Focalin experience?

[Anonymous]

Nanny here. Three charges have been on Focalin, all three had varying levels of constipation start only after they started the medication, accompanying decreased hunger at morning and noon and increased hunger in the evening. To boost nutrients and fiber (and take advantage of the willing knees to drink something even they didn’t want to eat!), I started making morning smoothies. 1 Tbsp benefiber, 2 Tbsp peanut butter, 1 banana, 10 frozen strawberries, mini cucumber, and fill the rest with milk. I also started adding 1 Tbsp benefiber into the evening meal as it went on the plate, and when it got really bad, we supplemented every morning with probiotic/prebiotic chews and fiber chews.

[Anonymous]

Our developmental pediatrician explained that all the different stimulants are basically just different methods of delivering the same drug. Focalin is a more pure form of the drug than others because it has fewer inactive ingredients. It definitely helps my child to focus.

My child already suffered from constipation before she was diagnosed with ADHD, and our developmental pediatrician told us that constipation is very common among kids with ADHD. We did not notice any difference in bathroom habits when our child was on Focalin XR versus unmedicated. DC is still on Focalin but we’ve been able to reduce our use of Miralax over the years.

Most children will only suffer a decreased appetite when they start a stimulant, but then their appetite comes back. Our dc is one of the kids whose appetite remains suppressed no matter how long they’re on a stimulant. We give dc a protein-packed breakfast and, most days, dc doesn’t eat again until dinner. After dinner, I don’t limit evening snacking because dc needs to catch up on calories. I offer high calorie foods. I also don’t medicate on weekends, holidays or in the summer. DC has grown a half inch since school started, but has not gained any weight and is in the 8th percentile for weight now and was in the 50th percentile for height 4 months ago. However, dc was always very skinny, even before trying a stimulant.

Good luck.