Methylphenidate (Ritalin)

Hi.  I'm new and wondered if anyone could help.  My 14 year old Aspie son has the poorest ability to focus and concentrate imaginable. It effects him so badly at (special) school and unless he has 1:1 he drifts into his fantasy world.  School, and we, believe his attainment is negatively effected. He doesn't have ADHD.  He was put on Equasym when he was 8 and this seemed to help quite a bit but the payback was anxiety.  He was taken off at 11 as it didn't seem to be helping any longer (although the dose was very low, 10mg a day).  Now in a new area, new consultant has put him on Sertraline to help with the anxiety which has had really good results....but not with the concentration.  Consultant now wants to put him on Ritalin aswell but i'm so worried.  Am i disadvantaging him by not putting him on it?  But if we do, what about the anxiety and i've heard stuff about adolescents on Ritalin and it causing psychosis.  Or is that just media scare?  Consultant is not particularly helpful tbh and gives very little information.

Does anybody have experience with this that could give me advice?  Would be eternally grateful.  Thank you so much for reading.

  • I'm worried any side effects would be irreversible.  When your son came off Ritalin, did the sleep go back to normal and did he stop being hyped up?