There really isn't a lot to tell you other than there are basically 2 classes of medications for Adhd:

1.) methyphenidate--ritalin is in this class as is a host of others like Concerta, which I take. (Concerta is a long acting, extended-release form of methyphenidate. I take it just once a day ...

2.) amphetamines (yes, the word sounds scary but the doses are far far lower than what drug addicts use) ... and as they say in medicine, the dose makes the medicine or the dose makes the poison ... 1 beer is one thing, 10 beers another.

So far, researchers cannot predict who is most likely to have a better response to one medicine or the other. So it's trial and error. Your child's doc followed standard procedure, which is usually to up the dosage if the lowest dosage doesn't work ... But you're now having side effects that you don't like ...

Side effects: this is tricky. Some side effects do go away after a few weeks ... Some don't completely go away, but they decline considerably. One of the most tricky parts of finding the right medication is to sometimes stay with it through the side effects to see if they decline ... Because it may be that over time the side effects (the negative effects) of the medicine decline and the good effect is more visible. But it's understandable that some people don't want to put their children or themselves through weeks of bad side effects in hopes that they will decline. For example, some of child's negative reactions might abate as the body and brain adjust to the new med. Or they may not.

Another caveat ... those it would be logical to assume that people who have bad reaction (or no reaction) to one of the amphetamine drugs like Vyvanse would also have a bad reaction to a slightly different amphetamine like Adderall. But from reading the words of patients, it's clear that that isn't true. Some people do better with a different example of the same class of medications ....

3.) There are other medicines also used, but they tend to be used after docs trie the two primary stimulants ... These include Strattera and Wellbutrin .... and there are others .....

For most of us, it's trial and error ... try one med, fiddle with its dosage ... see how it goes ... try another med, fiddle with its dosage ... see how it goes ....

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By just your advice I was able to question my sons doctor and get him on a new Rx Concerta so far so good I really thank you this was a hard step and with people like yourself out there it makes these steps not so hard,

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I am so happy to hear that my comment (I happened to notice some typos on a re-reading) may have helped.

It can be very frustrating and scary and baffling assessing medications. I started on Adderall and then moved on to Concerta ... Concerta definitely gives me a lot more focused energy and motivation. Motivation is important for adhders, by the way, because we experience a lot of frustration, and so we have to be motivated to do the tedious work, the boring work, etc ... Concerta also quiets my mind. On weekends, when I get up late and don't take it, it's like my mind is loud and foggy ...

By the way, though I have found Concerta helpful. I have had the doses adjusted. I started at 54 mg, thought it was too much and went down to 27 ... then went to 36 ... now back to 54 ... My system couldn't handle 54 mg at first. Now 54 mg is fine ... So expect adjustments here and there ...

Good luck!

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