My 9 year old son has been on Concerta for a little over a year. It has worked wonderfully for him. He's doing great in school, has become significantly more social, but we have one problem. He, like his father before him, is very skinny even when not on meds. We've been feeding him larger breakfasts and later large dinners and that was keeping his weight up. However, now that school has started he's been skipping lunch and not telling us and his weight has dropped to a scary level. Outside of increasing his fat & protein content at breakfast & his late dinner, what are our options? I've heard word of meds that don't have the weight loss side effect. He tried Adderall & Stattera, and neither worked for him. Unfortnately, taking him off meds completely is purely a last resort. He wonders, makes constant noises, is irritable to the Nth degree, and combative when he's not on the Concerta. When he is on it, he's a brilliant student in the gifted program, friendly, helpful, etc. Just like all loving parents, all we want is for him to meet his boundless potential. It seems that cannot happen without these meds, but the weight loss is concerning for a kid who tends to be skinny anyways.

... he's been skipping lunch and not telling us and his weight has dropped to a scary level. ... what are our options?
I would bet that if you showed up at school at the beginning of lunch hour, and sat beside him to make sure he ate his lunch, he'd be MUCH more cooperative about eating it in the future! You probably wouldn't have to come back, the threat of you doing it again would be enough.

Or maybe he needs to eat in the principal's office, and have someone check to be sure he did eat? Maybe the lunchroom is too distracting for him (said in your sweetest voice, of course. This isn't a "punishment", its a reasonable consequence based on the fact he's not eating in the lunchroom). But if he'd like to eat lunch in the lunchroom, he needs to prove it is not too distracting by actually eating during it.

But basically, he needs to learn that skipping lunch is not an option. He must eat. His body will not work its best if he skips his midday meal. He may not "feel" hungry, but he needs to eat anyway, and the issue can be addressed in the same way you address anything else he doesn't really want to do but has to do, like taking medicines, or doing homework, or showering.

Welcome to ADDforums tampaboy60... One thing that may help is ensure shakes also try to instill in him that he should force feed himself, eventually the appetite will be there if you make yourself eat, that worked for me.

Welcome! :)

My son's doc suggested adding the instant breakfast to his milk. Ncie flavor, and extra callories. Also, have you talked with his doc about your concerns?

my 9 son has the exact same problem. he will not eat lunch at school. he was already a picky eater in the first place but concerta totally supressed his appetite. forcing him made matters worst so we've resigned to the fact that he's probably never going to eat lunch while at school. instead, he goes to the library and helps the librarian put books away or whatever other chores she may have for him. it was a productive alternative. yes, he is skinny as a rail (in our eyes) but his doctor said he's fine and not underweight for his age and height. i guess we're so used to looking at overweight american kids, we were starting to think that's the norm. LOL!! anyway, we make sure he eats a big breakfast and as soon as he gets home from school at 4pm, a big meal awaits him. he eats the entire plate and then some. afterwards, he does homework. before he goes to bed at 9pm, sometimes we'd give him a snack if he asks for it. this routine works for us during the week on school days. on weekends, we don't medicate him and his appetite skyrockets. you give some to get some.