My WebMD Sign In, Sign Up
WebMD Home

Ask Your Question

WebMD Answers

120 Characters remaining
120 Characters remaining
  • First, try and keep your question as short as possible.
  • Include specific words that will help us identify questions that may already have your answer.
  • If you don't find your answer, you can post your question to WebMD Experts and Contributors.

Close

Featuring Experts From

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
See all
Back to List
  |  
Next Question
Didn't find your answer? Post to
WebMD Experts and Contributors
Q.

My 6 year old takes medication for ADHD but has some negative behaviors in the evening. Has the Ritalin worn off?

Related Topics: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Drug
Posted:
| Report This Report Question
Answer This
 

Answers From Experts & Organizations (1)

Andrew Adesman, MDAndrew Adesman, MDSUCCESS!
Andrew Adesman, MD
Pediatrics
Cohen Children's Medical Center
29 Answers
61 Helpful Votes
66 Followers
A.

It is impossible to know how long his medication should be lasting. Typically, Ritalin tablets last about 4 hours, Ritalin SR tablets last about 6 hours, Ritalin LA capsules last about 8 hours, Focalin XR capsules last about 10 hours, and Concerta caplets last about 12 hours. Of course, these are just averages, and there is considerable variability among children.

If you think the medication has worn off, you can ask your doctor about either changing the morning medicine to something that would last longer, or you could ask about adding a short-acting pill in the afternoon on an as-needed basis. (If your child has difficulty swallowing pills, they also make a lqiuid and chewable form of short-acting Ritalin formulation called Methylin. ...

This answer should not be considered medical advice...down arrowThis answer should not be considered medical advice and should not take the place of a doctor’s visit. Please see the bottom of the page for more information or visit our Terms and Conditions.up arrow

Posted:
| Report This Report Answer

Was this helpful?

YesNo

Thanks for your feedback.

6 of 6 found this helpful
Read the Original Article: trouble playing with groups of kids
 
 
1 Answer

Next Question:

My 17-year-old has stopped taking Concerta after 10 years. What affect will this have on his ADHD? Next Question