I went to the Pediatrician today to have an appointment booked to see a specialist at the Children's HOspital to assess Christopher (Age 4.. just) for Autism.

Well I was told that he may have ADHD before, but with the delayed growth in many apsects of his life, I was told that I may be Autism.

So in the appintment, he was his normal out of control self... and the doctor was shocked. She wanted to know WHY I hadn't told her how bad he was... even though I was telling her BEFORE how many daycares he was getting kicked out of, and why. So she wouldn't let me leave WITHOUT the Dexedrine. She said that if we are to assess him properly for Autism, he MUST be under control enough to be able to work with him.

She says at the moment, he sounds like he has BOTH ADHD and Autism... I'm supremely depressed about starting him on meds, I held it off as long as I could, but can't anymore. The Pediatrician told me she does NOT like to give ANY kind of medication to children under the age of 5, but for his case - he's a RARE exception.

I'm hesitant about starting him on it, and she told me that it's normal to feel that way, or even scared about it. But she said I should notice results almost instantly (that day)... and after a few days, I would be kicking myself for not asking for this before.

He's already getting into trouble with the babies at the dayhome he's at (He's only been there for 3 days!) because he wants all of the attention from the adults.

MOther in law is very upset about this (she looks after him on Mondays and Fridays) she says he's a normal child (althought a little rambunctious), and is telling me that the doctor only wants to sell the drugs. She will watch him for a day or two and then I hear she starts freaking out because she can't handle him.

So now it sounds as if she's making ME the bad person for agreeing with the doctor, and gettign a prescription.

And NOW I DO feel bad, even after the doctor assured me that it's okay to need the help. I need to vent... although you may not agree with me putting my son on medication (Heck, I STILL don't like it), please do not freak out of me, I'm very sensitive about it now.

I just want to know if anyone else has their child on this?

Hi. I'm sorry, my child has never taken it, so I can't answer your question. I don't blame you for being concerned. Ritalin and dexedrine are classified as Schedule II drugs (amphetamines) according to the FDA-same class as cocaine. When I took Ritalin it made my heart race. I felt drugged. I just read an article which stated that two Air National Guard pilots who mistakenly bombed Canadian troops during an F-16 flight over Afghanistan last year, claimed the drug Dexedrine (taken for fatigue) impaired their judgment. Side effects: elevated blood pressure and heart rate, nervousness and restlessness. And according to the article, it's highly addictive. I wonder what effect it has on a child (whose brain is still developing)

Have you heard about chelation therapy? I know many parents who have used it on their children with good success. Austistic children are often found to be unable to detoxify mercury properly (due to being deficient in glutathione) Chelation therapy binds the metals and removes them from the body. Here's a report on it from the American Journal of Industrial Medicine: (In my own words) 41 patients in China were poisoned by ethyl mercury chloride. 5 months after exposure they were still in poor condition. So they were treated with two chelating agents, DMPS and DMS. Both were effective but DMPS was superior. Side effects were minor and only lasted 1-4 hours.There was a 7-30 day latent period between exposue and symptoms. Abnormal EEG's were common. In 27 cases where chelation was used for two months, all had some relief; 19 became asymptomatic. There were 13 cases that were not treated. Two months later, the untreated patients showed little improvment. During chelation, the urinary mercury levels increased in almost all cases. In the report, they said it appears that chelation therapy is not only helpful in diagnosis but also aids in assessing the level of intoxication.

Good luck to you whatever you choose to do. :)

I don't know anything about Dexedrine, but I did a little research on Ritalin for a co-worker whose son has ADHD. My only suggestion is to do your research and try and figure out what is best for your child. Something as innocent as Benedryl can have very unanticipated effects for our kids. I found that one out the hard way. I gave Judy, my daughter with autism, some for a cold once when she was about 4. She literally bounced off the walls for 2 days. After that, I've been very leery about giving her anything, over the counter or prescription. I always start with the lowest dosage I can and watch carefully for any reactions.

I don't understand how your doctor feels no testing can be done unless your son is on meds. Judy was on nothing for her evaluations and, trust me, her attention span was nil at that point and her behaviors were at their worst. Most evals are clinical in nature, with the parents submitting detailed questionaires on behavior, growth, and development. I guess depending on the age of the child, some actual cognitive testing is done, but Judy's symptoms are so classic and her cognitive levels so delayed, those tests are pretty much useless with her. Besides, if he's on medication, how are they going to be able to test the severity of his ASD if he's already been drugged? Isn't there the possibility that the drugs may change his reaction times? There's also the possibility that they may make behaviors worse or add ones he's never had before.

I suppose I don't really have any suggestions, and may have added some fears (I'm really sorry if I have), but your best bet is to always walk into any medical situation with your child with as much information as you can lay your hands on. The better informed you are, the less the professionals (and I'm including teachers and social workers in this) can push you into doing something you're not comfortable with.

I wish you the best of luck!

That is the point of the Trial period. See if it helps. My son was out of control at the doctors office, we could not get him to settle down (grand dad was there, and he usually gets him to calm down a bit).

He was running all off the doctors office, opening doors and cupboards he shouldn't have been. If we tried to hold him (restrain him and talk calmly to him) to help calm him down, he would bite, kick and scream until I put him down. Nothing would work - which is what I have been putting up with for 4 years. I'm only 25 years old and I've got 20% grey hairs! Whenever my son throws these temper tantrums, I feel so out of control and I break down. Dad goes ballistic and has to leave the house. I'm about to go mental - yes I guess I am weak and wimpy... if that's what you are thinking when I describe this....

This is a doctor that refuses to put children on medication unless she believes it is absolutely necessary (she said in her life as a pediatrician - 15 years, she has only given out 20 prescriptions for any kind of meds like this).

He's in a program right now that is trying to help him learn to work on his skills (motor, speech, behaviour)... and THEY cannot control him , these are professionally trained people!

The doctor said that we NEED to have him settle down - and she wanted to try this option. If it doesn't work, or he is just too out of it - then we would discontinue the trial.

In the trial i will start with 5 mg (small dose)... if that doesn't work for a couple of days, try 7.5 mg... if that doesn't work... try 10... etc. She said that he should NOT be like a zombie... should NOT be different other than being more calmed and focused on certain tasks. If it doesn't seem like it's working at all... STOP.

I HAVE been doing research... I"m the type of person who researches 5 months on how to care for budgies before even buying one (My husband HATES that... he says I'm obsessive about those types of things). I've been researching meds for about 2 years now... I know the pros and cons... and Things are so out of control (kicked out of 3 daycares!!!!!! ready to get booted out of dayhome after 3 days!) that I'm willing to risk the cons to see if things work.

You do what is right for you with the best information you have available. That's what I have done. I don't believe that there is a "right way" and a "wrong way" for people. There is just what you can live with. My son is on Prozac and Ritalin. He's had trials of other meds, too. Maybe there are other things I could try besides meds, but this works for us. I was just like you, I did not want to medicate my son even when the doctor said it would help him. But she was right. He is by no means a drugged out zombie. He's a 7yr old boy who likes legos, gameboy, and videos. Without the meds he's a frustrated tornado with no sense of direction. The meds do not make my life easy. He still has more energy than I have patience and can totally destroy my entire house just to keep busy. I must always be alert to what he's getting into- the smell of shaving cream, toothpaste, or soap will always bring me running, as will the sound of running water. The only reason I gave in was because he was spending all day at school unable to attend or focus on what they were trying to teach him and obsessing over certain behaviors that interfered with his learning. I could not see how he could possibly benefit from what they were trying to teach him. They say autistic kids learn the most while they are very young and all I could see was our window of opportunity closing (as he tried to escape out of it, lol!) He is now in first grade and reads at the 2nd grade level. He not only knows his numbers but can add and subtract. He can play WITH his brother. He even sat through an assembly today with his peers. I know there are down sides to meds. I hope that he won't always need them. But I am doing the best I can for him right now to help him succeed. I can live with that.