adhd meds together?

while i am trying natural remedies for adhd...i have a question about prescription drugs:

is it acceptable/safe for my 9 year old son to take a 20mg.s.r. ritalin in the a.m. and a 5 mg. adderall (adderrall) at lunch?

what are the possible benefits/side effects of this type doseage?

thanks for any help/info

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Dear Worried Mom,

The medication plan you describe is a bit unusual, but there is nothing inappropriate about it. Adderal is a stimulant compound, composed of both methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine. Ritalin is the brand name for methylphenidate.

The possibe (but not probable) side effects of the medications are pretty much the same, and include headaches, appetite suppression, GI upset (particularly if taken on an empty stomach), insomnia (if taken too late in the day), psychotic thinking and development of motor tics. Most children who take these medications do not experience any of these side effects, but probably the most common is appetite suppression.