Children with Adhd

Hello P. B,

Wow, Congrats on being a mom to 6....

Anyway, Yes, I have a daughter that has adhd, she is on meds for it and it works for the most part, pretty good.

but, She is on Adderall not Concerta

K. (Beverly Ma)

Hi P.,

I am a mom with 2 grown boys who were diagnosed with ADD and ADHD. When my oldest was first diagnosed (7 years old) I really did not want him on meds. I didn't feel it was a good idea to put chemicals in his little body. By the time he was 10 he was really struggling in school so, we decided to put him on the all familiar Ritalin. This medicine worked well for him but he didn't like the way it made him feel, and we had to make sure he ate at mealtimes because he was never hungry due to the Ritalin. When my second son was diagnosed we put both boys on Adderol, it was new and the doctor said it had less side effects than Ritalin. This medication also made the boys feel strange and not hungry. My younger son became agitated whenever the medicine started to wear off. He took to fits of rage which was sooo not like him. I immediately stopped the Adderol and called the doctor. We next tried Concerta. We had great luck with this one. The boys said they didn't feel like they were even on medication and it did not affect their appetite. My younger son did not have anymore fits and the school commented on marked improvement with both boys. I feel every child is different and not all medication works the same for every child. My oldest had good luck with all 3 as far as his ADD symptoms, but my younger one did not. I say if it is going to make their days easier, then try it. Monitor them closely and report alll changes to your pediatrition. Ask the kids how they feel while taking the meds. Sometimes it takes a few tries to find what works best for each child.

Good Luck and let us know how it goes,
B. D

My six yo son had ADHD and is on Concerta. It is like night and day when he is on it and when he is not. I believe he is happier with himself when he can concentrate, have beeter social interactions, etc.
I would say, go ahead and try the medication - the worse thing that could happen is that it does not work for them and then you have the choice to try another med or to go in another direction.
It took me a while to agree to the medication, I didn't like the fact that I was medicating a child so young. However, I am very glad in the end that we did. There is a huge stigma around this issue, but if my child was a diabetic, I wouldn't withhold insulin - so why would I withould Concerta when he really needs it?

Hi P.,
I feel your pain, but rest assure there is hope!! My daughter was diagnosed eary with adhd and at the age of 3 we started concerta. With diet and the meds she does well in school and is well adjusted . She is now 10!!! there are also some supplements that work well with children with add and adhd..If you want more info and want to chat please call me or e mail me..

H. P
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P.,

I can respond with first hand experience. Very first hand.

First I raised 2 boys who were diagnosised with ADD, neither had much issue with the hyperactivity. My oldest I knew as early as kindergarten that he had issues and learned that Chocolate aggrevated them (caused the hyper issue)back then 24 years ago it was hard to convince the school it was real and I had to fight to even get the education modification. We did find a doctor who finally prescribed I believe it was Cylert or somethimng like that when he was about 10. Yes it helped but by the time he was 13 he chose on his own to stop taking the medication.

My youngest was put on Welbutrin about the same age and that worked well but hard side effect when taking cold medications. His diet was fine because of what I had learned with the older son. With the welbutrin he could go off in the summer and back on during school year. He did this for several years and in high school decided he wanted to go in Air Force and was told he would have to stop medication. He graduated (almost only barely).

He this spring did Basic training and after said to me he had wished he could have been medicated because Basic would have been easier. (SO as an adult he sees the benefit.

My oldest has "learned to adapt", which I personally know is not good. How do I know this so well?

Well as an adult (mid-30's, while struggling with college), I was diagnosised. I was on Ritalin for about 5 years first short release (had mood swings (hormonally effected, which doctor did not know even happened) but over all felt 100 times better) the slow release, (less mood swings still felt much better). Then about 2 years ago when feeling I needed another increase in dosage and really starting to not like mood swings the doctor convince me to try "Streterra".

This has been the best for me, much more attentive and minimal mood swings (even hormonal).

Through talking with my brother (diagnosised as child remedicated as adult) I learned there are two types of ADD. On is better treated with the drugs such as Ritalin or Adderall, the other is better treated with the drugs such as "Strettara". In his case he feels he has both and a doctor prescribe lower doses of both meds rather then either. So he personally knows it works.

As an adult I can tell you I do not know how I ever made it through life unmedicated, how I functioned in school, a job and even in relationships. (which I have failed at many). I had learned to OVER ADAPT (COMPENSATE). That's why I know it is not good my oldest son feels that way.

Unfortunately many teachers have NO IDEA what ADD symptoms even are. I spoke to twechers for my youngest son in his Junior years of high school, a teacher he had had his sophmore year that wanted to know what happened over the summer (he went unmedicated, had delay in restarting when school started). This teacher noticed right away the change when he restarted medication. But another teacher who had no clue about ADD, when I mentioned the medication, just didn't even realize there had been a change until I pointed it out.

Sorry too this was so long but hope it helps.....

Attention Deficit Disorder and other Learning Disorders.

In the year 2000, 17 Million children were taking Ritalin so they could sit still long enough to learn to read and write.*Ritalin and others drugs like it are "Class 2" narcotics. What could be wrong? Why do we need such powerful drugs to help control our children's behavior? Most veteran Teachers will tell you that the increased use of drugs is not the result of increased awareness in ADD,and ADHD, as some would argue, but an increase in the actual number of cases. Think back to when you were in school. Was half of your class out of control? Were most of your friends taking medication for Hyperactivity? Again, we must find out just what is wrong!

The problem is that many young people are being misdiagnosed.
According to Doris Rapp, MD., an expert on the treatment of environmental illness, as many as two-thirds of the millions of children on drugs are actually suffering from acute allergic reactions to environmental agents. Removal of certain chemicals or a profound change in diet could solve the problem. Her book: "Is This Your Child's World" . These children do not need powerfull drugs.

Young people are exposed to so many chemicals that many of them develop sensitivities. This happens because their detox system burns out even before it fully develops. Then they become susceptible to the effects of even traces of chemicals. I want to state one one more that when it comes to toxins, the amount of exposure is not as important as how sensitive a person is. Children need much less exposure than adults do to develop negative symptoms. Taken from: The Wellness Guide.

My grandson was diagnosed with ADD. My daughter and I have removed all of the harsh chemicals from our homes...He is taking (GOOD)vitamins every day( there are many on the market that are not GOOD) He went for retesting with his doctor and they would not even consider giving him "THE DRUGS " that they suggested the year before. There was a definate improvement, in his condition.

We have found a company here in the US, (all products are manufactured here as well), That are FREE of harsh chemicals. Safer, more economical and delivered to our door. It is a wholesale shopping company...it cost us $29.00 to enroll to get the reduced prices. Please call me if you are interested in shopping with them. We have been shopping with them for nearly two years now and we have been happy with everything we have gotten. We switched our homes over and we never have to worry about using products that have ingredients that have never been tested for their effects on humans.

This company provides the best that science and nature has to offer. Call me at ###-###-####

There are harsh chemicals in everything from Shampoo and Toothpaste - Laundry and cleaning products. ( In fact Dishwasher liquids(Phosphates), chlorine, formalhyde, should never be used when you have small children, they should not be eating off the dishes washed in these chimical ridden products. Tide has 9 known Cancer causing agents...Lysol, Formula 409,windex, gets into the blood stream and attacks the kidneys and liver. Dove beauty bar, Johnsons Baby Shampoo, cause cancer and dermatitis.

Call me for more information.....I have done extensive research on household chemicals and it is very scary. Just ask for L., ###-###-#### For your Health and the Health of those you love.
My email: ____@____.com
Phone: ###-###-####

Hi there,
As a mom, I would feel very uneasy about medicating my son. I would want to attempt all other avenues first (diet, behavior and academic plan at school, rewards, etc.)

As an elementary school teacher, I have researched this area and know that the U.S. prescibes alarming volumes of AD/H/D meds as compared with other developed countries like the UK and Canada. There appear to be several environmental factors that play a part in the increasing diagnosis of this disorder, as well as a different philosophy of education (years ago some kids were just labelled "dumb," and as long as they didn't dispupt class too much, the academic expectations for them remained low). Now schools and teachers are genuinely concerned about helping all children reach their potential (not to mention the high stakes nature of school now under NCLB legislation). If we are going to help kids learn, we need to be able to keep their attention for more than 5 seconds.

I have seen some really severe cases of children who, when not on medication, cannot function in school. I see the undeniable difference meds can make for some children.

I would advise you to speak with your children's teachers. There should certainly be behavior and academic plans in place. I have a problem, as a mom AND a teacher, with requiring kids to finish schoolwork at home just because everyone else finished it in school. Unless an assigment is absolutely essential, school work should be done at school, with perhaps small amounts of homework. You should have an IEP for both of your children which should address their biggest needs. If work completion is an issue, then there needs to be an alternative plan.

I have to prioritize for my special needs kids. My pairing and grouping, my questions and assigments, and my methods and strategies are all very deliberate. I would not expect my child with ADHD to complete the same amount of work as my G/T kids. Nor would I ask my G/T kids to do, say, #3 and 5 on the page- which I purposely designed for my special needs kids to do and report on and feel successful about (for example). My special needs kids might have a word bank attached on their test, whereas the rest of the kids are expected to produce all the work themselves, for example. Seating assignments, class responsibilites, rewards and consequences, must all be planned carefully and used to help support the children.

Medication should be used as a last resort and in the smallest affective doses, in my opinion.

whew... Sorry for the length, but I hope at least something from it was valuable.
Goodluck!