subject: Focalin Xr For Adhd [print this page] Focalin xr Focalin xr
Focalin XR is a relatively new ADD/ADHD medication. Its chemical name is dexmethylphenidate hydrochloride. This long-acting version of Focalin can be used to treat not only children, but teens and adults as well.
Each capsule of this medication, like so several other attention deficit drugs, is filled with beads in a precise ratio set to release the drug at specific intervals. In the case of Focalin XR, half of one capsule (regardless of the dosage) is filled with beads designed to release immediately. The other half of the beads is enteric-coated, delayed-release set to provide another dose of the medication at a later time.
Your physician can prescribe this version of the drug in different strengths: 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 mg capsules. One of the assets to these increments of 5 mg is that adjustments in medications can be more finely tuned.
Some doctors have prescribed daily doses as high as 30 to 40 mg. To give you an idea of the strength of the dosage, compare it to that of Concerta. If these were "translated" into an equivalent dosage of Concerta, for example, it would be somewhere between 54 and 72 mg.
This longer-acting version of Focalin lasts about 8 hours in the body compared to the 5 hours of regular Focalin. The latest studies reveal that it's approximately 70 percent effective in alleviating ADD/ADHD symptoms.
Perhaps the most welcome aspect of this drug, though, especially for younger children is that it requires only 30 minutes before it starts working on a system. This provides children with some relieve and help in the early hours of the morning, when they first start waking up and preparing for the school day itself...
Many parents say that the mornings are the most difficult for children with ADD/ADHD. Results of a survey conducted several years ago seem to bear these observations out with some statistics. This survey revealed that out of a total of 16 specific behaviors investigated parents or caregivers reported 12 of them were worse before the start of school.
These behaviors included speaking out of turn, failure to complete tasks, poor concentration, messiness, and interrupting others, to name just a few.
According to some specialists, this quick acting onset also helps children academically at the start of the school day as well. If you experience any of the following side effects of Focalin XR, consult your physician. The symptoms include: dry mouth, heartburn, stomach pain, headache, difficulty or change in sleeping pattern, loss of appetite, weight loss or nervousness.
Is Focalin xr a good choice for your specific situation and symptoms? Only you and your physician can decide that.
