PAL Monthly Newsletter | April 2019
From your PAL Psychiatrist
Initial decision making with Stimulants in adolescents and youth - Josh Stein, MD

As a practitioner in a partial hospital and inpatient setting the most common reason for adverse reaction to stimulants is incorrect diagnosis. In these support rich settings the ability to gain psychological testing helps to clarify the differential for hyperactivity and/or inattention. Often, learning disabilities (i.e. reading disorder, math disorder, auditory processing disorder), anxiety or sensory concerns were missed. This is a common dilemma and a point of profound difficulty for the outpatient prescriber who doesn't have the assistance of formal testing in clinic. Despite these limitations, remembering that impairment must occur in two settings (most commonly home and school) to meet diagnostic criteria, is a helpful tool. Commonly, the absence of symptoms at home or school helps to clarify a need to deepen the differential. Additionally keep in mind that obstructive sleep apnea commonly can masquerade as ADHD. Questions about sleep are necessary as part of the initial workup.

Once the diagnosis of ADHD is made stimulants remain the most effective treatment for ADHD in children. Stimulant use remains the primary step in treatment, and non stimulants are deferred in common cases until both classes of stimulants are failed. The vast majority of children will respond to either the methylphenidate class or amphetamine class. It is appropriate to build comfort with one or two medications in each class to support treatment. As a provider it is appropriate to choose either class first. If the initial class is failed then switching to the other class is warranted prior to a non-stimulant trial.

Commonly, a provider will start with a short acting stimulant such as Ritalin SA or Adderrall to test tolerance. Once tolerated, a long acting stimulant is preferred to avoid need for additional dosing. If trials in one class (i.e. methylphenidate) are not tolerated it is appropriate to switch to the alternate class (i.e amphetamine). There is significant individual details in finding dose and toleration. Stimulants have weight based indications but overall appear to be more individual based. It is appropriate to move to higher doses if tolerated to achieve symptomatic relief. Regular input from school is often needed as well.

Keep in mind cost and delivery methods when choosing medications. For example, Concerta (a long acting methylphenidate stimulant) is a pill that must be swallowed, while its analog Quillichew/Quillivent can be chewed or drank in liquid form. In small children delivery is often a concern.

Vyvanse, a long acting amphetamine based stimulant, has the option of opening the tab and dissolving in liquid. Additionally it is a pro-drug, requiring digestion to promote action, decreasing the risk of diversion. For these reasons many providers prefer it to Adderall XR when it is affordable.

Some youth will require a second dose of a stimulant despite being on a long acting formulation. Short acting doses of Ritalin, Focalin, Metadate, Dexedrine or Adderall should be considered. This is where the regular check-ins become important. There is an art to prescribing these meds which includes determining how to cover a child for the duration needed with medication, while decreasing side effect risk. Over time, dosing needs and patterns will change. Clinic visits three times per year at the least are needed.

Stimulant breaks are appropriate and often needed due to appetite suppression. At times, this can be on weekends, school breaks or summer break. For the hyperactive child this may not be a tolerable option for the family. Appetite suppression is often an issue for younger children as eating is related to hunger, while in teenagers it has gained social value similar to adults. If suppression is severe with a long acting stimulant consider returning to a short acting dosed after breakfast and lunch to support appetite.

There are numerous other considerations with stimulant use. Further blogs will provide additional information. I hope you find this initial dosing guide beneficial.

An excellent resource for the diagnosis, treatment and use of stimulants in children is the American Academy of Pediatrics Clinical Practice Guideline. It can be found here https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/108/4/1033
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Pediatric Psychiatric Med Management & Trauma Care

The PAL team and a Nationally Certified Trauma Therapist provide FREE and CME-approved trainings for primary care providers and healthcare professionals that are focused on pediatric mental health assessment and treatment. 

PAL will present from 8am-12pm on:
  • Overview of the Psychiatric Consultation Service and the importance of early identification of mental illness
  • Psychopharmacology (eg. Stimulants, SSRI's, SGA's, and Mood Stabilizers)
  • Metabolic Monitoring
  • Pharmacogenomics testing
  • Community Resources, Fast-TrackerMN.org, and collaborative care models

Trauma Care therapist and trainer will present from 1-5pm on:
  • Psychotherapeutic modalities with a particular focus on evidence-based practices
  • Appropriate screening, referral and treatment of traumatic stress in children and youth
  • Ensuring adequate assessment and the appropriate diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in children and youth (e.g., differential diagnosis, alternatives to pharmaceutical treatments, etc.) 

PAL Psychiatrists
Adam Klapperich, DO

Dr. Klapperich is a board certified child/adolescent and adult psychiatrist. He joined PrairieCare Medical Group in Edina in 2012. He has since worked in inpatient, partial hospitalization, and outpatient settings at PrairieCare. Dr. Klapperich attended the University of South Dakota before graduating from the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed psychiatric residency and child and adolescent psychiatric fellowship training at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Klapperich works with children and adolescents in the newly opened Maplewood location.
Joshua Stein, MD

Dr. Stein is the clinical director and an attending clinician at the Brooklyn Park Partial Hospital Program (PHP) and operates a clinic out of the Brooklyn Park Medical Office Building. The clinic is used as a bridge for patient's leaving PHP until they can see their outpatient provider. The focus for care is not just on immediate obstacles and gains, but improving long term trajectory as well. As the president of the Minnesota Society for Child Adolescent Psychiatry he focuses on local and national advocacy for children's mental health with a goal to increase access to quality care.
Resources

Fast-Tracker is Minnesota's free, easy-to-use tool designed to connect people with resources and services. 

They connect individuals, families, mental health and substance use disorder providers, physicians, care coordinators, and others with a real-time, searchable directory of mental health and substance use disorder resources and their availability within Minnesota.

For more information, call Fast-Tracker 651-426-6347 or visit their website: