Any Experience with ADHD Meds?

Hi Michell,
I have a 5 year old son who has ADHD also. He has been on medication for over a year now. It has helped so much. He is on Adderal extended release. I always said that I would never medicate my child but when he was stuggling in pre school I knew something needed to be done. He was seen at the Yale Child study center and they disgnosed him with ADHD. (Just a little back ground info. My son because of his ADHD and his behavior not being able to control himself was kicked out of 3 daycare centers so I felt this was something that really needed to be done before he eneterd Kindergarten.) Email me if you have any questions. I know how tough this is. ____@____.com

My son has been on Concerta since he was 5! He has done well on them...and not had any real side effects. As he has gotten older and bigger, we have had to up the mg's but that's it! He's doing well and succeeding in school!

Hope this helps.

Good Luck!

Hi M.,
I've been teaching for more than 18 years. Medications have come a long way in that time! There are so many options that can have such positive outcomes for kids. It will be important to work with the health care professionals and teacher to monitor effectiveness. Teachers don't want zombies just children who can learn and allow the other students to learn as well.
I wish your son a successful school career, and you peace of mind. C.
PS. I avoid all meds for myself but would give them to my own kids in a second if I thought they were needed.

Hi M.,

As an owner of a preschool and an educator myself I applaud you for being an advocate for your child. True cases of ADHD can not be treated with cutting back on sugar, using different discipline techniques etc. I have seen so many labeled with ADHD just because of poor parenting skills that escalate in behavior problems. And then I have experienced children who truly have ADHD. It is heartbreaking to see a child who tries so hard to sit still, listen, absorb, and they just can't do it. And it is heartbreaking to me for a parent who lives with the challenges of raising a child with ADHD. We should not judge any parent who lives with this on a daily basis and instead assure them that with early intervention, and medication their child can lead a happy, productive, healthy life. I am sure there is not one parent who does not struggle with weather to medicate or not, however if this were purely a medical condition there would be no judgment. I myself sadly have had to remove children from my center (after months and months of struggle) because parents are in denial, or not willing to help their children with early intervention or medication. This is why I applaud you for helping your child. The reason I think so many parents hold back is due to the stigma that comes along with this diagnosis, and the judgment. It is why so many emotional issues as well are ignored and can end up tragic due to stigma and judgment. If people need help they should be able to receive it without negative feedback. This is not a life sentence it is just something that needs to be addressed as you are doing so your child can be provided the education he so rightfully deserves. I think you are a strong, educated woman who is clearly trying to do the right thing for her child. Rightfully so you have concerns, no one wants to medicate their child. However without medication your son will not be given every opportunity he deserves. For the most part I love this forum and then their are times I can fine some woman harsh and insensitive. Go with your gut you are his mom. Good luck!!

ADHD is unfortunately very much a rubber stamp these days for diagnosing conditions; there may well be processing issues that give an appearance of ADHD but are not necessarily ADHD or ADD. Because your child is so young, before considering any medications which can have a lasting effect on development, why not rule out other likely causes/factors contributing? I must say that educators observations and experiences in their classrooms can offer information but it cannot be used as a diagnosis!! As a supervisor in mental health & previously w/ child welfare- I can say I always look at the interventions used by the professional with the client (in this case the teachers or your own communication w/ your child) - NOT to blame anyone at all- but there may be an adjustment disorder he is having in response to the environment which may be addressed in the teacher or yourself possibly communicating or implementing an approach that connects to your child so he can begin to listen, understand & follow. THe counselor at school, if good, or a private one, may help w/ that. All too often "we" don't adjust our approaches and the one who can't follow is a problem. It can be stressful running classroom yes and being a parent. I have to give myself "time outs" when I get reflective behavior back from my son which upsets me - that is behavior that is the result of my stress and communicating it indirectly to him.
My son has ADHD appearances as well - at times -it is neither ADHD or ADD however. It is a response to stress that when I look at it, has built up; either on his body w/ not eating so well or having a lot of changes at times and adjusting to school is stressful for kids. HAving to listen to new adults (some not being a great match for the child's needs).
I have worked in mental health w/ families & kids for 15 years and prior to that in child welfare. I have seen kids respond, first, positively to changes in their diet or lifestyle eg, sleeping habits changing and allowing them to learn by processing what they need to learn in the way they can - it is not an automatic response - learning - teaching them how to listen & follow "rules" is a learning curve. First and more easy to change and see if it is impacting is the diet - cut back greatly on the sugar (juices & a lot of grain content to)which creates hyperactivity in children. For my son it was actually dairy which not allergic to in the sense ofthe word but clearly upset by it causing him to be hyperactive; as well as the sugar and sodium in coldcuts/hotdogs.
Why not consult w/ a nutritionist or a naturopath while possibly seeing a psychologist who could test him; but also the testing results may very well change if you address the behaviors that he is evidencing. I would go to the psychologist AFTER first eliminating other possible causes. Because testing and behavioral approaches by a psychologist cannot change the other environmental factors which may be the cause.
There ARE many paths and why not use a path which first can rule out neurological & behavioral effects that may well be addressed by nutritional intake and possible allergies - and YES these least intrusive means to address & TREAT a condition can reap the results you are looking for. Also he may be more physically active (a very healthy boy) than others for instance, their "intelligence" is in their physical activity. They start to learn how to listen, follow rules in the structured setting of a classroom at his young age - it does take some time to learn & get used too.
I would be VERY cautious about putting him on meds as a first approach and would only do it after ruling out other environmental factors. I would even question the efficacy of a professional (MD or other) who may be inclined to give him the diagnosis (when it may not actually be ADD) first and then medicate him from the get go. THAT IS POOR MEDICINE! WAIT to rule out that which is in your control first such as the enviornmental factors - which will be there effecting him even if he does have ADHD.

Hi M.,

You may need to try several medications before you find the right one for your son.

We tried meds when my daughter was 6 and found that meds were not the right choice for her. However, I know that medication benefit many children and adults with ADHD. My husband takes meds for ADHD.

The Daytrana patch caused a rash on her skin.

Focalin caused aggression, she attacked me and her brother, kicked us, hit us, threw things at us, her eyes were huge,she screamed at us, I couldn't calm her down. I almost called 911, but called her doctor instead, he told me to wait it out a little longer before calling 911. It was atleast an hour or two before she finally calmed down. This episode was very scary. (I am told that this is an uncommon side effect). After that experience we decided to use behaviour modification instead of meds. My daughter is now 8 and doing well.

Please reconsider. Your son is 5 - are you going to start him on narcotics?

Have you exhausted every other option?

Have you removed all the toxic chemicals from your house?

Have you engaged the school with behavior modifications and used them at home. there are some great books with tips -

Have you examined his diet and removed all the hydrogenated oils, artifical colors, sweetner and additives? Have you made sure he is eating every few hours with foods that have protein and are holding his blood sugar level.

Have you removed sodas and fast food?

Have you made sure he has sufficient time to burn energy?

Have you made sure he is on the highest quality nutritional supplements to give his little body what it needs?

I guarantee you he is not suffering from a ritalin, concerta, or whatever the pharmaceutical companies are pushing deficiency!

I have been there. It is not easy. Parenting is hard work.

My son was diagnosed at 7. We chose to pursue all of the above. Never medicated. He is a 21 year old marine serving our country. We never closed doors to his future, that we didn't even know we were supposed to keep open.

Please, I beg you - don't make this type of decision for your child without exhausting every single non-medical thing you can do.

There are some great tips in a free E-book I have available on my blog. www.nosickvisits.com

I know my passion comes out - The decisions you make today will set the path for your little ones life.

Please let me know if I can be of any help.

L.

My 9 yr old son has more dx. then I care to list. Each time he sees a specialist, their came up with a new dx., ADD, sensory, OCD, etc... Oh, and he falls within the gifted range. So they are at a lose.
I realize, you are a teacher but dealing with the CST as a parent of a child with a LD is different. I am a certified rehabilitation counselor and some how the CST thinks I am clueless.
At first, I had the school telling me my son was only immature and nothing was wrong. So I had to fight to prove something was there. Now, they can't agree what the problem is.
First, I approached it medically, ENT, allergies,
Food allergery and sleep apeana.
We took him off chocolate- due to his food allergy than his tonsils out. Both made an improvement. Than we could see the true him.
School evaluation: OT helped in school. Lunch group, 2 x's per month. I taught him cooping skills: take a bath room break between subjects, count, deep breathing, ( I requested, teachers sit him near the door and back of the class room). Attending ESY helped keep the flow. We held him back in K- for several reasons, we moved to a new district mid year, he is a Sept DOB, and he is immature. Holding him back, helped him realize, school is a job and to be taken serious. He has learned to keep it together in school. In addition, we enrolled him in aftercare. The structure and consistent it provided with the added socialization was a great benefit to him.
The school under the law is required to evaluate him if you request it. The learning disability on the child study team should evaluate him, a good one can be the most important person.
He needs an experienced teacher who is structured, consistent, patient, and willing to deal with him. He may need a personal para - in class support, resource room, etc.

Most important, learn your rights, each state has a parent advocacy office. Do not think because you are a teacher the school CST will treat you any different. Our CST seems to be more defensive b/c I know what I am dealing with. Basically, I told them they work for me, I work and pay taxes, which pays they salary and I Know who to speak too on a state level. They are nicer to me now.
Sorry, it's so long.
Good Luck.
S.

I am a nurse practitioner who prescribes medication for ADHD and will be happy to answer if you have questions about the various medications.
ADHD is a neurological condition, as a previous writer said. I think it remains controversial because it impacts behavior and because inconsistent behavior is a hallmark of ADHD.

It seems every kid, especially boys, in America is either ADHD or autistic. If the child has lots of energy he is ADHD, if he likes to read books and play quietly he is autistic. Why can't kids just be kids?
What does your son do wrong in school? Does he sit at the table during meals or have you allowed him to eat on the run? Start training him at home to sit and work on a puzzle or color for at least 10 minutes. When he is bad in school discuss it with him and then give him a consequence. Talk to him about how needs to listen at school. Make sure he gets plenty of exercise also. And be alert for triggers that make him hyper. I had a 3 y/o foster boy that went bonkers if he had milk or ice cream.

My experience is only from the "other side" as a school psychologist and I will tell you this much- there are a lot of meds out there, but pediatricians tend to prescribe what they are familiar with. Make sure that you go to your pediatrician appointment with plenty of questions regarding the medications such as-
- what are the side effects?
- when will my son reach a therapeutic dose?
- how quickly will we see a difference?
- why are you recommending this medication over another?
- does he/she has some literature on the medication that you can read?
- does he/she want regular contact with the school and you to measure behavioral changes?

ADHD is a neurological condition. This is not something that you can "learn" your way out of quickly. Here's the thing... medication alone will not create new behavioral patterns. All the medication does is "calm" the brain so that your child can absorb information and participate fully in the activity. Medications "wear-off" after 12-18 months and you will likely need to try something else at that time.

Meds are not a long-term solution, but are helpful in teaching your child alternative learning and study habits. Re-evaluate the need for the medications regularly and stay in contact with the teacher and school nurse.

Hello M.! My son is 9 years old and has been on Concerta for about 2 years now. I only give it to him on school days when I know he needs to concentrate. I know some of the side effects of Concerta is blood pressure problems and loss of appetite but my son has not experienced anything. We can tell such a huge difference when he has his medication at school and when he does not.

I know many moms out there do not believe in going the medicaiton route. From my experience, Concerta has been a blessing for us.

I wish you the best with your son!

S.

Dear M.,

I think medicating should be your absolute LAST option, not your first! PLEASE educate yourself some more about ADHD. I don't think you will interfere with the outcome of your son's high school degree if you hold off on medication right now, while your son is in Kindergarten.
I would recommend reading "Healing the Childhood Epidemics" by Dr. Kenneth Bock.

Hi M.,

I've written several articles on ADHD and the different medications associated with it. It is only my opinion, of course, but I think if you can stay away from them and try to deal with it naturally, your son would be better off.

On my website: http://www.natural-health-remedies-and-more.com/attention... it talks about why you may want to think about natural treatments and gives a recommendation on what you might want to try.

Good luck!
S.

Hi M. --

Before you try a prescription, you may want to read the book "Is This My Child?" by Dr. Doris Rapp M.D. It was a real eye opener for us and has helped tremendously.

Best of health,
S.

My son's been on just about every kind of meds. out there for the last 10 years.

Strattera was okay, Ritalin was not, Zoloft left him a zombie, Abilify helped him sleep better, Adderall XR took the edge off but lasted only for 8 hours while he was in school, Metadate was useless, and Concerta was the best.

At your son's age, I would try Adderall XR first. Concerta worked the best for my son's attention and attitude, but it also made him gain weight and grow like a weed.(Which he needed to)

Discuss it with the Doc first before making a decision.

My son still takes ADHD meds and is 18 years old, over the years I have learned that less is more so to say. All meds can have side issues to them and so hopefully your Dr. will choose wisely and use the least possible dose. I personally would also suggest things like yoga, karate and other sports as an outlet of his energy not to mention things that will focus him like video games, wii and so on.

adhd mimics processing issues. but you usu can't tell the difference uness they are tested and around 7 yrs old. not a big fan of meds. think they are overused.

Hi M.!

My son was diagnosed with ADHD when he was 10 years old. I knew when he was five that he likely had it, but at that time I could not get a professional who was willing to diagnose someone that young.

His first med was Strattera. He did notice a difference in his ability to concentrate. I'm not sure that it did anything about the impulsivity though. It was effective, but not as "sharp" as the stimulants.

He then tried the Daytrana patch (which was basically Ritalin in patch form) and got stomach aches, so we stopped that one.

He has since been on Focalin XR and has had positive results with it. He really only uses it in school or when he feels a need to concentrate. I also make sure he gets vitamins and omega-3s each day. He is now 15.

As you yourself pointed out, each person responds differently to different meds, and as he grows his responses may change. I try to make sure that its the lowest effective dose and that he only takes it when he needs it because I prefer fewer or no pharmaceuticals whenever possible.

My two cents...

Good Luck!

J.