practice, homework, etc.? That would be my concern and I’m a new poster, not the person who you are responding to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We did/do am afternoon booster and we did not decrease the XR dose. According to our doctor, a bigger dose doesn't last longer.

No, the extended release (“XR”) makes it last longer than immediate release. You’re just getting more medication over 12 hours.