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Post by ikisskittiesonlips on Nov 10, 2003 8:27:13 GMT -5
My son has been on Concerta for almost two weeks. At first he was just on 18 mg., but a few days ago his doctor doubled it. It seems to really be helping, I can see a lot of improvements. But mornings......oh man. It's horrible. Ever since school has started I've had trouble getting Zach up, then when he does, he goofs off and ends up angry at me because I'm trying to rush him. But now, it's even WORSE. He's so violent in the morning, I don't know what to do. This morning he wouldn't put on his shoes, take his med, etc. By the time we got out the door, the kitchen was trashed; chair knocked over, milk EVERYWHERE. His pills ended up getting wet, but I only had just so many, so I made him take them anyway. (I hope it doesn't hurt him) I'm glad that by the time he gets to school, the Concerta kicks in. But I'm wondering if there isn't something he can take at night to take the edge off of these terrible mornings. I'm new to meds, don't know a lot about them, but I'm learning. Any suggestions?
Dulcey ^..^
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Post by eaccae on Nov 10, 2003 10:55:52 GMT -5
I don't know if this will help at all. DS used to be the same way. He would leave and it would always be on a bad note and I would feel horrible. My husband was home for awhile during the getting up process - he started taking DS and throwing him in the shower. DS is NOT a morning person. I am not a morning person. DS loves showers (as do I) but he hates to get in them. So he would scream and kick and fight DH when being thrown into a nice warm shower, and then he would just hang out for twenty minutes. When he got out he was so friendly and awake. He is now so used to the shower thing that all you have to do is turn on his light and say "shower time" - and like a zombie he walks into the bathroom, strips and jumps in the shower for a good 20-25 minutes. But when he gets out - he is such a joy!
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Post by Dakotah on Nov 10, 2003 11:10:46 GMT -5
I can't give you any advice but I can tell you, you are not alone. Our mornings before meds. is like... I don't know but it is absolutely terrible! Everyday getting out of bed for me is a real struggle because I know what the first hour is going to be like. On the same note I can get out of bed because I know it is only a hour. I feel your pain and wish I could help you. We have talked abut adding something at night so mornings aren't so bad but I feel like that is selfish of me to put him on one more medication because I can't take the mornings. Does that make sense... Good luck!
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Post by ikisskittiesonlips on Nov 10, 2003 13:31:09 GMT -5
We have talked abut adding something at night so mornings aren't so bad but I feel like that is selfish of me to put him on one more medication because I can't take the mornings.
Dakotah, you have to remember though, as bad as it is for us as parents, imagine how terrible it must be for our kids! I'm going to ask our doctor about putting Zach on something mild at night because I know my son doesn't get a good start to his day either. I mean, all that anger and rage isn't good for any of us. So, I say if it means another med, then it's worth a try.
Dulcey ^..^
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Post by NativeLI on Nov 10, 2003 14:58:38 GMT -5
Is it possible the rages are because he is tired? Is he having difficulty going to sleep at night b/c of the concerta? My son acts up much more when he is tired, and I know if I can get him to bed early he is much better in the am. Possibly a sleep aid can help if this is part of the problem.
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Post by Dakotah on Nov 10, 2003 15:48:18 GMT -5
Dulcey- I know you are right and we have actually started Stattera and I have since found out that it could help our morinings. We will see what happens.
NativeLI- I have wondered the same thing. Our son sleeps nine to ten hours a night but he gets up anywhere from one to four times a night. My gut tells me it isn't from being tired because if he wasn't on meds. he would act this way the whole day. After his Concerta kicks in he becomes a more "together" child. We have been falling apart lately, however, and have added Strattera.
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Post by marylandmom on Nov 10, 2003 19:57:39 GMT -5
Hello everyone, I am new to this site but old to the other one.
It is great to be back talking with everyone again.
We are having the same problem with our son. I have even gone to the extent of giving him his meds early so I don't have to deal with it, but then I feel guilty because I am afraid that it is going to wear off sooner and his teachers are going to have to deal with him going crazy. I don't know what to do ethier. I feel like I am just yelling all morning it is hell trying to get out of the house on time. He has almost missed the bus alot of times. He loves to ride the bus so I told him that if he can't get up and get ready in a timley manner so we can get out of the house on time then I would have to drive him to school well that didn't work, he got to thinking that was pretty cool to have mom drive him to school, but then I was late to work, so I really am at a lose at what to do next. When we go back to the doctor I am going to ask him. If you come up with anything please let me know. Sorry to ramble on but it has been a while since I have been to either site and it is just nice to talk again. Take Care!!
Marylandmom
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Post by ikisskittiesonlips on Nov 10, 2003 22:45:41 GMT -5
Maryland mom -- do you mean you woke him up in the night to give him his meds? I did that when my son was on Strattera because of the side effects. I woke him up at like 4 a.m. and that way some of the nausea would be gone by the time he got up at 6. I'm going to try that with the Concerta; say, wake him up at 5 a.m. and give him his pills and let him go back to sleep for an hour. Of course, like you, I worry that the meds will wear off before he gets home from school. But, I'm willing to try anything at this point.
Dulcey ^..^
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Post by cashman on Nov 11, 2003 0:18:17 GMT -5
I feel your pain and anger my son Sterling is what they refer to as in the top few percent of ADHD children. The first hour of each day is true Hell. The saving grace is they are loving adorable children once on their meds. Sterling takes (1) 54 mg. of Concerta, (1) 10 mg of Ritalin, (1 1/2) 1 mg of Tenex in the morning. 1 mg of Tenex at noon and 1/2 mg of Tenex during dinner. This seems to balance him out throughout the day but the mornings still suck! I have tried waking him up an hour early to give him his meds however, he wants to stay up from then on. I try to give him at least 11 hours of sleep a night, which seems to work fairly well. Good luck with your child.
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Post by Dakotah on Nov 11, 2003 9:45:58 GMT -5
I have never thought of waking him and giving it to him so early in the am. What a great idea. I of course am worried that he wouldn't go back to sleep  Dulcey what side effects are you trying to avoid with Concerta? Or are you trying to avoid "morning hell"? I only ask because we have no side effects anymore that can be avoided. (hunger and sleep) Also for us the am is an open window for us to cram as much food into him as possible because once he is on meds. he barely eats at all.  One last thought... Our son comes off Concerta fine at night. He gets a little hyper but NOTHING like the mornings or the rebound he had with Ritalin. So what I am saying is, I would definately wake him and give it to him early. I wonder if we would have that same window at night to cram in the food? |
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Post by ikisskittiesonlips on Nov 11, 2003 10:17:30 GMT -5
Dakotah -- It's that early morning rage I'm trying to get a handle on. I thought if I gave Zach the Concerta at 5 a.m. or so, (I have no problem with him going right back to sleep) that when he gets up at 6 for school maybe it will have kicked in a little. My son has also had a decreased appetite, but by 6 in the evening, he's ready to eat supper. And he doesn't seem to have too much trouble going to/staying asleep at night. Before he was on any medication, he was sleepwalking several times a night. Dakotah -- I hope things get better for you and your son. How old is he and how much Concerta does he take? Cashman --  @all those meds! I feel for you and your family. But, if it works for him, that's great. Everyone take care. Dulcey ^..^ |
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Post by Dakotah on Nov 11, 2003 15:55:58 GMT -5
Dulcey our son is 5 1/2 years old. He started on 18 mgs. at the age of 4 and went up to 36 mgs. almost right away. He has been on this dose for a year and things have been great up until a few weeks ago. He has started on Strattera and we haven't seen a difference yet. He takes it at night so it might help with our mornings (I hope). He is still on 36 mgs. of Concerta and the hope is that if the Stattera works we can lower the Concerta to 18 mgs. Time will tell. Let us know what your doctor says. I would love to hear another opinion about these wild mornings!!
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Post by marylandmom on Nov 11, 2003 22:06:46 GMT -5
ikisskitiesonlips- I don't wake him up early, He gets up about 6:30 and 7:00am He gets 71/2 mgs of focalin at 8:00,12:00noon and 4:00. I have tried giving him his morning dose at 7:00 when he gets up. It works but I am still worried that it is going to wear off before his afternoon dose while he is in school. So I don't know if I should just deal with him in the morning or give him the early dose so we can have a better morning, rather than yelling and fighting. But then I don't want his teachers to have to deal with him like the way he is in the morning. I am just so confused. I don't know what to do any more.
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Post by ikisskittiesonlips on Nov 11, 2003 22:56:06 GMT -5
Marylandmom -- OMG, it's such a quandry, isn't it?? I know exactly what you mean. I always said that I'd rather my son have the symptoms here at home as opposed to school. But lately........I just don't know how much more I can take; these mornings just tear us all apart. I think some of it comes down to a really understanding doctor; tell him what's happening, asking for suggestions. None of us want to over-medicate our kids, we all want our children to be the best that they can be. I guess there is no black and white answer. *Sighs*
Dulcey ^..^
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@all those meds! I feel for you and your family. But, if it works for him, that's great. Everyone take care.