Need Suggestions for 5Yo with Adhd

S.,
I live with my boyfriend, and he has two young boys. The youngest who is seven, was labeled with adhd about 3 months. He was disruptive in class and couldn't sit still. His doctor also prescribed concerta for him but also told my boyfriend that he should try some type of alternative treatments first like Natural supplements, therapy, etc...

We have already been taking a natural product ourselves and thought, why not put him on it and see if it helps. We were told by holistic doctor that it might. But he also told us that we should get him to start taking Omega 3 Fish oil. They sell good ones at GNC. We bought the chewable, but there are many kinds depending on how your son will take it. While we were there, the lady behind the counter said she gave it to her son and it helped also.

His son is doing great in school! He doesn't always take the fish oil because he doesn't like the taste, but always takes the all natural product that we have. You might want to look into it. It really is a great product!

Hope this helps,
S.
www.changingpeopleslives.biz

I have read that diet is a huge factor! I would try eliminating foods with added sugar, unnatural additives and preservatives. One way to do this is choose organic options.
Also put him on some good multivitamins and get him checked for food allergies...Five is just too young for prescription meds, and the side effects!!! I would look for a homeopathic or naturopathic doctor in your area and get some alternative therapies first. Good luck!

S.

I am a Nutritional Microscopist,located in Osterville. I study health at the cellular level, focusing on using diet and lifestyle to deal with symptoms. I've found that ADHD can be linked to diet. Usually a high intake of sugar from dairy, grains, fruits and sweets has this effect. Try a diet high in raw vegetables, good fats and water. Soda, sports drinks and fruit juices should be avoided. As you can imagine, there is a lot more to it than that and I would love to work with you and help more. But that would be my immediate suggestion. I've seen great results with ADHD, behavioral problems and autism by focusing on diet and eliminating most sugars.

Best of luck!

K. Acton
Nutritional Microscopist and pH educator
____@____.com

Hi S.,
You are not alone in the battle of ADHD. I have a 5 year old son that has the diagnosis with ADHD and Bi-Polar disorder and has similar symptoms that your son has. Has the school identified your child yet and if not ask them to test him, he might be in need of an IEP or 504 plan. It is the schools responsibility to meet your child's needs and if he is being sent home then THEY need to make accommodations in the school and classroom for your child. Your child being home is not the answer, even if it means waiting for medication. Do not let them try to tell you any different. I have 2 children that are on a IEP for their medical condition (ADHD and Bi-Polar) and I have been dealing with schools for the last 11 years.
There are a lot of other medications out there for ADHD. Call your doctor and tell him or her of the cost and they will give you other options. Please feel free to email me if you need someone to talk to. ____@____.com
K.

i'm sorry to hear your worries. it is so hard as parents to think your child is having problems. are they sure it is adhd and not conduct disorder or odd? not sure if those would be treated w/concerta or ritalin. i didn't think adhd had aggressive behaviors with it - but again i'm not an md. the only other suggetion i have is to ask your md if there is anything cheaper. i know concerta is a slow releasing med and maybe that is why it is more expensive than say ritalin. does your son get out daily to get exercise? how about the types of food he eats? i know processed food and food w/colorings etc can bring the worst out in adhd behaviors? are you setting limits w/him w/consequences? i don't know if any of this has helped you - i hope it has.

Good luck - try the daily exercise...maybe it will help too.

S.,
Your son now has a diagnosed disability that impacts his ability to make progress in the classroom. You and the school need to meet to create and IEP (individualized education plan) that will provide accommodations to help meet his needs. Please see www.fcsn.org for more info....

I'm sorry to hear about the trials with your son. I have two suggestions. First, contact your school about setting up an IEP for him as soon as possible. Because he has ADHD he qualifies for an individual education plan and perhaps a more appropriate learning setting while you all adjust- I would also suggest looking into food sensitivities that may be causing your sons issues, especially gluten and casein. There is a cookbook called the kid friendly ADHD and Autism cookbook, by Pamela Compart and Dana Laake. There is a lot of really great info plus wonderful testimonials to give you some hope that there can be change, maybe without medication or at least with less. I wish you the best!

S.,
I am a mental health professional who used to do ADHD evaluations, and now work as a school administrator. I also have two children with ADHD who are both successfully treated with medication (Adderall). One of my children is now about to graduate from college early and with honors. I only wish that I had put her on the medicine before her senior year in high school as she would have done much better. My other child has been on the medicine since 2nd grade. It has helped him in all areas: social skills, behavior and academics. He now gets all A's and does not get into trouble at school anymore.

All the research done on ADHD and alternatives (diet, supplements etc) show that they do not work!! Save your money and get the medication that is research-based. You can ask your pharmacy to substitute for the generic medicine, or ask the Dr for the brand name of ritalin which is probably much cheaper. Generic meds supposedly work, but many people feel that they are not as effective as the brand name.

No parents want to put their kids on medicine, but it is so imperative with kids with ADHD. By the way, 1/3 grow out of ADHD by the time they are adolescents, and another 1/3 by the time they are adults, so your child might only need it through middle school. You can give the medicine during school days only, take him off during weekends and vacations.

Good luck!

Hi S., Please be sure to see a good Doctor. My husband was diagnosed with ADHD about 12 years ago! He must have tried at least 10 different meds before he found one that worked for him and didn't have too many nasty side effects. I think regular pediatricians just prescribe one med and think that will work. A psychiatrist will work with you better to find the right one. There are so many different meds out there - work hard to find the right one - and it might take a year! Also beware, there are generics for a lot of these adhd meds. Most DO NOT work the SAME. So if you find a good med - you can't always assume the generic will work the same and don't let the pharmacist tell you otherwise! But then again - you also want to try the generic - because they will work differently and it might work out better! Good luck to your son! Wow...I just re-read this post - sounds like I have add! It was a long weekend and I'm tired! Just remember - Concerta might work for 99 people - but not your one and only!

Set up a plan for earning rewards, like 10 stickers and He gets to play a favorite game for 10 minutes. example If the major problem is sitting at a table for 10 minutes. If your son sits doing work or play at the table for 10 minutes he gets a sticker. after 10 stickers He gets a reward that has been decided before hand. Rewards can be walking with mom, reading a story etc. (try to stay away from food rewards.) Work with his teacher she should be able to help. This is a plan you need with or without medication. This reward plan should start at a level where you son will succeed then raise the bar. Check with your doctor tell him/her what the problem is with insurance. The doctor has lots of choices. remember if medication doesn't work at first It may mean another kind or different dose. It is not medication will cure all, combine everything to help you son become his best.

Dear S., I'm so sorry you are having such a hard time. My son also had / has ADD. Not so much the "H". He is now 25 and still has a lot of issues. I didn't get the help I needed. First of all, your school has the responsibility to give your child an education no matter what his issue is. If he needs tutoring or a special school, they have to pay for it... check your state laws regarding education. There are a lot of resources out there, but the schools don't always tell the parents, they don't want to pay. Secondly, you may want to get some counseling .. both for you and your son. Even though he is little, he is still going through a lot and doesn't understand why he does these things. A lot of the counselors are good resources for information and can guide you to who can help. You really have to advocate for him. A medical workup is also in order. Medical issues can cause similar problems or at lest make the ADHD worse. You will have to become a fighter and people may not appreciate it. Do all you can for your son while he is still little. There is so much more out there today! Surf the net. Good luck and God bless your family. L.

S.,
All responses have been great so far - I have a 10 y/o (one of 4) who was diagnosed ADHD around age 6. She was also diagnoised with Reactive Attachment Disorder at age 4. First I just want to tell you that your son is a bright child and ADHD is something that can be dealt with and Second - IT WILL GET BETTER!!!! I understand how desperate things can be... if you'd like to talk to me about it more just let me know - don't want to fill up the post!

I didn't read the other responses, so don't know if I am duplicating. I would love to get more information about your son...I work with children such as your son, and find that many of them have issues with sensory processing. The fix is not immediate, but I feel is is important to spread the word about this, so parents can look into more long term, non-med options. I would also have a meeting with the school asap to help come up with a short term solution in addition to meds...they are responsible for ensuring he can access the public education, and he cannot do that if he is being sent home. I don't have any other imediate suggestions, other than asking the MD for some samples to get you through the short term. Good luck...

Hi S.,

I've been a teacher of first grade for many years and now I'm teaching second. I have to say that 5 is very young for a diagnosis like adhd. Hopefully, your doctor performed actual brain scans. This is the only reliable way to determine adhd. People with adhd have a specific brain pattern that is obvious with brain scans.

I watched a news special several years back that said eliminatining red and yellow dyes as well as sugar from the diet of children with adhd could be very helpful. They showed the results on the show and they were phenomonal.

I have suggested this to many parents of children who seemed to display traits of adhd, but they never tried it. I guess it was too hard. It would be hard for me, too.

I don't know if you can try this out but it may be worth it before putting your son on the other medications. Every medicine has its benefits and drawbacks.

Hope this was helpful.

Hi there,

I am a special ed teacher teaching children wo are visually impaired. My expertise is not behavior. However, I was wondering if you had an evaluation done at scool for special education? What about a behavior plan at school? You can't keep him out forever and the school needs to find appropriate options for dealing with his behavior that provides a safe, fun, health educational environment for all involved. He is entitled to a free, appropriate (not ideal) education and part of that involves behavior management. Talk to his teacher and ask for an evaluation from the special education team. The schools have a million resources to use. The school psychologist is a great resource for different types of ADHD medication and behavioral strategies to allow your child to be more socially appropriate and feel more incontrol in the school environment.

Good luck and remember the school staff is not against you, they really do want to work with you for the best of your son.

try contacting the company that makes this prescription to see if you can get them to help pay for this.

First off i want to say that keeping a child home for a disability in a major no no. I would send a letter to the school and request a meeting with the principal and special ed director to go over your son's report with his new dx. The school will/and if you live close enough to me, (i would go with you} have to make up a IEP for your child a individual education plan, it will address the behaviors and his studies and what needs to be done to keep him IN SCHOOL NOT OUT.
The doctor that dx's your son should also in his report suggest what other therapy's and needs your son will need in the school setting.
My son was dx'd at age 3 1/2 so i understand the process
Concerta is a wonderfull medicine, i like the fact that there are no ups/downs with it. GOOD LUCK TO YOU and please feel free to email me with any questions in the future
L.

Hi S.,
First I want to say,my prayers are with you,as I know how scary this time can be,especially for a single mom! I also can not believe that your son's school would actually send him home and expect you to come get him! Is he in a public school? Why aren't they able to accomodate him? Do they have an aide in the classroom? Have you had a PPT (planning & placement team meeting)? You can request this and you DO NOT have to have them go through their "usual" protocols as they may say that to you. I have had personal experience with this and by law (CT) they have to schedule the PPT within 5 days of your request. This meeting is when you can discuss other options for your son. You should go online and "google" either "special ed ppt" "special ed laws" or something along those lines. Besides the fact that he is so young, he also has a medical condition that with a diagnosis, would qualify him for special education. I believe he would fall under "OHI" which is "other health impaired". I am surprised the physician diagnosed him at such a young age, usually they don't make a diagnosis until a little older as sometimes children just need a little extra time adjust to school & socialization. Also just be aware that sometimes ADHD can be misdiagnosed and there are other "disorders" that mimic ADHD like OCD (obsessive/compulsive disorder) and others. I know someone who was diagnosed with ADHD only to learn years later that it was a misdiagnosis. Also be careful of the medications, there are alot of side effects. There are other alternatives to medication (behavior modifications), I'm not saying all medication for every child/person is bad, it sometimes works miracles, just be aware and try to get as much information as you can. It also should NOT cost you that much with insurance - did you say you have insurance? It might cost that much without. I hope I've helped even just a little! Good luck

Hi S., I have a now 8 y/o who was diagnosed with ADHD at age 2. At age 5 we tried Ritalin. IT was a horrible experience for us all. I am an RN, so I am not anti medication, but it was not a good fit for my son. So my suggestion isn't going to be a lesser cost med, but alternatives to medicating. Change his diet. No to little processed foods, like lil debbies, lunchables, etc. Avoid Red dyes in foods, and tomato based products (cool aid, ketchup, ravioli) Increase fruits and veggies especially raw veggies add ranch dressing, kids love to dip. a good multi vitamin or vitamines B6 and B12 those 2 especially for adhd helps calm the mind. also at the health food stores you can find Blue/green algea supplements, these is some wonderful research on blue green algea and the nature effects on boys with adhd. Structure structure structure. they need more structure than your avg child. AND take a few deep breaths everyday and remind yourself how much you love him. Some days it is hard to remember.

Yes, my son who is now almost twenty had many of the same problems around that age.
We put him on no wheat no dairy diet because of ear infections and did not want to deal with surgery for tubes.
The dairy did help the ear infections and the wheat did help the ADHD he had.
Taking wheat out of a diet is no fun trip but it did help our son. My husband at the time thought I was "NUT" but at one point he had feed him some chicken mcnuggets and the next day tried to watch a race with a bunch of friends didn't go so well for him. From then on he may not have seen the difference before but his eyes sure opened up that day as to how he really was.
Good Luck

Have you looked at food allergy such as chocolate and others. Also try a behavior plan. I work with children with bhavior issues , have you tried working with any one as to ways to change his behaviors.

Concerta is normally the best on because they don't take it the whole year. They take the summers off. Stratera is the next best but both are expensive. You may consider changing the diet and try gluten free and non-processed foods. My son is being evaluated for ADHD and possible sensory issues. There is a great book out called the OUT OF SYNC CHILD. Great was to handle kids with sensory issues. I am not a doctor so take this advice as you want. I recently was diagnosed with Adult ADD and they started me on Concerta ( I was one of the few who got the headaches)then went to Adderal. Good luck.

Hi S.,
If you don't want your little boy on prescribed medications, you might try a remedy suggested by a physician more than 40 years ago for a similar problem. Give your son one cup of caffeinated coffee in the morning. This worked quite well for a friends son who was diagnosed as hyperactive (aka ADHD).
You might think that coffee will make him worse, but it has quite the opposite effect on children. It's worth a try. Please let us know how you make out.

I was in your shoes five years ago. When my son what was three, he started with the signs of ADHD. I said that medication was my last resort-and it was. I tried everything from giving him stuff to fidget with like shoelaced shoes to play with during reading to chewing gum during lesson plans. When he graduated preschool and started kindergarten, it got worse. He was becoming agressive and not listening at all. The scary part was when my son would do things (like hitting/bitting/etc.). We would scould him and he had no idea he did it. You should have a meeting with your son's principal and teacher. DO NOT FEEL OBLIGATED TO PUT YOUR SON ON MEDICATION. You do not need to and no one can force you to. I made up a 504 Plan, which is where the principal, teacher and you put together a "contract" of everything that fits the needs for your child. For instance, he probably can't sit still nor can focus, right? Try a wiggle seat. When he is sitting in class for lesson planning, he can wiggle and that sometimes helps children with ADHD focus. Have the teacher to agree to reminding him of the class rules from time to time and spend a little extra time repeating directions for an assignment. This helps him keep track of what he has to do and not stray away from his work. Gum chewing has been suggested along with shoes with laces, like I mentioned above, for reading time. Redirecting him from bad behavior is another positive way to get him on track-instead of always getting in trouble. You may find that he is getting too much negative attention causing him to act worse. All children need as much positive attention as possible. These are small accommodations that can be used. Anything in a 504 plan must be followed by teachers and the principal. All three of you sign it agreeing to follow through with it. Also, don't be afraid to talk to the principal and teacher for suggestions from them. Remember, they deal with children on a regular basis and can help you through this. Another suggestion is to see a psycologist. My daughter also has it and I tried everything for her not to be on medication, but again, that was my last resort. Medication should not be your first answer to this. It will not be easy, but it's your child's life in your hands. My biggest fear was that the medication might not work and my child would have to go through several to find one that does. My son, 9, has been on rydlin since age 6 and my daughter, 7, has been on it a year now. My son had moved up from 5mg to 15mg. My daughter went from 5mg to 10mg to 15 and is now on 36mg and changed to a time-release capsule. My fear seems to becoming reality as it seems not to be working for her and she is becoming more and more aggressive. My overall advice to you is to do your research, see the doctors, meet with the teachers, and YOU make the best decision for your son. Don't let anyone tell you how to treat him. Speaking with other moms that have children with ADHD is a good for suggestions, but not every child is the same and will have the same out come. I wish you the best of luck with your son.

PS. You and your child have every right to have the teachers and principal accommodate to you and your child-not you accommodating to the teacher and the school. You may need to do some further testing to see if it is only ADHD he has--one doctor told me that my daughter may also have OCD on top of ADHD. I was told they don't like to diagnos young children with that.

ask the dr about Adderal or Focalin both are out of the childs systems by late afternoon. My son (Now 11) has taken both. He stopped taking the Adderal because it affected his appetite(other than that it worked wonders) .He is now on the Focalin which is about 40.00 a month with Blue Cross perscription insurance. THe Adderal (if I remember is a little cheaper). It usually tales effect in about a week. Make sure you let the school nurse know what he is taking, when and how much. She'll watch for side effects etc.
Do not feel guilty for giving medication. YOu are only doing what is best for him and his classmates and teachers. That makes you the best mom you can be! good luck :)

Hi S.!
Two things jumped out at me in your post first that you have recently just bought a house and also have a new puppy. If your son does in fact have ADHD (I have 2 children who have been diagnosed as well) his symptoms are probably being heightened by the changes going on in your household. Children like him don't adapt to change easily and tend to act out. Make sure that his teachers know what is going on at home so they can act accordingly. The next thing I would suggest is to take a look at his diet. There are studies being done right now about the diet/ADHD connection that are very interesting. They are showing that not only food additives but dairy, wheat and sugar are some of the biggest allergens with these kids. An organic diet of lots of fresh fruits, vegetables and proteins has been shown to really help. If the cost of an organic diet is an issue start small and work your way into it.

I could go on and on about this issue as I am very passionate about it. I'd be happy to talk with you more about it if you'd like to email me privately. Good luck!
____@____.com

There is alot you can do with diet alone. Check out http://www.feingold.org/ and http://www.oneaddplace.com/adhd-diet.php. It might be hard at first, but remember food is medicine! best of luck!

It sounds as though you need an authorization for that specific medication so that insurance will pay. For future purposes, most pharmacies will allow you to buy a week at a time. This may be easier on your wallet while you get the insurance part worked out and you should be able to get it reimbursed. You may also be able to ask your ped. for samples of the medication.

I'm sure you'll get the responses from other people about medicating a 4-5 year old child. Does this medication work quickly? Behavioral / play therapy is a great option. I can't imagine any pill would "fix" a child's behavior overnight. If I were you , I'd also consider an allergy to be an unknown irritant to a child's erratic behavior. There are very few situations involving children that have quick easy fixes. Your child's issues will most likely require hard work for all members of your household to transform his behaviors. Find books- such as "Playful Parenting" by Larry Cohen and "ADHD Book Living Right Now!" by Martin L. Kutscher, MD. There are several workshops and mini seminars on this subject in most communities. Get involved in learning different ways to manage symptoms and situations. Whether you decide to medicate or not medicate, being an advocate for your child will be the best gift to your family.

Is your son's school open to the idea of you joining the classroom for the day?

Best of luck!

S.,

There is hope. I also have a son that has ADHD. He was diagnosed when he was 5. He has found help from his doctors and parents to become successful. Concerta is the most widely dispensed medication for adhd. It has the least side effects and usually the best results. When the day is done his medications have passed through his body and do not have a cumulative effect. Other medications take time and build up in their systems. Be sure to give it to him on a full stomach. It usually causes children to not want to eat. Always pair a protein with a carb. Never give an adhd child carbohydrate only for breakfast. It causes in all children an insulin response that will wake them up initially but cause him/her to come crashing down an hour later. The rollercoaster of sugar(a.k.a carbs) in his/her system can make children with adhd more irritable, crabby, tired when they need to be awake and focused. The peanut butter or eggs with his/her toast is crucial for an effective start to the day. Even try protein shakes. They think they are getting a treat not a healthy meal. This is data was given to us from Johns Hopkins clinic for adhd. Diet is extremely important. Go on the web and google diet for adhd. You will find red dyes, preservatives some cereals have is called BHT can interfere with your childs focus and behavior. We have tried them all. If you have a financial difficulty paying for the drugs contact the pharmaceutical company that makes concerta ( Alza) they have a plan for families that need assistance. You could get this med or any other med for free if you fall into their financial difficulty bracket. You could try several other medications. However for his age and his development Concerta is one that has been used most frequently and they know the most about. The long term effects of some of the newer drugs have not been studied as long. Which means they do not know what the long term effects on your child could be.

Second talk to the school let them know his diagnosis. Let them know you are working with doctors to find answers for you son. If your have insurance find a (psychologist) doctor to coach him once a week to help him deal with his feelings. His self esteem is probably getting quite a bruising with all the conflicts at school. Remember when your parenting him. He can't help his behavior. It would be like asking him to drive a car. He physically can't control his impulses. A psychologist will be able to give you parenting tips on how to guide him toward better choices when he is acting up. If your uninsured Massachusetts has a plan for families that need help. Contact your pediatrician he/she can direct you. All will be well. Your son is one of several hundred thousand children each year that is diagnosed. There are many that never get properly diagnosed and suffer from the punitive correction while they are just trying to get through their little days. The internet can find many answers and support. Keep asking questions and read, read, read.