Just this past Friday (3/7/08) we increased my son’s medicine by 5mg. He is taking Daytrana (the patch) because he just can’t seem to take a pill; he has been taking the Daytrana since the middle/end of 4th grade. He has been on 10mg since 2nd grade (before Daytrana he was taking 10mg of Adderall). His teacher called me a couple weeks ago with concerns on him not settling down, and her having to redirect him a lot. She could still tell a difference between days he was on his medicine and days he was not but even days he was, she was saying she still had to redirect and that he would have a hard time settling down in the morning, focusing, etc. So we went to the doctor and he wasn’t surprised with him getting bigger and the increased needed focus in 5th grade he felt we should try to increase his medicine and see what happens.

I give him the medicine on the weekends as well because without it, he seems very agitated all the time, hitting his brother, throwing fits, I can’t talk to him without him flying off the handle. So this weekend was the first weekend with the increased dosage.

He was SOOO pleasant to be around; I can’t even tell you the difference. He did what he was asked and then some, he didn’t hit or fit with his brother. Just everything seemed easy for him. For example he misplaced his gameboy. Usually within minutes he would be cursing, screaming, throwing, just having a fit because he couldn’t find it, and if I tried to ask him to think about where he had it last it would have been like the end of the world for me to ask him such a stupid question. But he was none of that. He searched for an hour for it, and calmly was trying to think about the last time he had it, he let me help him and didn’t get mad once. We eventually found it. Everything about his mannerisms seemed like a peaceful 10 year old.

But here is where my concern is, he also didn’t smile much, he seemed to not “feel” as much for lack of better words. I would ask him to do something or try to get him to laugh or smile and he just didn’t feel like it. He kinda seemed TOO calm at times, and sometimes looked tired.

Do you think this is his body readjusting to the medicine increase? Is this how he will be? Have you and this experience? And what is your opinion?

There is part of me that feels he has to be feeling better if he isn’t so angry and aggravated all the time. (I mean he use to tell me when I would try to talk when he was angry that it made his head hurt-It is kinda like when you yourself maybe gets so angry or so overwhelmed that you can’t think rationally that is how he use to seem to be all the time.), that he has to be feeling better, not having this constant feeling of anxiety and being able to control his impulses. However the other part of me says it is not right for him to not be smiling, and enjoying life. Don’t get me wrong he still played with his friends, (he just didn’t seem as excited, and of course he also didn’t yell at them like he usually does). Anyway I would love to here from people that have gone through this. What you think? What you did? How you feel etc?

I just want my son to be happy and not angry all the time. I want him to enjoy his life and be able to get through school.

Thanks!
Colleen

He's probably adjusting to the new dose. If it were me, I'd give it a week or two, and if the same issues were there I'd call his doc.

i felt the same thing when i incresed my adderall....it got better as i got used to it
i would keep trying to ingage him in things he likes to do. and like lady says if his emotion doesn't change i would take him back to the doctor. and ask him how hes feeling about it. he should be able to tell you if he feels a major diffrence, or if he feels crappy. and if he doesn't want to talk about it see if he would be willing to write his feelings every day. they have how are you feeling today posters. you could use something like that with magnet that he could put on the face he feels like

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