I'm not really sure if the come down is actually worse or if it is dealing w behaviors that were normal before meds but since meds you become accustomed to the "better behaviors" (for lack of a better term). When we began meds I didn't think I saw so much of a difference in behaviors till the days we would forget to give the med, either our forgetfulness on weekends or whatev. Those days he wasn't on the meds the extreme hyperness, impulses, fidgiting and all seemed to come w a vengeance!! I realize that it was the days that i had forgotten to give his meds... Since he is on low dosage the effect is subtle and I had embraced his slow down without even realizing... Doc is happy w that because he says we don't want to dope him up and change his personality or who he really is, just want to help him slow down a bit so he can try to focus on learning and learn not to give in to him impulses.

It would help to give your child some Natural Calm magnesium powder during that come down period. The meds will deplete the much needed magnesium anyway. So it makes it worse. You can buy it at your local supplement store or for even cheaper at vitacost.com. You mix a small amount into some warm water and have your child drink it. It made a HUGE difference in my son the first time we tried it during that come down period. We also have him take a chewable zinc (another calming mineral) that is naturally deficient in ADHD children and even more depleted by the medications.

Truly the medications work for the teachers, but the come down period is really a major rebound trying to work its was out and makes our home lives in the evening worse. The meds keep your child focused and less phone calls from the school, but does nothing for the nutritional needs of a growing brain and child. Its up to us as parents to make sure whatever is depleted by those meds gets replaced in the evening. Water, water, water during that come down period is also very very helpful especially once you are upping their dosage. My best to you, Faithfully

My 6 year old son's doctor calls it "rebound hyperactivity". It's pretty normal as they come down from the meds. They can also tend to get more emotional after the meds wear down. From what the doctor has said and from what I've read, it's pretty normal and a side affect of the stimuant meds.

To balance out my son's moods, the doctor added a mood stabilizer, and that has been working great for us.