We had similar issues with my son around that age but with different side effects. We had many conversations with him and with him and his doctor and tried different doses or Ritalin and eventually Strattera. All had side effects and ultimately he decided it was worse to take them than not take them. It’s a few years later and there are definitely issues with him not being medicated but ultimately it’s his choice. The doctor won’t prescribe him anything without his consent anyway.

It’s important to listen to your son. Try different doses and different medications. Maybe something else will be better.

He's 13 and it's interfering with his eating. Eating is important to 13 year olds, and he's telling you that it is a problem to eat on this drug.

I would defenitely switch meds. There are other options.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think he'll be able to articulate to the doctor what effects he is feeling, what side effects, and what he is looking for that he thinks Ritalin is not giving him?

I asked him to tell me and it wasn't a great articulation so we'll work on it in the car.
He knows he takes "eat" breaks.
He doesn't like how it feels even though he knows that he can concentrate.
Since he's grown a lot recently, I suspect he needs a higher dose if nothing else.
(OP here)

OP you don't sound ok. "He knows he takes "eat" breaks." This medication doesn't sound like it's working for him. "He doesn't like how it feels" he wants off of it. Let him.
"Since he's grown a lot recently, I suspect he needs a higher dose if nothing else." you sound very controlling and you are not HEARING him talking to you, he's telling you how he feels and what he wants and YOU want him on a higher dose. This is not ok op.

Not sure if this poster is new to the Special Needs board, but this is not how we speak to each other here. We are parents doing the best we can in tough situations.

Anonymous wrote:The psychiatrist will have to explore this with him.


Your son's opinion could be compounded by the fact that he dislikes the side effects of his meds. Poor thing, my son is the same way, and I feel for both. On school days, meds are really the only thing that keeps him together.

So it's quite serious, and psychiatrists have their work cut out for them to tease out what's what for each patient.

OP here: I think this is it and will support him. i know that he's too old to control and must make his own body choices. That parenting position has ramifications beyond med use for ADHD.

Thank you to all of the thoughtful replies.

Some of you were really mean. Op back.

He does not take it at night. In fact, he's never under the influence while with me. He takes it before school and it's out of his body by the time he gets home.

He does not take it on vacations, random school days off, the weekends. Damn. I'm not controlling. I never even "make" him take it.

Anyway, I do understand how the components of medications can change their effectiveness and also know that, even with branded drugs, we have shortages of the binders and other components so the formulation may have changed, ever so slightly. I didn't think of that in this case though. (my work brain and home brain are very different)

He is seeing his psychiatrist today and I reached out for some insight in support not calls of controlling and that something's wrong with me.

As a reminder, this board is supposed to be supportive; always. If you want to be mean to ppl, go to the other ones.

What happens when he doesn't take it? Is he completely not functional at school? Is the difference between taking it and not really really substantial? If he doesn't like how it feels and doesn't find life without it miserable, then I wouldn't make him take it. It's really sad that a kid needs to take breaks to eat, frankly.

Anonymous wrote:His body, his choice he's old enough to decide. Deal with it. Perhaps you are the problem here telling him it's ok that he is underweight and has no appetite because of the meds YOU want HIM on. If he wants to wean off of them and you want to be a good parent you will let him.

I disagree. A 13 year old with ADHD does not have the maturity to decide he is ok refusing treatment. You certainly should bring this up with his psychiatrist. There are many options to try to optimize the benefit and minimize the side effects. His concerns should absolutely be addressed, however there are many things to try between what you are doing now and him refusing medication. Please follow the advice of your psychiatrist instead of anonymous internet responders who do not have similar experiences.

The psychiatrist will have to explore this with him.

It's true that ever since the beginning of the shortage, some patients have seen the effects of their meds decrease and therefore suspect that manufacturers are using slightly different formulas to compensate for a shortage of ingredients. It could be as subtle as a change in coating - most patients won't notice, but a few might not digest it in the same way, and therefore the active ingredients will have a different effect.

It's also true that ever since this has become a movement on social media, experts fear that many patients will start to believe their own meds are not working, due to high suggestibility on the matter. Not because their meds have changed in any way!

Your son's opinion could be compounded by the fact that he dislikes the side effects of his meds. Poor thing, my son is the same way, and I feel for both. On school days, meds are really the only thing that keeps him together.

So it's quite serious, and psychiatrists have their work cut out for them to tease out what's what for each patient.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think he'll be able to articulate to the doctor what effects he is feeling, what side effects, and what he is looking for that he thinks Ritalin is not giving him?

I asked him to tell me and it wasn't a great articulation so we'll work on it in the car.
He knows he takes "eat" breaks.
He doesn't like how it feels even though he knows that he can concentrate.
Since he's grown a lot recently, I suspect he needs a higher dose if nothing else.
(OP here)

OP you don't sound ok. "He knows he takes "eat" breaks." This medication doesn't sound like it's working for him. "He doesn't like how it feels" he wants off of it. Let him.
"Since he's grown a lot recently, I suspect he needs a higher dose if nothing else." you sound very controlling and you are not HEARING him talking to you, he's telling you how he feels and what he wants and YOU want him on a higher dose. This is not ok op.

His body, his choice he's old enough to decide. Deal with it. Perhaps you are the problem here telling him it's ok that he is underweight and has no appetite because of the meds YOU want HIM on. If he wants to wean off of them and you want to be a good parent you will let him.

He’s old enough to decide for himself. The appetite suppression is a serious side effect. It’s his body.

Anonymous wrote:Do you think he'll be able to articulate to the doctor what effects he is feeling, what side effects, and what he is looking for that he thinks Ritalin is not giving him?

I asked him to tell me and it wasn't a great articulation so we'll work on it in the car.
He knows he takes "eat" breaks.
He doesn't like how it feels even though he knows that he can concentrate.
Since he's grown a lot recently, I suspect he needs a higher dose if nothing else.
(OP here)

Well, I trust your kid knows whether it is “working” or not. So he can go up a dose or try another drug. Adderall is a combo of two drugs (and was too strong for DD) so that may work. It’s not a big deal to try other drugs.

Do you think he'll be able to articulate to the doctor what effects he is feeling, what side effects, and what he is looking for that he thinks Ritalin is not giving him?

We have a med-check today and 13 yr old says it's not working and wants another drug. He's been watching ADHD videos and seems to have gotten the idea from one of those videos but let's just say it's not working, who switched and to what?

He's an under-weight, normal height 13 yr old who has significant appetite loss and sometimes takes breaks from the drug b/c he "wants to eat today". It also doesn't last the school day but he doesn't want a second dose and if he had one, he wouldn't eat dinner. We do all the calorie tricks including buying frozen sliders, burgers, breakfast sandwiches and hot pockets so his after school snack is high caloric. I gave up on no fat and processed foods long ago.