Re: What's the best time to take meds?

[Guest guest]

Kel's doc has always prescribed her SSRI according to the effects or side

effects--so Zoloft which is activating for her is taken in the a.m., while when

she was briefly on Paxil, she took that at bedtime since it made her sleepy.

I've read that kids with their higher metabolisms can " burn through " the meds

(as you seem to notice in your daughter) but I haven't noticed my daughter

having a noticeable change in symptom level during the day that seemed due to an

**SSRI** dose wearing off. At least not once she was established on the med.

One thing I really like about Kel's pdoc is he is of the opinion that kids' moms

in time will find the best dosing level and timing for meds for their particular

kids. Within limits I've always felt free to tinker with Kel's dose and/or

timing to get the best effect. For example, she takes Risperdal in small doses

2-3X/day because the positive effect of the med stays more constant this

way...but she doesn't get so sleepy as she does when she has a larger dose in

the morning. Of course this med given at night is actually helpful in her

relaxing and getting to sleep, due to the side effect that is a problem during

the day.

So, to answer your question, Kel takes all of her Zoloft after breakfast each

day, because in her it's activating. She takes Risperdal in small divided doses

following meals/snacks to minimize its drowsy side-effect while maintaining its

wanted effect of putting the brakes on her impulsiveness. But no doubt this

dosing schedule would be a disaster for another child...all the med things are

so specific to the kid.

HTH,

Kathy R. in Indiana

----- Original Message -----

This might sound like a poll, and maybe it is. Since my daughter's

OCD tends to worsen as the sun goes down and she's just peachy when

she wakes up, we thought of giving her the 75mg of Zoloft at 3 in

the afternoon when she get's back from school. We are considering

giving her just 25mgs in the morning before she leaves for school as

a " booster " .

What have you found was the best time for your child?

[Guest guest]

hi-we have tried trial and error med times,etc with our dr`s approval-my

daughter takes geodon which makes her sleepy-a bedtime dose kept her drugged-up

in the morning-we finally figured she has max. 3 hrs after her dose till she

nods off-so now she gets it between 6:30 and 7:30 pm with a small dose at 6

am.so far so good-that minimizes her tourettes-we have prozac for ocd which has

no ill effects- and adderall for add-I`m waiting for straterra-our dr says we`ll

try it. Here`s hoping for a stress-free new year!Sue

--

On Thu, 2 Jan 2003 12:52:23

kathy robinson wrote:

>Kel's doc has always prescribed her SSRI according to the effects or side

effects--so Zoloft which is activating for her is taken in the a.m., while when

she was briefly on Paxil, she took that at bedtime since it made her sleepy.

I've read that kids with their higher metabolisms can " burn through " the meds

(as you seem to notice in your daughter) but I haven't noticed my daughter

having a noticeable change in symptom level during the day that seemed due to an

**SSRI** dose wearing off. At least not once she was established on the med.

>

>One thing I really like about Kel's pdoc is he is of the opinion that kids'

moms in time will find the best dosing level and timing for meds for their

particular kids. Within limits I've always felt free to tinker with Kel's dose

and/or timing to get the best effect. For example, she takes Risperdal in small

doses 2-3X/day because the positive effect of the med stays more constant this

way...but she doesn't get so sleepy as she does when she has a larger dose in

the morning. Of course this med given at night is actually helpful in her

relaxing and getting to sleep, due to the side effect that is a problem during

the day.

>

>So, to answer your question, Kel takes all of her Zoloft after breakfast each

day, because in her it's activating. She takes Risperdal in small divided doses

following meals/snacks to minimize its drowsy side-effect while maintaining its

wanted effect of putting the brakes on her impulsiveness. But no doubt this

dosing schedule would be a disaster for another child...all the med things are

so specific to the kid.

>

>HTH,

>Kathy R. in Indiana

> ----- Original Message -----

>

> This might sound like a poll, and maybe it is. Since my daughter's

> OCD tends to worsen as the sun goes down and she's just peachy when

> she wakes up, we thought of giving her the 75mg of Zoloft at 3 in

> the afternoon when she get's back from school. We are considering

> giving her just 25mgs in the morning before she leaves for school as

> a " booster " .

>

> What have you found was the best time for your child?

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

-with Antidepressants, I don't think it matters because the level builds

up in the body over time-it's not like Ritalin that goes to work each time

you give it and then wears off. Ellen