Anyone medicate their child for ADHD? About This Page:

[eff051102]

Originally Posted by mcc0313

Both my sister and best friend's sons are on medication. My sister's son started when he was about 7 - I think he takes Concerta (sp?). She found that it made a really big difference and the only side effect that she found was that his eating habits changed during the first few weeks - he just wasn't hungry but that stopped shortly after.

My best friends son has been on adderall for about a year...she has seen no side effects but they do stop it during the summer and he starts again about 2 weeks before school.

My best friend's son also did not have any problems with social realtionships...he had tons of friends but trying to get him to listen or sit still is like pulling your hair out...he still is very hyper but he is doing much better with his concentration at school.

My nephew did have major problems with friends...he just did not know how to tone down his excitement and it really made it hard for him to make friends but he is doing better, joining sports which he was never able to do before because he just would not follow directions or stay still long enough...

My best friend's son is on adderall. He also experiences eating issues on the medication and they take him off the medication during the summer (which I don't really agree with) but it's their choice.

I think my best friend had an AH HA moment (they didn't want to medicate him) when her son came home from school at around age 9 and told her that his friends didn't want to play with him because they thought he was acting weird. He is now 12 and can even tell when he is starting to act weird so he will make sure to take his medication.

It is a hard choice to make but talking through it helps. Good Luck!

[tinker_me_happy]

I think you have gotten a lot of good advice. For me, my son who was diagnosed with ADHD predominantly distractable type with mild hyperactivity was also a "good boy" at school. We never medicated him, but in retrospect, I wonder if we had maybe he wouldn't have struggled so much with school work. I was a complete "diet nazi" with my kids, and he responded very well to being redirected, so I left it at that. He is now 16 and finishing up 10th grade. His last progress report had all A's and B's. BUT he still doesn't test well (flunked drivers ed the first time), and I worry about him passing MCAS (mandatory state testing for high school graduation in Massachusetts). There are still a lot of little things that most people wouldn't even notice him doing that drive me crazy. I won't start him on meds now unless he asks - he knows he can any time, or unless I see him getting worse again.
On the other hand, my best friend's son was also diagnosed the same way and has been on adderall. He tried going off it for a couple months and his grades went down the crapper, so he put himself back on. He is one year older than my son. You would NEVER know her son has ADHD because he is very quiet, never disruptive. He just goes quietly from thing to thing. But he does get distracted very easily. He only uses it for school, but it makes all the difference in the world as far as his grades are concerned.
What ever you decide, good luck!!

[tjslgs]

Dina,
I know how heart-wrenching this decision is. My DD was diagnosed ADHD/In - primarily inattentive not hyperactive at 8 after being diagnosed as dyslexic the year before. She has taken Concerta for the past 4 years. The change in her ability to focus was like "turning on a switch". Her grades went from average to above average within a few weeks and now she is consistently on A/B honor roll and taking Pre-AP classes. We do take her off the meds during the summer and I have asked her about how she feels without the meds/versus taking them and she does feel she needs them for school. The only side effects are a slight drop in appetite and more frequent headaches. Good Luck and trust your instints where your sons are concerned.

[DyanKJ130]

Dina, just so you know some of the newer medications aren't classified as stimulants, so that may be something to consider. DS has been on Strattera since it was released in 2003. Of course it comes with a different set of concerns, as with all medications. Initially, he was so tired he would fall asleep as soon as he got home from school and once while he was sitting up in a restaurant! After about 2 weeks, he adjusted and the tiredness became less & less. A positive with the med change was his increased appetite!! I hadn't seen him eat like that in years!!

There are concerns with all of the medications, but with proper monitoring by a medical professional (DS has an appointment every month) everything should be fine. In the 10 years DS has been using med therapy, we've tried many of the different meds (Ritalin, Adderall, Adderall XR, Concerta, Dexedrine, Strattera and Tenex). Some worked better than others and some have worked better for others. Currently he takes Strattera & Tenex. A lot of trial and error, but totally worth it in the long run.

My PM box is open, if you have any specific questions!

[jenifermg0]

My DS has ADD - not much of the hyperactivity. He has been on medication since close to the end of kindergarten. I was in tears when his teacher said, "Maybe you should talk to his pediatrician." It is a hugely difficult decision to make.
DS has been on Concerta, Adderall and just this morning started a trial on a brand new med called Vyvanse. I have a friend whose DS started the Vyvanse and is doing GREAT!!! My DS has done well on all the meds, but there is often a "learning curve" for you as a parent. It takes time to find the right med and the right dosage. Be patient and work with your children's doctor and with their teachers. Remember the teachers see your children for 6 or so hours a day - usually when the meds are in full effect. Adderall only lasts about 8 or so hours according to my DS's doc so by the time they are home from school, it's wearing off and their to control their actions will probably be slipping. The Vyvanse is supposed to last a full 12 hours so that is the primary reason we are giving it a try. Don't forget to work with your children to help them establish good study habits and manners. They need to know what is appropriate for different situations. If they are able to learn this now, while using medication, it makes it easier for them to act properly as they get older and, perhaps, stop taking medication. Don't think of the meds as a magic bullet - you still have a lot of work ahead, the meds are just another tool to help your children succeed in life. Hang in there - while this is a hard thing to deal with...remember that your children are wonderful, unique little people with amazing things to share with the world.

[jenifermg0]

Forgot to mention - there has been issues with DS not wanting to eat. My friend whose son is on Vyvanse indicated that he is eating really well now. This poor guy had gotten so thin you could see his ribs (part of the problem is a VERY high metabolism)!!! I'm hoping that DS will start to eat better. He, too, has a high metabolism - thanks to DH, not me - and has to wear slim size pants or they fall off his non-existent hips!!!

[shammy307]

Originally Posted by poohmaine

My DD wasn't diagnosed until age 16 with ADD (no hyperactivity). (She was evaluated for it at age 6 but they missed it because she didn't have the hyperactivity.) She is on Concerta. I too was very reluctant to medicate, but I did a lot of reading and ADD without the H responds very well to medication.

She took her SATs and AP tests on it and did very well. She just finished her freshamn year at college.

You are lucky that they are catching it while you son is young and has not fallen into bad habits and/or peer pressure issues. My DD's biggest problem has been getting over the stigma that she perceives about having a learning disability. She is still reluctant to get the extra help she needs because she doesn't want to "be seen as stupid and slow" or "get extra help 'cuz I'm ADD."

Here is a great website for additional information:
National Resource Center on AD/HD: A Program of CHADD

I have a similar story...two core evaluation on my daughter at ages 7 and 9 but because she did not exhibit the IMPULSIVE behavior , ie speaking out of turn..just getting up and walking around...figgitting..she was just passed by the wayside in terms of a proper diagnosis..so the next 7 yrs are spent with tutors, Huntington learning..Sylvan. I could go on and on..but finally at 17 she was diagnosed with ADHD...trial and error on her meds but after settling on Adderol as the best fit...My daughter graduated form college with a YELLOW tassell...<yup..that means with honors>. She is now 23..and she still needs it to concentrate. She has neen dating this guy for 2 yrs and she had 2 days when she was out of meds and not able to get a refill and he could bot get OVER the difference...Go for it..wish we had been told at a young age..would have skipped years of torture at school..Good luck!

[jenifermg0]

Posted earlier about a new ADHD med - DS's second day on it was GREAT!! Got an e-mail from his teacher who said they were having a great day. When I asked him to get ready for Boy Scouts - he did without me having to tell him 14 times!!!! And when he needed to do his homework, he just sat down and did it - no arguements!!! AND...he's eating!!! It doesn't seem to have the side effect of killing his appetite. Now I know this is only the second day but if the Vyvanse continues to work even close to this good, we're going to stick with it!!!! Check with your pediatrician, DS's gave us a "coupon" (acted more like a debit card) for a free 30 trial of the Vyvanse along with the prescription so at least financially we have nothing to lose!

[disneyfan4994]

My oldest was diagnosed with ADHD & started adderall about half way through 1st grade. He is almost 13 now & doing great on the meds. He has been on the honor roll this year & is a member of the school academic bowl team. He takes adderall XR which eliminates him having to leave class & go to the office during the day to get another dose. This has worked great for him. Putting him on the meds was the best decision for him & has helped him greatly. Good luck with your decision & if you have any other questions please ask.