My 8 year old son, Nick started Concerta today. He had a much more focused day in school, however, when he came home, I have noticed a lot of movement in his lower jaw and tongue. The doc said to skip tomorrow'a dose until I talk to his ped. Is this a side effect that will go away in time? I was no glad that it helped in school and now I'm discouraged by this sdie effect. Has anyone experienced this?

Hiya, My son also takes concerta, even though i have not noticed jaw movements, I have noticed his eyes fluttering more often(blinking) i first thought he was tired but it got worse as the days went on! Have you noticed this too?
He also always has his fingers and anything else for that matter in his mouth!
My son is 7 and has had his diagnosis for 2 years now!
Nicola

My son tried Concerta, and I didn't give him a second dose for the same reason. He was chewing his bottom lip and tongue and moving his jaw and tongue around a lot. I asked if his mouth was dry, but he said no. I'm thinking it's almost tic-like. Very strange.

My son is on Concerta too. He is 11 when he started on the meds he had tic-like symptoms, but they have since stopped.

We had a similar problem with Biphentin (same methylphenidate as with concerta)...only it was twitchy legs. It started shortly after the first dose. We did four doses and then stopped the drug altogether. Doc said it was his body adjusting but weeks later the twitching was still there. The twitching does appear to be stopped now--he says its still there but we are not sure if that is true and its two months since we stopped the meds. What dose did you start out at? We started at 40mg which was too high. Too much too soon, a shock to the body said the second doc who we have now started seeing.

I wouldn't panic, it will probably stop but may not be fast. But I wouldn't take any more either.

hi moms,
Nervousness! this is usually a stress signal I did that too when I took Concerta and I was 27. Concerta freaked me out made me hyper. It was my fist medication so I thought I didn't have ADD. The normal Ritalin changed that and then especially Dex.
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By the way, I also did/do that at night for the same reason, stress, your dentist can see that

To moms concerned about the jaw moving, biting lip...

The ADHD drugs are stimulants. This is a common react to taking stimulants.
I know this may be scary to equate ADD medication to, but people who do coke or exstacy have the jaw movement issues aswell.

My son did it a little for the first few days (jaw movement), but with his pediatrician's advice, kept him on it and the slight tic went away. We would also gently remind him that he was doing it - it usually was when he was really focused on something. Check with your doctor though. It's an adjustment for their system.

I had a similar reaction when I started taking Prozac (as an adult). It didn't bother ME at all, but I remember someone mimicking me and teasing me about it (my dance teacher who was saying in other words - "Stop with the toungue and chewing! It's unbecoming of a dancer.").

To moms concerned about the jaw moving, biting lip...

The ADHD drugs are stimulants. This is a common react to taking stimulants.
I know this may be scary to equate ADD medication to, but people who do coke or exstacy have the jaw movement issues aswell.

Just wanted you to know that it's not just illegal drugs and drug abusers that have had this issue. Oh - and my "chewing" movements eventually ceased. Plus I COULD stop doing it if I tried. It's just that I seemed to WANT to do it. Kinda like when you're waiting in a long line at the bank and you shift your weight from foot to foot, or cross your arms & then change to hands on hips & back, etc. --- it's just something you feel like doing.

Sue

Well my daughter was on it and she went crazy…..if she didn’t have it so…I hope you the best luck..!!!







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New to all of this, and I have no kids. Glad your kids are getting treatment. It is hard for me (40 y/o) to articulate the feeling when the meds wear off and realizing what a hard time a 7 year old would have to explain it.

This may or not be what they experience, but I'll try:
Concerta quiets your mind, when it wears off, there is a 45 minute period of transition. The volume starts to turn back on slowly, but when you have had 8 hours of quiet mind and start to switch to noisy mind, it is startling and without knowing to stay calm and breathe, again, I can only imagine that a child would be confused.

Fidgeting - that is the first sign the meds are wearing off. The nights I exercised near or around the wear off time, it was easier for me mentally. Until medication, I had no idea how much I fidget because I didn't know what it was to sit still. The fidgeting seems to be calmed down with exercise, endorphins help. My fidgeting has included jaw movement and others that you moms have noted here. When I realize it is happening, I try to focus on something else and it is less every day.

Heck, I'm 40 with years of talk therapy under my belt - coping skills and breathing and exercise help.

No idea how to assist a child with this, but keeping them busy during transition time could be helpful. I can only imagine that med transition time would not be the best for doing homework.

Probably not the best time to ask how your child feels either (during the transition time), putting thoughts together is difficult and your answer from your child probably will not be an assessment of the benefit they were receiving earlier in the day - kids can tend to relate feelings "in the moment" they are in.

Wish I could be of more help, but I am new to all of this too. Had I been treated earlier in life, many years of low self esteem might have been avoided. JMO! Hope it helps some of you understand.