My daughter started taking concerta and lexapro 1 month ago. No side effects at all..In fact on it she is amazing......Things that most parents take for granted....But lately i have noticed it doesnt seem to be lasting as long..or like it isnt quite doing the job it was. Well today i figured out why..she has been chewing the concerta pills - 2 of them- and spitting out the rest out..I tore apart her room and found remnants of pills everywhere....in her drawers in the trash in her clothes pockets....This may sound really dramatic what i say next, but i fell to the floor and bawled out loudly in front of all my kids..I am at my end...I cried uncontrollably for 10 minutes..Okay i know that is not the normal response of a mother...but i am tired ..i am worn out...i feel like i am losing my child...I feel so hopeless...how could i not know she was doing that...We have battled for 8 years. Finally we got meds and everything became better..She told me today she didnt have a choice in the meds and she doesnt like swallowing pills...She can come up with 50 lies in a second that will make you beleive her...I am so devastated..i thought we had come so far.....Any suggestions?

I don't really understand... Concerta is tablets? Time released... was she abusing them by doing this (taking more)? or was she taking less by spitting out some of it because she doesn't want to take them...?

You two need to have a gentle conversation as to WHY she is doing that. And, just listen. There have been times that I wish I could get my son on meds (he's 15), and he had side-effects on the stims tho there are other options, he said he would just spit them out too. I have just had to respect that.

How old is she? Is she feeling waaaay too controlled? Does she not like the effects?

Oh, I never wanted to take my pills as a child either... I would hide them under my tongue and all that jazz.... I didn't see why I needed to be medicated... now I do... although sometimes I really don't care if I am... but it makes life better... it really does...

She takes the time release 2 at 18 mg each. She chews them instead of swallowing.......she will tell you they help her when she is on them..she will tell how her life is easier on them..its just getting her to take the pill.She hates swallowing..has always had issues with chewing food,shredding food..etc..So pills are a big thing for her...I tried to ge tmy doc to give her the one you can break open and sprinkle on food...focalin xr or metadate..but we live in dubai part half of the year and we cant get those there..thats why she ahs to take the concerta....She has no problems taking her two lexapros though at night..I dont know..i just feel lost today..By the way she is 11...i Have known since she was 4 soemthing was going on but everyone told me it was my parenting.I accepted that for 7 years and i still do but i knew there is more going on..It has been a tough past 8 years..her life was not easy with the anxiety,picking at herself, scared to leave the house,wouldnt eat out, nightmares every nihgt, and on top of that her add...The meds changed all that..if she only keep taking them...
Thanks for all your responses.

She takes the time release 2 at 18 mg each. She chews them instead of swallowing.......she will tell you they help her when she is on them..she will tell how her life is easier on them..its just getting her to take the pill.She hates swallowing..has always had issues with chewing food,shredding food..etc..So pills are a big thing for her...I tried to ge tmy doc to give her the one you can break open and sprinkle on food...focalin xr or metadate..but we live in dubai part half of the year and we cant get those there..thats why she ahs to take the concerta....She has no problems taking her two lexapros though at night..I dont know..i just feel lost today..By the way she is 11...i Have known since she was 4 soemthing was going on but everyone told me it was my parenting.I accepted that for 7 years and i still do but i knew there is more going on..It has been a tough past 8 years..her life was not easy with the anxiety,picking at herself, scared to leave the house,wouldnt eat out, nightmares every nihgt, and on top of that her add...The meds changed all that..if she only keep taking them...
Thanks for all your responses.

Some of these meds come in liquid form. Ask your doctor. Make sure to ask if it's also available in Dubai.

My nephew can't/won't take pills, they choke him beyond measure.
They finally found Adderall comes in liquid form and he's doing so much better.

Agoraphobia (scared to leave the house), picking at herself, lying, being deceptive about her pills, nightmares.

That's more than just ADD.

-IS she seeing a children's counsellor?

-And, Are YOU getting support somewhere too?

Agoraphobia (scared to leave the house), picking at herself, lying, being deceptive about her pills, nightmares.

That's more than just ADD.

-IS she seeing a children's counsellor?

-And, Are YOU getting support somewhere too?

Thanks Queens... I missed that last part somehow. Youngest was asking me a question when I was trying to answer..

Since I myself have problems going out in public... I should have picked up on that part.

Agoraphobia is associated with Panic Disorder

Thank you all for your answers. Yes she is getting counseling once a week, and I go once a week....They recently upped her lexapro(escitalopram) to 15 mg.It seems to help.She can actually eat out in public now..Not as much fuss going out...once in awhile as opposed to every day..and she has reduced her picking...Her poor lips look like she had a battle with a wood pecker and the woodpecker won.At least she has stopped picking her arms so bad.She has numerous amounts of scars where she used to pick.She does have GAD..pretty severe too.Surprisingly ( is that a word?) she is eating really well.Has put on weight ...she used to use not eating as a punishment to me or herself..I was very concerned over eating disorder.That started when she was 9.But now on meds that doesnt seem to be a problem.She is trying really hard to take meds, but always ends up chewing them.. I fell sorry for her.It is a real problem not just defiance like my family thinks.She tells me I want meds mom.They make everything work better but I cant swallow..It really hurts.So now the doc has agree to give rher the sprinkle form.So does anyone have experience with Focalin XR or Metadate CD? SHe will prescribe one of these for her.Any info would be great.:)

My daughter uses Focalin XR, because it can be sprinkled on food. It is really easy to take, and has worked well for my daughter.

The other thing, is why are they so set on giving time release meds? Just do the fast acting and have them administer a mid day pill at school.

Finally, I am glad you are seeing a therapist, but a little Lexipro could possibly go a long way helping you out too.

The other thing, is why are they so set on giving time release meds? Just do the fast acting and have them administer a mid day pill at school.I keep wondering why too. Regular release meds are cheaper and easier to figure out what dosage works best. I do see the advantage in taking something that can be added to food for people who can't swallow pills.