6 year old w/ADHD w/sleeping problems, serious responses only plz.?

Question

Our 6 year old son was just diagnosed w/ADHD and is on 5mg of Ritalin. I hate meds but they are working. But now it is affecting his sleep, it takes him about 2 hours to go to sleep and his last pill is at 11:30am. What can we do about this? I know the Dr. will just suggest another pill but we don't want that. Any good suggestions, only serious responses plz.

Answer 1

My son was on a stimulant and it messed up his sleeping and eating, so we switched him to a non-stimulant and it solved the problem. I have heard of other people giving their kids melatonin before bed, but I don't know how well that works.   I know it is hard to find a medication, especially when you are wishing you didn't have to give him anything, but once you get it sorted out things will be much better.  You might also want to look at the CHADD website for more information, etc.

Answer 2

It's not uncommon for children with ADHD to also have problems sleeping. Sometimes they need sleep med to help them get to sleep.

Answer 3

You can change the time tables with the medication.  Giving it to him first thing in the morning or during dinner time.  If he just started, it takes a body some time to adjust to medications, just like any other medication and any other person.

You also may want to keep him active.  Let him go buck wild out in the yard before bath and bed time so he releases most of his energy.  Keep him in sports so that it's going to good use and it will also help teach him to focus a little bit better.

Answer 4

Give him the medicine earlier in the evening so he does not stay up so late. On week-end or school breaks try not giving him the medicine at all (if you can handle that). My god son has been on med for ADHD since 6 he is now 9 and he has grown out of his bad behaivor and no longer needs the meds.

Answer 5

Has the doctor mentioned Focalin?  It comes in extended release caplets.  My daughter was on that briefly and it worked and there was no effect on her sleeping.  Good luck.

Answer 6

Look up: ADHD and candida; ADHD and leaky gut; ADHD and food sensitivities; "Allergies and the Hyperactive Child" (book by Dr. Doris Rapp - online used booksites).

Answer 7

It might take some time for your son's body to adjust to the medication, and eventually he will start sleeping again.  But if you give it a couple of weeks and nothing changes, do contact the doctor that prescribed the medication.    He might tell you to adjust the time the pill is given, or perhaps switch your son to a different drug that does not have this side effect.

Answer 8

NO NO NO NO. okay. i was on ritalin when i was younger. i had 5mg doses and you NEED to take it in the morning otherwise you CANT SLEEP i promise. it depends how long the pill works for and what time you want him to sleep. so if the pill works for lets say...9 hourse. and you would like him at sleep at lets say...7:30... give him the pill at about 11. but if the effects work longer. then earlier the better.

Answer 9

First get him on the same routine every night.  Kids with ADHD need routine.  Keep him active after school to burn off energy.  Make bedtime 30 minutes earlier than normal to give him more wind down time and as a last resort you can also buy melatonin over the counter.  It is natural, a chemical the body produces but is used to serve as a sleep aide.  Give it to him 1 hour before starting the bedtime routine and it will help.  Another thing to remember is to turn everything off in the room when he goes to bed.  A small night light is all to have on as anything else signals there brain it is still tiem to be up.  and wake him up at the same time everyday.

Answer 10

Ritalin is a tough thing to take and that's younger than I'm used to hearing for medicating... but... I am not a doctor.  

In my experience with my niece, she was unable to sleep regularly for over two years after medicating her - ritalin was her first Rx.  It got so bad she was sleepwalking out of the house and down the street.  It eventually stopped after they tried different medications.  

I don't know what they finally determined for her prescription but everyone's different.  It took them 2 years to get to that point, though.  And lots of trial and error.  She was about 10 when it was finally resolved.  

I don't think pills are always the answer for adhd... i see it so often w/ my kids classmates - some look like zombies.  But, if it's necessary, make sure your child is really getting a medication that works well and don't be afraid to get more than one opinion.  Also... become your own best reference.  Some Dr's do not know everything and you know your child best.

Best of luck -stay strong!

Answer 11

It will get better with time. As his body becomes more used to the meds, it will affect him less and he'll sleep earlier.