You may need to switch to another drug. I'm no expert, but I know that kids grow and change and what worked last week, may not work this week. It seems to me that if he is on drugs, they should at least do something. I would see the doctor and discuss other options. Good luck.

FatherofADHD: please get the book ADHD Medication Rules by Dr. Charles Parker on amazon. He talks about how the metabolism rate changes and how the drugs cease to work and for what reasons. It will be hugely helpful reference to keep with you always and refer to. Dr. Charles Parker has been treating ADHD for years and ecompasses so much in what he has learned over the years. You may also google his website to get more information. My best to you, Faithfully

Thank you I will definitely pick it up

We have been through so many dosage and medication adjustments as our son has grown that I can't even count them anymore. I wouldn't give a second thought to upping to the next dosage. Just let the doctor know you're getting the bad reports again and see what he/she has to recommend. It's very, very normal to need to increase the dosage as your child grows.

The Focalin XR capsules didn't work well with my son, who is 6, so the ADHD specialist switched him the the regular, short acting TABLETS. The XR capsules weren't really extending through the day, and were only working for 3 hours tops. Even though they are supposed to be "extended release". The doctor wasn't surprised that the extended release didn't last; he said that is pretty common with younger children. They metabolize the medicine very quickly.

Now, my son is on the regular Focalin tablets twice a day. 10 mgs in the morning, and the nurse gives him another dose at noon. That has been working well for us!

Thanks for the feedback great advice.

yep, when the meds aren't working, you gotta try something else, and the doctor will have recommendations...but there's a fair bit of trial and error that is necessarily involved....kids are unique, and the meds work differently for different kids.

my 12 yr old boy was on 54 mg of concerta plus 2 mg of intuniv, and was way out of control at school and somewhat at home too. In order, we tried adding 5 mg of ritalin in the morning, adding 5 more mg at noon, taking away the ritalin and upping the concerta to 72 mg (awful!), and finally--on an afternoon when i had been asked to pick him up from school cuz he was swearing at the teachers--the doc suggested another approach, increasing the intuniv to 3 mg, 2 in the a.m. and 1 at suppertime...

and that was the ticket--within 3 days i was getting emails from teachers saying things like "Wow, Z had a GREAT day today!!!" Makes me so happy when teachers can see what a great kid he can be...i think that helps THEM see that his behavior isn't personal and disrespectful to them on purpose...

we also have done occupational therapy with Z, to help him with writing, and he has used a therapy ball to sit on in class, etc....

keep working with the teacher and the doctor....there IS light at the end of the tunnel...

lots of options, so ask the doctor :-)

Consider adding 1 or 2mg Intuniv to the existing Focalin XR dose. There are some recent threads on this board where others have done the same with similar age kids after seeing afternoon wear off of the current stim XR dose. My DS went from Focalin XR 5mg to Focalin XR 5mg plus Intuniv 1mg at night about 6 months in. He has been stable on this combo 1yr plus, now moving to 2mg Intuniv which is the recommended dose (he is 8) versus adding more Focalin. The two drugs work well together and Intuniv seems to help calm down and counteract the afternoon wear off of the Focalin XR. Side effects are tiredness the first couple of weeks...not necessarily a bad thing. You just need to get past that 'idea' of having your kid on two meds now. Good luck.