9yr old with ADD, meds zonk him out

katrinabell2003 · 02-04-2006, 07:35 PM

Hello. My son is 9, 4th grade. He is currently on singulair, advair, allegra, and indurol for an eosinophilic condition and allergies. He is your classic ADD child, without hyperactivity. Very good natured, very capable. We have tried Aderall twice, metadate, and strattera. All make him very drugged and tired. We have tried extended release and multi-dose. None of the meds showed a changed in his attentiveness, forgetfullness. Teachers noticed no change. We have tried taking things away, having him earn them back, taking away activities, using an incentive chart. Can't get the kid to remember to put his name on a paper for nothing. I have even tried bribery.

We are at our wits end. We even tried putting him into a private school with a smaller class size and only one teacher, versus having different teachers for diffent subjects. They told me he had a conduct problem. We moved him back to public school and their has been no problems with conduct there. I think it was not him, just the adjustment from public to catholic school. He doesn't get out of his seat, or is not defiant. It was mainly his ADD symptoms acting up and they called it a conduct problem. (Plus I have talked to several parents who are not happy with the teacher either).

I know it is not his fault, but I am getting so frustrated. It drives me to tears. I even considered changing jobs and going to night shift so I would be home more. We have tried notes on his desk at school for reminders, tags on his binder and backpack to remind him of stuff to bring home.

I hate to say this, but the kid is anwry as all get out. Currently there is no tv unless we say and no gamecube or nintendo ds till march at least.

I would appreciate any advice. I know there are other people out there in similar situations. Thanks, Katrina

hansen80 · 02-09-2006, 04:52 PM

Well I don't have a child with ADD but you must be frustrated. I think that the market for the pharmeceutical companies in ADD is saturated. I think I might have some safer alternatives to prescription medicines that might help. Please contact me via email at [email]REMOVED[/email].

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moderator2 · 02-10-2006, 01:07 AM

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Spin444 · 02-12-2006, 06:39 PM

Katrina, why does your son need to be on 3 different drugs for allergies? I can't imagine why he'd need to be on that many drugs for the problem. They all have side effects, you know and there could be some interraction going on, even with the Inderal. Did he have problems before he started taking all of these drugs? Do you have lists of side effects? For instance, Inderal can commonly cause drowsiness, dizziness and blood pressure changes. This drug, alone, could be causing him to be less alert.

There have been case reports, as of 1998, in which patients who were receiving SINGULAIR presented with eosinophilic conditions sometimes consistent with the Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS). Patients presenting with these conditions had significant asthma histories and were receiving multiple asthma medications, often including systemic corticosteroids. Did your son have the eosinophilic condition before taking Singulair?

If his problems are not drug related, I thought I'd mention this: a woman doctor in Detroit, deals with children who have trouble or don't benefit from drugs for ADD and ADHD. She weans them off the drugs and does puts them on a diet, free of the obvious and common offenders, like sugar, caffeine, food additives, preservatives, colorants, etc. She has nearly 100% success in helping children live normal lives. A program was started in Appleton, WI, which consisted of an all-natural lunch, no sweets and removing all of the vending machines. The bad behaviors are now almost non-existant. We are what we eat. That's more true for kids. Some children are far more sensitive to certain things. Try analyzing and writing down all that goes into your son's mouth over a 3 day period. I suspect that his diet just might be part of his problem. I've been a teacher and a researcher and I know, without doubt, that it IS the problem for many children. Make sure to check out the drugs that he's on because they could be affecting him adversely. You can get a list of side effects from your pharmacist or on the internet.

Supershell · 02-13-2006, 08:51 PM

Katrina... I really feel for you, completely understand how difficult this must be for you. I also deal with some of the same issues with my son. Not sure that I have much advice for you ...just want you to know you're not alone.

Some of the things I do aside from the medication are positive reinforcements, now granted I could be better about it. But, maybe it could provide a bit of an incentive to help him get through.

Good luck,
Supershell