Anyone medicate their child for both ADHD and Asthma??

[Dina]

After 4 years of observations and evaluations, my 7yo son finally has a diagnosis of ADD with mild hyperactivity (no oppositional defiance or real behavior problems, just classic attention deficit issues). We see the MD in the group on Friday for possible medications--- I'm told it will probably be concerta or adderall (stimulants)--- my concern is he's already medicated for Asthma with Advair and Albuterol (though only needs the albuterol a few times a year)--- they are also stimulants. So, I'm worried about effects on his heart. I'll bring this up with the MD, and I put in a call to our allergist who will be in tomorrow---- but I was wondering if anyone else has had experience medicating their child for both asthma and ADHD. He's only on task 50% of the time in school (still doing average work somehow)--- so we really need to do something, but I'm afraid to medicate. Thanks!

 

[maelstrom]

I take Ventolin (albuterol inhaler), Adderall, and Singular (used for both allergies and daily asthma maintenance). Never had a problem.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Just a suggestion here. I would see an allergist. Also there is a great book by Dr. Bock all about asthma, adhd, and also autism. You don't have to have all three. The book adresses each issue. It might be worth a shot. Good luck!

 

[Dina]

We do see an allergist/asthma specialist (thank you)----I just put in a call to her for her thoughts on the combination of medications. She won't be in until tomorrow though.

 

[Christine]

My son takes: Advair, Singulair, Zyrtec, and Ritalin LA. He also uses Albuterol as a rescue inhaler. He seems fine on this and has been using these meds for 7 years now.

 

[Dina]

My son takes: Advair, Singulair, Zyrtec, and Ritalin LA. He also uses Albuterol as a rescue inhaler. He seems fine on this and has been using these meds for 7 years now.

Oh that's wonderful!!!!!!!!! That makes me feel so much better!!!!!! thank you!

 

[3jsmommy]

I would be hesitant to put him on more meds. There are natural alternatives for ADD. Restricting food dyes & corn syrup helps a lot of kids. There is also something called the v-pack, I am not that familiar w/ it though.
I am sure you have done the research, but could the asthma meds be causing the add symptoms?

 

[Sleepy]

My son uses Claratin, Singulair, Flonase, and Adderall. When he needs it, he uses albuterol, but his asthma is mostly chemically induced. He has previously used Zyrtec and Sudafed. He has been on the Adderall since age 6 and he is now 16.

I can only speak from my son's experience. He is a very active ballet dancer who works out 2 hours a day, 6 days a week in the studio (he looks like he ran a marathon when he is done). He has never had a problem with his heart while taking this combination of medications. Everyone is different. Some people just have heart problems that are never detected. I think this is the warning most docs tell you about when it comes to these meds. I remember about 5 years ago our doc talked to us about Adderall. Apparently there were several people who died due to heart problems. We were assured these were just people who had underlying heart conditions and this medication pushed them over the edge (sort of the way Mission Space at Epcot contributed to the death of those few people). My son has been taking this med for 10 years now. He has had no problems with all the activity he does on a daily basis. Again, just his personal experience.

 

[MELISAZACK]

My Ds9 takes exactly the same Asthmas meds - advair and albertuerol
now for the last 2 months he is taking Adderall XR 30mg. doing fine on all
of them with no issues.. Our pediatrican does do a EKG every 6 months though to double check the heart. 1st one was perfect so in 3-4 month we will do it again.

 

[Dina]

Wow--- you are all so wonderful! I feel so much better now. After talking to the doctor, I really think medication is the right choice for my son--- I was just afraid taking asthma and ADHD meds would be too much. I feel much better now!

 

[LuvOrlando]

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[Dina]

I would be hesitant to put him on more meds. There are natural alternatives for ADD. Restricting food dyes & corn syrup helps a lot of kids. There is also something called the v-pack, I am not that familiar w/ it though.
I am sure you have done the research, but could the asthma meds be causing the add symptoms?

He started the add symptoms at least a year before starting the asthma medication----- at the time he was incorrectly diagnosed with aspergers, but outgrew almost all of the symptoms of aspergers except thsoe related to attention deficit.

His younger brother also was just diagnosed with ADHD (I also have cousins with ADD and ADHD)--- they say it is genetic. plus the asthma meds cause more of the hyperactivity portion of ADHD, and he doesn't have hyperactivity---- I actually have thought alot about your question before deciding to do meds--- I even asked his allergist about the possibility, but since he very rarely takes the albuterol, she really didn't think the asthma meds were causing the problem. Thank you though, I had been thinking the same thing, but after reading more and talking to the doctors--- they really don't think there is a correlation between the two.

 

[Dina]

What I find curious is the fact that stimulants are supposed to calm ADHD kids right. So if he had it, shouldn't his Asthma meds make his behavior better?

I don't think advair is as much as a stimulant as the albuterol. My son needs albuterol, maybe 5 times a year (his asthma is very well controlled with the Advair, my allergist actually just lowered the dose to only one puff a day--- usually 2 puffs are prescribed for the 100/50 diskus, which is also the lowest dose. He only gets asthma symptoms when he has respiratory infections)---- so I don't think it would have much of an effect on his ADHD or I should say ADD (the hyperactivity is very very mild). I'm guessing the stimulant properties of the asthma meds also aren't targeting the same neurotransmitters as those in the ADHD meds (norepinephrine and dopamine). But your right, maybe the reason why he doesn't have the hyperactivity component is because he's already taking a stimulant. Where, my younger son, who does not have asthma, does have the hyperactivity. I guess we'll see.

 

[Dina]

My son has had Asthma and has been medicated because of it for years.

What stands out for me is the fact that when my DS is on any more than 1 medication he behaves as if he has ADHD.

I also should say--- I don't know if you caught it in my first post--- he wasn't diagnosed with adhd (he doesn't have the hyperactivity), he has ADD (his hyperactivity ---- the doctor said it's actually so mild that it's pretty much just average for any 7 year old).

 

[LuvOrlando]

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[CF'er]

Ask for or inquire about Xopenex instead of albuterol. It is the mirror drug with all the benefits and fewer jittery side effects.