a.d.h.d sufferer

[amanda1981]

my daughter is 7 years old and has a.d.h.d she has been taking ritilin for the last 3 months with a daily dose of 10 mg in a morning 10 mg at lunch time and 5 mg at tea time, she has lost her appetite which she is losing weight rapidley she has now had 3 fits in the last 2 weeks this is the only drug she has been offered.

[sophieb]

Go back to your doctor as soon as you can and if i were you don't give her any more. Loss of appetite can be a side a side effect of Ritalin(happened to my son initially).The fits are a less common side effect. Although this is the only one she has been offered so far there are alternatives. Ritalin has methylphenidate base but there are others which have a dexamphetamine base which can be used if the other one is not suitable. It sounds like she is having a bad reaction to them-is she also restless, irritable, disturbed sleep, tearfulness for no reason?

[sophieb]

Oh forgot to say my son has his after meals so his appetite has improved. He now has a one-a-day 20mg Equasym XL with no problems so far!(fingers crossed)