adhd~~RITALIN 5 MG
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Christine
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Ritalin 5 mg is the lowest dose you can get. It is not the long-acting form, so it will be "in and out" of your child's system in a few hours. My son takes a long acting form of Ritalin during the school day and we have some 5mg tablets at home in case he has a big project due in the evening or something to be done on the weekend where we only need a very short amount of attention span.
If your son is going to take this before he goes to school, remember that it will not last much past the morning. Kids who take the "regular" Ritalin often have to go to the school clinic once or twice a day to be re-dosed. However, I do think that this might be a good thing to start with. Personally, I would give it to him at home, on the weekend, and you make your own observations about how he acts and feels. Then give it to him during school.
If your son is going to take this before he goes to school, remember that it will not last much past the morning. Kids who take the "regular" Ritalin often have to go to the school clinic once or twice a day to be re-dosed. However, I do think that this might be a good thing to start with. Personally, I would give it to him at home, on the weekend, and you make your own observations about how he acts and feels. Then give it to him during school.
JennyMominRI
<font color=red>Live from Red Sox Nation<br><font
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IQ tests. They did some very bring video game type tests to check his focus and attention..These particular tests took an afternoon.. There were several meetings with the psychologist and extensive questionaires for DS his teachers and us,the parents. They also looked for psychological issues rhat sometimes go hand and hand with adhd,like depression,Oppositional defiant disorder, personality disorders,OCD etc(none of which he shows signs of) After the determination of ADHD was made we then took it to the regular doc for medication..Here where I live there is an ADHD clinic run by several psychologists. They have classes for parents ,kids etc about behavior modifications and things like that..He will be followed by them along with his regular doc who will watch for complications from the meds~queenie~ said:
Mommy2three
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my DD (6) was put on ritalin 5 mg for after school, she is also on adderral xr 20mg in the morning. well we started the ritalin and she started to get violent so i pulled her off of it and shes been doing fine with just the adderall
tiggerlover
Still waiting for "the talk"
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HaleyB said:
This is excellent advice! Keeping a journal is very helpful. If I can offer any advice at all it would be RESEARCH! The better informed you are the better off you are.
My DS (9) was offered Ritalin and after doing research (a few years ago) we decided not to put him on it. What we decided to use was Adderall. We started on Adderall 5 mg, but did not see much of a difference, except a very emotional child. Doctor switched DS to Adderall XR 10 mg and we saw a great improvement, DS took this for a year. But with growth spurts after a year it was no longer effective, so they recently upped his dose to 15 mg., which has served him well.
All I can say is every child is different, their degree of ADHD is different and their response to meds is different. You know your child and by keeping a journal you will be able to see what works for him.
{{{{HUGS}}}}} I know what you are going through.
THERE ARE MANY PEDIATRICIANS QUALIFIED TO DIAGNOSE ADHD.
I was fortunate enough to have met three of them during our travels.
It depends on the Doc, it depends on their experience. I agree that there are many, many who throw medicine at problems associated with ADHD.. but give the doc a chance. There are psychiatrists who can also deal with this diagnosis.
Back to the original question.
Two of my children have been on Ritalin. One of those kids was 8 when he started.. began with 5 mg.. it is a low dose. He is now 25 and no longer needs meds. He was dx'd with ADD and used the meds only for school.
DD now 16.. dx'd at 3 with ADHD has been on Ritalin with huge successes. Unable to take the other meds.. has tried without success. She continues to use Ritalin and Ritalin LA. Likely she will take it for the rest of her life.
She started on Ritalin 5 mg. It was probably the best thing in her life at the time. It made a huge difference and allowed her to be/do what she wanted to do... play with dolls, do a puzzle, color a picture because she could do it more than 1 minute without flitting off to do something else......
Different meds suit different people.
I was fortunate enough to have met three of them during our travels.
It depends on the Doc, it depends on their experience. I agree that there are many, many who throw medicine at problems associated with ADHD.. but give the doc a chance. There are psychiatrists who can also deal with this diagnosis.
Back to the original question.
Two of my children have been on Ritalin. One of those kids was 8 when he started.. began with 5 mg.. it is a low dose. He is now 25 and no longer needs meds. He was dx'd with ADD and used the meds only for school.
DD now 16.. dx'd at 3 with ADHD has been on Ritalin with huge successes. Unable to take the other meds.. has tried without success. She continues to use Ritalin and Ritalin LA. Likely she will take it for the rest of her life.
She started on Ritalin 5 mg. It was probably the best thing in her life at the time. It made a huge difference and allowed her to be/do what she wanted to do... play with dolls, do a puzzle, color a picture because she could do it more than 1 minute without flitting off to do something else......
Different meds suit different people.
Pembo
OH-IO
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My pediatrician initially handled our meds. We started with a psychologist though. Recently we have switched to a child psychiatrist and this man really knows his drugs. I've been so impressed with his knowledge of all the adhd meds.
As for meds, everyone affects each person differently. All you can do is try.
Get the book Driven to Distraction by Edward Hallowell. It is an excellent read. Also any books by Russell Barkely are good to read as well.
In our ADHD journey I have found that knowledge is key. Do alot of reading and research. Go to ADHD.com and Chadd.org.
Good luck.
As for meds, everyone affects each person differently. All you can do is try.
Get the book Driven to Distraction by Edward Hallowell. It is an excellent read. Also any books by Russell Barkely are good to read as well.
In our ADHD journey I have found that knowledge is key. Do alot of reading and research. Go to ADHD.com and Chadd.org.
Good luck.
Haven't read all the threads but my son takes 15 mg twice daily.........he's just turned 11, 90 lbs.
It's been fantastic for us. He was diagnosed at age 7, didn't medicate until he tried the first six weeks of 2nd grade and was having trouble.
Then we medicated and he did EXTREMELY well. If you do a search or just look under my name, you can find more detailed posts about how well my son's done.
When he started 5th grade at his new school, they wanted to test him for G/T since he was in it before, but they don't recognize other district's testing. So they tested him, quoted me a score which was way too low for him.........then from something he said, I asked what time they had tested........they'd started at 11, and he'd been late to lunch and meds afterward. Normally he meds at 12. So he's wearing off at 11, worn off by half an hour later. I asked for him to be retested either later in the pm or first thing in am when his meds are on full force. He scored a full 40 points higher..........that's 2 standard deviations!
We've had no side effects whatsoever on the Ritalin.
We once switched to Strattera on the advice of dr due to it being all-day, no noon dose, and that was a nightmare.
We have family history, other members also take Ritalin and have done for years.............no ill effects in any of them.
It's been fantastic for us. He was diagnosed at age 7, didn't medicate until he tried the first six weeks of 2nd grade and was having trouble.
Then we medicated and he did EXTREMELY well. If you do a search or just look under my name, you can find more detailed posts about how well my son's done.
When he started 5th grade at his new school, they wanted to test him for G/T since he was in it before, but they don't recognize other district's testing. So they tested him, quoted me a score which was way too low for him.........then from something he said, I asked what time they had tested........they'd started at 11, and he'd been late to lunch and meds afterward. Normally he meds at 12. So he's wearing off at 11, worn off by half an hour later. I asked for him to be retested either later in the pm or first thing in am when his meds are on full force. He scored a full 40 points higher..........that's 2 standard deviations!
We've had no side effects whatsoever on the Ritalin.
We once switched to Strattera on the advice of dr due to it being all-day, no noon dose, and that was a nightmare.
We have family history, other members also take Ritalin and have done for years.............no ill effects in any of them.
wdwmom2
<font color=teal>It's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorr
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vickyBaby said:
I will tell the 6 board certified pediatricians that I work with that they are not qualified to handle treating ADD or ADHD
. I guess the NUMEROUS children that they very successfully treat are just a figment of their imaginations. I'll be sure to tell the parents when they say how well their child is doing now that we are just pulling the wool over their eyes 
! I guess I must work with a great group of peds because they CAN handle this problem
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Stacey2grls
<font color=blue>Am currently on a "see food" diet
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My daughter was offically diagnosed with ADHD when she turned 5, there were suspicions way earlier though. She was diagnosed from her Pediatric Neurologist, who prescribed her with Ritalin first, starting at 5 mg. She is now on Focalin, which is working very well for her. It may take awhile to tweak the meds correctly (to find out which one, or how many mgs.) Every parent in this situation needs to not blame themselves or their children, and come to the conclusion that is right for their kids. I have had so many people give me unsolicited advice on this topic. For example, "are you sure its the right thing for your kid to be drugged up?" I could go on and on. Each child is different and I don't feel that medication is always the right answer. But, in some cases it can do wonders. My daughter was barely getting by in a special ed preschool last year, this year she is in a regular kindergarden classroom, with all the expectations put on her of a "typical" kid. So, in some cases, it is a miracle, in our case it was anyway. In the end you need to listen to your own heart, and do what you feel is best for your son. Best of luck to you both. 
Snow Brite
<font color=green>Star bright, Snow Brite...no wai
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- 884
Hello,
First...
I have not read but a few of the other posts and am choosing not to read the rest. I have four children with ADD or ADHD and the preachy people get to me after a while.
The first thing you have to do is educate yourself. BEFORE any drugs. Get a second opinion from a psychologist or psychiatrist. Read everything you can get from every viewpoint. You need to get to the point where you are medicating your child to benefit them and not those around them. Once you are confident in that, you will be fine.
Then you are ready to talk medication with your doctor. 5mg of Ritalin is an extremely low dose. My 7 year old is on 40mg. Ritalin is also an unusual first choice. There are many different medications and it is hard to find the right one for your child's chemistry and needs. Then your child grows, and the meds that used to work no longer do. Also, it is a gradual change. They are not "magic" pills that you give to your child and suddenly see a change, but it is more of a realization as you are washing the dinner dishes one night that things are so much better than they were two weeks ago and you have not had a scene about not being able to find your child's shoes in a while and they actually did their homework before you asked the 25th time this afternoon.
The different meds that my children have been on are Welbutrin, Focalin, Ritalin, Concerta, Adderall and Strattera. I am not a big fan of Adderall or Strattera, but the others have all worked at various times. There are side effects such as decreased appetite and insomnia, so they also take meds at night to help them sleep.
Children with ADD and ADHD are truly amazing beings. They are global thinkers and see things in such a different light. They notice EVERYTHING which is the big problem but also a blessing. I had someone one describe it to me as watching tv. But instead of watching just one channel, it was like they were watching all 127 channels at once. Most children with ADHD are above average intelligence. They are funny, interesting and observant. They are loving, stubborn, unique people. Once you get over the adjustment of not having what society thinks of as a "normal" child, you will learn to appreciate their differences as just that....a difference not a disability.
Many children with ADHD also have sensory perception issues. It is a good idea to have an Occupational Therapist test your child for this as well. One of my children has Auditory Perception issues. I actually had him tested for hearing loss when he was 5 because I thought he was deaf. He can hear fine, he just does not process well when information is given to him verbally. I have another child that has Kinetic Perception issues. He is a klutz! But it is because he does not know where his body ends and the world begins. How frustrating this must be! He HATES tags in his clothes, shoes with his socks, to be too cold or too hot and loud noises or bright lights. I will always remember his Kindergarten graduation where he was in the middle of the class on the riser with his hands on his ears crouched down because it was too loud. Poor thing. I went and rescued him after one song. He also has dysgraphia which probably relates to the kinetic thing.
If the teacher is having trouble, but seems to be caring, then look into getting and IEP or 504 for your child. There are simple accomodations that can be made that make a huge difference. Sitting in the front row is often helpful, taking a test in a quiet, plain room often improves a score, headphones when doing homework, etc etc etc. While most educators I have come across have been loving and terrific, its important to remember that they are split 20 to 30 different ways with all the kids in their class. YOU are the only one that LOVES your child and you are only concerned with YOUR child, so you have to be a ruthless advocate for your baby. You have to be assertive, strong and get details. Its hard to do, but its up to you and you alone to get what your child needs.
I probably won't check back on this thread, but feel free to PM me. I am sure people were mostly nice and sympathetic, but frankly I have heard enough bashing in real life I just choose to tune it out any more.
Good luck and you are on the right track. Keep up the good work Mom!
First...
I have not read but a few of the other posts and am choosing not to read the rest. I have four children with ADD or ADHD and the preachy people get to me after a while.
The first thing you have to do is educate yourself. BEFORE any drugs. Get a second opinion from a psychologist or psychiatrist. Read everything you can get from every viewpoint. You need to get to the point where you are medicating your child to benefit them and not those around them. Once you are confident in that, you will be fine.
Then you are ready to talk medication with your doctor. 5mg of Ritalin is an extremely low dose. My 7 year old is on 40mg. Ritalin is also an unusual first choice. There are many different medications and it is hard to find the right one for your child's chemistry and needs. Then your child grows, and the meds that used to work no longer do. Also, it is a gradual change. They are not "magic" pills that you give to your child and suddenly see a change, but it is more of a realization as you are washing the dinner dishes one night that things are so much better than they were two weeks ago and you have not had a scene about not being able to find your child's shoes in a while and they actually did their homework before you asked the 25th time this afternoon.
The different meds that my children have been on are Welbutrin, Focalin, Ritalin, Concerta, Adderall and Strattera. I am not a big fan of Adderall or Strattera, but the others have all worked at various times. There are side effects such as decreased appetite and insomnia, so they also take meds at night to help them sleep.
Children with ADD and ADHD are truly amazing beings. They are global thinkers and see things in such a different light. They notice EVERYTHING which is the big problem but also a blessing. I had someone one describe it to me as watching tv. But instead of watching just one channel, it was like they were watching all 127 channels at once. Most children with ADHD are above average intelligence. They are funny, interesting and observant. They are loving, stubborn, unique people. Once you get over the adjustment of not having what society thinks of as a "normal" child, you will learn to appreciate their differences as just that....a difference not a disability.
Many children with ADHD also have sensory perception issues. It is a good idea to have an Occupational Therapist test your child for this as well. One of my children has Auditory Perception issues. I actually had him tested for hearing loss when he was 5 because I thought he was deaf. He can hear fine, he just does not process well when information is given to him verbally. I have another child that has Kinetic Perception issues. He is a klutz! But it is because he does not know where his body ends and the world begins. How frustrating this must be! He HATES tags in his clothes, shoes with his socks, to be too cold or too hot and loud noises or bright lights. I will always remember his Kindergarten graduation where he was in the middle of the class on the riser with his hands on his ears crouched down because it was too loud. Poor thing. I went and rescued him after one song. He also has dysgraphia which probably relates to the kinetic thing.
If the teacher is having trouble, but seems to be caring, then look into getting and IEP or 504 for your child. There are simple accomodations that can be made that make a huge difference. Sitting in the front row is often helpful, taking a test in a quiet, plain room often improves a score, headphones when doing homework, etc etc etc. While most educators I have come across have been loving and terrific, its important to remember that they are split 20 to 30 different ways with all the kids in their class. YOU are the only one that LOVES your child and you are only concerned with YOUR child, so you have to be a ruthless advocate for your baby. You have to be assertive, strong and get details. Its hard to do, but its up to you and you alone to get what your child needs.
I probably won't check back on this thread, but feel free to PM me. I am sure people were mostly nice and sympathetic, but frankly I have heard enough bashing in real life I just choose to tune it out any more.
Good luck and you are on the right track. Keep up the good work Mom!
petrymom
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2005
- Messages
- 1,369
Snow Brite - what a wonderful post!!!! We have an 11 year old DS with ADHD that has been on meds for 2 years. We struggled with parenting him since he was very little. Tantrums and a mean streak to beat all. He was constantly talking about nothing at all and fidgeting.
I cried at his 1st grade parent teach meeting. My dreams of the perfect child were shattered. By third grade things had gotten out of control. We took him in an he was diagnosed. The meds were the BEST thing that could have happened. Life is by all means not perfect. ADHD, even with meds, still needs to be handled differently than other "normal" kids, but I don't regret putting him on the meds.
We have not tried ritalin, but have tried Strattera, Adderall and Concerta. Totally, didn't like Strattera and Adderall really didn't work all that well. Concerta is our med of choice. Once a day, gets him through school and life goes on.
He truly is a very intelligent, loving, articulate individual. School told me that it wasn't ADHD at the time of diagnosis, just BAD BEHAVIOR. His grades were too good for ADHD is what they said. I chalk this up to parents that pushed him and his true intelligence.
You as a parent can tell if the medication is the right answer. Good luck with your decision. I know we made the RIGHT one even though our road will be a long one.
I cried at his 1st grade parent teach meeting. My dreams of the perfect child were shattered. By third grade things had gotten out of control. We took him in an he was diagnosed. The meds were the BEST thing that could have happened. Life is by all means not perfect. ADHD, even with meds, still needs to be handled differently than other "normal" kids, but I don't regret putting him on the meds.
We have not tried ritalin, but have tried Strattera, Adderall and Concerta. Totally, didn't like Strattera and Adderall really didn't work all that well. Concerta is our med of choice. Once a day, gets him through school and life goes on.
He truly is a very intelligent, loving, articulate individual. School told me that it wasn't ADHD at the time of diagnosis, just BAD BEHAVIOR. His grades were too good for ADHD is what they said. I chalk this up to parents that pushed him and his true intelligence.
You as a parent can tell if the medication is the right answer. Good luck with your decision. I know we made the RIGHT one even though our road will be a long one.
jackskellingtonsgirl
DIS Legend
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- Nov 14, 2004
- Messages
- 25,896
My DS (4th grade) was diagnosed with inattentive ADD about 2 months ago. We did a trial of Strattera for 5 weeks with NO improvement at all. He is now taking Concerta (18 mg) in the morning but that doens't seem to be doing anything, either! He has been on the Concerta for 2 weeks. I am going to call our Dr. back and see if he thinks we need to increase the dose or move on to a 3rd med. Like someone else said, we were REALLY hoping to work this out before he goes to 5th grade, and I don't want him on meds over the summer. I think the trial and error process of finding a medication is as bad as waiting for a diagnosis! Now we KNOW what the problem is, we just can't seem to fix it! Very frustrating!
JennyMominRI
<font color=red>Live from Red Sox Nation<br><font
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My DS started 18 mgs of concerta this week ..The doc said it's a veyr low dosage and he will probably double it in a week.. I assume your doc may do the samejackskellingtonsgirl said:
vickyBaby said:
I whole-heartedly, strenuously, and vigorously DISAGREE.
(Thank you, mamajoan and wdwmom2.)
Pediatricians have training in developmental and behavioral issues. There are some, such as myself, who have specialized and done fellowships and have sub-board certification in Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics. And I do diagnose and SUCCESSFULLY treat many children with ADHD.
And yes, I prescribe Ritalin, and use a host of other medical and non-medical treatments.
lucyblondecat
Mouseketeer
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- Feb 10, 2006
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I have a child who is ADHD and she was diganosed by her pediatrician, who we trust explicitely. The neurologist we saw I felt was largely concerned with the brain, ensuring there was nothing wrong with the way the brain was wired, but was not looking at the whole child and her various behavior and attention defecits.
My child is on Adderall and we have never had to deviate from this med, other than to up the dosage over time.
My child is on Adderall and we have never had to deviate from this med, other than to up the dosage over time.
My son was diagnosed this year in first grade. He is not a behavior problem he just can sit still or concentrate. Again we noticed a huge difference with the meds. He only takes 5mg at 8 am and 11am. The dr said we should also do 3 pm but he is fine for us at home so we don't feel it si necessary to take in the eeve. We choose the ritalin because it metabolizes fast it goes inn and is over in about 4 hours where other drugs you have to always take and build up levels,. He does not take it in the evening or weekends. I like the idea of only giving it to him where he needs it.
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