other drugs for adhd

smack · 12-07-2003, 12:02 AM

Hi all,
Just wondering . . .Are there any other meds besides the ones I will list that can be tried for ADD? My son has tried all of these at different times during the last 10 years. He is now 18 and we still haven't found the "one" that works for him. He has tried: STraterra, Ritalin, Dexadrine, Clonidine, Tenex, ADderall, Adderall XR, Wellbutrin, and many others that I really can't place right now. Are there any that are new or unusual that I can suggest to his psychiatrist. He has add but also ocd and learning disabilities. What seems to help one, disrupts the others. He is right now flunking most of his hs courses. His focus to totally gone, hard to get motivated, and acts impulsively. What can I try with him?

*born~free* · 12-07-2003, 12:27 AM

Maybe his ADHD symptoms are simply caused by his learning disabilities. What needs to happen for him is he needs to be around people who accept him for who he is. He needs to find something he is good at and go out and get a job doing it.

There are other treatments for ADD other than medications. Some of the treatments are thought to help learning disabilities and even OCD as well.

Natural supplements are truely helpful for many people, and it has been proven that they work just as well as medications such as ritalin.

Research natural supplements for ADHD/learning disabilities. Omega3 is safe, and easy to obtain. This can be a starting point. Studies have shown omega3 to be helpful in ADHD as well as learning problems.

Biofeedback is also an option.

Please remember that your son is a good person. Try to boost his self esteem as much as you can. In the real world he won't be graded on everything like he is at school so don't worry about that part of the issue.

How does he feel about having been on so many medications? How does he feel about himself right now?

rubydog · 12-07-2003, 10:53 AM

Well, there are a couple of newer ritalin preparations (Concerta & Metadate) that have a delivery system such that they work for longer periods of time and have a little less rebound than some of the others. However, they're still the same drug, so I don't know how helpful they'd be to you.

I wonder in what way the ADD meds make the ODD worse. Is he just plain oppositional or does he have rage attacks? Is there a possibility that there may be underlying depression (or even bipolar disorder)?

I know that the "naturalists" out there will object to this, but it may be that your son needs more than 1 medication at a time. If your current psychiatrist isn't comfortable with what's known as "polypharmacy", you might want to try another.

Just my 2 cents...

smack · 12-07-2003, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubydog

Well, there are a couple of newer ritalin preparations (Concerta & Metadate) that have a delivery system such that they work for longer periods of time and have a little less rebound than some of the others. However, they're still the same drug, so I don't know how helpful they'd be to you.

I wonder in what way the ADD meds make the ODD worse. Is he just plain oppositional or does he have rage attacks? Is there a possibility that there may be underlying depression (or even bipolar disorder)?

I know that the "naturalists" out there will object to this, but it may be that your son needs more than 1 medication at a time. If your current psychiatrist isn't comfortable with what's known as "polypharmacy", you might want to try another.

Just my 2 cents...

My son has been on the Concerta and Metadate already. He isn't ODD, but OCD. The difference is that one is oppositional defiant disorder and the other is obsessive compulsive disorder. He isn't oppositional or have rages or anger attacks. He needs to order things up, arrange things until they feel right, etc. when his OCD is flairing up, which the stimulants do. The problem is that he isn't interested in anything! He only likes video games, which I have removed from the house seeing how he spent all of his time playing them, and watching cartoons on TV. It is so depressing to see an 18 year old with interests of someone so much younger. He was part of the fall football team as a manager (water boy) and enjoyed it immensely. The team accepted him as one of them and even included him in their dinners, lunches out, etc. The few times I saw him with the team though outside of the games, it seemed like the team "tolerated" him being along due to his actions. The coach though is a terrific person who encourages his team to include all no matter what. They are a first rate group. Now though that the season is finally over, my son isn't involved in anything, lies about assignements being done when they aren't, and back to watching TV. It takes major effort just to get him to help around the house. I don't give up, but it takes a lot of patience and mental strength. He is already seeing a psychologist for counseling, and has been for years. I am ready to try anything that might come up to get him motivated and on task.

rubydog · 12-07-2003, 02:27 PM

Oh, sorry, misread OCD as ODD. Oops!

Hmmmm..... As far as medications, has he tried Zoloft? Zoloft, I believe, is approved for use with obsessive-compulsive disorder and would maybe help his lack of motivation if he has some mild underlying depression.

I'd also use those video games and cartoons as a motivational tool. He gets "x" amount of playing time once he's done "y & z". He gets to watch this amount of tv for accomplishing that. Etc.

I wonder, too, if the football coach could see about getting him involved as a helper of some sort with other teams - basketball, soocer or baseball. If it came from one coach to another, maybe the other coaches would be more receptive.

My heart goes out to you.