"I’m worried about my 10-year-old. He hasn’t gained any weight in the two years he’s been taking a stimulant, even though we’ve worked with a nutritionist to add calories to his diet."
by
Larry Silver, M.D.
I share your concern. Appetite loss, a common side effect of stimulant medications, usually goes away within a few weeks (or, as you know, can be managed by ensuring that enough calories are taken in). Since it’s been two years, and calorie supplementation hasn’t helped your son, I urge you to talk to your doctor about switching to another medication.
Some children who experience appetite loss while taking one stimulant do fine on a different one. If switching stimulants doesn’t help, ask the doctor about a nonstimulant.