SpeisFamily
07-12-2004, 04:59 PM
Ok, I am a parent who has taken my daughter off of ADHD medication for very good reasons. Some people believe that there is no such thing as ADD or ADHD. I believe there is, I have just decided to no longer medicate. My daughter is extremely hyperactive but she is not a bad student, in fact she has always been in advanced classes. She has a problem controlling herself and focusing. I would hold her head in my hands to make her look at me while I talked to her and her eyes would be looking at everything but me. She was contsantly fidgeting and her mind would wander. She would actually trip over things because she was thinking about where she was going instead of where she was walking. I believe that there is a condition called ADD/ADHD but I don't think medication is the ONLY answer.
My daughter, who is 9 years old, has taken medication for ADHD since she was 4. She started with Dexadrine, then Ritalin, and then Concerta. She experienced alot of chest pains, which didn't show anything unusual on the EKG and also had severe migrains which they gave her another medication for. Concerta helped her to focus, but if she was interrupted she would become hostile and angry. With the medication she was never happy but she was focused.
I believe that taking long term medications has led my daughter to have other problems. A year ago, after several episodes of gross hematuria (Large amounts of blood in her urine), she was diagnosed and medicated for Kidney Stones. I was wondering if anyone else might have noticed kidney stones after taking time release medications for ADHD such as Concerta. I think there may be a link.
I have taken my daughter off of the ADHD medications and am dealing with it through focusing and concentration excersises and I hope that my daughter will soon be able to stop taking the medications for her kidneys as well. She has gained some weight, which is a good thing since she was smaller and thinner than all the other kids her age. I have also decided to homeschool for many reasons such as poor school quality in my area as well as to help her to stay focused while learning without depending on medication to do it for her. Teachers don't have the time to help a child to learn this. I have noticed that children with ADD/ADHD can concentrate if it is something they enjoy, such as music for my daughter, playing music and singing while studying helps her to concentrate while it may do the opposite for someone who does not have this disorder. My opinion is that ADD and ADHD can be treated in many ways besides medicating with patience on the child's part and the parents. I would appreciate any feedback. Thank you
My daughter, who is 9 years old, has taken medication for ADHD since she was 4. She started with Dexadrine, then Ritalin, and then Concerta. She experienced alot of chest pains, which didn't show anything unusual on the EKG and also had severe migrains which they gave her another medication for. Concerta helped her to focus, but if she was interrupted she would become hostile and angry. With the medication she was never happy but she was focused.
I believe that taking long term medications has led my daughter to have other problems. A year ago, after several episodes of gross hematuria (Large amounts of blood in her urine), she was diagnosed and medicated for Kidney Stones. I was wondering if anyone else might have noticed kidney stones after taking time release medications for ADHD such as Concerta. I think there may be a link.
I have taken my daughter off of the ADHD medications and am dealing with it through focusing and concentration excersises and I hope that my daughter will soon be able to stop taking the medications for her kidneys as well. She has gained some weight, which is a good thing since she was smaller and thinner than all the other kids her age. I have also decided to homeschool for many reasons such as poor school quality in my area as well as to help her to stay focused while learning without depending on medication to do it for her. Teachers don't have the time to help a child to learn this. I have noticed that children with ADD/ADHD can concentrate if it is something they enjoy, such as music for my daughter, playing music and singing while studying helps her to concentrate while it may do the opposite for someone who does not have this disorder. My opinion is that ADD and ADHD can be treated in many ways besides medicating with patience on the child's part and the parents. I would appreciate any feedback. Thank you
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Aztec Indian
07-13-2004, 04:59 PM
:confused:
Why do you need feed back us??
It sounds like you have drawn your own conclusions.
Why do you need feed back us??
It sounds like you have drawn your own conclusions.
keriberi
07-13-2004, 05:50 PM
i agree with you that in certain situations there are other alternatives to medication for add/adhd symptoms. my sister was diagnosed with adhd without hyperactivity when she was about 10. she is 21 now and just stopped taking ritalin shortly before her 21st birthday. she did not experience any side effects from the medication besides decreased appetite. good luck with your home schooling and i do believe that with the increased attention that your daughter will be getting, there is a good chance that her symptoms will decrease!
pufnstuf77
07-13-2004, 08:30 PM
Medication and therapy are simply the best option if the attention deficit interferes with anyone's daily life. If it interferes with your child's life enough so that she has to be home-schooled, that indicates a problem. School is a place where children and young adults develop their social skills. If your daughter needed 'special attention' in school, why did you not opt to try to put her in a special education class? I went to them from grade 3 to grade 11, diagnosed with emotional and learning disabilites. They were small classes with five or six students and we worked with the same teacher all day in a private class. Please, I mean no disrespect twords you or your position. I read that your daughterhas had several diffrent meds for her ADD. Have you gotten a second opinion? Have you looked for alternative diagnosis? Maybe she could be a rapid-cycling bi-polar disorder which I have also with ADD. Alternativley there are some 'all natural' herbal compounds that are supposed to help with ADD. You should read up about it, maybe one of them could be for you.
I wish you and your daughter the best, and I hope you find wellness soon. :jester:
I wish you and your daughter the best, and I hope you find wellness soon. :jester:
SpeisFamily
07-14-2004, 10:20 AM
OK, let me clarify as I mentioned in my first post, my daughter has actually been in advanced classes for the past 2 years and is very intelligent. The reasons I chose to homeschool, like I also mentioned in my first post, are many and varied. The schools in the area I live in have been firing teachers and don't have enough school supplies due to poor school funding. I am taking an interest in my child, I have gone to school to be a teacher and I want my daughter to be able to learn and concentrate without depending on drugs to do it for her. She gets plenty of "social activity" with the kids around the neighborhood and at church.
I think that today alot of parents sit their kids in front of the TV or video games to keep them occupied and then are frustrated when the child gets bored and wants to run around the house. I suggest involving your children and teaching them something. Instead, when my daughter runs up to me while I am doing dishes to tell me she is bored, I simply pull up a chair and let her help rinse. I don't get mad when I am cooking and my daughter is running 100 miles an hour around the kitchen, instead I ask her to help me (ie:focus on something). I have less work to do, my daughter is thrilled to be a big helper, and I know where she is, what she is doing, and it is helping her to control HERSELF. Focusing techniques like these are very helpful.
I don't think my daughter was misdiagnosed, I don't think it is possible. My daughter was diagnosed at age 3, I waited until age 4 when I finally gave into my Dr. constant advise to medicate her. See, we are military and every time we move I have to have my daughter re-evaluated and that has been 3 times plus her original evaluation, all done by ADD/ADHD specialists. At every evaluation I was told that she has ADHD with extreme hyperactivity. And with each new doctor there was a recomendation for the newest, better drug. So I gave into it for a while, I let the medication take care of my child. Now I am finding that the medication has done alot more than take care of my child, it has had medical ramifications.
I have decided to take an interest into my child's future. I want her to be able to learn to control HERSELF. I know it is hard, this was a tough decision for me to make.
The reason I posted here, Aztec Indian, is for support from others who have done what I am doing and to help others who are thinking of taking their children off of medication or to parents who are still considering whether to medicate or not.
I have to admit, I was lazy. I let her watch TV or play the gameboy just to keep her busy and out of my hair. I let the medication give me less stress. I have realized that if I don't help her she will be confined to taking these drugs forever, imagine the effects on the body, imagine what she has already gone through in these 5 years intesified by a lifetime. I care about her, that's why I am doing what I am doing and why I am posting here. :)
I think that today alot of parents sit their kids in front of the TV or video games to keep them occupied and then are frustrated when the child gets bored and wants to run around the house. I suggest involving your children and teaching them something. Instead, when my daughter runs up to me while I am doing dishes to tell me she is bored, I simply pull up a chair and let her help rinse. I don't get mad when I am cooking and my daughter is running 100 miles an hour around the kitchen, instead I ask her to help me (ie:focus on something). I have less work to do, my daughter is thrilled to be a big helper, and I know where she is, what she is doing, and it is helping her to control HERSELF. Focusing techniques like these are very helpful.
I don't think my daughter was misdiagnosed, I don't think it is possible. My daughter was diagnosed at age 3, I waited until age 4 when I finally gave into my Dr. constant advise to medicate her. See, we are military and every time we move I have to have my daughter re-evaluated and that has been 3 times plus her original evaluation, all done by ADD/ADHD specialists. At every evaluation I was told that she has ADHD with extreme hyperactivity. And with each new doctor there was a recomendation for the newest, better drug. So I gave into it for a while, I let the medication take care of my child. Now I am finding that the medication has done alot more than take care of my child, it has had medical ramifications.
I have decided to take an interest into my child's future. I want her to be able to learn to control HERSELF. I know it is hard, this was a tough decision for me to make.
The reason I posted here, Aztec Indian, is for support from others who have done what I am doing and to help others who are thinking of taking their children off of medication or to parents who are still considering whether to medicate or not.
I have to admit, I was lazy. I let her watch TV or play the gameboy just to keep her busy and out of my hair. I let the medication give me less stress. I have realized that if I don't help her she will be confined to taking these drugs forever, imagine the effects on the body, imagine what she has already gone through in these 5 years intesified by a lifetime. I care about her, that's why I am doing what I am doing and why I am posting here. :)
DoubleVision
07-14-2004, 11:05 AM
I can understand a parent wanting to get more involved in his/her child's ability to cope with ADD/ADHD, and I am glad you are involved in your child's future. However, you cannot honestly come into a forum like this, tell everyone exactly what you are doing, ask for feedback, and then sound downright b-tchchy at the people who post a reply. Sounds like your daughter was on the meds for a very good reason and was able to meet her educational needs thus far, but suffered physical set-backs possibly due to the meds? Did I interpret this correctly from your posts? Like another poster replied, if you need to go to drastic measures, such as home schooling, to provide your daughter with what she needs (if that works out), then there is obviously still a problem in the absence of meds. ADD children love the one on one and homeschooling will definitely provide that, but in all honesty, you will need to teach your child how to think and behave in groups, because that is real life. Good luck.
SpeisFamily
07-14-2004, 11:33 AM
Ok, I am sorry, I didn't mean to be rude. I understand that not everyone can do what I am doing because of their situation and their desires. But trust me, my daughter has plenty of group time playing with the kids around the neighborhood, sitting through Sunday School class, and our homeschooling is very similar to the classroom setting with the same rules and both of my children are doing homeschooling for many reasons, not just the ADHD. But I truly believe that parents can do more, do you agree or do you believe that medicating is the miracle, perfect and only choice??
DoubleVision
07-14-2004, 11:58 AM
I don't see medication as the only choice, but an important one combined with other interventions such as behavioral therapy, more intense parent-child interaction...that sort of thing. Our nephew came to stay with us approx. 6 years ago (he is 12 now) and was just diagnosed with inattentive ADD based off of his poor performance in school despite small group classes and some home teaching/summer school. He is constantly fidgeting in the absence of meds and even a little bit while on the meds (Adderall XR 10 mg./day). His dose is low and he just started it within the month. He was told that he is not being forced to take the med, that it may not be necessary sometimes like when playing on the weekend off of school. He is a fairly manipulative child, so we told him that he should just tell us if he is going to take the med so we can know what sort of behavior/attitude to expect. The only problem with doing this (though I want him to learn how to control his symptoms) is that he wants to hopscotch a lot with the med, one day on, one day off...I don't see that as too therapeutic either. We are learning. The med definitely lets him slow down to think things through and hopefully will provide him the opportunity to absorb most of what he is taught, because quite frankly, retention for him without the meds is zero. Meds aren't for everyone...some aren't able to physically tolerate them. I am thankful that so far my nephew can take them.
DoubleVision
07-14-2004, 11:59 AM
................
SpeisFamily
07-14-2004, 12:31 PM
Do you let him take his meds without supervision? This can be dangerous as children sometimes like to experiment. Please make sure you watch him take the meds if he is going to take them, to prevent an overdose which is a very serious thing. This is a narcotic and needs to be supervised, I hope I just interpreted what you said wrong :)
What I am trying to say, is that children should not have to be on medication for the rest of their life. I am not saying that not medicating is the only option, I am saying that long term medication can lead to other health related illnesses. I post this in hopes that parents will be aware of all the issues involved with medicating their children.
What I am trying to say, is that children should not have to be on medication for the rest of their life. I am not saying that not medicating is the only option, I am saying that long term medication can lead to other health related illnesses. I post this in hopes that parents will be aware of all the issues involved with medicating their children.
DoubleVision
07-14-2004, 04:48 PM
My son DOES medicate himself one pill a day when he uses the medication. He has been instructed on the benefits AND the dangers of the medication and also not to ever let the medication out of the house without our knowledge (such as a trip to his aunt's or something where he has a second "travel" bottle with a medication label from the pharmacy so it's in a legitimate package). He also knows that there are NO circumstances where he is to brag about or share his medication with ANYONE. I have laid out the consequences for doing so repeatedly. He is able to demonstrate safe method of med administration and keeps his pill bottle in the cupboard with the rest of the household medications, not in his room. I count the pills daily and know if he is taking the correct amount. You may think I am crazy for letting him take his medication without me handing it to him, but he is doing what he is supposed to do and there is nothing to stop him from experimenting with meds if he is determined..now or at age 16, etc. I can teach him all the right things to do and things to avoid, but the bottom line is that he has to assume some responsibility for his control at some point.
SpeisFamily
07-14-2004, 05:28 PM
Ok, most ADD/ADHD kids can not be trusted to take meds on their own. It sounds to me as if your son is responsible enough to follow the rules, take the correct amounts and not forget to take any, than he doesn't really need the medication. Do you see what i am getting at. He has learned self control, one of the main problems with ADD/ADHD kids. Personally I see no need for your son to be on the medication if he is that responsible.
DoubleVision
07-14-2004, 06:03 PM
SpeisFamily...my son HAS impulse control issues and has inattentive ADD as I mentioned. He has many struggles, and for you to insinuate that he shouldn't be on the meds because he has enough control to administer a pill to himself daily is a very uneducated statement. You do not know enough about his specific situation to make that judgement and I guess the bottom line is that you are against medication..point blank. Your posts are at best mildly rude and very judgemental about people you know nothing about. I understand and respect the fact that you have had misgivings about the meds your child has taken and that there have been health problems as a result. It is purely your choice as a parent to deal with your child however it seems right to you. Please understand that not all children are like yours. There are varying degrees of this illness/condition (whatever). I am just fortunate enough that my child can handle the task of one pill a day. He has been helping medicate our dog for the past 3 years and has done a great job helping out, so pills are no stranger to him.
SpeisFamily
07-15-2004, 12:19 AM
I just don't think it is right for a child to administer medication to himself with NO supervision. I understand letting him take the pill but you should at least be there to watch him take it. Is it that you are too busy to watch him? Adderall is a schedule II narcotic, a controlled substance. Adderall is the highest level and comes with a federal warning. This is not like giving a dog a pill, it is your child's life on the line. You can not just hope that he is taking it correctly, he needs supervision.
You said that he has impulse control issues, what if one day his impulse is to take the whole bottle? Oh no, your son wouldn't do that he knows better. If he knows better and wouldn't do something like that why do you have him on medication for impulse control issues? I know you are new at this medication thing. I am not against medicating, I am only warning of the adverse affects. If you read my first post I was simply asking if anyone else had experienced kidney stones with time release medication. You assumed, you know what that means, that I am against medicating, I am if there is no need or if it could cause harm to a child. I have chosen not to medicate my daughter, but when I did I knew enough to administer the medication to her.
You said that he has impulse control issues, what if one day his impulse is to take the whole bottle? Oh no, your son wouldn't do that he knows better. If he knows better and wouldn't do something like that why do you have him on medication for impulse control issues? I know you are new at this medication thing. I am not against medicating, I am only warning of the adverse affects. If you read my first post I was simply asking if anyone else had experienced kidney stones with time release medication. You assumed, you know what that means, that I am against medicating, I am if there is no need or if it could cause harm to a child. I have chosen not to medicate my daughter, but when I did I knew enough to administer the medication to her.
DoubleVision
07-15-2004, 01:36 AM
My daughter, who is 9 years old, has taken medication for ADHD since she was 4
I never said I was too busy to deliver medication to my son. My husband and I feel that at 12 years of age he should be able to put a single pill in his mouth while we keep track of the count in the bottle. As far as the issue with medicating the dog...it's NOT narcotics and it is a chore that is included in feeding the dog..she takes her medication with food. We all take part in feeding the dog. However, my son taking his medication is not like "feeding the dog". He is responsible to the point of putting a pill in his mouth...end of point. Your daughter, as you indicated, is 9! For heaven's sake, children are different at 12 than they are at 9! If you had a functioning brain cell in your head that could stop you from judging others, then you would see that I am doing the best I can as a parent to give what control I can to my growing/maturing child while maintaining the knowledge that he is doing what he is supposed to. But, no...you would rather we all be paranoid about our children overdosing and wigging out on their meds and therefore, I should be cramming the pill down his throat myself. Gee...how nice. Please get some help for your paranoias and God willing, your child will turn out ok in spite of your inability to view things from more than one angle. We all parent differently..I cannot tell you that what you do is right or wrong any more than you should be telling me what is right or wrong without being in my situation. You came to this forum looking for supposed advice and you want nothing of it...you just seem to get your jollies off of belittling others for not doing things your way.
I never said I was too busy to deliver medication to my son. My husband and I feel that at 12 years of age he should be able to put a single pill in his mouth while we keep track of the count in the bottle. As far as the issue with medicating the dog...it's NOT narcotics and it is a chore that is included in feeding the dog..she takes her medication with food. We all take part in feeding the dog. However, my son taking his medication is not like "feeding the dog". He is responsible to the point of putting a pill in his mouth...end of point. Your daughter, as you indicated, is 9! For heaven's sake, children are different at 12 than they are at 9! If you had a functioning brain cell in your head that could stop you from judging others, then you would see that I am doing the best I can as a parent to give what control I can to my growing/maturing child while maintaining the knowledge that he is doing what he is supposed to. But, no...you would rather we all be paranoid about our children overdosing and wigging out on their meds and therefore, I should be cramming the pill down his throat myself. Gee...how nice. Please get some help for your paranoias and God willing, your child will turn out ok in spite of your inability to view things from more than one angle. We all parent differently..I cannot tell you that what you do is right or wrong any more than you should be telling me what is right or wrong without being in my situation. You came to this forum looking for supposed advice and you want nothing of it...you just seem to get your jollies off of belittling others for not doing things your way.
sheezle
07-15-2004, 05:25 AM
If the medicine is working then yes he should be trusted to take his own medicine. Boys with a.d.d. are much harder to handle then little girls believe me, I have lived fine without any meds and am having a very hard time trying to teach my son how to control himself. I think i know all the tricks because I know what worked for me but seems boys are much different then girls. I will post later when I have done more studying. I have went to alot of seminars but they mainly focused on adult a.d.d...I am just now starting to do extensive research on the boy child.. I am honestly contemplating medicine for my son so he can have the patience while I teach him the tricks..Iwill not make my mind up until I have done all my research..I have found that more boys with a.d.d. turn to alcohol and drugs later in life and that scares me, so if medication helps me prevent that for my child then that is what I will do but I am just not ready to make that decision. I tell you what though when and if i do go the medicine route I will know before I go to doctors office what medicine I plan for him and I will not accept any doctor talking me into something I do not want from him..We have to educate ourselves people. These doctors do not lay in bed worrying about us. They do not know as much as many people think they do..If the drug company tells them this new medicine works great they use patients to experiment it on..My son will not be an experiment....anyways, my original reason for posting on this thread was to let you 2 know that you do not agree and you both are right..You two are dealing with 2 different sexes with wide ranges in ages so as there are many simularities there are just as many different things the 2 of you are dealing with...good luck to both of you and thank god for the little angels he gave you..The children with a.d.d. will most likely be the ones who take care of you when you are old...hmmmmm, wonder if they'll put us on medication to stop us from driving them crazy....lol
DoubleVision
07-15-2004, 12:58 PM
Thank you Sheezle. We simply cannot lump all of our children into one big ball of ADD/ADHD and treat them all the same. What is good for one is not necessarily good for the other. In addition, good luck with your son and thank you for opening your mind to education on the younger species!
SpeisFamily
07-15-2004, 01:22 PM
I believe that there is a condition called ADD/ADHD but I don't think medication is the ONLY answer....My opinion is that ADD and ADHD can be treated in many ways besides medicating with patience on the child's part and the parents. I would appreciate any feedback. Thank you
If you notice, I was simply stating my opinion. I never said that not medicating was the only option. I requested feedback, not critisism. I was looking for an intelligent discussion as well as support, which is apparent that I am not going to get either from you. I did not come here to argue with you and frankly I have spent too much time trying to explain what was clearly posted and twisted by you, DoubleVision :nono: .
If you notice, I was simply stating my opinion. I never said that not medicating was the only option. I requested feedback, not critisism. I was looking for an intelligent discussion as well as support, which is apparent that I am not going to get either from you. I did not come here to argue with you and frankly I have spent too much time trying to explain what was clearly posted and twisted by you, DoubleVision :nono: .
sheezle
07-15-2004, 03:12 PM
I was by no means not trying to support you. In fact I should have posted all my thoughts but the typing gets a bit much for me..I for one think you are very smart for how you are going about teaching your daughter . Although you said the a.d.d. is not the reason for home schooling , I think it is a perfect reason to homeschool. The public school system was made for people with different wiring then us. Sitting in a chair for long periods of time is like torture to us. Does that make us mental ? absolutely not..As for the social aspect of it. ok if we get technical there is really not much of that in school. They have to sit and not be permitted to talk. The total play time is around 50 minutes out of the day and that 50 minutes is broke up. Also the school system teaches at a slow pace -we do much better at fast pace -the slow pace is what gets us bored and then the brain turns off, we get behind when we were ahead when the game of school started...I think you have made all the right decisions for your daughter..No doubt she will grow into a productive part of society that people will enjoy being around....
msmars5188
07-15-2004, 04:57 PM
I'm not trying to criticize anyone here but why are you arguing with eachother? You both know that you wont change the others mind or opinion. Well, anyway, in my opinion you shouldnt hover over your kid and force the pill down their throat no matter what age they are. Of course you need to watch them when they are "younger" but let the kid take it out of the bottle and stuff. I've taken meds for differant things for years and when i am prescribed zithromax to treat my bronchitis, i dont need my mother to hand me the pill and a glass of water because i know that the medicine will help me get better. I know adhd medication is differant, but im at the age where we "test out things," as some people would say, and i have no desire nor intention of overdosing on my concerta. If the child knows how much to take, when to take it, and what can/will happen if they take too much then you shouldnt worry. I wake up every morning, eat my breakfast, and take my pill and i dont need my mother to force me to... end of story. She trusts me and if you dont trust your kid and teach them about what they are taking then when they are in the real world they will be skrewed. It's my personal choice to be medicated and i am almost certain that one day i will decide that i dont want to be on medication anymore, so i wont be. When it all boils down to it, its not about the parent of the adhd child, its about the child and their quality of life... and thats coming from a teen that's mother had to hear that from a psychologist. Good luck w/ everyone w/ everything.
SpeisFamily
07-15-2004, 05:02 PM
Like I said before......
I just don't think it is right for a child to administer medication to himself with NO supervision. I understand letting him take the pill but you should at least be there to watch him take it.
I just don't think it is right for a child to administer medication to himself with NO supervision. I understand letting him take the pill but you should at least be there to watch him take it.
DoubleVision
07-16-2004, 12:01 AM
SpeisFamily argues with me due to the fact that I have my personal ways of dealing with my ADD child that are incompatible with his/her method of childrearing. So be it...if one comes to this board looking for feedback, he/she must also be willing to accept criticism. This is an interactive board with people from all walks and experiences and we are not always going to agree. MSMars...I applaud you for taking control of your situation and for showing maturity in your ability to do so.
dadwhocares
07-20-2004, 05:33 PM
I have a question.....would a pharmacist fill a prescription for a 12 year old? Why not? Things that make you go Hmmmmm.
dadwhocares
07-20-2004, 05:39 PM
My son has been taking medication for 6 years and he is now 10 years old. There is no way (even though I know he is responsible enough to take it without my supervision) that I would allow him to take it without me being right there. it is not too much (in my opinion) to stand there while my son takes his medication. I feel as parents it is our job to PROTECT our children as much as possible. I would feel terrible if my son accidentally took too much medicine or took the wrong medicine because I was too lazy to supervise him.
dadwhocares
07-20-2004, 06:01 PM
I am sorry for making all of these posts but things keep popping into my head. If your son has adhd then he probably tries to do everything in a hurry, and I will tell you from experience that when I put the pills in my sons hands he puts them in his mouth without even looking, and then he is gone, he could care less what he took because I gave it to him and he knows that he can trust me. If he were to go get the meds himself, I am sure that he would look closely at what he is taking most of the time but it is the one time that he wouldn't that scares me. If you feel that your child is responsible enough to drive at the age of 15 will you allow him to do so? Do you realize how vulnerable you will be if your son over medicates himself and has to go to the hospital and when you are asked if he was unsupervised while taking his medication who is going to be breathing down your neck. You can take that chance all you want but I refuse.
sheezle
07-21-2004, 02:37 AM
We have A.D.D. not down syndrome ...geez..We can do anything any other person can do we just do them differently..These post lately have been a disgrace..At 15 or 16 anyone should be responsible enough to take thier own medication, no matter what kind it is..If they are not then I would say the medicine wasn't working and they shouldn't be on it in the first place....I am so tired of other people treating a.d.d. children as misfit children but as long thier own parents are doing it then how can we make others learn that they are not...
SpeisFamily
07-21-2004, 09:29 AM
sheezle, doublevision's son is not 15 or 16, he is only 12. DadWhoCares was not posting about you, he was replying to doublevision's post. Aderall is a schedule II drug which is in the highly addictive catagory. The name of the drug is methylphenidate which is a stimulant that is structurally and pharmacologically similar to the amphetamines. It is a narcotic and that is why there is more paper signing and form filling out at the pharmasist's office than for a normal prescription drug. There are tons of warnings about this medication, if only parents would adhear to them. It is only for the child's safety.
Raes*Mom
07-21-2004, 11:52 AM
My son has been taking medication for 6 years and he is now 10 years old. There is no way (even though I know he is responsible enough to take it without my supervision) that I would allow him to take it without me being right there. it is not too much (in my opinion) to stand there while my son takes his medication. I feel as parents it is our job to PROTECT our children as much as possible. I would feel terrible if my son accidentally took too much medicine or took the wrong medicine because I was too lazy to supervise him.
I have to throw my 2 cents into the ring. First of all, I don't really believe Doublevision allows her son to take his own meds due to her laziness. It's a decision she made as a parent based on her knowledge of her child. However, in my opinion, a 12 year old is still a child and who knows what childish thoughts might enter their mind, especially the abstract and usually immature mind of an ADHD child. My daughter is 11 and has always been taught about medications and their dangers. Recently she had swimmer's ear and had to be prescribed antibiotic drops. One night, after all had gone to bed, her ear really started bothering her and she decided to use more of her drops on her own, thinking it would ease the pain. She used nearly half of the medication. I was so surprised by her actions as she had never done anything like that before. Thank God it was only ear drops and not half a bottle of Adderall. There are many other ways we can allow our children to become independent but I just don't feel, that for most children and even some teenagers, the independent use of a Schedule II amphetimine is one of them.
I have to throw my 2 cents into the ring. First of all, I don't really believe Doublevision allows her son to take his own meds due to her laziness. It's a decision she made as a parent based on her knowledge of her child. However, in my opinion, a 12 year old is still a child and who knows what childish thoughts might enter their mind, especially the abstract and usually immature mind of an ADHD child. My daughter is 11 and has always been taught about medications and their dangers. Recently she had swimmer's ear and had to be prescribed antibiotic drops. One night, after all had gone to bed, her ear really started bothering her and she decided to use more of her drops on her own, thinking it would ease the pain. She used nearly half of the medication. I was so surprised by her actions as she had never done anything like that before. Thank God it was only ear drops and not half a bottle of Adderall. There are many other ways we can allow our children to become independent but I just don't feel, that for most children and even some teenagers, the independent use of a Schedule II amphetimine is one of them.
SpeisFamily
07-22-2004, 11:58 AM
I have noticed that pizza causes a huge increase in my daughter's hyperactivity the day after she eats it. I am not sure what it is in the pizza, but no matter what kind of pizza it is, she is extremely hyper the next day. She is worse with pizza hut pizza as opposed to little ceasars pizza. Don't know if it is the crust, pizza sauce, cheese? :confused: We try eating home made meals mostly, because anything else is just processed and not healthy anyway. Thanks for the tips. ;)
pufnstuf77
07-22-2004, 02:47 PM
pizza making children hyper??
sodawater
07-22-2004, 05:12 PM
Both the dough and tomato sauce in these kinds of pizza are likely to contain immense amounts of sugar.
apinecone
07-22-2004, 07:10 PM
Ya! Pizza !! Bring it on!!! :bouncing: But on my piece in addition to holding the sugar could you hold the yeast, milk/cheese, and sausage?
yeast infection/sensitivity (http://www.foodintol.com/eliminationdiet.asp), lactose intolerance and milk allergy (http://www.lactose.co.uk/), nitrite sensitivity (http://www.tigmor.com/free/migraine.pdf).
yeast infection/sensitivity (http://www.foodintol.com/eliminationdiet.asp), lactose intolerance and milk allergy (http://www.lactose.co.uk/), nitrite sensitivity (http://www.tigmor.com/free/migraine.pdf).
bec123
07-23-2004, 10:38 AM
to speis family,
I think its beautiful to see you taking such an intent interest in the well being of your child , it sounds like you deserve a medal for your perserverence, I am 23 and have a four year old son who is extremely hyperactive and could quite possibly have been diagnosed with adhd, but Ive read one too many stories like your own that made me take an alternate route, I was also given a book called " the indigo children ' by lee carroll and jan tober, which gave me a different perspective about these overly enthusiastic kiddies, you should have a read and see what you think , you might get something out of it , or think its rubbish! , but I found it helpful
bec123 :)
I think its beautiful to see you taking such an intent interest in the well being of your child , it sounds like you deserve a medal for your perserverence, I am 23 and have a four year old son who is extremely hyperactive and could quite possibly have been diagnosed with adhd, but Ive read one too many stories like your own that made me take an alternate route, I was also given a book called " the indigo children ' by lee carroll and jan tober, which gave me a different perspective about these overly enthusiastic kiddies, you should have a read and see what you think , you might get something out of it , or think its rubbish! , but I found it helpful
bec123 :)
SpeisFamily
07-23-2004, 01:31 PM
bec123,
Thank you, I love to read, think I will pick that one up at the library next week. Thanks ;)
Thank you, I love to read, think I will pick that one up at the library next week. Thanks ;)
dadwhocares
07-27-2004, 06:04 PM
well I think I am making some headway with my son's doctor. I called the other day and talked to a new nurse in her office and asked if my son needed his concerta if he is calmer before I give it to him than after, she refused to comment but yesterday she called and said the doctor wanted to speak to me. I have an appointment at 11:45 this friday. I finally got his medical records as well and it does not show anywhere that this particular doctor did an evaluation of my son personally, she apparently has just gone off of past medical records. The records also indicated that she has increased his dosage because his mom said he was not doing well in school. I find this funny because none of my kids were doing well at the private school attended and as soon as she changed schools all three of their grades went thru the roof. FULL STEAM AHEAD!!!!!
Laird
07-27-2004, 09:42 PM
Alrighty...
I registered here on healthboards in order to reply to a different subject, but then I saw this one and figured I'd give it a read...
I am a 29 year old male. I was originally diagnosed with ADHD in gradeschool. My parents, both very intelligent and intellectual minded individuals, did just about everything and anything that responsible parents could do for me.
Excuse me if I don't reply to each of your handles individually, but I think you'll get the message.
In regards to school/home-school/public school - I agree, the public school system is ill-equipped for the needs of the ad(h)d child. I was a very advanced student, and had I been put in a public school I would have been placed in 3rd grade instead of first. My mother, who graduated high school when she was 16 and college when she was 19, instead found a wonderful alternative - I went to a montessori school. I believe that this type of education would better prepare ANYONE for the real world, but is especially well suited for an add child.
Before my parents put me on any medication, they went the dietary route. It was carab bars and sugar-free jello, etc. for a long time... Wonders have been made in this area since my youth, btw. I was pretty precocious, and would eat packs of sugar for mcdonalds, and kept a box of REAL cherry jello, lick my fingers and lick it off...
Anyways, eventually they moved to medication (ritalin). For some reason or another I didn't want to be "changed" by the medication, and constantly informed my parents that they made me feel "funny." And since they really didn't see much improvement, they let me make my own decision. This was when I was around 12 years old..
Well, the reason they didn't see any improvement was because much of the time I wasn't really taking the medication, just putting it under my tongue... As I said, precocious child...
I really wish that I had taken the medication.
Though I, too, was in all the "advanced" classes it was only due to my high intellect that I was able to get along.. ADHD individuals create a myriad of different coping mechanisms. I would sit there in class, in a conversation, whereever, looking right at you, but actually be somewhere else. Eventually, it would come time for me to respond and I would then in a couple of seconds replay that which I wasn't even listening to to begin with in my mind before I could respond. This is only one of many tricks of the trade....
Anyways, someone earlier on in this thread talked about males suffering from adhd are more likely to turn to alcohol and drugs. I can definitely attest to that.
I started self medicating myself with a variety of different substances to help control my hyperactivity and attention disorder at 15 or 16. Now that's not the ONLY reason I used drugs, but I'd say that it's the reason that I didn't just use them "experimentally" or "recreationally" like everyone else.
Nonetheless, I lived a relatively happy and productive life for quite some time. Mind you, I had to smoke pot just about every day after work in order to sit still (or even be able to get to sleep so I could get up the next morning to go to work)... The problem w/being a highly intelligent adhd druggy, instead of just a dope, is that people don't really see the problem. They think you're just eccentric. And since I left college and I was making six figures who was really gonna say things weren't going well?
When I was 26 I stepped up to heroin after work to calm down... And, needless to say, it was a downward spiral from there..
I could go on and on about a variety of different subjects, but I won't. I just wanted to let ya'll know that I REALLY REALLY wish that I'd taken meds when I was a kid...
The original poster of this thread seems to have their mind made up about things, but why get on here and post it they really are? Do you really think that your kid has kidney stones because of their add meds? Why? It just seems like your a little too anti-establishment and that that might not be the best thing for your kids... (if some people heard me say that I'm sure their mouths would drop)...
Oh... And if the schools suck, then the fact that your kid's in an advanced class doesn't necessarily mean she's advanced, does it? Are you SURE that she has enough contact "with kids running around the neighborhood and bible study"?
I've only been involved with your problems for, like, 15-20 minutes, and I'm sure you're putting a lot of time and care into the decisions you make for your family, but aren't there some other options? Home-schooling may seem like a great idea from your standpoint, but you seem to jump back and forth btwn "I don't get upset when she's running around the kitchen at 100 MPH, I ask her to help, and she loves to" and "I realize that I was just letting the medication do the parenting, and putting her in front of the tv and gameboy"
NEWSFLASH - KIDS LIKE GAMES - STUDYS TELL US THAT THEY'RE GOOD FOR THEM - MY GAME/COMPUTER USAGE HAS GIVEN ME A VIABLE INCOME FOREVER.
Anyways... I just wanted to say a word or two... and I did... so..
Peace,
D
I registered here on healthboards in order to reply to a different subject, but then I saw this one and figured I'd give it a read...
I am a 29 year old male. I was originally diagnosed with ADHD in gradeschool. My parents, both very intelligent and intellectual minded individuals, did just about everything and anything that responsible parents could do for me.
Excuse me if I don't reply to each of your handles individually, but I think you'll get the message.
In regards to school/home-school/public school - I agree, the public school system is ill-equipped for the needs of the ad(h)d child. I was a very advanced student, and had I been put in a public school I would have been placed in 3rd grade instead of first. My mother, who graduated high school when she was 16 and college when she was 19, instead found a wonderful alternative - I went to a montessori school. I believe that this type of education would better prepare ANYONE for the real world, but is especially well suited for an add child.
Before my parents put me on any medication, they went the dietary route. It was carab bars and sugar-free jello, etc. for a long time... Wonders have been made in this area since my youth, btw. I was pretty precocious, and would eat packs of sugar for mcdonalds, and kept a box of REAL cherry jello, lick my fingers and lick it off...
Anyways, eventually they moved to medication (ritalin). For some reason or another I didn't want to be "changed" by the medication, and constantly informed my parents that they made me feel "funny." And since they really didn't see much improvement, they let me make my own decision. This was when I was around 12 years old..
Well, the reason they didn't see any improvement was because much of the time I wasn't really taking the medication, just putting it under my tongue... As I said, precocious child...
I really wish that I had taken the medication.
Though I, too, was in all the "advanced" classes it was only due to my high intellect that I was able to get along.. ADHD individuals create a myriad of different coping mechanisms. I would sit there in class, in a conversation, whereever, looking right at you, but actually be somewhere else. Eventually, it would come time for me to respond and I would then in a couple of seconds replay that which I wasn't even listening to to begin with in my mind before I could respond. This is only one of many tricks of the trade....
Anyways, someone earlier on in this thread talked about males suffering from adhd are more likely to turn to alcohol and drugs. I can definitely attest to that.
I started self medicating myself with a variety of different substances to help control my hyperactivity and attention disorder at 15 or 16. Now that's not the ONLY reason I used drugs, but I'd say that it's the reason that I didn't just use them "experimentally" or "recreationally" like everyone else.
Nonetheless, I lived a relatively happy and productive life for quite some time. Mind you, I had to smoke pot just about every day after work in order to sit still (or even be able to get to sleep so I could get up the next morning to go to work)... The problem w/being a highly intelligent adhd druggy, instead of just a dope, is that people don't really see the problem. They think you're just eccentric. And since I left college and I was making six figures who was really gonna say things weren't going well?
When I was 26 I stepped up to heroin after work to calm down... And, needless to say, it was a downward spiral from there..
I could go on and on about a variety of different subjects, but I won't. I just wanted to let ya'll know that I REALLY REALLY wish that I'd taken meds when I was a kid...
The original poster of this thread seems to have their mind made up about things, but why get on here and post it they really are? Do you really think that your kid has kidney stones because of their add meds? Why? It just seems like your a little too anti-establishment and that that might not be the best thing for your kids... (if some people heard me say that I'm sure their mouths would drop)...
Oh... And if the schools suck, then the fact that your kid's in an advanced class doesn't necessarily mean she's advanced, does it? Are you SURE that she has enough contact "with kids running around the neighborhood and bible study"?
I've only been involved with your problems for, like, 15-20 minutes, and I'm sure you're putting a lot of time and care into the decisions you make for your family, but aren't there some other options? Home-schooling may seem like a great idea from your standpoint, but you seem to jump back and forth btwn "I don't get upset when she's running around the kitchen at 100 MPH, I ask her to help, and she loves to" and "I realize that I was just letting the medication do the parenting, and putting her in front of the tv and gameboy"
NEWSFLASH - KIDS LIKE GAMES - STUDYS TELL US THAT THEY'RE GOOD FOR THEM - MY GAME/COMPUTER USAGE HAS GIVEN ME A VIABLE INCOME FOREVER.
Anyways... I just wanted to say a word or two... and I did... so..
Peace,
D
index.html
07-27-2004, 10:46 PM
Laird,
Thank you for sharing your personal experience. It's always good for us parents to hear what it is like from people "who have been there".
What I think is awesome is how you've managed to turn your computer usage into a living. That's cool! I hope my son will be able to find a career in a field that he enjoys.
Good luck to you!
Thank you for sharing your personal experience. It's always good for us parents to hear what it is like from people "who have been there".
What I think is awesome is how you've managed to turn your computer usage into a living. That's cool! I hope my son will be able to find a career in a field that he enjoys.
Good luck to you!
dadwhocares
07-28-2004, 03:17 PM
Laird, I am empathetic to your situation although I have never been there, and I commend what you have done with you life. However, I don't think anyone is saying that a child that needs to be medicated shouldn't. I have a son that did poorly at a private school and I talked to the teachers on a regular basis and I will tell you that although I don't think my son need concerta, regardless they were not prepared to handle a child with it. I want you to know that I disagree with sitting a child in front of the TV or a video game if you can get out and do things with them. Did your parents do constructive things with you? Or did they allow you to sit there and play video games all the time. Although you have made a career out of your hobby, is it possible that if you played some sports or did more outside activities that you might not have needed the medication? I am not asking to criticize, I am asking because I truly want your opinion. I hate the fact that when my son is with my ex he is medicated and put in front of the TV because he is too much for her to handle, and when he is with me he is just fine without his meds as long as we stay busy doing things that are constructive. He is now in a public school and is doing better than ever. Like I said I don't mean to criticize you but think about it, if a kid already has a lot of energy, is it wise to stick him in front of the TV?
SpeisFamily
07-28-2004, 04:22 PM
I never said I was anti-establishment nor do I agree with your interpritation of my situation. I also never said that we should never let our children watch TV or play video games. What I was saying is that I used to be much like many parents, and stuck my daughter in front of the TV or video game along with medication to keep her "under control". The fact was, I didn't spend enough time with her. I did not involve her in my everyday activities, I considered her different from other children and didn't understand how to take care of my own child. I say this because I am ashamed that I tried to handle her the way I did and am now changing and trying to give others ideas of ways to give ADD/ADHD children attention and help them to learn to control themselves without depending on medication or turning to drugs. And kids need excersize man.
Honestly Laird, I think you were a bit rude and didn't fully comprehend what I was saying.
The reason I believe that the time release medication, Concerta, caused these kidney stones in my daughter is because of much research I have done. Many doctors are finding children coming into the ER's with horrible pain, upon CAT scans they are finding Concerta built up in their kidneys. In fact many doctors have removed these pieces of medication assuming it was a kidney stone and upon evaluation found it was pieces of Concerta. I have not simply jumped to conclusions but also discussed this with my daughter's nephrologist. And by the way, since I took my daughter off of the medication at the beginning of summer her tests are already coming back better, if that isn't proof enough. :)
Honestly Laird, I think you were a bit rude and didn't fully comprehend what I was saying.
The reason I believe that the time release medication, Concerta, caused these kidney stones in my daughter is because of much research I have done. Many doctors are finding children coming into the ER's with horrible pain, upon CAT scans they are finding Concerta built up in their kidneys. In fact many doctors have removed these pieces of medication assuming it was a kidney stone and upon evaluation found it was pieces of Concerta. I have not simply jumped to conclusions but also discussed this with my daughter's nephrologist. And by the way, since I took my daughter off of the medication at the beginning of summer her tests are already coming back better, if that isn't proof enough. :)
dadwhocares
07-29-2004, 01:18 PM
Just food for thought. Hasn't it been proven that execise will help you relax?
Laird
08-07-2004, 07:57 AM
Did your parents do constructive things with you? Or did they allow you to sit there and play video games all the time. Although you have made a career out of your hobby, is it possible that if you played some sports or did more outside activities that you might not have needed the medication?
Yes, there were always many sports and physical activities in addition to the intellectual while I was growing up. I started skiing & playing th piano at 4 and have continued my entire life (though I moved to snowboarding @ 18), played soccer & baseball in leagues up until high school, and then played football and wrestled varsity. I practiced and went to kae kwan doe camp, in addition to a performing arts camp in upstate new york and a "camp" camp for quite a few years before I became a camp counsellor there teaching Tennis and horseback riding. I was active in all the scouting programs up until boy scouts, when I quit. I also took gymnastic lessons & tennis lessons. I played with my dad all summer long, and they participated in just about everything I did - for example, after my brother and I started skiing my mother started a ski club at my school. . My family also did a LOT of travelling together.
So, I wouldn't really say that my parents used TV or the computer as a babysitter or major parenting tool.
re: kidney stones/concerta/etc.
Use a different medication. Didn't mean to come across as rude, though, generally, you're not alone in that assessment
"I am ashamed that I tried to handle her the way I did and am now changing and trying to give others ideas of ways to give ADD/ADHD children attention and help them to learn to control themselves without depending on medication or turning to drugs. "
^^^^ boils things down to their essentials
My parents put a time limit on the amount of time I spent on the computer when I was like 9 or 10 years old. You seem to equate the medication with absentee parentism/drugged up children with lifeless eyes, bloodshot from hours of television.
A newfound commitment to paying attention to and caring for one's child doesn't necessarily take away the need for medication, it implies that the problem isn't that your child has adhd, it's because you weren't a good parent. Now you are resolute to be he exact opposite of the absentee parent - homeschooling. Maybe you're going too far the other way.
Time for bed - Extremely tired - Hope coherency level not too low.
D
Yes, there were always many sports and physical activities in addition to the intellectual while I was growing up. I started skiing & playing th piano at 4 and have continued my entire life (though I moved to snowboarding @ 18), played soccer & baseball in leagues up until high school, and then played football and wrestled varsity. I practiced and went to kae kwan doe camp, in addition to a performing arts camp in upstate new york and a "camp" camp for quite a few years before I became a camp counsellor there teaching Tennis and horseback riding. I was active in all the scouting programs up until boy scouts, when I quit. I also took gymnastic lessons & tennis lessons. I played with my dad all summer long, and they participated in just about everything I did - for example, after my brother and I started skiing my mother started a ski club at my school. . My family also did a LOT of travelling together.
So, I wouldn't really say that my parents used TV or the computer as a babysitter or major parenting tool.
re: kidney stones/concerta/etc.
Use a different medication. Didn't mean to come across as rude, though, generally, you're not alone in that assessment
"I am ashamed that I tried to handle her the way I did and am now changing and trying to give others ideas of ways to give ADD/ADHD children attention and help them to learn to control themselves without depending on medication or turning to drugs. "
^^^^ boils things down to their essentials
My parents put a time limit on the amount of time I spent on the computer when I was like 9 or 10 years old. You seem to equate the medication with absentee parentism/drugged up children with lifeless eyes, bloodshot from hours of television.
A newfound commitment to paying attention to and caring for one's child doesn't necessarily take away the need for medication, it implies that the problem isn't that your child has adhd, it's because you weren't a good parent. Now you are resolute to be he exact opposite of the absentee parent - homeschooling. Maybe you're going too far the other way.
Time for bed - Extremely tired - Hope coherency level not too low.
D
JDRkids
08-08-2004, 01:07 PM
Well for whatever it is worth:
My internship was counseling inmates, I got all the drug dependent ones. Many of them were ADD/ADHD. From my studying and from my experience with working with many individuals here is basically what I understand is happening.
The brains of ADD/ADHD are different than brains that are not ADD/ADHD. It is on a scale, from less to worse. When someones brain is ADD/ADHD the individual automatically seeks out either a stimulating experience to feed an under-stimulated brain, or low stimulaton to assist the over-stimulated brain. Thus illegal drugs use. Thus the use of Ritalin/Adderall ect. The stimulant wakes up the sleepy part of the brain, the part of the brain that needs nudged in order for the individual to think clearly ect.It either will nudge the slow down part for the over stimulated, or nudge the excite part for the under stimulated.
jdrkids
My internship was counseling inmates, I got all the drug dependent ones. Many of them were ADD/ADHD. From my studying and from my experience with working with many individuals here is basically what I understand is happening.
The brains of ADD/ADHD are different than brains that are not ADD/ADHD. It is on a scale, from less to worse. When someones brain is ADD/ADHD the individual automatically seeks out either a stimulating experience to feed an under-stimulated brain, or low stimulaton to assist the over-stimulated brain. Thus illegal drugs use. Thus the use of Ritalin/Adderall ect. The stimulant wakes up the sleepy part of the brain, the part of the brain that needs nudged in order for the individual to think clearly ect.It either will nudge the slow down part for the over stimulated, or nudge the excite part for the under stimulated.
jdrkids
SpeisFamily
08-09-2004, 11:04 AM
I agree with your comparisson of ADD/ADHD medication to illegal drugs/narcotics because that is exactly what it is, a narcotic. I chose not to give it to my daughter anymore not because I am a bad parent but because I have found other, more effective ways of handeling it.
dadwhocares
08-11-2004, 03:15 PM
My Son Came Over This Weekend And Was Wired As Usual When I Picked Him Up. He Had Already Taken His Medication. On Sunday I Did Not Give It To Him When He Woke Up And He Was Fine All Morning And Into The Afternoon. We Decided To Go Shopping And As We Were Walking To The Car He Asked For His Medication. (i Was Told By His Pediatrician To Give It To Him On The Days That He Would Be Returning To His Mom) I Was Shocked That He Asked For It Until I Learned Later That He Had Gotten In Trouble At Home For Not Taking. Needless To Say Within 30 Minutes Of Taking It He Got Very Energetic And Finally Hit His Little Sister. This Weekend I Start Getting Him On Friday Evening And Returning Him Monday Morning So It Will Be Interesting To See How He Does On The 2 Days He Doesn't Take His Meds.
SpeisFamily
08-11-2004, 03:49 PM
Most children who are misdiagnosed with ADD/ADHD get extremely hyper on the medication. My younger daughter got ahold of my older daughters medication once and took 1 before I got to her and all night long she was bouncing off the walls. She couldn't stop moving, she was jumping around and would not pay attention to anything. This medication has the opposite effect on children that do not have the disorder.
I really think your son may be misdiagnosed. He just doesn't seem to have the right symptoms. Does he fidgit constantly, talk nonstop, squirm around while seated, is he easily distracted, or does he not think about consequences for actions such as doing dangerous things that could get him or someone else hurt? Those are a few of the most common symptoms.
I really think your son may be misdiagnosed. He just doesn't seem to have the right symptoms. Does he fidgit constantly, talk nonstop, squirm around while seated, is he easily distracted, or does he not think about consequences for actions such as doing dangerous things that could get him or someone else hurt? Those are a few of the most common symptoms.
dadwhocares
08-11-2004, 07:09 PM
he does but it is actually while he is on the medication. I have noticed that when he sits down to watch a movie while he is not on his meds he moves around but stays very focused on the movie. If he watches a movie while on the medication he gets excited very easily and moves around even more, he can't stay quite, and we end up having to send him to another roon just so everyone else can watch the movie. I don't want anyone to think that my son does not have a lot of energy, because he is pretty energetic while not on his meds but I don't feel that means he has ADHD. Like I have said before, if he finds something he is interested in he learns it quickly and is very good at it.
SpeisFamily
08-12-2004, 10:43 AM
ADD/ADHD medication is like caffiene or sugar as an example, although it is a narcotic and much different, It acts as a stimulant to those who do not have ADD/ADHD and as a antistimulant to those who do have ADD/ADHD. Some doctors have even suggested giving children that do have ADD/ADHD coffee to calm them down, while it would make most people more awake and hyper. There is a chemical imbalance somewhere. I am not opposed to treating ADD/ADHD children with medication, but for those children that have milder cases I think there are alternitives such as focusing excersises and simply giving the child the extra attention that that long for by including them in as much as you possible can. If there is something your ex does that does not involve your son ie: doing the bills, cooking, cleaning the house. Maybe she can learn to include him, let him do the adding of the bills on the calculator, let him stir the food, let him dust the house. Maybe you and your ex need to discuss other options like mature adults without having to take her to court. Will she even talk to you?
sharon pearsall
08-12-2004, 02:10 PM
can you tell me how strattera effects a 4 year? Also can you tell me how long it takes for it to work? what is the proper dose for a 4 year old who weight 96 pounds. how long does it take for the medicine to work? What is the best time to give the medicine? my son was on 25 mg from July 23, 2004 until August 11, 2004 and now he has just been increased to 40 for 7 days starting today August 12, 2004 and then he will go to 60 for the next 7 days by then I have to take him back to the Doctor. please respond ASAP!! I want to help my child who since he has been in school has done a 360. the staff at school says he hits other children and teachers and he yells out and they say his behavior is out of control sometimes.
sharon pearsall
08-12-2004, 02:22 PM
can you tell me how strattera effects a 4 year? Also can you tell me how long it takes for it to work? what is the proper dose for a 4 year old who weight 96 pounds. how long does it take for the medicine to work? What is the best time to give the medicine? my son was on 25 mg from July 23, 2004 until August 11, 2004 and now he has just been increased to 40 for 7 days starting today August 12, 2004 and then he will go to 60 for the next 7 days by then I have to take him back to the Doctor. please respond ASAP!! I want to help my child who since he has been in school has done a 360. the staff at school says he hits other children and teachers and he yells out and they say his behavior is out of control sometimes.
SpeisFamily
08-12-2004, 03:57 PM
sharon,
Has there been any big changes or stressful situations in your sons life recently? Have you gone through a divorse/breakup, moved, someone die. Sometimes situations can change a childs behavior. You said your son has done a 360, is this after you put him on the medication? if it is then maybe he has been misdiagnosed, as I mentioned earlier medication can have the opposite effect on a child who does not have ADD/ADHD.
As far as I know the medication should work as quickly as half an hour after you give it to the child. It is not something they need to build up in their system before it works.
Has there been any big changes or stressful situations in your sons life recently? Have you gone through a divorse/breakup, moved, someone die. Sometimes situations can change a childs behavior. You said your son has done a 360, is this after you put him on the medication? if it is then maybe he has been misdiagnosed, as I mentioned earlier medication can have the opposite effect on a child who does not have ADD/ADHD.
As far as I know the medication should work as quickly as half an hour after you give it to the child. It is not something they need to build up in their system before it works.