Parents with ADHD kids on meds...some questions?

[djm99]

I want to mention that adderall is an amphetamine. This stimulant drug is often compared with cocaine. I KNOW THIS IS NOT COKE - but do a search of the words cocaine and ADDERALL - they are often compared (especially the high and coming off of the high). Do a search, read other peoples story. All ADHD stimulant medications fall into this classification because of the chance of addiction and abuse. YES so is caffeine (a stimulant). One of the things that bother me about these medications is that there are not any long term usage studies. What will a child be like in their old age after being on a stimulant drug all their life? We don't know. This leaves the possibilities of a short life for these children or severe health problems later in life. But I guess parents feel okay about their decisions because they are concerned with the present and will deal with the future when it comes. Look, I'm not trying to judge any parent that takes this route, but I am concerned - sincerely.

 

[flying_babyb]

I feel the need to share my long term ritlin (sp) story. I was diagnosed as ADHD at the age of 6. From 6 to 12 I was on the 40 mil pills twice a day. I took myself off them at 12 because I didnt have time to take them between lunch and class and not be late. Well, my hair started falling out. To this day I still have hair loss from the ritilin. If you look at the side effects its on there. Just a FYI

 

[chris1gill]

Okay - YOUR kid - but not EVERY kid. AGAIN, I only gave alternatives to TRY before starting medications. Alternatives to discuss with her kids doctor.... NOT YOUR kids psychiatrist. If you made the best decision for YOUR child, why are you so defensive. I didn't attack you or the OP, I only gave alternatives. I don't know you or about the decision you made - chill out!

Personally I like djm99's suggestions, and I would surely try her ideas before putting my child on a medication that is quite serious with adverse side effects. If medication is necessary after all options are tried, that is one thing, but to automatically put a child on medication, well, I don't think that's fair to the child... all the things mentioned by djm99 are simple ways to try to deal with the problem.... they may or may not work for each and every child, but I certainly agree they should at least be tried.... It really saddens me to see so many children put on medications first before alternatives can be tried....

 

[ameraumi]

I want to mention that adderall is an amphetamine. This stimulant drug is often compared with cocaine. I KNOW THIS IS NOT COKE - but do a search of the words cocaine and ADDERALL - they are often compared (especially the high and coming off of the high). Do a search, read other peoples story. All ADHD stimulant medications fall into this classification because of the chance of addiction and abuse. YES so is caffeine (a stimulant). One of the things that bother me about these medications is that there are not any long term usage studies. What will a child be like in their old age after being on a stimulant drug all their life? We don't know. This leaves the possibilities of a short life for these children or severe health problems later in life. But I guess parents feel okay about their decisions because they are concerned with the present and will deal with the future when it comes. Look, I'm not trying to judge any parent that takes this route, but I am concerned - sincerely.

Are you sure you are not judgmental? If you do not have a child on any of these medications then you truly do not understand the need for it. Most children will not need to take the medicine their entire life. I can't speak for the others, but I did my research and I feel comfortable with putting my child on the medicine he is on. Not every parent wants to just "drug up" their child. But for their child to succeed in life the NEED the medication.

And you can see the children who really do not need the medication vs those that do. A child who do not need it does get that "high" feeling. The chemical reaction in the brain is not there like it would be for a child who needs it.

 

[Jynohn]

Has anyone here tried vision therapy? I talked to my pediatrician about concerns I had with my daughter (inability to focus, trouble in school, etc.) and he referred me to a behavioral optometrist. I was told that many children who are diagnosed with ADD, ADHD, behavioral issues, etc. are actually suffering from visual tracking problems. After testing, it was revealed that my daughter can track things in columns, but not from left to right. As a result, reading, handwriting, and other activities involving fine motor skills are hard for her, leading to frustration and lack of attention in school.

My daughter goes to therapy once a week and we do daily excercises with her which are designed to help her with her tracking. She has been going for about six weeks now, and we've started to see some slight improvement. The jury's still out for me on it, but we wanted to try all other possible routes before making a decision on medication. Just wanted to suggest another option for those, like me, who weren't aware of this therapy.

 

[Pugrpooh]

DD18 has been on Adderall XR since July. As I stated before, her behavior and grades have improved quite a bit. Her pediatrician basically kicked her out of the practice in January and told her to see a psychiatrist for the meds.

The psychiatrist cut her dosage down to 40 mg a day from 60. She also had her take an EKG before she would prescribe it for her. She's supposed to take 20 mg in the morning and another 20 at noon.

Yesterday she came home from school at 3:30 and said since 11, her pulse had been very rapid and she was having trouble getting enough air. She didn't take the Adderall at noon. I called the psychiatrist who said to get her to the doctor for an EKG just to make sure everything was alright. She said it may be a panic attack, and the fact that she has been on it for a while and that she had previously been on a higher dosage with no problems, she didn't really think it was her heart.

The EKG was fine, and by the time she got to the Imm. Care Center, her pulse was down to 85. It was 112 when she got home from school. She has an appt. this afternoon with her new pediatrician and the psychiatrist doesn't want her to take any more Adderall until she sees her on Wednesday. She may change the medication she takes.

It can certainly be a rollercoaster ride with this stuff!

Lynn

 

[allie&mattsmom]

I posted earlier about having my son on the Daytrana patch. The patch has been a good fit for him. I stated that we like it because of the ability to be able to remove it when we want, thus removing the medication from his system when we want vs. oral meds. My son is now and 4th grade. We had him tested at his teachers suggestion in 1st grade. The testing never definitevley tagged him as ADHD, but said he definitley had impulsive tendencies which the child psychologist thought he would outgrow with maturity. It was up to us if we wanted to go the medicine route. We chose to ride it out. School got worse. Notes home daily. Emails daily. He was disruptive. Out of his seat. After many sleepless nights, research, and praying, we decided to put him on a low dose of concerta. We immediately saw great improvement at school. However, we didn't like the side efeects. He didn't eat. He cried when he was coming down from the medicine. We would take him off of it on vacations and sometimes keep him off when he went back to school thinking that maybe he had "matured". No. The notes immediately began to trickle home. So back on the concerta we went. Summers we went off to be happy and eat and try to get some meat on his bones.

This past year our pediatrician told us about the new Daytrana patch and I just really cannot say enough great things about it. We really don't see the bad side effects like we did the oral drugs. Yes, he doesn't have a HUGE appetite when he wears it. But he takes it off right after school, sits down, does his homework and within and hour or two it's out of his system and he eats a great big dinner and a great bedtime snack.

It really is a heartwrenching decision to go through to decide to medicate or not medicate your child. Only we know what works or doesn't work or what we've tried or haven't tried. Nobody wants to have to medicate their kid. Believe me, I 'd love to not have to slap that patch on his hip every morning. It breaks my heart. I pray that the child psychologist was right about him outgrowing this impulsive behavior with maturity, but I'm not so sure because that was almost 4 years ago and I think things may have gotten a bit worse without the meds, not better.

All I can say is to the parents that have to make these hard decisions, don't let anyone make you feel guilty one way or another. To medicate or not medicate. Do what you feel is right for your child. We've tried both ways.
Good luck to you all.

 

[minnieandme]

My DS8 was recently diagnosed with ADHD a little over a month ago so I don't have a long term progress report for him like most other posters. He's currently on Concerta. I have seen a change in his behavior at school as well as at home. Unfortunately, his teacher couldn't handle him any longer and the school didn't know what else to do with him, so I had him pulled out and placed in another school. They didn't give it enough time to work as he was only on the meds for 2 weeks and we were still trying out the dose amount and seeing what works. I think the move was a good one because he is doing great in his new school with his new teacher. This is his 3rd week in the new school and I get good reports everyday. His appetite slows down during the day, but it picks up tremendously in the evening. He's already underweight, but since he started the meds, he has gained 5 pounds. I just see his sweet personality fully coming out.

 

[djm99]

Are you sure you are not judgmental? If you do not have a child on any of these medications then you truly do not understand the need for it.

Judgmental - nope - just a Special Ed Teacher who is VERY concerned about these kids. I spend 6 ½ hours a day with these kids. I think I've earned a say!! Guilty, I’m attached, I worry about their futures. Sure, I don’t know everything – hope I’m not giving out that vibe. Some parents have been successful using supplemental vitamins and altered diets to help improve their kids situations. I was hopefully offering an alternative for a parent to try. Nothing more – nothing less.

Here is a message board link for the “natural meds” for children w/ADHD
http://www.adhdnews.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=26484&PN=2


This is a great message board in general to speak to many parents in general for information. Most of the boards are pro-meds.