Adhd - Montague,MI

Hi P. -

I cried and cried after leaving the doctor's office when discussing this issue. I am a patient person and so I could handle my son much better than most. However, when in 2nd grade he was getting out control and getting into trouble, not learning, and learning friends. I started really, really watching him. I tell everyone the banana story. My poor guy was sitting at the kitchen table and I was getting him some cereal. In the time that it takes to get the box, a bowl and the milk etc. He kept picking up and playing with a bunch of bananas on the table. I asked him to stop and he would for about 5 seconds and then they were right back in his hand again. Finally, I explained to him that he needed to put them down before he broke the skins and they were all rotten. He was so frustrated he cried out "just take them away from me then" I saw the lack of control he had over his own body. I knew then I had to do something. He is taking ritalin. I like you did not want to medicate him and honestly I thought ADHD was something that was being way over diagnosed. I am still looking at other things like diet but in the mean time. He is happier and he is still himself just more focused and in control of himself. (Btw.. single mom also!)

Hi P.,

Mercolahealth.com is a great site to find alternative therapies for issues. She may simply need to eat differently as what we eat absolutely affects behavior. This could be a very simple fix with no adverse reactions, addictions or long term ill effects. Best of luck P.!!! You'll pull her out of this I just know it!!!

A.

Hi P.
My oldest grandson is on Concerta and he is doing great on it. He has been on Concerta for 8 months now and we have seen a great improvement. You can go to the website Concerta.com for more information. Concerta is better than the Ritilan in my opinion. I also had 2 nephews on Ritilan and it was hard to handle them even the medication. I hope this helped you P..

C.

Recently doctors are thinking lack of sleep may have more to do with behavioral problems than a child having ADD or ADHD. Many children recieve several hours of sleep but may have sleep apnea or related causes that prevent them from getting enough sleep at night. I would look into this as a possibility first. Your child may need a sleep study done, most insurance cover the procedure. Your child may sleep 10+ hours a night but when they stop breathing their body never fully rests during that time. Just something to look into if you arent sure~~~

At the risk of upsetting people, I am going to respond. I have a background in psychology, so this isn't just an "out-there" opinion, BUT I do believe that ADD/ADHD are both overly diagnosed. I think that this is due to family doctors hearing a few symptoms of a child misbehaving or being out of control, and automatically throw that label on them. ADD/ADHD is a real condition, I am not denying that, but it is a psychological condition that should be diagnosed by someone with a background in psychology or psychiatry who specializes in children who can run the battery of tests and be able to tell you with certainty if it is ADD/ADHD or something else, like behavioral or other health issues. IF this specialist does come back with that diagnosis and recommends medication as the course of action, then definitely do it.

P.,

I know this is a very scary time. I didnt want to put my son on anything either. But it was either that or lose my mind. We went to a child psychiastist. We talked about all the drugs you mentioned and I had heard such terrible stories that I declined. They suggest Aderall which was a miracle to us. I would ask the doctor about Aderall. Like I said though we went to the psychaistist instead of the family doctor because we wanted to make sure that ADHD was really the problem and figured it couldn't hurt for him to talk about the things that caused the bahavior. I hope this helps.

P.,

My son has food intolerances. There is no histamine reaction when he eats the "bad" foods, but instead the foods are not broken down into their respective sugar and protein chains. Our body produces a chemical to deal with these unbroken chains and once the enzyme binds to these chains it then stores them anywhere it can throughout the body.

Someone who is intolerant to food may have some of the following symptoms: ADHD symptoms: can't sit still, can't follow simple directions, plays with no direction or purpose;

autistic-like symptoms: reacts to loud noises, feels pain when touched, won't make eye contact, does not play appropriately with peers;

dry, itchy skin; constant yeast infections; dark circles under their eyes; constant sniffly nose; excessive ear drainage, leading to numerous ear infections each year, which may lead to tubes in the ears; etc. The list goes on and on.

The point is to have your child tested for food allergies and/or food intolerances. It is an easy procedure, unfortunately some insurance companies don't pay for the food allergy tests, only the outdoor allergy tests. You have to contact your insurance company.

My son in particular has seven food intolerances and when he has those foods, shows both autistic-like and ADHD-like symptoms. When he has anything with yeast in particular, he can't sit still, follow directions, or control his impulses.

We see Dr. Gerald Gilroy in Lansing. He has an attached allergy department and is happy to answer all the questions you have.

Make sure you ask your allergist what their opinion of food intolerances is. My last allergist did not believe intolerances exist at all even though there have been many studies conducted since the 1950's proving how people can be affected by the foods they eat.

Good luck with your daughter!

You have to remember that all childern react differently to med's what might affect thiers might not affect your's. I have two boys that take adderall xr 20 mg it is just one pill a day you give it to them in the morning and it is good for like 12 hrs. My boy actually see the difference in them selves they are not in trouble 1/4 as much as they use to be and school is doing real good. Good luck to you

Hi P.,
How fantastic that you are choosing to find methods other than medication for ADHD.
You will need to do some research which includes learning about the intestinal connection between ADHD, ADD, Autism and intestinal health.
Many parents have found they can recover their children from these neurological disorders through diet and supplementation. Your standard pediatrician will not be helpful here because they have not been trained to associate neaurological/behavioral issues with intestinal health.
To help you, you can connect with information and families that have cleaned up their kids insides and transformed their lives.Here are some sites,
WWW.GENERATIONRESCUE.ORG
WWW.STANKURTZ.COM
I encourage you to take the first step and feed your child only organic, whole food - nothing from a box, nothing processed, nothing with dyes or preervatives. I'm sure you get the picture.
I hope this leads your family to a path of recovery.

Hi P.--

I see you have gotten a lot of responses as this is a popular subject and the biggest deficiency today is in Omega 3 Fatty Acids as it is very difficult to get it from our diet and our body does not make it, so the rise in ADD< ADHD< Autism, Depression and many other issues...

I have many articles of people and kids I have worked with that simply added a purified Omega 3 DHA to their diet.. it is a supplement and pure fish oil from the Arctic Ocean has no toxins and will help in many areas for you and your child.

I would be happy to pass along the articles and help with the sources as well!

Shelley
____@____.com, ###-###-####

have you looked into changing her diet? do some research on diet and adhd. i have heard that changing the diet (no sugars, glutin free stuff) has helped alot. good luck!!!

My daughter was diagnosed with ADHD 3 yrs ago. She is on Adderral, it is wonderful. She is a whole different child. It is important to remember that all children react differently to these medications. ONE is not right for everybody. My daughter was on Ritalin for awhile, but it didn't help at all. My doctor explained ADHD to me this way, you wouldn't deprive your child of glasses if they couldn't see-don't deprive them of treatment of ADHD if they need it. This is not to say that all children who are necessarily diagnosed with ADHD need medication. Some I'm sure can learn to control themselves without meds, mine however, would have mental breakdowns and not know why. My advice is to research and consult with your doctor, if you think that a second opinion is in order get it. You are the only one to tell what is right for your child, but be prepared ADHD is unending. Meds may need to be adjusted from time to time as well. Good luck and remember things will get better.

Hello, I am a mom of seven kids. I have 2 kids with ADHD. My son who is 12 was diagnosed at 5. My daughter 12 has only been on meds since Christmas. My son was out of control. Behavior management worked some but he was still struggling with his decision making. He was started on meds. What a change. It was positive. He was able to thrive in school and he was a joy to be around. He was not a zombie. We will not go for that. He is currently on Focalin XR. It is supposed to be like Concerta without as many side effects. He does not have the appetite supressent and he is able to sleep well at night. The only draw back is it does not last as long as the concerta and takes a little longer to take affect. My daughter was started on Stratera. It is a nonstimulant med and her grades and confidence are improving. It took us over a year with counceling and tutors to decide to try the meds. Over all the meds are a positive in our family. ADHD is where the frontal portion of the brain is not as active as it should be. It is the conductor for the rest of the brain. The rest of the brain is the orchestra. The orchestra can not function if the conductor is asleep. The meds wake up the conductor and allow the orchestra to perform at its best. It may take some trial with different meds to find the right dose and the right med. Again, for our family it has been the right choice. It is a hard decision. We look at it like this, we would not deprive a diabetic insulin, we will not deprive our children their ADHD meds. It gives them the tools to do their best, so the meds are and important part of their lives. Good luck with your decision.

P.,
I felt the same way as you. I kept saying, and still do sometimes, "I see the HD, but there is no AD". Anyway, I finally had to breakdown and at least try the medications because the yoga for kids and other things weren't working. My son is going to be 12 in two weeks and has been taking Concerta for 3 or 4 years now. We actually tried keeping him off of it for a month and then we discussed whether he needed to go back on it or not. I thought he was doing just fine without it, but he said to me, "I think I need to go back on it. I've been having a hard time keeping focused." So, him being the one on the medication, he knew what was best for him. We have been keeping him off of it during the summer months to allow for the weight gain and to allow him to let off some steam during the warmer days. The family unit as a whole has been much more relaxed with him on his medication, and he seems to understand now why he needs to take it.
I hope that helps you.

My husband suffered from ADHD as a young person/child- He was the kid that had to sit next to the teacher at school because he was so disruptive. He says that if it weren't for the love of his parents and ritalin, he would have never graduated from high school. I think every individual should be treated as such so it may be trial and error on the meds at first. Find a doctor/counselor you trust and listen to their advice.
This too shall pass. Your daughter will be ok with your support and unconditional love.

The best thing you can do for your own piece of mind and your daughters safety is to thoroughly research these medications on the internet and decide what will work best for you and your family. I would strongly advice NOT TO EVER GIVE your child Ritalin. I have several family members that have taken this and they were suicidal(at very young ages....5 years old). My older brother is in and out of mental health hospitals. He was so heavily medicated as a child, and most of it was Ritalin. The decision is yours, but there are many new medications to choose from. I would stay away from ritalin. I have many friends with children with ADHD and most of them really like Concerta. It takes time to get the dose right though.

Have you ever tried any non-medication all natural techniques? Reiki is a wonderful start. Google the word if you are not familiar. My sister in law tried this on her son and it did wonders. It is just a balancing of energy. Might be a good start to no medication. Try it for yourself too first.

P.,

As a stepmom to a 14 yr. old with ADHD/ODD, I do not know what I would do without his medication. It has made such a difference in hs behavior.

We have been through Ritalin, Concerta, Strattera, Focalin, and many others. We currently have him on Vyvanse.

We have been lucky with most of his meds in regards to the side effects. The worst we have dealt with is being tired/sleeping all the time and one caused some minor tics. He has not had anything severe. Most of his med changes have been due to the particular med no longer working for him.

As with any medication, there is the possibility of side effects. I highly recommend seeking advice from a psychiatrist and not just a pediatrician. Find someone who specializes in ADHD.

May I ask your location? Also, how old is your daughter? Sometimes, ADHD may also be controlled by diet. Does she behave well for you, and how is she at school? She may just be testing the waters to see what she can get away with, and with who.

Hope this helps some!
N.

My son has been on several ADHD meds. He was diagnosed before kindergarten. Most drs will start with a very low dose of med. I don't know what side effects you are worrying about but the only ones we mostly saw were either groggy or not working at all. If you do decide to try a medication, do not be afraid to contact every time you have a question. When my 5 yr old was started on meds it was obvious after less than l day it wasn't day that it wasn't working. The dr changed the dose. It still didn't work so he changed the med. When we got it to work, his growth spurts or his body affected how well it worked and we occasionally had to change the dosage. Over the years we have tried many meds. The newer meds are awesome compared to the original Ritalin. My best advice is to try what your dr reccomends. If it doesn't work or there side effects let the dr know and talk about another med. If your son is really hard to handle, it is worth the extra work to find the one that can work for him.

I have read thru the rest of the responses you have gotten. I know that this can be a very difficult decision. My son has been on medication for ADHD for 10 years now. Without it he cannot function like a normal child. Before medication he was very disruptive in school and was not able to slow down long enough to learn any thing. ADHD medication should not make your child a "zombie", if it does it is not the right medication or the right dose. We have tried many different drugs over the years. When one didn't work well or we didn't like the side effects, we just tried a different one. My son has been on Concerta for about 4 years now. It has been the most effective one we have tried. Good luck. I know that having my son on medication has helped him not endangered him.

There are other options. I know some kids really need medication, but unless she was putting herself or others in danger, I think drugs are a very extreme measure.

Thought you would like to read these:
http://www.braingym.org/
http://www.incrediblehorizons.com/mimic-adhd.htm

I would advocate that you really take a very active role in this whole thing. Do your research. There is a lot of information out there with alternatives to medication for ADHD.

Diet, excercise, routine etc... are just some of the things that you can do to help your child. Also, remember... do not let other people force you into something you do not feel right about for your child. I'm sure as a single mom you have to rely on others a lot for help...however, you can not dictate your childs health by whether life is convenient for someone else.

Diet is a big source of problems for many kids. They artificial colorants, additivites, preservatives etc.. So much of what we eat has high fructose corn syrup...which is particularly nasty for you. I would look to her diet to see if you can change things that will provide her with a more whole food based balanced diet. (whole foods meaning no processed foods) In addition, try to get her involved in something like yoga for kids to help her focus her attention on something and slow down. Keep her active to expell that energy and provide a routine so she knows what to expect and when.

Talk with your doctor about your concerns and that you would first like to look at non-medication alternatives. Make sure you find a doctor who is willing to work with you on this. So many doctors just want to shove pills down the throats of patients instead of really looking at each individual case.

Good luck!

let me guess....light hair blue eyes. Food sensetivities are common in these kids. I know I have two. My two yr old cannot have berries ,bannanas and apples although he tests neg on an allergy test. He has tantrums, headbutts and hits when ever he has these foods. My 8 yr old has a huge list and I was almost to the point that I was going to put him on drugs. First, you have to understand that these are amphitamines, your child once they start them cannot go off them without severe withdrawls and you are setting them up for being an addict for the rest of their life. Sometimes it is the only option, but look into other things first. I put my 8 yr old on an elimination diet when he was in first grade and he has no hyperactivity or problems anymore! It was hard, but he knows if he strays from his diet he does not feel good. Dr Rapps' book is a good place to start. I also had him tested by educational psychologists and found that his IQ is 125. He was bored in school. Read the edison trait. This might apply to your child. Look up feingold society online. They helped a lot.

P.,

My 9 yr old son has Asperger's Syndrome and ADHD. (AS has alot of ADHD characteristics, but he was diagnosed with both)He was diagnosed 1 1/2 yrs ago and I am adament about not putting him on medication. ALL meds have side effects- whether you see them now or 10-15 yrs from now. And there is really no way to know the long term effects of all the new drugs. We do know the long term effects of drugs like Ritalin, and they are not beneficial in the long run for many, many people. Unfortunately, we all want a quick fix, and being a single mom, I'm sure it's tough to add this to the mix and you just want some relief. There is no cure for ADHD, so in my opinion, if it's not going to fix it completely, you are just playing russian roulette but adding chemicals to the mix. Again, this is my opinion.

We use some homeopathic treatments that help with the symptoms, along with private counseling and a social skills group at school. www.nativeremedies.com is where we get two products- Focus and Mindsoothe, Jr. They have been very helpful. Again- there is no magic pill, but they help. If you send me your email- I will forward you a coupon good thru 3/31/08 (they send new coupons most months for 20% off)

Diet is also very important as alot of kids are sensitive to the junk found is many foods. You will have to experiment for yourself. We avoid artificial colors and sweeteners, limit the amount of sugar during the day, lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and othe whole foods and plenty of exercise!!! Good advice for all of us- but it does make a big difference with the ADHD symptoms.

And, please don't let others pressure you as to what you should do- you are the mom, your gut instinct is the best decision-maker for your daughter. I know it's hard, especially with family members. And please know that most Drs. lean towards meds, cause that's what they know. And the sole purpose of a psychiatrist is to prescribe psychiatric meds- that's what they do. So if you seek their opinion, know that it what they will say.

Also, there are a lot of good books about parenting children with ADHD. How we relate to our children with special needs makes a huge difference! Good Luck- there's alot of support out there- you will need it no matter what you decide about medication.

T.

My husband has been on ADHD meds most of his life. You don't say how old she is, although from what I know most ADHD isn't diagnosed until school age. One thing you may need to weigh into the equation is how she behaves in school - can the teacher handle her? does she disrupt the class and interfere with other kids learning? I can tell you this, I have seen my husband on his meds and off his meds - I would rather have him on them. Talk to your doctor about what you have heard - maybe it's just talk, if it is a real side effect, maybe s/he can put your daughter on something that doesn't have those side effects. My husband has been on all three, I can't remember what he is on now, and his reaction to the drug is always different. I know that one drug did make him mean as a child, they quickly changed it. As a parent, you need to do what is right for your child and then be observant of any serious changes to her behavior that is negative. If you notice negative changes, call the doctor and ask for something different. It may take a few months to find the correct medication, but eventually you will find one that controls the ADHD, but also allows her to be herself. Keep in mind to, that leaving her off drugs may impact how well she learns in school as well.

Hello. My daughter had been diagnosed with ADHD, but I felt like you and didn't want to put her on medication. The thing that confused us all was that she did well in school, but not with me and other family members. I ended up doing diet changes and it seemed to help. I have taken away foods that are highly processed. I have reduced sugar and if she does have sugar the rule is she has to eat some protein with it. When it comes to breads and other bake goods we only let her have whole grain. A friend of mine had a similar problem and she found out that her daughter was glucose (sp) intolerant. Another avenue we looked into was hypoglecemic (sp). My daughter was mildly hypoglecemic and that is what produced the diet changes we chose. Now on a different foot I have a son who turned out to be ADD. We ended up putting him on Ritalin the summer before going to middle school. I wanted to see what kind of effects he'd have to it. I seen positive changes. He has become much more focused and instead of the C's and D's he got in fifth grade he has A's and B's this year. We tried diet changes with him first, but it didn't seem to help. He wasn't uncontrollable though. In fact he's pretty calm, that's why I never thought about ADD, because he's not ADHD, but medicine definately helped him in school. Now if you choose to go medicine, my doctor suggests to not give it to him on weekends or during breaks from school. I would definately try diet first. It might take a couple weeks to see a difference, but my daughter is so much better. I hope this helps.

Of those 3, I would suggest Concerta My son has been on it for a couple of years now and we haven't seen any bad side effects. I understand your concern of not wanting to put your daughter on medications. I was there, but I also knew that my son was "sick" and needed help getting better. I decided to try the meds and see if he got better and they helped. I think of it as if he were diabetic--I wouldn't think twice to give him insulin--he would need it to get better. Remember, you can always take her off the meds if you don't like what you see. Also, those medications aren't magic pills, they will take some time to get into her system and even her out. If you decide to try the meds, give it at least a month before taking her off if you change your mind. Good Luck!!
H.

Hi P., My name is M., I am a mother of 3 and a full time pediatric nurse working in a very busy office. We see alot of children from week to week for ADHD. The pediatrician I work for is very conservative on starting kids on meds. We do a very extensive evaluation on each child to see if they would benefit from some medication. The majority of our kids do really well on ADHD meds. They are very closely monitored for any sleeping problems, weight loss or change in behaviors for the worse. My advice would be to try meds for a 3 month trial period and see if any improvements are noticed. If not then make sure you contact your Dr. Sometimes seeeing a behavior specialist is helpful, too. Good luck with your decisions. Be consistant in your parenting and set limits with you child. M.

Hi,sorry, this has to be tough. My Mom's hair dresser's son was on meds for Adhd for 2 years. She gave him some Mona~Vie (Original) and he is NORMAL, she said. She noticed a difference in him when he stopped taking it. The Teachers are amazed and he is off his meds. Hope this helps. L. S

I have a 15 year old son who has ADHD. He started on ritatilin when he was 7yrs old and then on concerta when he was 10. It was hardest decision that I ever had to make but one that in the long run was worth it. I know people try to scare you and tell you how horrible the medications are but my son had no side affects other than a decrease in appetite when he first started taking them. His grades improved, his behavior improved and his ability to keep friendships improved. We had tried everything prior to putting him on medication. We worked with the teacher, behavior modification, worked with the school pychologist and finally made the decision to try the meds. For us it was the right decision but nobody but you and your doctors can decide what is best for your child. Today my 15 year old is off all his medication and is doing very well. The years on his medication along with the behavior modification helped him learn how to deal with his ADHD. There are days when I think about putting him back on his meds but most days are great and he has learned how to control his impulses. You are the one who knows your child and no one else can make this decision for you. Get all the facts good and bad and don't listen to people who do not have first hand experience with ADHD tell you what you should or shouldn't do.

My son took Concerta for over a year before everyone agreed he should come off it. He lost his appetite, couldn't sleep and I had a harder time reasoning with him than I did before the meds.
Some children do very well on the meds and unfortunately you never know which way it will go until you try that approach. I do think at age 3 you may want to try some other things first. Be sure its ADHD and not a form of autism. But even if it is ADHD some of the advice for autistic children may help. For example you need to get eye contact with your child whenever asking them a question. That is the only way to get their full attention. Start that now so that your child learns to lock eyes with people when they are speaking. This will help alot at school age.
The internet is full of great activities for ADHA and autism. Start at autism speaks and they have a full listing of resources. I suggest the activities for autism since they are designed to grab the child's attention.
Good luck and remember love and patience will see your child through this. Don't do anything that you the mother are not comfortable doing. As mom we know in our gut what our children need and you need to listen to your gut instead of other people's impatience.

I also have a son with ADHD. I have my son on the patch called DAYTRANA. There are no side effects and he doesn't mind taking it. It lasts through the school day so he doesn't have to take any at school. My son is 17, he was diagnosed at age 6. Believe me we have tried everything.

P., I know putting your child on the med is scary. I felt the same way and tried to manage my daughter by strict routine and watching her diet, for about the first 10 months after she was diagnosed. But, when she brought home a D in reading foe a mid progress grade I had to change my thought process. Yes, some of the meds effect the kids in certain ways, my daughter lost 15 lbs in a month on the 1st med we tried and that was adderall. But, we swithched to concerta and that leveled off and she stopped feeling goofy and it helped her focus so much more. She stopped being in trouble all the time and started making friends. You have to consider the social impact on the the impatientness your child may have with other children because they don't work the same way your child does. And the stress your child may feel from being in trouble all the time and she can't help it. Anyway, my daughter's life improved when she started taking the meds and is now on Ritalin LA. It's a long acting form and she does wonderfully. Gets all A s in school. Good luck with your decision.

I really don't know too much about this but I do know that my friends daughter was adhd and Autistic and she was on Ritilan for a while and it did make her not want to do anything but sit around. Her mom took her off slowly and she started developing ticks and slurring her speech and also wetting her pants. She was 12. They put her on stratera(sp?) she liked that one better, she still wanted to be active and it didn't make her zombie like. I don't know if she still has her on it I haven't talked to her in a while but I would check into the diets more before I resorted to drugs. I don't have any websites for you but when I was trying to help her I just googled ADHD and it brought up a bunch of info. Good luck with your situation and please let family know it is hard on you and her also and their feelings and attitudes I'm sure can affect her behavior,but ask them to be patient with you and her while you do what you can to figure out what is best for your family.

Hi P.,

I agree with you it is scary to put any child on medication. For myself I have witnessed kids without medicine and kids with medicine. If your daughter really can benefit for it by helping her concentrate that would be good. She will feel like all other children. I never advocate for medication but I have seen it work miracles for some. Each child is different and if she needs medication you can try one and if there are ill effects you can try another. It may not work at all. If you think of the medicine as a replacement for what your daughter does not have that may help. She is missing a chemical in her brain and the medication replaces it.

In my experience I have seen some happy children. She will be yelled at less, punished less and feel better about herself. You don't say how old she is so she may grow out of this too, with or without medication. Ultimately, it is between you and your doctor to decide. Ask a lot of questions about the different kinds of medications.

Good Luck,
DebbieO

There is some research that shows that lowering the carbohydrates in the diet will help children with ADHD.
Good Luck!

My son was diagnosed with ADHD in the third grade. I was also worried about putting him on any medications, but decided, after discussing at length with my docter, to put him on concerta. There was, of course, an adjustment period where I was worried because he wasn't eating as much and was quiter than normal. But it all balanced out and he is now doing well in school and he is a pleasure to be around. I never really saw any major side effects.

Hi P.,

I see you have gotten a lot of advise on this subject but here is one that I didn't see. Our school is working with a company called Hope 139. You may have heard about it on ESPN or we had an article on it in our local paper. It takes the time to really diagnos your child properly. One of the examples that they talk about is Kris Kaman (Pro basket ball player). He was diagnosed with ADD when he was two. He had like a 1.8 gpa in high school and was very difficult to handle. Just last summer he went throught the 139 process and was diagnosed not with ADD (which mean you have low theta brain waves) but he had high beta (which means your brain is on overload - fight or flight-mode) so when they gave him the ADD meds it just jacked his brain up higher and caused more problems. He has since gone through the nero feed back and is doing fabulous. I talked with his mom and she said he is like a different person! So before you put her on any meds please check out the web site www.hope139.com. They have a great video at on the home page which tells you a little more about it. Our school believes in it so much that they are taking an entire class and working the program with them. My son is in the class and it has already helped me to understand why he is the way he is!!

Hi...my daughter and I were just talking about all of these medications that the doctors put them on for ADHD. She works for a doctors office and told me that there is a brand new medication out for ADHD and said it is working unbelievable with everybody. The name is Vyvanse...maybe suggest this to your doctor. Hope all goes well..
M.

Hello P.,

My son had ADHD and the doctor's wanted to put him on ADHD medication. I am an RN Nurse, so I knew that my child needed amino acids, and I found a product online (and in my local health food stores) that worked great! My son was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 5, and he is now 26 yrs old, and the product that I had him on was called KidsPlex (now called "Neu Be Calm'd") and it worked SUCCESSFULLY with no side effects-and it does not harm the child whatsoever. "Neu Be Calm'd" can be bought at GNC Stores or online at http://neu-be-calm.com.

P.,

I raised 2 boys with A.D.D., both took Ritalin. They were more productive in school and in their social lives. They are now grow men living very productive lives without any medication. My advise to you would be to make sure that the diagnosis is correct before starting medication.

I currently have two children on medication for ADHD and it is one of the best things I could have done. They both couldn't pay attention in class or get their work in school. They also had a hard time at home being able to focus on one thing for more then a few minutes. I wasn't sure I wanted to put my child on medication either, however, now that I have, it is the best thing I have ever done. They now are getting their work done in class, not behind and is more focused at home and their teachers can see a big difference at school. They do not take any of the three that you mentioned. They take Adderol and I have the option if I want them to take it every day or just during the week when they really need it. I am not sure how old your child is but I also started my kids with a journal for school and I sign it and their teacher signs it so I know whats going on because they were having such a hard time remembering to bring homework home and couldn't remember. You might want to ask your doctor about Adderol in stead of the other three that you mentioned. It has worked wonders for my kids. Good Luck

Hi P.
I know something that has helped many kids with ADHD, It has also helped my daughter that is bi-polar type 2 to get off all her meds. It has been over 2 years now! I also take it and do not have any more migraines or allergies, even food ones are gone. You have to get it through a distributor which I am to get the discount for my family and help some people out. I do not like the business aspect of it. You can find a distributor on their website. Our food is so genetically altered and processed it is hard for our bodies to get the nutrients they need to take care of themselves, something our bodies are amazing at when it has what it needs to do so! Reliv has nutrition shakes that are synergistically balanced and get to the cell level within 30 minutes. People with bi-polar and ADHD have trouble absorbing Iron and b vitamins. No vitamins we have tried before Reliv gave us results like Reliv has. Kids with ADHD typically have results quickly.
The reason they sell it through distributors is for customer service, which you don't get buying nutritional products off a shelf! And Reliv is pharmaceutical grade quality product. I has seen their imaculate factory where they produce it in St. Lewis Mi. Website www.reliv.com
BLessings
S.
Any questions you can call me @ ###-###-####

Hi P., I would recommend reading " The Bible Cure for ADD and Hyperactivity." By Dr. Don Colbert. It's a small book about 82 pages and the size of your hand. I am not a supporter of medicating kids because I think they are too young and the side effects are not great. But he provides a natural and wholistic approach to helping your child. I heard him speak and purchased it because I wanted to be educated on what foods were linked to the diagnosis. Hope it helps...

I have no experience with ADHD but I have read so many articles about how it can be controlled by diet. So often it is caused from a gluten allergy, or some other food allergy. I would start there and then perhaps you never will have to put your little one on medicine. Also, red dyes or preservatives have been known to cause it. Does she eat a lot of processed foods? Google it and see what comes up. Good luck!

Hi P.,

I only heard about some food allergies causing a diagnosis of ADHD. I believe the program was Primetime, I could be wrong. But the diagnosis makes sense because a reaction inside the body.

This maybe something to check into.

My now 12 year old son was on Concerta for almost 2 years. We found that it worked good for about 3 to 4 months, and then would taper off and not work. Let me tell you, depending on youre insurance, we have a copay on that stuff of $40 a month. I finally took him off of it and we just deal with it now. We just put more strict punishment on him and he is better now. Good Luck

Hi P.!

I have ADHD myself. Don't worry about other peole "not being able to control her." other people need to deal. What is importnant, though, is how your daughter feels about everything and how much she feels out of control. My issue has always been that I thought everyone's brain works this way and I was the only one who couldn't deal and function with it. I am on Straterra, and love it. I am finally able to balance my checkbook, I run a business (two of them!) and am a mother and wife. I am doing things that I never thought I could do before. The biggest challenge with people who have ADHD is that usually they are intellegent, but unable to use that as a resource because they can not focus that tallent. I hope that helps :) -C.

As a therapist, I would recommend finding a good behavioral therapist in your area. It sounds like she would benefit from some behavioral modification techniques, and the therapist can work with you (and the family) as well in guiding you as to what techniques would work best for her. Just because a child has ADHD doesn't mean they have to be medicated. And it will take some time to learn and master the techniques, so don't give up!

Dear P.,

I also have an ADHD daughter. She is eight now and in second grade. I too was very concerned about putting her on medications and hesitated for quite some time. I decided to try it. The good news is that you can stop if you don't like how it affects her. After a few different meds we are now on Adderall XR(extended release) and she is doing so much better in school and she is much more pleasant to be around when she is on it. She is only on 15mg a day. So far it's enough to keep her focused in school and succeeding. Ask you Doctor for all of the choices of medications and try the one on the lowest dose first to start. Unfortunately they all come with side effects. My daughters appetite in down, but so far she is maintaining her weight. She is a peanut to start with so that concerned me, but so far so good. I also give her a multivitamin and Omega 3 supplement(chewable) daily. This is to help with brain memory. Every little bit can help in this situation. I hope this helps you a little and gives you some confidence to at least try the medication. The worst thing that can happen is that you don't like it and you stop. It doesn't build up in their system so once it is gone it's gone. Best of Luck to you.

K.
ADHD mom

From what I have read, many children diagnosed with ADD/ADHD simply have some sort of allergies. They could be food allergies, environmental allergies etc. Those meds can be dangerous and only treat the symptoms, not the cause. Go to www.ahccenter.com
This group has had amazing results! Good Luck!!

Have you heard of pycnogenol? It is a natural way to help your daughter. If you want, I can send you information.

S.
____@____.com

Hi P.,
Before I responded I read some of the other responses. I agree fully with adding Omega 3's to her diet. It helped my daughter tremendiously. Also getting a good nights sleep and a full breakfast before school. Another thing that we did that helped the whole family is we developed a schedule, a more routine lifestyle. It helped calm her done knowing what was going to happen and when.
I would go with your instincts on this, and try natural remedies first. Medication does have side effects but also has helped countless children.
Hope this helps,
J.

P.,

I WOULD NOT PUT YOUR CHILD ON ANY MEDICATION. When I was in Jr. High I was put on Adderal and it was the worst year of my life, I hated myself, I hated school, I was so depressed and angry, non of which I felt before the medication. I stopped taking the next year and life was SO much better.
Also my two brothers were put on Ritalin at different times (you'd think they'd have learned by now not to use this stuff)one brother was about 10 and was very suicidal, he would leave notes saying he killed himself and then go hide somewhere in the house, and constantly tell his family that life would be better without him. They started putting him on a depression medication as well (remember this is only about 10years old) and things just got worse. FINALLY they took him off of everything and he was just fine.
Lastly my other brother who was put on it reacted in a totally different way. He was 11 or 12 at the time and he turned into a very angry person, he would walk around outside my parents property with a hatchet and just destroy things and cuss and swear, he had a huge temper, and would get mad at the littlest things, but the next day those same things may not bother him. It was a horrible 2 years for him. Finally after all of that they took him of everything as well.

So now that I am a mom and I am looking back at things if I ever ran into this problem with my child I would with out question try every single natural and diet related option first!!! I don't know if you have heard anything about ADHD and diet but I really think there is a big connection. Iwould go to Harvest Health (not sure where you live) and they could help you find some books that they would have on natural remedies. Or google it and do your own search, you are bound to fine something good.

I have heard that eliminating wheat/gluten and or all chemical dyes has a huge effect on children's behavior, for the sake of your child it's worth a shot.

Hope this helps.
B.

Hi P.,

I have two children with ADD (inatitive type). The best thing we did was to go through a pediatric evaluation that took 7 hours at the Univeristy of Houston. These people really understand the childs brain. Pediatricians are great but they do not specialize in childrens brains and brain chemicals. I felt this was a really scary place to be making a mistake so I took the results from the testing and used it to get modifications at the school. I then found a CHILD Psychiatrist (sometimes hard to find). This doctor monitored growth along with the medications we tried. Each of us reacts differently to medications so it really is a trial and error thing, your doctor, you and your childs teacher/care giver must watch and see what changes take place. What works for one family may not work for another, but generally if you find something that works for your child, it is a good place to start with a sibling. I then found a good child psychologist who specialized in children. This helped me understand the issues my child was dealing with and helped my child understand what was going on also. It was a team effort, Child Psychiatrist, Child Psycologist, Teacher, and our family. It was a lot but in the long run gave us a very healthy understanding and plan of action.

Hope some of this helps.

My oldest son has ADHD. We tried adderal xr, concerta, and finally strattera. I REALLY like the strattera. He had violent mood swings on the other meds, and when he crashed, he came down hard! Stattera is a NONSTIMULANT. That means it doesnt rev up his systemt to keep up with his brain, so he's able to cope throughout the day without worrying about the inevitable comedown. The only problem i had with the strattera is it can cause a severe stomach ache, if its not taken with a healthy protien rich meal. That does eventually get better as the system adjusts. He does better in school on his meds, he is better at home, he can listen without being so scatterbrained. ADHD is just as hard on the kids as the parent! In all cases, do your own research. I didnt want to put him on meds either, but he was having such a hard time in school i didnt really have a choice. Ritalin has been known to stunt growth, and if they are still on it when they hit the preteen/teen years, can cause severe depression leading to suicide. This i know from personal experience. My best friend in high school committed suicide as a direct result of the hormonal imbalances ritalin caused. Avoid that at all costs, if I were you.

Good luck.

Kim

Seems like you only listen to the people with bad things to say about the meds. You have to try the meds for at least 30 days and then see how they apply in your case. I think it's a disservice for your child, if you don't find something that allows her to be with people. My son has ADHD, but he never bothers anyone. Try Strattera and see how she reacts. My friend uses that, and wishes she used it sooner. Ask the child how they respond to it after a month. It may help them.

P.:

First of all, you don't say how old your daughter is. Second, how was she diagnosed as ADHD? You say that "he" suggested 3 medications so I assume you took your daughter to a doctor who diagnosed her?

I have a 20 year old son who was diagnosed (first by his school, second by a doctor) as ADHD at age 6. Being new to this, I did my homework and read every article I could find, at the library and on the internet, about ADHD. He went to a behavioural clinic, where he saw a therapist every 2 weeks for an hour and a psychologist once a month for a written prescription (15 mins). We didn't see any progress with seeing a therapist, but this was required by our insurance carrier. Until age 15, when he decided he didn't want to take any more meds, he was put on everything they made for children with ADHD, unsuccessfully. His father and I never noticed ANY difference when he was on or off the medication, as parents of other ADHD children told me they could tell when their children didn't have their "meds", so I always questionned if he was really ADHD. Well, to make a long story short, at age 16 and at my request, he was rediagnosed...he was NOT ADHD, but now diagnosed as ODD (oppositional defiance disorder). In other words, that meant to me that he was just a normal teenage boy who didn't like being told what to do. Now I know why I didn't always give him his "meds", because my mother's intuition kicked in and I wasn't sure he really was ADHD, which proved to be true. Today my son is 20 years old and holding down a $10/hr job. So, medication and therapy did nothing for him as far as we can tell.

On another note, my second son was diagnosed as ADHD at age 7 (he is now 9), again, by the school AND a doctor. Like his older brother, he was going to a behavioural clinic as required by our insurance carrier, where he saw a therapist every 2 weeks for an hour and a psychologist once a month for a new written prescription (15 mins). Again, we saw no real progress in his meetings with a therapist but it was a requirement of our insurance carrier. He was first started on Adderall and after about 6 months we changed to Concerta, which seems to work alot better. Atter a year of this our insurance changed so we took him back to the pediatrician he had seen when he was an infant. She is wonderful! We see her every 3 months and she does complete bloodwork, etc. to make sure there are no "problems". We get 3 written prescriptions, enough to last until the next blood work appointment. He is still on Concerta, which seems to work very well for him. Since my husband and I can tell when our son is not on his medication (he is somewhat antsy, hyper and snippy when he is not) We do not question his diagnosis like we did with our oldest son. And the fact that our pediatrician does blood work every 3 months puts us more at ease. We do not remember our oldest son having any kind of bloodwork ever!! We are very pleased with our pediatrician and how she is on this matter.

I don't mean to scare you but just wanted to let you know that sometimes kids CAN be misdiagnosed. If you have internet available to you I suggest you make yourself familiar with ADHD. Find a support group, there are plenty out there. Go to seminars; I went to many when my oldest was diagnosed, but that was over 10 years ago so I imagine they have changed locations by now. Educate yourself and if something doesn't feel "right", question it. That is your right as a parent. Good luck!

Follow your Dr advice but ask for the lowest dose and keep a journal of her response to any meds. Also i heard about a Holistic pediatrician my nephew is going to in Ann Arbor instead of meds for ADHD. Watch the dyes in food and eliminate as much caffiene and sugar as possible. The side effects my 12 yr old had were, a lack of appetite, insomnia and just a general detatched unemotinal attitude. that was from adderall(lowest dose). My niece does well on concerta and another nephew did good on ritalin. Watch your childs response, bottom line try what you can and only you really know your daughter

Hi P.---I would try to avoid meds at all costs. There are so many things you can do behaviorally and more importantly, with diet, that can probably help your daughter. First, you MUST remove all foods with additives as those chemicals can interact in ways that no one understands yet, hence the need for ADHD drugs. Start with your diet before you do anything else. I'd also look for another doctor for a second opinion. Look for one who specialized in integrative medicine. They us Rx as a last resort.

Hi P.,
I was just reading a press release that was sent to me about an ingredient (pycnogenol) that is in OPC3, a product that I can get for you in Isotonix form (means it's the same consistency as your body fluids to absorb it faster and use more of it)- this has been helpful and is safe to take. I use it myself and am nursing an 8 month old...I checked with my doctor first and it's been great for both of us. I know of someone who gives it to their young children and they love it and are much healthier for it. It's a strong Antioxidant that fights the free radicals in your body. I can send you the study that was done and more information if you are interested. You can see more on my web portal if you go to: www.marketamerica.com/jendiehl and click on OPC3 or type it in under search market america and then click on the "i" for information to read about the benefits, scientific studies and ingredients...or watch the video (commercial) on mamedia (maTV). Please call me if you have any questions or need any help with this: ###-###-####. You can also send me an e-mail at: ____@____.com's a great product, it's really made a difference in my life! It could help to cut down on the sugar she eats as well, I would try that if nothing else, eat more whole foods (drink water instead of juices and pop, eat fruits and veggies raw and keep active, she may just be an active kid. I have a daughter who is 14 now (yes, I had a big gap) and she was extremely hyper as a young child, but just has energy and enthusiasm and is creative and talented and does just fine (she is very happy and active, she just is involved in a lot: soccer player, chorus, etc). I haven't tried the medications, but perhaps your daughter needs something more than my overly active child did...try the OPC3 and cut down on the sugar and see if that makes a difference. I'd be happy to help with this.
Blessings,
J. Diehl
###-###-####
____@____.com
www.marketamerica.com/jendiehl

Hi P.
I understand you concerns over having your child take some medication for ADHD. I have a son who is now 21 who was diagnosed at 6 with it. H started taking Ritalin and the teachers, myself, and even my son noticed a difference. He was actually finding it more natural to focus in school, to focus on what he was being told. But he went through a very rigorous assessment by a psychologist. I have met parents who did not have their children take meds and feel sorry for both child and parent. I did a lot of research on the disorder, on the available meds, the development process of the disorder, the prognosis of the children who have it as wll as when they become adults (they do not usually outgrow it). There can be side effects to all of the medication (every medication be it for this disorder or any other medical condition)most of the side effects go away with time. There are also a difference between the time-release meds vs the other ones. There can be a rebound with the kinds that are not time release. As children grow sometimes their meds need to be adjusted or changed as their bodies and chemicals/hormones change. Pretty normal for that. As far as prognosis goes research has shown that true adhd kids and adults who are not on medication will tend to self medicate with alcohol or other substances. That was always one pro in my eyes as far as medicating. If there has been a mistake as far as the diagnosis the meds will not work anyhow. This does not mean that you will want him/her to use the meds for an okay to misbehave. All the meds do is allow the child to have the ability to make a focused choice of behaviors. There are still natural consequences.
Whatever your choice - to medicate or not - please do your homework on adhd there are also a lot of behavioral issues that come with it and methods to approach them. Good luck

So much advice!! Kelly gave the same advice that I have for you, but I wanted to make sure you got it - there are so many that I thought it wouldn't hurt to read it twice :)
Sleep issues (specifically sleep apnea) are a HUGE issue that many doctors are not aware of because sleep apnea in children has different indicators and effects in children than in adults. My son was diagnosed at 4.5 yrs with sleep apnea, I had no idea, he went to bed at 7 and up at 6, with a 2 hour sleep every day (even when he was 4). Treatment for that made the world of difference. We went to the top pediatrition (who is also a sleep specialist) in Australia (I am from MI but we have lived here for ages...) - I beleive he has information on the web, his name is Dr. Sands.........amusing really, he is a sleep doctor and his name is Sands.... Dr Sandman....
Anyway, I hope you do have some success finding the best treatment, please at least get an opinion about the sleep thing - but also be aware that many Dr's don't know much about it, so arm yourself with as much information as you can find.
Good Luck
S.

My 11 year old son has ADHD, one thing to look at is the diet. No refined, processed foods (I realize w/this convenience food nation we live in it's not easy). Get rid of the juice & foods that contain dyes. Make sure your child gets a protein breakfast, this will give the brain the nutrition it needs to start the day. Supplement w/Omega 3 fatty acids, this helps the brain as well. Your local health food store is a good place to start, the people there are knowledgeable about this condition. I hope this helps. Let us know how it worked out. Have a great day!

HI! I guess I'm curious about what problems you have heard about?

My 14-year old daughter has been on Concerta for about 4 years now and we've not had any real problesm with side-effects. My 10-year old son has been on the Daytrana patch for about 1.5 years. The only side effect for him has been a lose of appitite. They have made a world of difference for my kids. The research I have read about the success rate of kids with combination of meds and bahavioral therapy took my fears away. I now considered the meds like glasses. If your child couldn't see, you wouldn't hesitate to get them glasses. Think of the meds as "glasses" for the brain, to make them see and interact in the world better. If you have more questions, let me know. G.