Treating ADHD with meds

[Twilight Woods]

Were finally at the point where I think medication might be beneficial to my youngest [Aspie/ADHD]. We have an appointment with our Dr in a couple weeks and I was hoping to get some feedback on meds and how they have helped your child.

 

Thanks

[Ottakee]

Meds have been a lifesaver here. We tried the alternative routes--fish oils (do help but not enough), gluten/dairy free (no change), dye and sugar free (no change), excercise, etc. and none of it was enough.

 

It took a few med trials to find Dexedrine which works great for my 15dd. It has been a life saver and made a huge positive difference for everyone.

[LittleIzumi]

Meds have been a lifesaver here. We tried the alternative routes--fish oils (do help but not enough), gluten/dairy free (no change), dye and sugar free (no change), excercise, etc. and none of it was enough.

 

It took a few med trials to find Dexedrine which works great for my 15dd. It has been a life saver and made a huge positive difference for everyone.

 

:iagree::iagree::iagree::iagree::iagree::iagree: We got lucky & our first med attempt, the lowest dose of Adderall only in the mornings, has been FANTASTIC. I forgot to give it to her on time this morning and today has been insane. I miss it already. :lol:

[Twilight Woods]

did you go through just your family Dr or was this something DX by a neuro psyc? We goto the Dr first then to the neuro so they can test her.

[LittleIzumi]

Family doc for now. If certain things didn't clear up with meds, he wanted to send her to a psych.

[Twilight Woods]

Family doc for now. If certain things didn't clear up with meds, he wanted to send her to a psych.

 

Ok. I am cant decide if I want to keep the Neuro appointment given her ASD/ADHD.... not sure what the neuro would tell me that I dont already know. I think my older would benefit from the neuro appointment more than my youngest.

[houseofkids&pets]

We went through our pediatrician for meds. I had to fill out paperwork and rating scales as both parent and teacher. It also helped that our neuropsych noticed moments of "blinking out" when he was evaluating ds for learning disabilities since this confirmed our suspicions of ADD.

 

Ds takes 5mg of generic ritalin (methylphenid) in the morning. He could also be given a second dose in the afternoon, but I try to get all of the "heavy duty" work completed in the a.m. I don't give it to him on weekends or holidays, which is ok to do with this med.

 

The only side effect has been a slight decrease in appetite, but other than that, it has helped.

[houseofkids&pets]

I am cant decide if I want to keep the Neuro appointment given her ASD/ADHD.... not sure what the neuro would tell me that I dont already know. QUOTE]

 

Our neuropsych was pretty thorough. He really helped us see what was a problem with processing and comprehension vs. ADHD

[LittleIzumi]

Ok. I am cant decide if I want to keep the Neuro appointment given her ASD/ADHD.... not sure what the neuro would tell me that I dont already know. I think my older would benefit from the neuro appointment more than my youngest.

 

If insurance covered a neuro, I would have been there in a flash. I wish.

[southcarolinamom]

We tried Dexadrine first, (less than $30 a month) but it caused my DD's heart to race and it "scared her."

 

So then we tried samples of Strattera, which we both loved, but when we realized how much a month's prescription would cost us - over $200 - (we don't have prescription coverage) I had to ask her physician to help us find a cheaper drug.

 

The third time's the charm, I guess! She's been on generic Ritalin for 4 months and it's working fine. It's only $4 a month from Walmart. No heart racing. She takes one pill twice a day, although on weekends or if it's a day we aren't doing school, she only takes it once a day. Because it's a controlled substance, we have to buy one month's prescription at a time. Her psychiatrist gives me 3 separate prescriptions, one for a month's worth of medication at a time. She sees him every 3-4 months for follow-up.

[houseofkids&pets]

I know what you mean about the cost. It stinks to hear about therapies, specialists, etc. that are just too expensive for many of us, especially if you have more than one child with needs.

[Twilight Woods]

I am cant decide if I want to keep the Neuro appointment given her ASD/ADHD.... not sure what the neuro would tell me that I dont already know. QUOTE]

 

Our neuropsych was pretty thorough. He really helped us see what was a problem with processing and comprehension vs. ADHD

 

 

So does he not have the hyperactivity and is just ADD? The reason I amasking is b/c my oldest is ADD and they are not treating her for it.... she is on meds for anxiety though.

[EmmaNadine]

My son is on meds for his ADHD. We tried several other behavioral and dietary therapies before we went to medication, and while they helped some, they weren't sufficient to give him the control he needed and wanted. He's on an extended release form of ritalin. We were lucky that he responded well to the first medication he was on and we only had to fine-tune the dosage. He sees a pediatric ADHD specialist, and he is helping us teach him executive skills management as well as treating him medically.

[Guest]

Ok. I am cant decide if I want to keep the Neuro appointment given her ASD/ADHD.... not sure what the neuro would tell me that I dont already know. I think my older would benefit from the neuro appointment more than my youngest.

 

Not a professional but I would suggest seeing a neuropsych if you will be using meds. I have read, I believe it was in Dr. Bock's book "Healing the New Childhood Epidemics", that some meds for ADHD do not mesh well for a kid that has ASD/ ADHD combined. A pediatrician will very likely not be the right person to determine meds in this case.

[Twilight Woods]

Not a professional but I would suggest seeing a neuropsych if you will be using meds. I have read, I believe it was in Dr. Bock's book "Healing the New Childhood Epidemics", that some meds for ADHD do not mesh well for a kid that has ASD/ ADHD combined. A pediatrician will very likely not be the right person to determine meds in this case.

 

Thanks! I have decided to keep the appointment with the neuro. It will be interesting to hear what they have to say.

[houseofkids&pets]

To my3luvbugs: No, my son does not have the hyperactivity. The neuropsych observed him "blinking out" quite frequently when ds was being evaluated. I had never heard of that term prior to this. Ds really is just really "gone" for a few seconds (or longer). It has improved with meds.

[Twilight Woods]

To my3luvbugs: No, my son does not have the hyperactivity. The neuropsych observed him "blinking out" quite frequently when ds was being evaluated. I had never heard of that term prior to this. Ds really is just really "gone" for a few seconds (or longer). It has improved with meds.

 

This is my older DD.

[faithfulmama]

Not to hijack the thread but we are in the same situation with my son who has ADD Inattentive type. We are about to give meds a try. For those of you who've been successful with meds, has there been any noticeable effect on sleep? Was sleep an issue prior to medicating?

[LittleIzumi]

Not to hijack the thread but we are in the same situation with my son who has ADD Inattentive type. We are about to give meds a try. For those of you who've been successful with meds, has there been any noticeable effect on sleep? Was sleep an issue prior to medicating?

She hasn't slept properly for years. The new Adderall hasn't changed that, lol. She's on regular, not extended release, and the doc says unless she takes it in the late afternoon, it should be entirely out of her system before bedtime anyway.

[MomatHWTK]

[Edit to cut down on cyber-footprint]

Edited June 14, 2012 by MomatHWTK

[Renee in NC]

Not a professional but I would suggest seeing a neuropsych if you will be using meds. I have read, I believe it was in Dr. Bock's book "Healing the New Childhood Epidemics", that some meds for ADHD do not mesh well for a kid that has ASD/ ADHD combined. A pediatrician will very likely not be the right person to determine meds in this case.

 

:iagree: My ds who has ASD "tendencies" did NOT do well on stimulants!

[Twilight Woods]

:iagree: My ds who has ASD "tendencies" did NOT do well on stimulants!

 

 

Thanks! I will have to bring this up.

[houseofkids&pets]

:iagree:My older ds does have autism and did a trial of stimulants a couple of years ago. He also had a horrible reaction. It really increased his anxiety and he became more withdrawn. He is now taking Intuniv.

 

I posted previously on this thread about ds9, who is diagnosed with ADHD (more inattentive than hyperactive). He is taking the generic ritalin without any side effects, other than decreased appetite.

[Guest]

I've packed my books due to our move, otherwise I would quote directly from our book :(. I would try to find Dr. Bock's book "Healing the New Childhood Epidemics" at your library, if you can, and read the section on that. It's good to know a bit about the options before the appointment. I think Temple Grandin might touch on that in her book "The Way I See It". She has a chapter on meds, and it is definitely worth the read, since she speaks from experience. She does not have ADHD but she is autistic, with sensory issues, has dealt with a lot of anxiety, and does take meds herself. She recommends the smallest dose possible of anything you try.

[Twilight Woods]

today was our first day on adderall 10mg xr. She is not hyper but has been crying all day and seems more agitated/agressive then usual.

 

I guess we will be looking for a new medication.

[Guest]

today was our first day on adderall 10mg xr. She is not hyper but has been crying all day and seems more agitated/agressive then usual.

 

I guess we will be looking for a new medication.

 

I know it is not my business but please please don't jump from one med to another. Please take your time and try to read "The Way I See It" from Temple Grandin. Your library will more than likely have it. Mine does and I am in Canada. There is one chapter on meds so you don't have to read the entire book. While she does not have ADHD, Temple Grandin is autistic and has first hand experience. Again, not my business but I just needed to say this to you :).

[Twilight Woods]

I know it is not my business but please please don't jump from one med to another. Please take your time and try to read "The Way I See It" from Temple Grandin. Your library will more than likely have it. Mine does and I am in Canada. There is one chapter on meds so you don't have to read the entire book. While she does not have ADHD, Temple Grandin is autistic and has first hand experience. Again, not my business but I just needed to say this to you :).

 

I just requested the book. I had forgot you had recommened it.

[Guest]

Like I mentioned before I don't have access to my books because I have packed them for our move but I did a search and found this for you. It is a quote from Dr. Kenneth Bock's book "Healing the New Childhood Epidemics. It mentions what I was referring to before:

 

"The only FDA-approved autism drug, Risperdal can be very helpful for the kids who really need it. When these kids are self-injurious or prone to aggression, Risperdal can help restore more normalized executive function, and help children to control their impulses, and make better decisions. This drug is particularly appropriate for the high-dopamine kids, who are often put on the wrong medication. This includes autistic kids with ADHD features, and other kids with severe ADHD, who are often incorrectly prescribed stimulants."

 

Here's the direct link for you:

 

http://www.naturalpedia.com/autism.html

 

I hope this helps a bit.

[WeeBeaks]

today was our first day on adderall 10mg xr. She is not hyper but has been crying all day and seems more agitated/agressive then usual.

 

I guess we will be looking for a new medication.

 

 

:grouphug: We had to try a couple before my son stabilized, but he had more diagnoses than just ADHD. Plus once we got his meds stable, we had to go back and teach the behavioral/cognitive responses that he should have learned years before but couldn't focus long enough to teach/learn.

 

Meds are great for some kids (mine is one), but it isn't a fix like some people think. I'm not saying you do, just thinking about what people IRL seem to have told me they believed. Meds for us were a chance to control impulses and attention long enough to then start the very long road of teaching/training him to be aware of his body/mind and respond appropriately to it and to society.

[Twilight Woods]

:grouphug: We had to try a couple before my son stabilized, but he had more diagnoses than just ADHD. Plus once we got his meds stable, we had to go back and teach the behavioral/cognitive responses that he should have learned years before but couldn't focus long enough to teach/learn.

 

Meds are great for some kids (mine is one), but it isn't a fix like some people think. I'm not saying you do, just thinking about what people IRL seem to have told me they believed. Meds for us were a chance to control impulses and attention long enough to then start the very long road of teaching/training him to be aware of his body/mind and respond appropriately to it and to society.

 

I agree. We will definitly have to reteach a lot of behaviors.

[EmmaNadine]

My son has responded really well to medication. We were lucky in that he responded well to the first medication we tried him on. He is on an extended release, so he only has to take one pill a day. It also hasn't effected his sleep, but he has always been a good sleeper.

[WishboneDawn]

:grouphug: We had to try a couple before my son stabilized, but he had more diagnoses than just ADHD. Plus once we got his meds stable, we had to go back and teach the behavioral/cognitive responses that he should have learned years before but couldn't focus long enough to teach/learn.

 

Meds are great for some kids (mine is one), but it isn't a fix like some people think. I'm not saying you do, just thinking about what people IRL seem to have told me they believed. Meds for us were a chance to control impulses and attention long enough to then start the very long road of teaching/training him to be aware of his body/mind and respond appropriately to it and to society.

 

Yes. I first took meds for my ADD when I was 15. The feeling I had was nothing like a fix or high. I simply felt clear and in control of myself, able to express what the ADD had been masking. It was from that foundation that I could finally understand and implement different ways of dealing with the ADD even when I was off the meds.

 

Meds are neither as miraculous as some say nor as nefarious as others claim. They're just tools on equal footing with other tools like routine, diet, etc.

[Guest]

Like I mentioned before I don't have access to my books because I have packed them for our move but I did a search and found this for you. It is a quote from Dr. Kenneth Bock's book "Healing the New Childhood Epidemics. It mentions what I was referring to before:

 

The only FDA-approved autism drug, Risperdal can be very helpful for the kids who really need it. When these kids are self-injurious or prone to aggression, Risperdal can help restore more normalized executive function, and help children to control their impulses, and make better decisions. This drug is particularly appropriate for the high-dopamine kids, who are often put on the wrong medication. This includes autistic kids with ADHD features, and other kids with severe ADHD, who are often incorrectly prescribed stimulants."

Here's the direct link for you:

 

http://www.naturalpedia.com/autism.html

 

I hope this helps a bit.

 

It just occurred to me that my post (quoted above) may have been taken the wrong way. When I posted the quote, I posted it to emphasize this part, that I had mentioned in a previous post. It was the only reference that I could find online, since I don't have access to my book, so this was why I used this quote. I thought I would post it to the OP who had pointed out that her child has Asperger's/ ADHD combined:

 

This includes autistic kids with ADHD features, and other kids with severe ADHD, who are often incorrectly prescribed stimulants."

 

My goal was NOT to recommend a drug of any kind to the OP or anyone else. I just thought I would clarify that before going on my forum break.

[Twilight Woods]

It just occurred to me that my post (quoted above) may have been taken the wrong way. When I posted the quote, I posted it to emphasize this part, that I had mentioned in a previous post. It was the only reference that I could find online, since I don't have access to my book, so this was why I used this quote. I thought I would post it to the OP who had pointed out that her child has Asperger's/ ADHD combined:

 

 

 

My goal was NOT to recommend a drug of any kind to the OP or anyone else. I just thought I would clarify that before going on my forum break.

 

Thanks Marie.

[Catherine]

We did not try meds for one child until he was 15 1\2. They were very beneficial, but I immediately wished we had done it years before. By then, he had already established some rather maladaptive habits that have been almost impossible to improve-like screentime overuse. When my then 8 yo was also diagnosed, the neuropsych told us that there are actually some data that suggest kids who are medicated younger follow a different trajectory as they grow up-one less affected by the problems of impulsivity and immaturity. He started Concerta when he was 10, and almost a year later, he just seems far more pleasant and happier. Maturity pills, my dh calls them, with good reason.

[WishboneDawn]

We did not try meds for one child until he was 15 1\2. They were very beneficial, but I immediately wished we had done it years before. By then, he had already established some rather maladaptive habits that have been almost impossible to improve-like screentime overuse. When my then 8 yo was also diagnosed, the neuropsych told us that there are actually some data that suggest kids who are medicated younger follow a different trajectory as they grow up-one less affected by the problems of impulsivity and immaturity. He started Concerta when he was 10, and almost a year later, he just seems far more pleasant and happier. Maturity pills, my dh calls them, with good reason.

 

This is something I've felt for awhile and why the meds-as-a-last-resort idea can drive me up the wall. It presumes that no harm is being done by not trying meds. I think that's often not the case.

[beth in md]

My daughters started on Concerta this year for ADD-inattentive type and it has helped somewhat for one, but has had no apparent effect on the other. They have upped the one daughter's dose twice and still no real effect. They don't like taking it because they completely lose their appetite and eating has become a chore. They don't take it weekends so they can build up some calories and not lose weight (they are skinny!) Not sure about next steps for them.

 

Beth in MD

Mom of four, ages 19, 17, and 13 year old twins

http://www.homeschoolfrederick.com

[heartily]

Were finally at the point where I think medication might be beneficial to my youngest [Aspie/ADHD]. We have an appointment with our Dr in a couple weeks and I was hoping to get some feedback on meds and how they have helped your child.

 

Thanks

 

For me, i suggest do it in a natural way. I'm not fan of using medications. I recommend treating it with some alternative method.

[americastamps]

Last resort, but especially because his add is very mild. He is able to focus quite a bit if he is really interested in something. He is somewhat impulsive and immature for his age. That said, a couple of friends whose children have more severe symptoms have found that medication really worked for I would wholeheartedly recommend dye/sugar free (and not with fake sugar substitutes) The Feingold helps a lot of people. But, I don't think a child should suffer if diet didn't have a significant effect. They might need medication. One of my friends told me she wished she had figured medication out a lot sooner, because it helped a lot. Others have found it didn't help much. I read in my adhd magazine though that most kids tried six or seven meds (sorry, i cant remember exact amount, but it was surprising). That alarmed me a little bit. I wonder if the docs arent trying hard enough to really evaluate which type ofdrug could work on thechild. Maybe it is just really hard to know how someone will respond given their body chemistry?? I just wanted to throw out something about absence seizures because someone mentioned staring off and blinking out. I have two nephews with seizure activity (2 different kinds) so it is on my radar a bit more, but thought it wasworth mentioning to monitor those type of symptoms to make sure it isnt seizures. A pediatrician may not always recognize that properly, but a neurologist should check to make sure. http://special-needs.families.com/blog/my-child-keeps-staring-into-space-is-it-adhd-or-a-seizure-disorder

[Wendi]

My son has done well with Strattera, but it has caused stomach trouble sometimes. We are hoping to discontinue it soon, because neurofeedback has caused so much improvement.

 

Wendi

[WVNA]

I have a quick question about ADHD medications. My son recently started to take Adderall XR. However, he has a really hard time swallowing the capsules.

 

I've read online that it's ok to open the capsule up and sprinkle the little beads inside it into applesauce and take it that way. Does anybody else do this or know of any problems with this approach?

 

Thanks.

[Barb_]

I have a quick question about ADHD medications. My son recently started to take Adderall XR. However, he has a really hard time swallowing the capsules.

 

I've read online that it's ok to open the capsule up and sprinkle the little beads inside it into applesauce and take it that way. Does anybody else do this or know of any problems with this approach?

 

Thanks.

 

It's fine to open the capsule because the individual beads are timed release. The capsule just holds them altogether. It's not okay to break a Concerta or other timed-released whole pill, however.

[Barb_]

For me, i suggest do it in a natural way. I'm not fan of using medications. I recommend treating it with some alternative method.

 

It can be difficult to understand a parent's decision to medicate unless you've been in the same position. When a child's impulsiveness grows severe enough that she routinely places herself in mortal danger, it's time to stop fooling around with diet and do something that will provide immediate help. Parents struggle with this decision and it's a very personal one dependent on various circumstances. This is to kindly say that your recommendation may have been well intended, but wasn't terribly helpful.

[LittleIzumi]

It can be difficult to understand a parent's decision to medicate unless you've been in the same position. When a child's impulsiveness grows severe enough that she routinely places herself in mortal danger, it's time to stop fooling around with diet and do something that will provide immediate help. Parents struggle with this decision and it's a very personal one dependent on various circumstances. This is to kindly say that your recommendation may have been well intended, but wasn't terribly helpful.

 

:iagree: That's exactly why I finally tried medication. The most recent running-in-front-of-cars-(plural)-in-the-street event did it for me. Although recommendations of specific natural remedies are always appreciated. :)

[DyslexicParent]

 

We are hoping to discontinue it soon, because neurofeedback has caused so much improvement.

May I ask for more information about your neurofeedback experience? I think it will cost at least $7K for 40 sessions of neurofeedback at a local clinic for my child with ADHD and learning disabilities. I'm hoping we can stop the ADHD medication and not have to keep spending money and time on alternative treatments.