Intuniv for Treating Tics and Twitches
As I’ve noted in the past, our oldest son has a history of tics and twitches. In the past, these have come and gone, often associated with stressful periods in our lives, and never lasting more than a few months.
This past fall, our son (eleven years old at the time) started middle school, and shortly thereafter the tics returned. They’ve presented as eye blinking, nose wrinkling, and a funny little mouth stretch (for lack of a better term). While we kept hoping they’d go away, they haven’t.
We’re now pushing six months, our eleven year old has turned twelve, and there have been no signs of improvement. Since this is by far the longest he’s had them, we decided to have him checked out.
After evaluating him, the doctor recommended two possible pharmaceutical solutions. I should note here that, in addition to the tics, he’s rather high strung, and we’ve also been having some issues with his aggression toward his brothers.
Lexapro vs. Intuniv
The two options that we were given were Lexapro (escitalopram) and Intuniv (guanfacine; the time release version of Tenex). Lexapro is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that is often prescribed as an anti-depressant. This would help with his anxiety, and could also reduce the incidence of his tics.
Intuniv, on the other hand, is an alpha-2-adrenergic agent that is often prescribed for ADHD, and is also thought to be effective in treating tics. After a good bit of research, as well as consultation with our family practitioner, we decided to go with the Intuniv.
He started on a 1mg/day dose for the first week, going up to 2mg/day this week, and 3mg/day next week. We’ll then take him back in to get checked out by the doctor. While we still haven’t seen an effect, we’re still ramping up to therapeutic levels. I’ll update when we know more.
Real-world side effects of Intuniv
While our son hasn’t been on Intuniv for very long, we have noticed some minor side effects. For example, he’s had a bit of an upset stomach and reduced appetite, especially since we increased the dosage to 2mg/day. He’s also been more tired than normal, and has been waking up at night and having trouble falling back asleep.
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The side effects of sour stomach and fatigue should gradually reduce over the next few weeks. All the best with your son.
Comment by Greg — Jan 29th 2010 @ 8:35 amHi! My son will turn 10 on Wednesday. He has had tics and funny little movements for several years. Diagnosed this past year with Tourette syndrome and OCD. He has been on Abilify for about 6 months which has shown positive results. Due to the tics still showing up in full force about once per month for about 3 really bad days….Dr. just added Intuniv to the mix. We are in the first week so I haven’t seen any changes yet. Look forward to reading about your son and updating you on mine:) Best of luck….God Bless.
Comment by Stacee — Mar 8th 2010 @ 1:19 amI think medication should be the last resort. Have you tried letting your kids just be kids? They shouldn’t be perfect, and being extra active, full of tics and twitched is just something common with kids. I think in the US you medicate kids too easily, it’s like you can’t stand them being kid and you want to control them and turn them into non-bothering adults. Let them be! Besides, I don’t think “how to medicate your kid” should be a blog posting, ever. When one gets to the extent of having to medicate a kid it is because of something extreme that no one would like to share with a bunch of strangers.
Comment by María — Mar 28th 2010 @ 12:43 pmMaria, Obviously you do not know what you are talking about! I have two children and both have ADHD. My experience with it has not been a good one. I hate the fact that my child gets frustrated to the point of hitting themselves in the head to get the pictures out of their heads( their words ). I have ADD also and it is very frustrating to me I cannot imagine being a child and having it to the extent that my child and other chldren do. They cannot focus in school or anywhere, they have jitters and uncontrollable urges. I would like nothing more than to not medicate my child. I do not medicate them to keep them from being a child, I medicate them to help them be a child not a uncontrollable human being that is frustrated and angry all the time because they cannot control the impulses that they have. Maybe next time before you criticize people you should get all your facts straight first!!
Comment by christy — Mar 29th 2010 @ 4:30 pmchristy, I totally agree with you! I don’t want my child to have to be on meds to control his ADHD and tics, however for them to function in this society as normal as can be I need to make that happen for him! If we aren’t advocates then who will be for our children! Maria don’t make assumptions unless you have walked in our shoes!
Comment by lynne — Mar 30th 2010 @ 2:32 pmLynne, I agree with you as well. There is nothing more devastating than to hear that your child is diagnosed with any disorder that will require medication on a daily basis so that they can function and participate in life as their authentic kid selves. The emotional/psychological effects on kids living with untreated ADD/ADHD is of the greatest concern. These kids suffer from extremely low self-esteem, self-hatred and social isolation. Ultimately, the repeated sense of failure both academically and socially can lead to even more devastating consequences. My own son has dealt with suicidal ideation prior to beginning treatment. He was ten years old at that time. Just ten.
We may all be strangers by face and name, but our shared experiences are what draw us together in venues such as this one. Maria, think twice about the criticism you level against those of us who seek support. Though you may not need it, the rest of us need to know that we are not alone. God Bless to all-Shannon
Comment by Shannon — Apr 2nd 2010 @ 10:42 amIt is so helpful to hear all your comments. My son was diagnosed with ADHD a few months ago. He also had Tourette’s Sydrome. I have been trying to avoid medication by setting up many measures at to school to address his issues but it has come to the point that that medication is a necessity. I have been feeling very guilty about the decision. He is very bright and is doing well is school but is becoming more and more frustrated. We have decided to use Intuniv for both the ADHD and the tics but I am concerned about hwo relatively new it is. Can anyone provide any feedback? I am very concerned about the side effects? Do you keep your kids on it for the summer or take them off?
Comment by Tracy — Apr 22nd 2010 @ 9:39 pmMy grandson of 12 has ocd and tourettes. Abilify helps with the tics and anxiety. What helps most with the ocd and behavioral problems is to eliminate gluten–all forms–from his diet. That includes peanuts and pasta, not just bread. I know it sounds simplistic but it actually works. This has made a huge difference. We can tell if he had a cookie or donut at school by his increase in ocd and temper tantrums. Research at Yale has shown OCD to be caused by excess glutamate in the neurological system. In clinical trials, an amino acid, NAC, was administered to help with glutamate removal. Check out all the info on the internet about this by googling “glutamate OCD trials.” NAC can be found at all health food stores. Check out the sites that list all the foods that contain gluten or glutamate. Please note that Intuniv increases glutamate levels in the brain so this drug may not work in children with excess glutamate problems. Good luck to all of you with these hurting children.
Comment by Sharon — May 1st 2010 @ 6:58 pmMy son is 6 1/2 and was diagnosed with ADHD. He has neurological tics and sensory disorder. We began treatment with focalin xr 15mg. He is responding well to this for he has no side effects. In fact, he NO LONGER has sensory issues. His report card reflected dramatic improvement in all areas of his learning. His attention and ability to remain focused for longer duration of time is incredible. However, we find that when he does not eat, he tends to get very angry and irrational. Does anyone else experience this? At the end of the day when he comes off the bus, the medication must begin to wear off and he becomes hyperactive, impulsive, angry and aggressive all over again. We are considering intuniv in addition to foaclin xr. Is there anyone out there experiencing these issues and have you tried the focalin, intuniv combination? I’m worried about putting him on two meds. However, I know he needs it to keep him stable. I hate seeing him suffer.
And Maria, medication has been my last resort. For our family, it was a matter of safety for our son. He was impulsive (eg. running into the street without considering oncoming traffic (even though since he was 2 we have taught him this), sleigh riding from a 20 foot drop with no fear, jumping on top of a TV stand with a 46 inch TV behind him, running the “display” track at a sporting goods store for an hour while trying to buy him a new pair of sneakers..) Do I need to go on?
Please do not judge a mothers intuition when they know their child is in need of help. My son screamed from his room “I hate my body!!!” When I asked him why he said, “Because my leg keeps shaking and I CAN’T MAKE IT STOP! I can’t sit criss-cross applesauce at school!!!!” That my friend, is a cry for help. So the other day he says to me, “Oh, mama, I don’t need that medicine anymore, my legs don’t shake any more and my eyes don’t blink and I can keep my mouth from opening up all day. Oh! and Mama.” “Yes, baby,” I replied, “I can read!”
You be the judge of that.
Comment by Melissa — May 3rd 2010 @ 11:24 pmAuthor: Shannon
@Melissa-Melissa, my son is now 12 yrs old but your situation sounds so familiar. At 6 yrs old he too lacked impulse control and was non-inhibited by potentially dangerous situations. ie: Standing on the top of the play structure at recess and jumping to see if he could do it. Broke his wrist. Though injury rarely resulted, he pushed the limits of safety regularly. Part of this was due to a pronounced sensory integration issue. In order to “feel” things the way we do, he had to do it bigger, harder, etc. On top of that the lack of impulse control put him in dangerous situations regularly. Add to that the ADHD and OCD. It was so much then for both my son and the entire family. He has been in ongoing talk therapy with a wonderful psychologist for six years. We only introduced meds when talk was no longer enough to manage his issues.
Now with all that being said, we have found that medication has changed his life over the last 3 1/2 years. My son also hated his body that wouldn’t “listen to him” and he hated himself. It was agonizing. He does take fluoxetine (prozac) to manage his OCD symptoms which is critical. We added Focalin last year for the ADHD, but did find the same situation as you. Wearing off, etc. His psychiatrist then put him on Concerta to see if we could get better results. The significant tics started six months ago. Blinking, licking his upper lip and it was bad. Kids at school have made fun of him relentlessly. Let’s not forget, he’s in sixth grade. So we have now added Intuniv to the mix. It seems to be the answer! Tics are gone! He does not take the Concerta on the weekends, but does have to take the Intuniv. Without the Concerta is does make him very sleepy. As with many other posts, we found dosing him at night was the best solution. So he takes his Prozac and Concerta in the morning and Intuniv in the evening between 6-8pm.
Melissa, there is profound help to be discovered through careful consideration with medications. I applaud you, as it is such an agonizing decision. Your son is not a lab rat, but experimenting to find the right dose makes you feel guilty. I am here to tell you that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. We have had to adjust dosages over the years as he grows and issues fluctuate. But, in general he is a content, intelligent, sociable boy. He is able to maintain friendships at last and I do not fear for his safety or question his judgment when he is away from me. We were truly where you are today, just six years ago. Have faith in yourself and your son. We have learned to take joy in the small strides and roll with the other punches of life. It is a long road, but we can all do it. You are not alone!! Absolutely not! Hang in there and let us know how you are both doing. Prayers for all-Shannon
Btw, happy to share more details about our experience on Intuniv for the last 2 months-
Comment by Shannon — May 4th 2010 @ 9:59 amShannon,
Thank you so very much for your response. I have peace in knowing we are doing the right thing for my son. Thank you for letting me know that I am not alone. I am a kindergarten teacher, but nothing prepares you for when it is your child with a disorder.
Question re: OCD… are predictable anger outbursts and irrational reasoning associated with OCD?
We head to the dr. tomorrow to discuss Intuniv.
Once again, thank you
Comment by Melissa — May 4th 2010 @ 11:54 pmMelissa
Once again..
Melissa,
With regard to OCD…before my son was medicated for his OCD he had very irrational, obsessive thought patterns. For instance, if he saw one bug in the house every square inch of the house “could” have bugs and must be checked. That fear would escalate into unable to sleep because he is “watching out” for any bugs that might be there. Eventually, bedtime rituals became unreasonable. He would wrap himself up like a burrito in his bed sheets so nothing could get him. But let me say Melissa, for the child who has gotten “stuck” with a thought in their head their fear is real. The thought is so persistent that have to acknowledge it with obsession.
I am not a psychologist, but we have a wonderful one for my son. No one is more qualified than a psychologist for diagnosing and treating this disorder. And, for my son medication was the answer. But we went through 2 years of the irrational thoughts or fears before we decided to go with medication. Again, a highly qualified psychiatrist is the only way to go in my opinion.
I hated labeling my son with all of these disorders. Some it was pride on my part but mostly fear of what it meant for him. Who would he be with all of this “stuff?” Well, who he is now is a capable, secure, content 6th grader. Meds allowed his talk therapy to be more effective for him on many levels. Meds do not eradicate OCD, but can give him a chance to gain back a sense of control when his OCD is pushing too hard.
I admire you Melissa. Having the courage to consider some of the possibilities (which can be scary) shows how much you love your son. The bravery of mothers who face these challenges each day is the sort that is unsung and somewhat long suffering. It is our quiet (and not so quiet) determination to understand our children and advocate to the world on their behalf that makes us extraordinary. The very essence of bravery is a fireman. Of course they are scared every time they enter a burning building, but they go inside anyway. So, as our extraordinary children go out into the world each day, they too are brave. Their lives can be scary places at times, but they forge ahead despite their fears. And, it is often ugly and hard. But they do it, just like us.
Hope it goes well today Melissa. Let us know! Will be thinking about you and your son today. Shannon
Comment by Shannon — May 5th 2010 @ 7:38 amAll,
This is my first visit here today. I came here looking for information in Intuniv and found so much more! My son was 4 when the violence started (he is 7 now). He was showing signs of autism, ADHD, bi-polar and Tourettes Syndrome, although no signs were stronger than any other. The only saving grace medication for him at that time, to control his anger, was Risperdal. Over the past few years he has stayed on Risperdal but thas been on several other items as well to help control meltdowns and the tics. The Tenex and Vyvanse was not doing the trick and his school was complaining A L O T so his psyciatrist gave us a few Intuniv samples and we just started them yesterday. Hope to see some improvement in the next week or so.
I have 5 sons all together (all 4 are older than the son I just spoke of) and have all gotten through life without any ADHD or associated problems.
Maria, you really did pluck me hard with your comment above. I KNEW something was not right with my youngest son, his behavior and violence was something I had never seen before. We dont choose to put our kids on the medications so we dont have to deal with him. Quite honestly, as of right now, my husband and I both expect that our youngest son will be with us during his adult life. He is not “slow” but unless there are a few breakthroughs prior to 11 years from now, I cannot see him functioning daily by himself. This is not something we choose, this is something we manage on a daily basis. Be thankful that you are not in the same position the rest of us are.
Comment by Joanne — May 6th 2010 @ 2:51 pmOh! Melissa (and others if applicable) …. one other thing I forgot … you commented, “However, we find that when he does not eat, he tends to get very angry and irrational.” One thing to consider is that low blood sugar can cause these symptoms as well. I am a Type II diabetic but started out as hypoglycemic. Not eating causes aggitation, irritability, and a need to eat ANYTHING in sight. Just something to think about checking for.
Comment by Joanne — May 6th 2010 @ 2:56 pmThank you Joanne. We did have him tested for this in the past because I thought the same thing. While he feels better once he eats, he will still be irrational in certain situations (with or without food). Maybe it’s time for a re-check.
Comment by Melissa — May 6th 2010 @ 4:32 pmThank you,
Melissa
My son was diagnosed with ADHD in January. He also has Tourette’s Syndrome. We opted for Intuniv because of the issue with his tics. We have been so pleased. His teachers have noted much improved behavior in class and we have have noted much better behavior at home. The outbursts you describe sound more associated with the ADHD than OCD (my son also has elements of OCD). I also want you to know how hard it was for my husband and I to decide to put our son on medication. We tried every route before we went to medicine and I am sorry I wasted so much time. Good luck.
Comment by Tracy — May 7th 2010 @ 8:18 amThank you, Tracy. Thank all of you for your encouragement. I was having the worst morning and I came to work and opened this e-mail. I truly appreciate you sharing your stories with me. I know we have all been there and it makes it more meaningful to talk to someone who knows exactly what I am going through. Any tips on how to have him swallow the Intuniv????? Oh, what a morning it was. He has a hard time swallowing the med…any tips are surely needed!!! Thank you!
Comment by Melissa — May 7th 2010 @ 8:29 amMy wife came up with the ingenious idea of peanut butter (a bit like “a spoon full of sugar”). Put a dab on a spoon, stick the pill in, and let them eat peanut butter. Cut the pill up if needed.
The added benefit is we use the term “peanut butter” instead of “meds” or “pills”.
Comment by Greg — May 7th 2010 @ 8:37 amMelissa, I know what a challenge it is to take the pills. My son is the worst medicine taker and has made himself vomit up every medicine I have ever had to give him. So when we decided to give the Intuniv and found out it couldn’t be crush or broken you can imagine how nervous we were about. What we did was train him how to take a pill using mints the same size of the pill. I placed the “pill” on his tongue and had him swallow water quickly. It took many, many tries but he finally took got the hang of it so that when it was time for the actual pill he was a pro. Also it didn’t hurt that I promised a pack of Topps Attack cards if he got it. I try not to bribe him but in this instance it worked. Good Luck!!
Comment by Tracy — May 8th 2010 @ 5:34 pmHi Gregg- I thought you weren’t supposed to cut the pill up? Do you cut it? He is having such a hard time
Thanks to all for your ideas…keep them coming
I’ll be trying the mint idea too, Tracy! Thank you!
Comment by Melissa — May 9th 2010 @ 11:36 pmI was told you can not cut or crush the pill. The higher dosages are larger pills and my son wasn’t able to swallow them in things like peanut butter or pudding so trianing him to swallow the pill was our only option.
Comment by Tracy — May 10th 2010 @ 9:17 amIntuniv is a time release. As such, you’re not supposed to cut or crush it. If your kids have a hard time swallowing a large(ish) pill, try this:
http://www.raising4boys.com/20.....arge-pill/
Just set it on a big soup spoon and cover it with chocolate syrup. The syrup masks any flavors associated with the pill and makes it slippery and easy to swallow.
After reading this article, I’ve had higher hopes of taking the Intuniv meds my doctor prescribed for me a few hours ago. I feared that they may hinder my performance in school or elsewhere and I’m really nervous about them harming my health instead of getting rid of my tic (excessive blinking). I’m 15 and my tic started in late November so my family decided I’d wait a while before trying medication, but now it’s time that I do and I’m really worried that the side effects will appear. I know this is a new medication so does anyone have any info on it? I was extremely horrified when I read that Intuniv is for ADHD because I don’t have it as far as I know. Is it helpful to teenagers that only possess a motor tic?
Comment by Lisa — May 10th 2010 @ 6:58 pmLisa, You should feel comfortable with our decision whether you choose to take the medications or not. If your excessive eye-blinking is causing you emotional pain or hindering you in other ways then I believe trying the medication is beneficial. My son has both motor tics and adhd. Since he has been on the Intuniv his motor tics have all but gone away and yes he has become more attentive and focused at school. Are there side effects? Yes. He is very tired and often has to nap when he gets home from school in order to do some after school activities such as baseball. As a parent I struggled for a long time whether I should give my son medication and am sure your parents have struggled with this idea as well. It is not a decision that is taken lightly either by parent or child. Good luck to you. I wish you the best and think that you are a very brave person for reaching out and asking for help with this very big decision.
Sincerely,Tracy
Comment by Tracy — May 10th 2010 @ 8:34 pmTracy, thank you for the support. I need it.
I’m glad to hear that you’re son has done better with the medication. The tic subsided today after taking the medication last night. I just took my second one a moment ago before reading your post. Intuniv really does seem to help! I got really tired after using it but the doctor told me to not take naps after school but I guess it’s different for everyone. Thanks again for the support and for sharing your story. I appreciate it.
~Lisa
Comment by Lisa — May 11th 2010 @ 9:01 pmLisa, I was so happy to read your post and hear that the medicine is helping you. Good luck. Feel good. I wish you the best. Tracy
Comment by Tracy — May 12th 2010 @ 8:29 amThank you all for your comments on this site.
My son is 12, diagnosed with OCD, Turrets and ADHD. We tried fluoxetine (prozac) for about a year or so and it did not seem to help much at all with the OCD and seemed to increase the Turrets and ADHD symptoms.
So we stopped the fluoxetine.
About 3 weeks ago we started intuniv. No results from 1mg, but started to see some relaxation of the tics on 2mg. We started 3 mg. about 2 days ago, but he is now complaining of stomache ache, cramps and nausea. We are going to move him back to 2 mg.
We are then going to try something else for the OCD, since his OCD symptoms and overall anxiety seem to have increased with the increase dose/effectivness of the intuniv.
Any suggestions? I see some folks have tried Lexapro and abilify. How about Zoloft – that is what my son’s psychiatrist is prescribing now for the OCD as of today?
Dana
Comment by Dana — May 21st 2010 @ 10:25 amMy son is ten and has been taking Intuniv for a month. He is currently on 3mg because when taking 4 he was more like a zombie than a ten year old boy. He has been prescribed this for a facial tic where he raises his eye brows and rolls his eyes into the back of his head. My concerns are how and adhd medicine is effective for tics. Are they related? He seems to be a normal kid to me. Im also wondering how long it took to see significant results after starting the meds. Like I said, its been a month and I havent seen any changes in his tics, just his sleeping habits. Any experiences and info on this would be great.
Comment by Toni — May 25th 2010 @ 11:36 amThanks for all of your posts. My 7 year old son has ADHD and developed bad facial tics on focalin and ritalin. The tics went away once he stopped taking these medications. He started 1 mg intuniv a week ago. Within four days the facial tics were back and just as bad as before. He was very tired as well. We started 2 mg yesterday and the tics seem more mild today. I am just wondering how long it takes for the intuniv to start to work on the tics and if it is normal for tics to maybe be expressed more when the child is over tired.
Comment by Di — May 31st 2010 @ 5:55 pmMy son takes Adderall, Intuniv and Zoloft in the morning, Adderall at noon and Clonidine and Luvox in the evening. He tried Intuniv at night but it kept him awake, which is different from what others have said. He has been diagnosed with ADHD, OCD, Tourette’s and Anxiety Disorder (from age 5-7). He is 16, and last year he commented that he thought maybe he had Aspergers which shows his own awareness of his symptoms. I was talking to the grandmother/guardian of his first friend in years, and we both realized that since our boys started Intuniv, they were able to make a friend. The last friend my son had was in middle school with an extremely hyper child who ended up moving. (he had become friends because as he said “Mom, I found someone who is more hyperactive than I am!”) I don’t worry as much with this new friend because they seem to be able to get along much better. I had tried to take him off his midday Adderall for the summer, but when he threw a pair of scissors against the wall trying to kill a bug the other day, I reconsidered. Tomorrow I head to a presentation by the Office of Civil Rights on educational issues so that maybe I can get a better 504 plan for him for his last two years of school. Now that is a whole ‘nother matter!! Oh and by the way, hubby has ADHD and was unmedicated for years due to high blood pressure, but now takes Vyvanse, which cuts down on some on the hyperactivity- not all of it, but some. It’s still better than it used to be.
Comment by Nancy — Jun 4th 2010 @ 11:34 pmI recently took my son off Focalin xr 10mg. He took it with Intuniv 2mg. He is 6 1/2 and was showing signs of ocd behaviors and anxiety. He also appeared very depressed. I started to worry thinking, uh-oh, this is what everyone is talking about. However, something told me (instinct) that it was the Focalin xr. It is my understanding that stimulants can cause these unwanted behaviors. So I took him off it and I can not tell you how well he is doing. I have my baby back. The side effects of intuniv are drowsiness. This wore off after time. It was scary at first, but i held out. He is so happy! And so am I!
Comment by Melissa — Jun 5th 2010 @ 1:41 pmWe started with the Intuniv as our first line of medication. My son showed signs of improvement almost immediately on 1 mg and even better on 2mg. We decided to keep him on 2 mg but now we are seeing some tics return as well as some impulsive ADHD behaniors at home after about a month or so on 2mg . He appears to be doing well at school as the teachers have not noted any worsening of behavior. He is going to sleepaway camp and we have decided to take him off of meds for the summer and restart when he returns. I hope to keep him on the 2 mg for a awhile when we restart but am having concerns about the return of the tics and behaviors at home. Has anyone had experience with the lower dosage of 2 mg for extended use (I know many kids are on 3-4 mg)?
Comment by Tracy — Jun 5th 2010 @ 8:44 pmMy son only takes 2 mg Intuniv in the morning. At 16, he is a little more responsible for taking his meds, and neglected to tell he to refill his Intuniv and was off for a while. He got some dramatic tics lately, so today was the first day back on Intuniv and I am hoping to see a lessening of that. He has an all week institute at a college this coming week, so he needs to stay on his meds.
Comment by Nancy — Jun 5th 2010 @ 8:51 pmAll the info on intuniv has been helpful. Our 11-year-ol daughter with ADHD and a perhaps PDD-NOS has been on the medication for about a month. In addition, she takes Prozac in the morning. When the intuniv increased to 3 mg; she was very unhappy — unable to sleep, whiny most of the time, and very oppositional. We cut her back to 2 mg taken between 7 and 8 p.m. She seems able to sleep again (with the help of melatonin) and much improved in certain behaviors. She does not need to yell all the time and is slightly more reasonable. Her tics are not noticeable at all. Currently, she does not take any stimulants.
Comment by JaLynn — Jul 2nd 2010 @ 12:48 amThis medicine is very difficult to get on board, but seems to be quite helpful. Good luck to all of you; you may have to work on the admin time to get it right for your child!
Jaylen- maybe take the Intuniv in the AM with her Prozac (thats what we do) he sleeps much better this way. When we increased to 3mg he was much like your daughter but it passed in a couple of weeks, he also was sleeping in the AM at school, but it passed as well.
good luck
I have a 11 yr son PDD-NOS, OCD and Exp Laung Dis. His tics have been hand flapping, finger snapping, hair twisting, spitting, licking his lips till raw, and currantly picking the skin on his fingers till they bleed…Maria, is this something common with kids? I dont think so! Im not talking about the occational flip and pick here. Im talkin about excessive, all day long!! We started Intuniv in Oct of 09. We have seen a lot of improvement with his behavior at school and home (more tolorent etc..) He also takes YES, Prozac for anxiety/OCD, and during the school year a small dose of Concerta for focus. Being a parent of two children, one of which is 18 and is completely “normal” (by Maria’s standards) and will be attending Texas A&M in the fall…Maria, why are you even on this sight ?? If your beliefs are to “let children be children” then why are you here? Maybe your here because you are uneasy about your own children. When you have a child that has issues the most important thing to do is to realize that they are NOT normal and need all means of help available thru therapy and yes even meds. This is the biggest hurdle for us as parents. So ask yourself, Maria? Why are you hear amongst us, Bad Parents? Also, if your child had cancer or a physical sickness would you deny him/her medication??
Just askin
Good luck to all, keep posting
Comment by Kathy — Jul 9th 2010 @ 8:00 pmKathy
My son never could sleep when he took Intuniv at night. Now he takes it in the daytime, and for the first time in 16 years, he has a couple of friends who he actually goes to their house and plays with. I’m so glad I didn’t let him “just be a kid”, Maria. He would’ve gone all through school without one friend. And you must not have ever seen any of the tics some of our kids have. Nicholas had one where he would swing his arm up high. He would try to hold it down, but it took too much effort. He looked like when someone tries to imitate the trunk of an elephant.
And I would rather suffer embarrassment (which I really don’t but which you implied we should) by giving someone information that they can use. Hey, you think this is bad. Come to one of the spina bifida groups and I will give you the rundown on my daughter’s bowel management program!
Comment by Nancy — Jul 9th 2010 @ 8:57 pmHello to all!
Is anyone experiencing restless legs with Intuniv? Wen my little guy goes to bed, he said his legs, “won’t stop moving!” He had this prior to taking Intuniv…this just recently started again. Hoping it’s not a side effect. However, I do know it is common in ADHD children.
Well, it’s been 2 months since we have been on Intuniv and all I can say is WOW! He is on 2mg and no other meds at this point. His focus isn’t as it was when on a stimulant, but his behavior is out of this world! He is so happy, compliant and rational. He no longer exhibits anger, aggression and irritability. As far as the focusing piece, summer is here and he doesn’t need it for school..so we will se how he does in the Fall. However, I am hopeful that we can teach him the skills and strategies needed to remain focused with out the stimulant. He is willing and compliant now, so I know he will try it because he won’t “fight” it.
We did have to give it to him in the evening due to sleepiness-thank you Shannon for that tip!
I was reading something that I thought I’d share re: stimulants. We did not do well with the two we tried (at different doses and combos) Aderall XR and Focalin XR (w/ Intuniv). He started showing signs of major anxiety, withdrawn, depression and OCD behaviors. Stimulants can cause these side effects. I know that is a “no brainer” but I felt as though treating those symptoms just so the side effects would go away was going about it all wrong. So I took him off the stimulants(mommy’s intuition) and stuck with just the Intuniv. i plunged through the initial side effects of him being sleepy and stuck it out..for I heard the rewards were worth it. Children with ADHD have a deficit in working memory. It is my understanding that Intuniv (over time) builds up the working memory while stimulants are short acting (meaning in and out of the system). My son was having difficulting in reading (he’s heading inot 1st grade) remembering the sounds in C-V-C words. Eg. the word “cat” He knoew the sounds in isolation, but when asked to blend the word he would take the last sound ‘t” and say “top!” because he could not remember the first two sounds. After two months of being on Intuniv, He is now successful with this deficit that Intuniv helps build. Yeah!
By no means if stimulants are working for your children am I saying to forgo it, but it might be worth the try to see if they could do without. ???
I just wanted to share in the success we are having.
Look forward to hearing from everyone!
Melissa
Comment by Melissa — Jul 9th 2010 @ 8:58 pmNancy- yes our son could not take it at night and once we moved to morning it was fine…We too had most serious tics…our son reminded everyone of a lobster, constantly snapping his fingers from the time he woke up in the am till bed at night…the only time he does not tic is when in the vehicle moving down the road ? always puzzled me…is it a movement stimuli??
Melissa-yes my son complains of his legs at night we give a small dose of ibuprofen before bed…helps alot…idk if its rest leg or just growing pains…i know with my son, pains are a lot more bothersome than with my “normal kiddos”
have a great weekend
Comment by Kathy — Jul 9th 2010 @ 9:54 pmkathy
my daughter is 4, she has adhd and sid. I hated the thought of putting her on meds. but after two yrs of intense therapy special schools it finally came to it. after lots of talked with the doctor and research we chose intuniv. she has been on 1 mg for going on three mths, I love love this medicine. she doesnt have that spaced out look, or any sides effects. for the first week she did fall asleep if she sat still but that when away. however, as anyone had their children on this medication for awhile? did they start to not work as well as before? did u have to up it or change it? since she is so young and i am not a fan of drugs i dont want to up it unless that is needed. her impulsion to be violent have come back. her screaming instead of talking have come back, her hiding and emotional roller coaster are back.. nothing like without meds but they are there. she isnt trying to hurt herself yet again. thanks and God bless us all..
Comment by danielle — Jul 10th 2010 @ 4:03 amYes I found that my some of my son’s ADHD personality traits seemed to come back after a while on Intuniv but not as severe. We have maintained him at 2 mg and am hesitiant to go up as of yet since he continued to do well in school.
Comment by Tracy — Jul 10th 2010 @ 12:56 pmHi Danielle,
On 1mg it was great at first, but we did have to increase it to 2mg. In an effort to offset the sleepiness side effect, we give it to him at night around 7:30. I read that it’s full effect works after 12 hours…so taking it at night seems to be the answer for two reasons. Due to this, you may want to try giving it to her at night (1mg) before you move up to 2mg to see if there is a difference. It sounds as if her re-current symptoms warrant an increase and 2mg might be the next thing to do. I feel your pain re: not being a fan of meds, but it sounds like you found the right one and it just needs to be “tweeked,” as all of these meds do. I often remind myself that they are suffering, and if he was diabetic, I’d have to increase insulin if needed…
Support groups are the key to helping “us” through this. On Facebook there is a great page…a mom’s view of ADHD that is a great way to connect to other parents and learn important info. She also has a blog that you can connect to via Facebook. I am also setting up a blog myself..Living and Loving Life with ADHD…
Hang in there!
Comment by Melissa — Jul 10th 2010 @ 1:40 pmMy soon to be 6 yr old son has OCD (he was diganosed with P.A.N.D.A.S. – an allergic reaction to the antibodies from strep throat which can bring on OCD and tourettes in predisposed kids), ODD and ADHD. He has been on 25mg of Zoloft to control the OCD (a miracle drug for him) and we have recently begun trying ADHD medications. His ODD (oppositional defiant disorder) is overwhelming us – and the stimulant medications seem to exacerbate the symptoms. Yesterday our doctor prescribed Intuniv for his ADHD and ODD. This is the first medication I have seen that claims to help with some of the more pronounced defiant disorder symptoms.
Has anyone else seen an improvement of ODD symptoms with Intuniv?
Thanks!
Comment by Rachelle — Jul 10th 2010 @ 3:36 pmRachelle,
Comment by Melissa — Jul 10th 2010 @ 5:58 pmYes! Yes! Yes! My son has ODD and he no longer exhibits these behaviors. It’s been 2 months and he is doing great. Hang in there with it..it will be worth the wait as his body adjusts to it. Give him meds at night for it makes them sleepy at first. My son is on 2mg..started at 1mg. Good luck.. keep me posted!
Melissa
So much information available, but found this site to be very helpful and encouraging. Maria’s unfortunate and uneducated post did throw me a bit, but will continue to read for support and education from people with shared experiences.
After too many negative parent-teacher conferences and an increase in tics during the past year, my 8-year old son was diagnosed with Tourette’s and ADD. Like so many, his tics are more pronounced during stressful times (which for him is often in social situations) and his ADD more obvious while in school. He started Intuniv four days ago (1mg at night), and though too early to know the long-term results, he is feeling calm and relaxed. I am a little concerned about the sleepy side effects. We went to the park yesterday and he didn’t have much energy. He has also napped each day, which is not normal for him!
I had hoped to help him without medication (behavior modification, meditation, healthy foods, vitamins), but the reality is, he has a neurological disorder and to postpone medical assistance any longer is doing him a great disservice. Like yours, my child is a great kid with endless potential and opportunities. Letting “kids be kids” is a wonderful mantra, but I prefer not to just let him be and hope it all works out. He is counting on me to navigate for him until he can do so on his own.
Thanks again. Hoping the best for us all.
Comment by Natalie — Jul 11th 2010 @ 10:57 amAll,
Thank you so much for sharing your stories. Our 7-year-old son has Tourette’s Syndrome and ADHD, and we recently made the (very difficult) decision to try medication, when therapy alone was not enough. We have just moved up to 3 mg of Intuniv, and I’m wondering if any of you at that level saw an increase in aggression and mood swings in the very early stages of taking the drug. Our son is not normally aggressive, but lately he has been very hard on his younger sister (nothing physical), and then he sobs because he feels so bad about yelling at her. The Intuniv is helping a lot with sleep, and the ADHD symptoms are much better, but we need to know if there is a light at the end of the emotional tunnel — 7 is too young for such angst!
Thanks for any help you can offer.
Comment by Heather — Jul 11th 2010 @ 1:49 pmMy son, who just turned 11, started Intuniv, 1mg, middle of May. It was a miracle drug for us at first. He is very defiant and miserable most of the time, always angry and hateful. Intuniv was the most wonderful drug and made everything just so perfect. Now it has stopped worKing! He is up to 3 mg, 2 at night and 1 in the am. Before I stop, tomorrow I am going to reduce the dose to 2 mg at night, and see if he has any mood changes, if not I will discontinue the meds. I don’t want to give him anything if it doesn’t work! Stimulants aren’t the answer for him, he bounces off the walls. I just want him to be happy!
Comment by Marisa — Jul 12th 2010 @ 4:19 amI have a ten yr old. He has been on Stratera,Concerta,Ritlin then back to Concerta. He was diagnosed in first grade and i didn’t want to put him on meds, I chalked it up to him being a early starter(he turned 5 three months before kindergarten) he suffered through kindergarten, his teacher separated him and made him stand out which made all the other kids think he was “trouble and aggressive). This has been a struggle ever since, if it wasn’t for his counselor I wld have went crazy!
Anyway he got a new Dr. and the Dr. put him on Intuniv because I explained even with the Concerta his homework was failing he was forgetful and he had tics that wld come out, and it took him an hour to go to sleep.
He now sleeps better(he is currently on 2 mg) and he does get drowsy but it happens around 830, hes not a zombie during the day. He will start on the 3mg this Wed. although he says he likes the 1 mg better.
Please keep me posted everyone about the Intuniv, something has got to help him.
As for Maria, what the heck?! I have you know my son does not under any circumstance act “out of it” at any point in time besides bed! He IS all boy right down to going outside and riding his bike and swimming and running around ALL DAY. I am assuming you don’t have a ADHD child so please don’t pretend to act like you know what we are going through! If my son didn’t need meds believe me he wld be OFF of them, I am looking forward to the day his symptoms decrease.
Comment by samantha — Jul 13th 2010 @ 3:49 amThis is a helpful website. My son has ADHD and Tics. We recently started Intuniv and increased the dosage to 2 mg this week but I am seeing some OCD thoughts and some sadness. He has always been alittle hypochondriac worrying anything will cause him to die etc. Now I see those thoughts alot. I will be engaging him in therapy soon. Has anyone else seen sadness or depression with Intuniv or an increase in these thoughts?
Comment by regina — Jul 13th 2010 @ 8:33 pmMy 8 year old has been diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome- he suffers from tics, ADHD, auditory processing disorder. The tics probably bother me more than they bother him- but the ADHD is what is going to affect his life learning. He also has difficulty in word finding and expressing ideas. He is currently on vyvanse, but not sure it helps much. we are on year round school, so he just started 3rd grade on friday. Obviously, tics are increased now due to school starting, but would love some feedback/advice about intuniv or straterra?? Also, I am in the process of watching a 3 hour lecture on the TS association website by Dr. Walkup- this is awesome! He is wonderful!! Any others advice, welcome.
Comment by Heidi W — Jul 13th 2010 @ 10:00 pmRegina,
We are seeing sadness/depression with our 7-year-old, who has been on 3 mg of Intuniv for about a week. The medication is helping him sleep, and his ADHD is much better, but it’s never been so bad that it would be worth trading for depression. We are trying to reduce his anxiety, not increase it! Has anyone else out there been on Intuniv (only) for longer than a few weeks? What’s the long-term prognosis? Thanks…
Comment by Heather — Jul 13th 2010 @ 10:01 pmHey yall!
I’m so glad I found this discussion board on accident (while attempting to research intuniv studies).
My mother and two sisters (as well as extended family) suffer from extreme mental / physological disorders and I have seen the absolute benefits that medication can have. I’ve also seen the flip side for those in my family that refuse treatment. I’ve also seen the frustration of not being able to find that magic coctail that’s just right. I thank God I have been blessed to only have OCD and slight ADD, both of which I manage without medications.
My daughter is acedemically acheived having been placed up due to her abilities and has always been a very social child. Her self-esteem is high (quite possibly too high at times, lol) and she doesn’t have difficulty maintaining lasting relationships.
Since age 2, we knew she was going to be high-strung and just downright stubborn. She has always been ultra-sensitive although behavior is never a big problem at all…in fact we are complimented often on how well behaved she is!
My daughter is now 9, and officially diagnosed with OCD (my fault, lol), ADHD (again my fault, lol) and tourettes. I have always been the “if it isn’t bleeding, you’ll be fine” type of mom so all these sudden diagnosis were hard for me to take.
For the past few years we noticed little “kwirks” that were noticable but not necessarily concerning. The past year, however, these became less kwirky and more alarming. The sleeping ussues, her inability to sit still, her finger snapping, her mouth tingles, her clinginess, her inability to focus and her “need” to talk (we’re talking about HAVING to say whatever just popped in her head-even something of no importance like “yeah” and if she can’t say it, freaking out like a kid that’s being told they have to wait to use the restroom).
I did not seek medical attention for anything other than her excessive sleepiness (again, my theory that if it isn’t bleeding, it’s okay). Turned out she had contracted lime disease and we went through months of treatments before the tests finally came back inactive! Woohoo! She was placed on Concerta as a temporary solution to the extreme fatigue that was expected to last for several months. Sure, all her little things were still there but I wasn’t worried a bit. I treated these as any other “kwirks” and behavior issues.
After a horrible morning one day before school, I “penalized” her for her lack of focus in getting ready, her irresponsible behavior and for having a complete meltdown. I scolded her for not appreciating me and instead of walking her to the doors at school (our usual routine), I made her walk the cross-walk and go in by herself. This, I thought, would teach her to appreciate that I’m always there for her. I truly wanted to vomit, watching her nervously rush along the sidewalks, looking like a scared puppy but I insisted that it was necessary for her to see what she could have to do everyday if I weren’t there for her. **I know I sound like a terrible mom at this point but I figured other kids do it so it can’t be that bad**
Filled with guilt, I came up to have lunch with her and immediately noticed severe eye blinking- to the point that it was painful to watch! Her teacher said it had been happening all morning and the nurse thought it was allergies. I knew it wasn’t although I took her to her allergist that afternoon. I knew I had pushed her too far out of her comfort zone and something was terribly wrong. The blinking got so bad that she was literally having issues seeing! After months of specialists and appointments, we finally got two drs that individually told me they thought she had tourettes/adhd. We had two professional opinions and both diagnosed her with OCD/ADHD/Tourettes. Turns out after just one session, my daughter openly admitted that she felts like every time an adult came near her, she was always going to be kidnapped. Her obsessive thoughts even tricked her into thinking that unknown kids may be getting close to her in an effort to trick her into being comfortable so an adult could grab her more easily! I was taken back?! All this time I’d been annoyed that she would get so clingy in public (including at age 5 to NOT sit with santa) and it was because she thought she was going to be abducted! I feel so guilty, still, like I made her crack. I wonder if I hadn’t been so damn hard on her that morning, if she wouldn’t be suffering so much with all these tics! I know it was inevitable but it’s hard to see her blinking and twitching and popping and knowing it was never that bad until I put her in her worst nightmare situation! Since then, ALL tics have increased and others were noted by her doctors – including her year long “allergy cough” that could never be relieved with meds…turns out that’s an auditory tic she had and we just didn’t know it… It also turns out that her exhaustion was not the lingering effects of the lime disease but due to stress of hiding her obsessive thoughts and “embarassing” tics! We took her off the Concerta and never looked back!
She was placed on Zoloft for the OCD which has helped her greatly (in addition to behavior modification exercises) and because of the severe tics, she was prescribed intuniv 2mg yesterday. I have high hopes for it…
The only thing that helps me through the greif and guilt is knowing that out of the drama, came the truth…she isn’t hiding anymore… She doesn’t feel like she’s pretending to be “normal” -
Of course I had to get over my own pride and deal with “okay, she has this” – that was big for me. But after I realized this is real and she really, truly isn’t wired right, meds were not a big decision.
If she had cancer, I’d medicate her in heartbeat…a broken limb, immediate surgery, etc. This is the same thing. Of course I’m not blinding giving her meds without research but I do not struggle with my decision, nor do I feel the need to defend it. She’s sick- she needs meds- period. No one would question me if she had a life-threatening illness, and in fact, that IS what she has. When her uncontrollable actions begin to define her, it IS taking her life. When her fears debilitate her, she is not just being a kid- she’s becoming handicapped. I am medicating her so she CAN “just be a kid” instead of being trapped inside.
~vanessa~
Comment by Vanessa — Jul 14th 2010 @ 8:00 amI hope that post didn’t come across negative. It is not my intention at all – it’s just so thoughtless for someone to judge us for saving our childrens’ lives. That IS what we are doing…saving them from themselves.
I take blood pressure medication and I’m considered to be responsible but someone finds out my daughter is on meds for biochemical “disfunction” and now I’m a bad parent? I can’t even be mad about that- that’s just pure ignorance!
Comment by Vanessa — Jul 14th 2010 @ 8:13 amVanessa, I had to smile at your “have to talk” comment. My 16 year old son is actually proud of an award he got in English last year (everyone got something). His was “Most Random Comments”. But despite that, most people who meet him, if they can look past his hyperactivity will say how smart he is, so I guess some of his comments aren’t so random after all.
Comment by Nancy — Jul 15th 2010 @ 7:19 amNot a negative post at all, Vanessa; thanks for the honesty. The recent diagnoses of my son’s ADD and Tourette’s has caused some guilt and sadness because I punished him for behaviors out of his control. Intuniv has given us both a second chance.
For those who talked about the emotional change, my son began to experience a great deal of sensitivity shortly after he began the 2mg dose. A lot of apologizing for anything he thought he might have done wrong, tearing up if he thought he hurt my feelings past or present, etc. I talked to his therapist and her comments made sense and have helped us push through rather than quit the meds prematurely: children with ADD/ADHD are so mentally unfocused that when the meds begin to work and sort through the clutter and chaos, everything is clearer. Thinking is more fine-tuned, so the emotional responses are more fine-tuned. We just talk through and help him make sense of what he’s feeling and try to put things in perspective. He continues to have tics, though not as frequent or severe, but overall, he has a focus and calm when in social settings that is so wonderful to see!
Thanks for all the great posts.
Natalie
Comment by Natalie — Aug 4th 2010 @ 10:45 amNatalie, What an amazing post. We had the exact experience with our son who has both Tourette’s and ADD. For years we blamed him for bad behavior only to find to that his ADD contributed to it. When we started him on Intuniv his behavior was completely different and I haven’t looked back since. We are so happy to have made the decision for him and for our family. Tracy
Comment by Tracy — Aug 4th 2010 @ 11:59 amHi! thank you all for your posts! Natalie and Tracy, is Intuiv the only med your kids are taking or are they on a ADD med also? our Vyvanse sometimes works, but he still has bad days of focusing!
Comment by Heidi W — Aug 4th 2010 @ 12:13 pmthanks for any feedback!
Heidi
My son recently got an offer to go to a better school. He said “no way, I have friends at school.” I never thought I would hear that!
Comment by Nancy — Aug 4th 2010 @ 2:17 pmHeidi, My son is only on Intuniv right now. Tics have mostly subsided and attention improved. He does have some break through behaviors but overall a vast improvement. Tracy
Comment by Tracy — Aug 4th 2010 @ 6:40 pmHi All, Thanks for all of your posts and encouragement! Heidi, Nancy and Tracy. My psychiatrist said to wait and give the Intuniv a shot with the new therapist and lo and behold, the therapist has helped him talk through his anger and OCD stuff. The medication is definitely helping and his thoughts are clearer, he does not linger in a bad mood now and rebounds really quickly. No one wants to put their child on medication but when you see the benefits we cannot forget that we are helping them help themselves, its for them and their own peace of mind as well.
Comment by Regina — Aug 5th 2010 @ 12:45 amRegina, That is do very true. We spend so much time feeling guilty about putting our kids on medication yet the overall benefits out weight any guilt we can ever feel. I have spoken to many parents in the same position and all have the same response. It is the best thing we ever did for our children. Those who judge haven’t walked in our shoes or our children’s.
Comment by Tracy — Aug 5th 2010 @ 12:49 amTracy
I’m glad your kids were able to push through the sensitivity issues with the Intuniv. We talked to our therapist and the pediatrician and ultimately backed our son’s dosage down to 2mg; it seems to be just right. His focus isn’t perfect, but whose is? There is absolutely none of the depression now, and he sleeps soundly for 10 or 11 hours each night. He jumps out of bed in the morning, gets dressed, fixes and eats his breakfast and reads or watches TV — usually all before I’m even up yet! He has never been a morning person, but it seems clear now that he just never got much restorative sleep (I actually spent the night in his room a few times to test this theory before we started the medication).
He has never taken anything for the ADHD, because we don’t want to increase his Tourette’s tics, so Intuniv is the only thing he’s taking.
Thanks again to everybody for your great feedback. I was pretty disappointed that the “support” promised by the makers of Intuniv seems to be missing, so I have really leaned on those of you willing to share your stories.
Heather
Comment by Heather — Aug 5th 2010 @ 12:50 amHeather that is great news that you have figured out the best plan for your son! It is trial and error in the beginning. My son’s tics seemed to increase at first but now they seem alittle less, they always come and go as tics do. My son was never a good sleeper!! I now have been giving him melatonin at night only 1 mg seems to work and he needs it even with the intuniv. It has worked for us. My friend is having such a problem with increasing her (11 year old) son’s Intuniv due to the insomnia. She can’t get it to work. They have him on 1 mg Intuniv then 1/2 mg Tenex at night and she has tried the Melatonin, doesn’t work.
Comment by Regina — Aug 5th 2010 @ 8:39 pmRegina, our son has run into some difficulty falling asleep, but STAYING asleep has become so much easier, we decided to adjust. We try to give him the Intuniv a couple of hours before bedtime, and if he’s still not sleepy at a reasonable hour, we don’t make a big deal out of it (which is not really our style!). We found that if we don’t focus on the clock, and let him read or watch something sedative — like baseball or the Home Shopping Network! — he gets tired soon enough. And then he sleeps solidly for 10 or 11 hours. Gradually, he has been getting tired earlier and earlier. I struggle with insomnia myself, and I think I get so hyper-focused on it that I cause myself even more problems. I’m trying to help my son learn from my mistakes. We’ll see.
By the way, what else is working for you all? Our son has been taking tae kwon do for about six months, and I think it’s been really helpful. Also, I just heard about something called rhythmic movement therapy, and I’ve noticed lately that my son finds our backyard swing very soothing. Anybody else?
Comment by Heather — Aug 5th 2010 @ 9:58 pmThanks Heather, that is great advice, I will pass it along to my friend. I just know that being a morning person myself, by nighttime I am exhausted so his not getting sleepy is very difficult. I think he is adjusting to the 2 mg and we may have to up the dosage. We are going tomorrow. Judging by the way he is jumping up and down right now on the mini trampoline after a day of camp, starting at 7:30 til 3:30, swimming, tennis, playing in the sun and he is still jumping, I think he may be adjusting to this dosage! He is the love of my life though. We all cope with so much. It is helpful to talk to other moms about it!
Comment by Regina — Aug 5th 2010 @ 11:20 pmSorry for the delayed response, Heidi. Yes, my son is only on Intuniv and it has been great for his ADD. We had a “honeymoon” period the first week while on 1mg dose, but when the constant, repetitive tics began again and ADD behaviors crept back, we increased to 2mg.
Because drowsiness is a potential side effect, he took the med an hour or two before bed. The reverse happened and he was unable sleep much at all. When he did, he had unpleasant dreams and was just generally off-balance.
I made a trial change and we began morning meds two weeks ago. Though it’s a 24-hour timed released med, he seems to get the best benefit during the day without tics and sleepiness. At night, he’s tired and goes to sleep very quickly and stays asleep. Without restorative sleep, it was hard to tell if it was really working. So far, Intuniv (and the time of day) does work.
Best to all.
Comment by Natalie — Aug 21st 2010 @ 10:24 am