Med Usage

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · Jan 15, 2021

I haven't seen Focalin personally yet for GAD, but I do have a couple of kids taking Vyvanse for GAD.

GAD and ADHD can often go hand in hand, though not always. We had one kid with GAD get re-evaluated this fall (since evals were so far behind). ADHD diagnosis discovered and added through this process.

ruby_jane, BSN, RN · Jan 20, 2021

Generalized anxiety disorder? Dexmethylphenidate is a stimulant and I cannot imagine my anxious RJ Junior taking that to "help" the GAD she has. Yeesh.

Because the brain's biochemistry is so individualized and because our psych models work like - here, try this, did it help? - it is possible it might work. It might not. It is probably off-label use. The BON frowns on me dosing something that's off-label. Is it possible the parent is rejecting the ADHD dx and the working dx is a compromise?

If it was me and I had this question I'd call the prescriber for clarity.

Also just for funsies I looked up Focalin and here is the contraindication section from the manufacturer:

--CONTRAINDICATIONS------------------------------- • Agitation, marked anxiety, and tension (4.1) • Known hypersensitivity to methylphenidate or product components (4.2) • Glaucoma (4.3) • History of motor tics or a family history or diagnosis of Tourette’s syndrome (4.4) • During, or within a minimum of 14 days following discontinuation of treatment with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) (4.5)