Comments on: ADD/ADHD Medication Questions and Answers http://www.addadhdblog.com/addadhd-medication-questions-and-answers/ A blog about Attention Deficit Disorder, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:13:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Dr. Kenny Handelman http://www.addadhdblog.com/addadhd-medication-questions-and-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-659996 Dr. Kenny Handelman Thu, 13 Oct 2011 19:13:51 +0000 http://www.addadhdblog.com/?p=299#comment-659996 Miguel, A couple of thoughts. 1) At this time, it is not common practice to use a beta blocker (like corgard) to minimize side effects. That said, a beta blocker would help with the heart rate side of things. You could ask your doctor for this if it was needed. 2) Clonidine may help a little - but it is quite sedating, and we only have short acting in Canada. Intuniv is long acting guanfacine and it is less sedating, but also helps inattention and won't increase heart rate. While there's no way to know exactly when it'll get to Canada, it will likely be the end of 2012 (more or less). Apart from that, there are no magic answers. Some people have had success with Tricyclics (like Imipramine, Desipramine) but they often have much worse side effects. Good luck! Dr. Kenny Miguel,
A couple of thoughts.
1) At this time, it is not common practice to use a beta blocker (like corgard) to minimize side effects. That said, a beta blocker would help with the heart rate side of things. You could ask your doctor for this if it was needed.
2) Clonidine may help a little – but it is quite sedating, and we only have short acting in Canada. Intuniv is long acting guanfacine and it is less sedating, but also helps inattention and won’t increase heart rate. While there’s no way to know exactly when it’ll get to Canada, it will likely be the end of 2012 (more or less).
Apart from that, there are no magic answers. Some people have had success with Tricyclics (like Imipramine, Desipramine) but they often have much worse side effects.
Good luck!
Dr. Kenny

]]> By: Miguel http://www.addadhdblog.com/addadhd-medication-questions-and-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-653393 Miguel Sun, 09 Oct 2011 15:49:51 +0000 http://www.addadhdblog.com/?p=299#comment-653393 I am a 36 year old male in Quebec with ADHD (Inattentive Subtype) and have been on Ritalin (regular and LA), Dexedrine, Straterra (made me very sleepy), Concerta, and Wellbutrin. The problem is that although the stimulants improve my attention, I experience severe side effects from the stimulants when on regular effective doses. The side effects include: muscle tension, facial tics, worsening of my TMJ, daytime jaw jutting/rotation, nighttime bruxism, jitteriness, high blood pressure and high heart rate when doing mild exercise. As such, I have been forced to use lower doses of the stimulants than would normally be effective for improving attention. (I am currently on Concerta 36mg with Wellbutrin 300XL and I still get side effects.) Dr. Hallowell had written in his book that Corgard helps to reduce side effects, however it may be dangerous for people with diabetes. While I don't have diabetes, there is a very strong genetic predisposition for diabetes in my family, and my glucose levels are slightly elevated. Since his book is 20 years old, I'm wondering whether there are any updated protocols to reduce side effects? Would Corgard be helpful for me? I saw that he mentioned Clonidine but didn't refer to it as having the same action as Corgard. Would Clonidine have the same effect as Corgard? In any case, I understand that Intuniv and any long-acting versions of clonidine are not sold in Canada. I'd appreciate hearing your feedback on this, as my doctors are stumped. What is the latest protocol, and what are the recommended doses? I am a 36 year old male in Quebec with ADHD (Inattentive Subtype) and have been on Ritalin (regular and LA), Dexedrine, Straterra (made me very sleepy), Concerta, and Wellbutrin. The problem is that although the stimulants improve my attention, I experience severe side effects from the stimulants when on regular effective doses. The side effects include: muscle tension, facial tics, worsening of my TMJ, daytime jaw jutting/rotation, nighttime bruxism, jitteriness, high blood pressure and high heart rate when doing mild exercise.

As such, I have been forced to use lower doses of the stimulants than would normally be effective for improving attention. (I am currently on Concerta 36mg with Wellbutrin 300XL and I still get side effects.)

Dr. Hallowell had written in his book that Corgard helps to reduce side effects, however it may be dangerous for people with diabetes. While I don’t have diabetes, there is a very strong genetic predisposition for diabetes in my family, and my glucose levels are slightly elevated. Since his book is 20 years old, I’m wondering whether there are any updated protocols to reduce side effects? Would Corgard be helpful for me? I saw that he mentioned Clonidine but didn’t refer to it as having the same action as Corgard. Would Clonidine have the same effect as Corgard? In any case, I understand that Intuniv and any long-acting versions of clonidine are not sold in Canada.

I’d appreciate hearing your feedback on this, as my doctors are stumped. What is the latest protocol, and what are the recommended doses?

]]> By: Dr. Kenny Handelman http://www.addadhdblog.com/addadhd-medication-questions-and-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-318559 Dr. Kenny Handelman Mon, 03 Jan 2011 04:03:07 +0000 http://www.addadhdblog.com/?p=299#comment-318559 Michele - regarding metadate - I imagine that the dose can be increased up to 60 mg. I work in Canada (and we don't have it in Canada) but since it is a Methylphenidate medicine, the max should be 60 mg (depending on his age and potential other factors - ask your doctor). Regarding an ADHD coach for him - again this depends on age. There are many ADD/ADHD coaches who work with adults - and not that many who work with kids/teens. You may have to search for 'adhd coach for teens', or adhd coach for kids. good luck! Michele – regarding metadate – I imagine that the dose can be increased up to 60 mg. I work in Canada (and we don’t have it in Canada) but since it is a Methylphenidate medicine, the max should be 60 mg (depending on his age and potential other factors – ask your doctor).
Regarding an ADHD coach for him – again this depends on age. There are many ADD/ADHD coaches who work with adults – and not that many who work with kids/teens. You may have to search for ‘adhd coach for teens’, or adhd coach for kids.
good luck!

]]> By: michele Thompson http://www.addadhdblog.com/addadhd-medication-questions-and-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-297209 michele Thompson Fri, 10 Dec 2010 03:30:17 +0000 http://www.addadhdblog.com/?p=299#comment-297209 I have a son that is ADHD and he has been on mediation since he was 4 almost 5. the first medication was adderall and then we changed him to mededate CD I have loved this medication he sleeps, eats , and grows. But we have maxed out on the dosage of 40 mg , I am trying to research new medications but i dont know if i should place him on adderall again or this new medication Focalin are you able to help me with this. Also i am trying to find a life coach for him but i am unable to find anything in regards to this online is there a different name i should be looking under. I have a son that is ADHD and he has been on mediation since he was 4 almost 5. the first medication was adderall and then we changed him to mededate CD I have loved this medication he sleeps, eats , and grows. But we have maxed out on the dosage of 40 mg , I am trying to research new medications but i dont know if i should place him on adderall again or this new medication Focalin are you able to help me with this. Also i am trying to find a life coach for him but i am unable to find anything in regards to this online is there a different name i should be looking under.

]]> By: Dr. Kenny Handelman http://www.addadhdblog.com/addadhd-medication-questions-and-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-219382 Dr. Kenny Handelman Sun, 04 Jul 2010 19:38:22 +0000 http://www.addadhdblog.com/?p=299#comment-219382 Curt - I don't know of mouth sores as a side effect. Chewing - could be a tic - and these can be worsened by all stimulant medicines. I hope that helps. Curt – I don’t know of mouth sores as a side effect.
Chewing – could be a tic – and these can be worsened by all stimulant medicines. I hope that helps.

]]> By: Curt Harding http://www.addadhdblog.com/addadhd-medication-questions-and-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-216931 Curt Harding Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:07:15 +0000 http://www.addadhdblog.com/?p=299#comment-216931 Since starting to take Vyvanse I have been getting little sores on my tongue which appear to look like white spots. Each one last a few days and disappears. The other thing I have experienced is wanting to chew as I would label a tic. At work the other day someone ask me for a piece of gum because of this new habit. Are these reported side effects or some type of interaction with another drug? Since starting to take Vyvanse I have been getting little sores on my tongue which appear to look like white spots. Each one last a few days and disappears. The other thing I have experienced is wanting to chew as I would label a tic. At work the other day someone ask me for a piece of gum because of this new habit. Are these reported side effects or some type of interaction with another drug?

]]> By: Shauna Bain http://www.addadhdblog.com/addadhd-medication-questions-and-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-214931 Shauna Bain Thu, 17 Jun 2010 03:19:00 +0000 http://www.addadhdblog.com/?p=299#comment-214931 My son has just been diagnosed with ADHD and been perscribed Risperdol. Has anyone had any experience with this? My son has just been diagnosed with ADHD and been perscribed Risperdol. Has anyone had any experience with this?

]]> By: darrius jenkins http://www.addadhdblog.com/addadhd-medication-questions-and-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-101605 darrius jenkins Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:47:53 +0000 http://www.addadhdblog.com/?p=299#comment-101605 some times I do good without my concerta do I need a lower dose because I take 72mg in concerta some times I do good without my concerta do I need a lower dose because I take 72mg in concerta

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.addadhdblog.com/addadhd-medication-questions-and-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-64105 Anonymous Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:33:40 +0000 http://www.addadhdblog.com/?p=299#comment-64105 <strong>ADD/ADHD Medication Questions and Answers...</strong> As a Psychiatrist, one of the areas that I get asked the most questions about is medication treatment of ADD and ADHD.A number of months ago, ADD Coach Bonnie Mincu interviewed me about ADD and ADHD Medications.... ADD/ADHD Medication Questions and Answers…

As a Psychiatrist, one of the areas that I get asked the most questions about is medication treatment of ADD and ADHD.A number of months ago, ADD Coach Bonnie Mincu interviewed me about ADD and ADHD Medications….

]]> By: healthranker.com http://www.addadhdblog.com/addadhd-medication-questions-and-answers/comment-page-1/#comment-64101 healthranker.com Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:00:01 +0000 http://www.addadhdblog.com/?p=299#comment-64101 <strong>ADD/ADHD Medication Questions and Answers | ADD ADHD Blog.com...</strong> As a Psychiatrist, one of the areas that I get asked the most questions about is medication treatment of ADD and ADHD.A number of months ago, ADD Coach Bonnie Mincu interviewed me about ADD and ADHD Medications.... ADD/ADHD Medication Questions and Answers | ADD ADHD Blog.com…

As a Psychiatrist, one of the areas that I get asked the most questions about is medication treatment of ADD and ADHD.A number of months ago, ADD Coach Bonnie Mincu interviewed me about ADD and ADHD Medications….

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