Why An Eating Schedule for an ADHD Child Can Be Exhausting

One possible side effect of ADHD meds is lack of or change in appetite. My son wears the Daytrana patch from wake-up time until 5 p.m. every day. He usually eats a decent breakfast (before the meds take full effect), but after that his appetite is much lighter, sporadic and unpredictable.

So when the meds wear off by 7 p.m. every night (like clockwork), he eats-actually, shovels-huge quantities of food in his mouth to compensate for the shortfall in calories during the day. But he doesn't do it all at once. He'll shovel, then stop. Then 15-20 minutes later, he'll shovel again. He'll eat one more time before going upstairs at 8p.m.

Since Jessica is not on medication, she must finish with all food by 8 p.m. But Clark will then need what he calls "a midnight snack" at 8:30 p.m., his last shovel before sleep. So after both kids go upstairs and I put Jessica to bed, I bring Clark down for the final snack. He usually has 2-3 things. Then I bring him back up, have him brush his teeth, and he's allowed to play in bed quietly until lights out at 8:45-9p. So I don't get to my evening to-do's until 9 p.m., which means I don't get to bed until 10 p.m.

When we lived in Marietta, Georgia I put the patch on at 5:30 a.m. on school days so when school started at 7:45 a.m., the meds were in full effect.

5:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. is a long, exhausting day.

I admit my patience wears thin when he asks to eat something as late as 9:30 p.m. Sometimes he can't figure out what he wants; he'll ask for one thing and after the first bite, he'll say that it doesn't taste good and want something else.

But he's always so polite and grateful at "midnight snack" time that my tired heart melts. So, I try to watch my anger and maintain my patience. It helps to remember that none of this is his fault.