Can ritilin make some symptoms worse?

[cammy80]

I am a brand new poster today. Please forgive me if I have repeated this question from a previous post. I had a bit of trouble navigating the searches so decided to post the question fresh.

I have noticed that since my DS age 8 has been taking Ritalin 5mg that he has improved in his teachers eyes. I have also noticed that home life has gotten worse in many ways. He seems to be rebounding in the evenings, weekends and this Christmas break(his first one since starting ritalin) has been heck on my patience. All of his normal ADD symptoms have become enormous at these times.

Currently he takes ritalin in the morning before school and after lunch at school. He does not get them at home. I do not wish to offer him meds on his off work days. He associates the meds with school work so far. I do not wish him to become overly dependant on the idea of ritalin helping him with everything. I think that would criple him and his self accomplishment.

I need for him to find a comfortable place with himself and his troubles. This constant inability to stay out of simple trouble is upsetting to everyone in our home. I can see in his eyes that he doesn't know why he can't stop. I also think he has noticed that things have gotten worse for him. He is confused and I don't have answers to help him understand.

I have looked up article after article on ADD and this over abundance of opinions has gotten my hackles up and caused me more confusion. I need first hand experience please. A friend directed me to you. I had intended to lurk a bit longer as I am not completely comfortable here yet but as I mentioned the information I am seeking eluded my efforts.

Thanks for your time and concern.

[ireneb96]

Originally Posted by cammy80

I am a brand new poster today. Please forgive me if I have repeated this question from a previous post. I had a bit of trouble navigating the searches so decided to post the question fresh.

I have noticed that since my DS age 8 has been taking Ritilin 5mg that he has improved in his teachers eyes. I have also noticed that home life has gotten worse in many ways. He seems to be rebounding in the evenings, weekends and this Christmas break(his first one since starting ritilin) has been heck on my patience. All of his normal ADD symptoms have become enormous at these times.

Currently he takes ritilin in the morning before school and after lunch at school. He does not get them at home. I do not wish to offer him meds on his off work days. He associates the meds with school work so far. I do not wish him to become overly dependant on the idea of ritilin helping him with everything. I think that would criple him and his self accomplishment.





I need for him to find a comfortable place with himself and his troubles. This constant inability to stay out of simple trouble is upsetting to everyone in our home. I can see in his eyes that he doesn't know why he can't stop. I also think he has noticed that things have gotten worse for him. He is confused and I don't have answers to help him understand.

I have looked up article after article on ADD and this over abundance of opinions has gotten my hackles up and caused me more confusion. I need first hand experience please. A friend directed me to you. I had intended to lurk a bit longer as I am not completely comfortable here yet but as I mentioned the information I am seeking eluded my efforts.

Thanks for your time and concern.

Welcome,
Any time I come "down" from the ritilin I get very edgy and my husband and sone get the brunt of it. I have decided to see if some alternative suppliments will help. I couldn't give you much advise but to say that the withdrawll of ritilin is no fun at all and that may be your sons problem too.
Good luck..

[Jennita]

It's well known that when the brain becomes dependant on a psychoactive substance, withdrawals, rebound and tolerance are a given. Unfortunately, this is less known with prescription medicines, which are really the same thing but "controlled". After many years, the med can cause sometimes permanent changes in the brain; many develop depression after long-term stimulant use....thus the theory that chemicals are what cause chemical imbalance. It's not a popular theory, but it is a legitamate possibility given what is known about drug effects on the brain and body.

As far as rebound, what goes up must come down, and visa-versa, so the effects you have mentioned your son has from the meds is perfectly normal.

[cammy80]

Thank you ireneb96. I needed a first hand perspective of this. As I can only partially view from afar what he is experiencing inside.

Jennita that is exactly the confusing type of info I have come across all over the net. One document will gush with a glowing reparte of the magnificent ability of the drugs and the next bashes it all to he!!.

Also I had not noticed my son going "up" so I did not expect him to "come down". He has not revealed those type of feelings to me when I question him. Perhaps he does not realize them and understand what is what.

Now the question is what do I do about it? What do you do about your crashes ireneb96? What are acceptable behaviors for you during that time? Is the benefit worth the down time?

Thanks again.

[ireneb96]

Originally Posted by cammy80

Thank you ireneb96. I needed a first hand perspective of this. As I can only partially view from afar what he is experiencing inside.

Jennita that is exactly the confusing type of info I have come across all over the net. One document will gush with a glowing reparte of the magnificent ability of the drugs and the next bashes it all to he!!.

Also I had not noticed my son going "up" so I did not expect him to "come down". He has not revealed those type of feelings to me when I question him. Perhaps he does not realize them and understand what is what.

[B]Now the question is what do I do about it? What do you do about your crashes ireneb96? What are acceptable behaviors for you during that time? Is the benefit worth the down time?

Thanks again.

I have just started with expirememnting with the ritiln so I can't quite say how to deal with the ups and downs I can say that I also tale wellbutrin and that has no effect on the downs but I tried a combination of DL-phenylalanine and L-tyrosine this morning befor I had any food or pills and I must say I feel much more happier in general and the eddgy ness is gone HOWEVER I did not discuss this with my Dr. I would not reccomend you do anything without talking with you Dr. I will talk to mine tomorrow I just have no ability to wait so I do take chances with myself (I know not a good idea). But I would do as I did and research for yourself the meds maybe look at the [removed] .com and do a search for the suppliments that may give you more insite. Also I am reading an excelentbook Driven to Dirstaction very helpful aind easy to read I fornd my copy at ****** for $6.00.