Concerta question

[cbrown71]

Hi everyone,happy holidays to all.
My son has been on Concerta for the last 4 weeks,started his 5th week this week.I only have enough for the next week and my doc appointement isn't until Jan. 15th,which means he won't have any for the first week back to school.Can I not give it to him next week and restart on the week back to school?Is it dangerous just to stop it for a week?
I can't get a hold of the pediatrician,she's hard to reach and there was no way I could get an earlier appointement,nasty secretary she has,but that's another issue.....grrrr...
anyway,can I stop it for the next week and restart a week later?
TIA
Chantal  
To:

[CloverJ]

I know that the medicine will do something in about 20 to 30 minutes. but, Coming from my son's neurolgist, he says that medicine has to build-up in your system before it does the aclual job it was intended to do. My son was one this medicine for quite some time....My son's neurologist was the cheif of pedaitrics at Children's Hospital in Washington D.C.

[suziq72]

My son is on concerta as well and has been for 2 years. I agree with momofpreemieanda8yearold. I would desperatley try to have your doctor call you in a script to get you through to your next appointment. When I first started my son, I only had him take the meds during the school week. BIG MISTAKE! It just isn't fair to the child to be on a roller coaster. It is easier for them to deal and focus when it is a regular part of routine, and as we know, kids with ADD are very routine based!
Hope this heled some!

[momofpreemieanda8yrold]

My son is on concerta... and to correct CloverJ no concerta is an immediate reactor, in which it starts to work within about 30 minutes to an hour. It doesnt take days to work. If you are worried about not having enough of the med, then you could possibly stop it.. just watch out... or you can continue the medicine... until you run out since the effects can in a sense last a few days after the last pill. ONly meaning that is he maybe able to goa few days without it. My son only needs it during the week and not on weekends. He has not been on the concerta very long.The medication lasts basically 8 hours though.. but if he feels good about himself then he may behave at school for some period of time after the last pill. What dose is he on??? 18?? 27??? 36????? I hope this helps. But yes consult with the doctor asap. The pediatrician I have for my son to deal with his hyperness is a specialist in ADHD/ADD and is awesome. He has been around for years!

[CloverJ]

I wouldn't stop the medicine without talking to the doctor because it takes awhile for the medicine to get into their system. Plus if you stop the medicine it could have unwatned effects. If you can't get through to the nasty secretary what it is you want, I would go to the doctor's office and ask to talk to one of the nurses (they can always get through to the doctors) and tell them you will wait. After you get this straightened out, I would look for another pediatrician. If she is that hard to reach for something like this, how is she going to be for an emergency.