Tenex

Hi.
My son is five and on Tenex for ADHD.  I had some general questions about this as we've had mixed results.

The one thing we notice is it helps his anger (temper) and impulse control a little.  But the side effects of constipation, mood swings (I guess that's what they are...one day he's cheerful and the next day he's grumpy), sleep disturbance (hard time going to sleep...says he's afraid of the dark, being alone...night terrors) just don't seem to be worth it.

I guess my question is, is this a normal experience when reducing the dosage?  We increased his dosage to 3mg a day (1mg at breakfast, 1mg at lunch, 1mg at dinner) and he immediately started having night terrors and sleep issues.  We reduced it back to 2.5mg a day and for two days he was focused, cheerful, so happy, loving, the way we know he wants to be...our little sweet boy.  Then on the third day of a reduced dosage he went back to moody, sleep issues (thought not as bad), just not happy.  He was all smiles for two days on 2.5 and now he never smiles.

It makes us so sad and discouraged to see him not himself on this drug.  I'm wondering what other's experience is with it?  It really doesn't help his focus and hyperactivity very well...in fact when he's coming down (right before he takes the next dose) he is extremely super hyper!  

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

This medication has to be managed very carefully because it is an antihypertensive and changes in dose or discontinuation (if sudden) can produce a crisis. If anything, when used at night, it would be expected to aid in sleep, not the opposite. It sounds like the medication perhaps should be discontinued and then to start over (if at all). Be sure to adhere to the prescriber's guidance about this - make no adjustments on your own. It can be very dangerous. In addition, it may be that your child is displaying some condition alongside the ADHD (assuming that the ADHD diagnosis is correct).

[betsey77]

Also, I forgot to mention that he is very whiny, talks like a baby, grunts when he wants something instead of using full sentences, etc when the dosage is too high or he's coming down from two high of a dosage.

[tejodouro]

If all he has is ADHD, and assuming that the diagnosis is right as the doctor stated, you can ask his doctor to try another medicine.  Most doctors usually start children on a stimulant medicine such as Ritalin or Metadate and not Tenex.  Talk to your doctor about stopping this medication and trying a low dosage of Ritalin.  On the other hand, five is a very young age to have a diagnosis of ADHD.  Most doctors are reluctant to give a diagnosis of ADHD until past the age of seven and only at the age of seven and eight do they prescribe medicine for ADHD.  Children mature alot between five and seven.  If he has issues with language and communicating, you need to have him evaluated by a speech pathologist.  He probably needs social language therapy classes with a speech pathologist.  Good luck.