ADHD Meds - Losing Weight

[WantToGoNow]

My ds11 started Vyvanse in mid-November. At the time he was a bit overweight at 110 lbs. He is 4'11" now and weighs 76.5 lbs. He's really skinny now. How do I know if the total lack of appetite is still from his meds or something else. He is quite pleased with his new slim body. On the other hand his behavior and grades improved dramatically.

 

[clm10308]

With my DD I can tell because she does not even want to eat her favorite foods.
She will even turn down candy or frenchfries.

Does he take any "vacations" from his meds?

One fall 2-3 years ago when my Dd when to the dr for the back to school/perscription visit her dr was very concerned because she had lost weight (was 100 lbs and 5f5in), but she had not been on her medicine that summer. I had just stopped buying all the junk food she liked, so she stopped eating so much. she is still very thin for her height but closer to normal. I sure wish had her body and lack of appetite

 

[poohguys]

DS 11 Lost weight when he first went on his ADHD meds (was on Daytrna originally at age 7). He is now on Vyvance and eats three good meals a day. Our problem is the opposite of yours when we take him off the meds for the weekend or vacations he eats non stop! He usually ends up with a stomache by the end of the day. He was over weight when he first went on the meds and is now normal weight. I also let him have a dessert every night since he can afford it. DS is a not picky about food. He will eat almost anything.

Some people I know dont give their kids the meds until after they have breakfast so they get a good brekafast each day and then take them off on the weekends so they eat then too.

 

[CindyV]

My ds is on vyvanse. He is only 6, and was almost 60 pounds and has lost almost 10 pounds. he sits around 50 right now. His doctor was concerned as were we because you could see it on him and it was continuing to go down. He was keeping an eye on it and having us come back in a couple months to see if it went down even more, and if it did then something would be done about it. He suggested him having a bedtime snack, before he would only have milk before bedtime started. He said thats usually when it wears off and they are the most hungriest. We have been doing that for 2 months now and his weight has stayed the same. Yeah i would love it if he gained more, but he isnt losing it.
He has his meds with milk and a bite to eat. we try and make sure we give him dessert with dinner and snacks throughout the day. We let him pick out snacks from the store he wants and snack time he chooses what he wants. I find the bedtime snack he does eat whatever he wants, and we do limit it so he isnt filling himself up so his stomach hurts. We have been really trying these past few months and the doctor is no longer concerned at the moment.
My sons weight loss didnt happen right away, i would just make sure it doesnt go down much more and that he is eating enough.

dont want to hijack but those who have taken a "vacation from giving it" was the difference noticable about side effects from doing that? or the behaviour was different? did your doctors recommend it?

 

[Carnator]

DD has been on Vyvanse,Adderall and now is on Focalin. All 3 meds affected her appetite and thus weight gain. Except for some occasions like church. she is on vacation during the summer and long holiday breaks, mainly needed for school. She eats like crazy the days she is off meds.Yes it affects her behavior but I guess we are used to that. Easier for one on one. Dr advised that it was our decision. No side effects.

 

[Mom2six]

Two of my kids take ADHD medicine and trying to keep their weight up has been so hard. They are too skinny. My DD15 just started gaining some weight. My DS soon to be 14, has hit puberty and even with the ADHD med (which curtailed his appetite before), I cannot comprehend how much he eats (and still is skinny as a rail).

 

[WantToGoNow]

His doctor does not want to reduce or take a vacation from the meds. My son's behavior is terrible without it - everything is a fight. He told his dr that he doesn't like how he feels when he doesn't have it. He is supposed to take a Adderall booster in the late afternoon which I only gave him for a month and quit. I do let him have more high fat and calorie snacks than I used to which is affectinv my dd8 who doesn't need them.

 

[DVCisME]

My son is 8, on Vyvanse, and has lost some wight. My docotor suggested PediSure as a supplement to what he eats. He hasn't gained any weight but he hasn't lost either. My next visit I want to see if I can give him Carnation instant breakfast instead. The PediSure, in my opinion, is expensive.

I do chose to not give him his medicine on certain days. The behavior comes right back, I don't see that much of an increased appetite, but no other side effects when he goes back on it.

I was/am concerned about my son's weight and that he looks way to skinny, but he is still "normal" on the weight charts. Hope this helps.

 

[dyna]

I don't know which ADHD med Gson 6 yrs old is on I know he sure lost weight with it tho. When he started K last August was wearing a size 10 husky pants by Christmas was wearing a size 5 slim an sometimes they a little big on him.

 

[Kat77]

Personally I'd be concerned with such drastic weight loss. Anything more than 10 or 15 lbs. is not good. He's still growing. I'd consider lowering his dosage if he doesn't put on a few pounds before his next appointment. And I'd ask of an EKG.
I take Vyvanse for ADHD. It definitely affects my appetite and sleep. It is an amphetamine afterall. Working out the right dosage was hard. I even had to scale back after upping it. As good as it felt to have a ton of energy... it was too much .

Quoted from another website: Fundamentally, it’s (Vyvanse) nothing more than Dexedrine, which has been around for a long time and developed a bad reputation due to its over-use as a diet pill. http://healthlifeandstuff.com/2009/12/the-ten-most-important-adhd-meds/

 

[DVCisME]

Personally I'd be concerned with such drastic weight loss. Anything more than 10 or 15 lbs. is not good. He's still growing. I'd consider lowering his dosage if he doesn't put on a few pounds before his next appointment. And I'd ask of an EKG.
I take Vyvanse for ADHD. It definitely affects my appetite and sleep. It is an amphetamine afterall. Working out the right dosage was hard. I even had to scale back after upping it. As good as it felt to have a ton of energy... it was too much .

Quoted from another website: Fundamentally, it’s (Vyvanse) nothing more than Dexedrine, which has been around for a long time and developed a bad reputation due to its over-use as a diet pill. http://healthlifeandstuff.com/2009/12/the-ten-most-important-adhd-meds/

Why would you ask for an EKG?

 

[Kat77]

To check for any potential heart damage from the amphetimines. That's some massive weightloss for a growing boy! Our doctor (my kids take focalin) orders an EKG after a year on meds anyway.

 

[DVCisME]

Thanks! I never heard that and my son has been on medicine for about a year. I'm going to call tomorrow and ask my doctor. Thanks again!

 

[Tyrsis]

Our Dr weighs my DS5 every visit. We keep packing him full of high fat/calorie things and it seems to be working (hard to tell when he's growing so fast, if he is growing as fast as he would be without it). We also took a break from the stimulant he's on for a month in the summer hoping to let him grow more if he can/needs to, but kept him on the sedative so we could all stay sane.

 

[CdnBuzzFan]

My DS10 was on Vyvanse for a short trial but his appetite decreased so much that I put him back on Adderall. Since he cant eat very much food, I give him whole milk and bake his favourite treats with protein powder added to them and try to do what I can to make sure he is eating lots of calories. I used to mix his milk with whipping cream for his cereal but when he found out he wouldn't eat it anymore so I had to stop that. I was also giving him protein shakes and Carnation instant breakfasts but he didn't like those either and refused to drink both after a while.

He's not losing weight but is only gaining a pound or so a year. We've decided to give him a medication holiday during the summer -- not everyday but a few times a week in hopes that he'll put some weight on. He's 4"4' and weighs 62 pounds but his pediatrician isn't too concerned because he's not losing weight but I just hate seeing him so skinny.

I do notice a difference in his behavior when he's off the medication. He also knows that he has a better day if he takes it. He eats better and has an easier time falling asleep when he has skipped it.

 

[WantToGoNow]

He is now 4'11" and 74 lbs but he has maintained with no loss/gain for over a week. One of the things the dr is worried about is he only grew 1" in the last year but he looks about the same height or taller than many of his peers. So how do you buy pants for a boy that needs a 14 in length and an 8 in the waist...