Aa
To med or not to med
I have a 13 year old son that has been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, and was on Concerta for almost a year. He was doing pretty good in school, but he didn't really like the mood/feeling that he got from the drug. I asked the doctor if I could take him off the drug for a month and now that school has started again, he isn't able to focus very well. A couple of C's and a couple of A's on his mid quarter report. I am stuck with my girlfriend saying that he doesn't need the drug and I need to be more consistent with him, and my mother who says that he is falling behind and that I should make a decision soon(she is against the meds too). I am at wits end with that going on and having a daughter as well and also being a single parent. Any advice would be appreciated.
My son was on ritalin first and he felt horriable he cried all the time and couldnt control his behaviours at all he even started threathening to kill himself at the age of 7 we brought him to the hospital for the fear he would do it and they kepted him there for 8 days to see what was going on because he was miss treated with ritalin it was acting as a cocain his body was so use to the drug he was going through withdrawl now he is on concerta and we asked him how he felt he said he feels so much better he now can concentrate on his schooling and his family not the nasty feeling the other meds did for him...keep in mind meds are not the only option consistancy is more the key....I believe that people who does not have a child with this disability should not comment on this post they dont live with the feeling of failing as a parent and having to make a decision on your childs future my son thanks me every day now before he hated me because I put him through this... hope the best
My son is 7 and he is on concerta which he is only medicated during school hours, I understand the against meds because I am as well but the old my son got and the more he struggle worried me more..his academics were falling and he was now two grades beind his fellow students which caused him to fight and be rude and care less whether he was doing well because he felt that he was stupid compared to the other children once I gave into my feelings about the meds and thought about his being left behind in school I made the decision to medicate him and now he is progressing well and he is now making friends
I hope the best for you and your family.....
I hope the best for you and your family.....
first of all...the drugs affect people DIFFERENTLY!!!! all those ppl who say dont give your son the drugs because they are mind-altering dont know and have probably never had to take them...yes...for me the drugs didnt do anything for me mentally...i was still wanting to move and shake but they made me physically have to stay still...it was horrible...i suggest to ask the patient what he thinks is better
I think that meds could help him a lot in school. If you medicate him, try medicating him just during school, not on the weekends. If you don't medicate him, see if his school has a special program. My friends son has ADD and he is in a certain program at school that allows him to have more time for school work and tests. He can also get notes to give to the teacher if say the teacher is speaking AND giving notes- so the teacher would give him the notes... since he can't pay attention to the teacher speaking AND take notes at the same time.
Talk to his school, I am sure they can offer you some advice as well.
Talk to his school, I am sure they can offer you some advice as well.
I totally agree with your post and I hope someone will be able to help you find a clinic for the treatment,
HI
I AM ALSO LOOKING FOR ADVICE WITH A CHILD. MY SON AGED 12 WHO HAS HAD ADD OR ADHD ,I THINK ADD AND AFTER MANY YEARS OF HANDLING HIS SYMPTOMS AT HOME AND SUPPORTING SCHOOL I HAVE DECIDED THAT HE NEEDS EXTRA HELP AS HE IS AT THE RISK OF EXCLUSION FROM SECONDARY SCHOOL BECAUSE OF HIS DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOURS IN CLASS AND ABILITY TO CONCENTRATE AND STAY ON TASK, ALSO BECAUSE OF THE SCHOOLS INABILITY TO COPE OR HELP HIM BY USING OUT OF THE NORM STRATEGIES WHICH CAUSE EXTRA WORK AND MANPOWER.INSTEAD HE HAS BEEN LABELLED AS THE NAUGHTY CHILD .UNFORTUNATLEY TO GET EXTRA SUPPORT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A STATEMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS, WHICH I PERSONALLY THINK IS WRONG AND IS ABOUT FUNDS NOT THE CHILD, I AM HAVING HIM ASSESED THROUGH THE NORMAL CHANNELS BECAUSE OF THIS , BUT HAVE TOUCHED ON IN MY WORK NEUROLOGICAL EXERCISES WHICH ARE TO HELP DEVELPOMENTAL DELAY IN THE BRAIN WHICH ADHD ADD DYSLEXIA DYSPRAXIA ARE ALL CONNECTED. I HAVE JUST READ A BOOK CALLED IS THAT MY CHILD BY DOCTOR PAUC FROM THE TINSLEY HOUSE CLINIC AND HAVE REFERRED ONLINE MY SON TO THEM FOR A FULL NEUROLOGICAL EXAMINATION WHICH IS ALL EXPLAINED IN THE BOOK OR BRIEFLY ON THE WEBSITE ,JUST PUT IN TINSLEY HOUSE CLINIC.
I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS BUT I AM GOING TO PUT A REQUEST FOR HELP TO MY LOCAL EDUCATION AUTHORITY,TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO AN APPOINTMENT WITH AND ED PHYSC FOR AS SHORT A TIME AS POSSIBLE AND THEN A LABEL.
I AM A BEHAVIOUR SUPPORT WORKER AND HAVE WORKED WITH LOTS OF CHILDREN WITH ADHD AND HAVE SEEN CHILDREN IN MAINSTREAM AND SPECIAL SCHOOLS WHO DO AND DO NOT TAKE MEDICATION, IN EXTREME CASES I THINK MEDICATION HELPS IN SCHOOL BECAUSE OF THE ROUTINE BUT I HAVE SEEN ALMOST ZOMBIE LIKE CHILDREN WITH NO APPETITE AND RAPID UNHEALTHY WEIGHT LOSS, THE DECISION FOR MEDICATION WAS MADE BY THE CHILDS PARENTS IN MY OPINION FOR THE WRONG REASONS IF ONLY TO SATISFY THE EDUCATION SYSTEM WITH WHICH MOST ARE DANDLING BY A THREAD, I HAVE HEARD ALSO FROM SOME PARENTS THAT IT IS A COPING MECHANISM FOR HOME , THIS I COULD SOMETIMES PUT DOWN TO POOR PARENTING.
I THINK IF YOU ARE CAPABLE OF HANDLING YOUR CHILD WITHOUT MEDICATION THEN DO SO, SOME PEAOPLE ARE NOT AND DO NOT HAVE THE SKILLS THIS IS THE DECISION .
I AM INTERESTED IN ANYONE WHO HAS USED A CLINIC FOR THIS TYPE OF NEUROLOGICAL TREATMENT AND HOW THEY FOUND IT.
I AM ALSO LOOKING FOR ADVICE WITH A CHILD. MY SON AGED 12 WHO HAS HAD ADD OR ADHD ,I THINK ADD AND AFTER MANY YEARS OF HANDLING HIS SYMPTOMS AT HOME AND SUPPORTING SCHOOL I HAVE DECIDED THAT HE NEEDS EXTRA HELP AS HE IS AT THE RISK OF EXCLUSION FROM SECONDARY SCHOOL BECAUSE OF HIS DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOURS IN CLASS AND ABILITY TO CONCENTRATE AND STAY ON TASK, ALSO BECAUSE OF THE SCHOOLS INABILITY TO COPE OR HELP HIM BY USING OUT OF THE NORM STRATEGIES WHICH CAUSE EXTRA WORK AND MANPOWER.INSTEAD HE HAS BEEN LABELLED AS THE NAUGHTY CHILD .UNFORTUNATLEY TO GET EXTRA SUPPORT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A STATEMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS, WHICH I PERSONALLY THINK IS WRONG AND IS ABOUT FUNDS NOT THE CHILD, I AM HAVING HIM ASSESED THROUGH THE NORMAL CHANNELS BECAUSE OF THIS , BUT HAVE TOUCHED ON IN MY WORK NEUROLOGICAL EXERCISES WHICH ARE TO HELP DEVELPOMENTAL DELAY IN THE BRAIN WHICH ADHD ADD DYSLEXIA DYSPRAXIA ARE ALL CONNECTED. I HAVE JUST READ A BOOK CALLED IS THAT MY CHILD BY DOCTOR PAUC FROM THE TINSLEY HOUSE CLINIC AND HAVE REFERRED ONLINE MY SON TO THEM FOR A FULL NEUROLOGICAL EXAMINATION WHICH IS ALL EXPLAINED IN THE BOOK OR BRIEFLY ON THE WEBSITE ,JUST PUT IN TINSLEY HOUSE CLINIC.
I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS BUT I AM GOING TO PUT A REQUEST FOR HELP TO MY LOCAL EDUCATION AUTHORITY,TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO AN APPOINTMENT WITH AND ED PHYSC FOR AS SHORT A TIME AS POSSIBLE AND THEN A LABEL.
I AM A BEHAVIOUR SUPPORT WORKER AND HAVE WORKED WITH LOTS OF CHILDREN WITH ADHD AND HAVE SEEN CHILDREN IN MAINSTREAM AND SPECIAL SCHOOLS WHO DO AND DO NOT TAKE MEDICATION, IN EXTREME CASES I THINK MEDICATION HELPS IN SCHOOL BECAUSE OF THE ROUTINE BUT I HAVE SEEN ALMOST ZOMBIE LIKE CHILDREN WITH NO APPETITE AND RAPID UNHEALTHY WEIGHT LOSS, THE DECISION FOR MEDICATION WAS MADE BY THE CHILDS PARENTS IN MY OPINION FOR THE WRONG REASONS IF ONLY TO SATISFY THE EDUCATION SYSTEM WITH WHICH MOST ARE DANDLING BY A THREAD, I HAVE HEARD ALSO FROM SOME PARENTS THAT IT IS A COPING MECHANISM FOR HOME , THIS I COULD SOMETIMES PUT DOWN TO POOR PARENTING.
I THINK IF YOU ARE CAPABLE OF HANDLING YOUR CHILD WITHOUT MEDICATION THEN DO SO, SOME PEAOPLE ARE NOT AND DO NOT HAVE THE SKILLS THIS IS THE DECISION .
I AM INTERESTED IN ANYONE WHO HAS USED A CLINIC FOR THIS TYPE OF NEUROLOGICAL TREATMENT AND HOW THEY FOUND IT.
The above Post was meant for nunu not 808Dad but 808Dad, I think you should check out the options as your Mom and girlfiend have said then make your mind up that supplements work as has been stated by many experts in the field.and as your Family siad to you consistancy and good parent/child interaction.
This was not a personal attack on anyone I am not certain why you would think that ,but you took it personally,that is your problem,I stand by what I have said.
Strattera is the first and only NON-STIMULANT medication approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat ADHD. It has rare and less side affects than his stepfather’s asthma medication. And yes they are looking into a more natural approach to treating his chronic asthma; its just finding one that works because sometimes it can take a long time to find a natural fix because every case is different and everyone reacts or respond differently to everything. We are hoping that when he is older and is able to understand ADHD that he will be able to come off medication. But it is not fair to hinder him with his education now and cause him to see going to school and getting an education a horrible experience and giving up because he can never catch up.
If you didn't notice in my post I suggested, as I always do, a more natural approach that could work for her son more than it did my stepson.
This is not a case of an "easy option"! Please don't accuse me of being lazy with my parenting approach and taking an "easy option"!
I agree with your journal that too many parents and teachers are misdiagnosing ADHD. I have also read a comment you made about bad parenting skills and I agree that often that is the case. I am not a perfect parent, no one is, but in our case bad parenting skills is not the case. I don’t say this to blow my horn but we don’t have a problem when the kids are at home. He did have hyperactivity but the fish oil and Attentive Child took care of that. We deal with his ADHD like you should any child, in a positive and consistent manner and it works. We teach him the difference between right and wrong and good and negative consequences. He is a loving, fun and happy child. He is not perfect, but no child is. The problem is I cant be with him every hour when he is at school and I would have thought that with you being a teacher you should know how important and education is. If we have tried all the natural options and get results but not enough for him to do well at school then what other options do we have? I commend you if you dealt with children with ADHD in your class as a teacher but not many teachers can deal with this along with the rest of the class. Maybe teachers should have more training with this.
If you didn't notice in my post I suggested, as I always do, a more natural approach that could work for her son more than it did my stepson.
This is not a case of an "easy option"! Please don't accuse me of being lazy with my parenting approach and taking an "easy option"!
I agree with your journal that too many parents and teachers are misdiagnosing ADHD. I have also read a comment you made about bad parenting skills and I agree that often that is the case. I am not a perfect parent, no one is, but in our case bad parenting skills is not the case. I don’t say this to blow my horn but we don’t have a problem when the kids are at home. He did have hyperactivity but the fish oil and Attentive Child took care of that. We deal with his ADHD like you should any child, in a positive and consistent manner and it works. We teach him the difference between right and wrong and good and negative consequences. He is a loving, fun and happy child. He is not perfect, but no child is. The problem is I cant be with him every hour when he is at school and I would have thought that with you being a teacher you should know how important and education is. If we have tried all the natural options and get results but not enough for him to do well at school then what other options do we have? I commend you if you dealt with children with ADHD in your class as a teacher but not many teachers can deal with this along with the rest of the class. Maybe teachers should have more training with this.
margypops
In a reply to you’re above post that I am assuming was meant for me… I thought long and hard weather I should post my reply as I am definitely venting my upset feeling of your attack. But I feel that if you have said such negative things to other parents that are trying to make the right decisions and feeling confused then they might appreciate my reply.
I really don't think this forum is to judge but rather give advice and share experiences. I don't think anyone has the right to judge anyone for wanting his or her child to succeed in life. The way the world is these days you need an education. At least we tried the natural way first; we even have taken all artificial sweeteners and colors out of his diet, and anything else natural that has been suggested. Yes we felt it helped a lot but when he is at school under the teachers supervision who has a classroom full of other students to teach and cant give my stepson one on one all day so he can do his work then I will not apologize to anyone for feeling its NOT ok to fail in school. Its not ok that the teacher tells us that he is way behind because not matter what she does or we do he just sits at his desk playing with his pencil instead of doing his work. It’s not ok that he is at school all day and then comes home and takes hours to do his homework, even with one on one because we help him and work with him rather than give him the answers just to get it done fast.
And NO It was not at all an easy option. At first we said we would never give meds to him, in fact for a few years we said no.
As I said a forum is to give advise and share experiences not force ones opinion onto others that are having enough struggle dealing with the decision to medicate or not or who already feel bad enough that they are medicating. Every medicine offers benefits for many patients, along with the possibility of undesired effects (not just with ADHD) but you have out way the pros and cons and find what works best.
I’m not sure what makes you feel you are such an expert on how to deal with ADHD, but please don’t make others feel bad because they are dealing with a situation that is different in every case.
In a reply to you’re above post that I am assuming was meant for me… I thought long and hard weather I should post my reply as I am definitely venting my upset feeling of your attack. But I feel that if you have said such negative things to other parents that are trying to make the right decisions and feeling confused then they might appreciate my reply.
I really don't think this forum is to judge but rather give advice and share experiences. I don't think anyone has the right to judge anyone for wanting his or her child to succeed in life. The way the world is these days you need an education. At least we tried the natural way first; we even have taken all artificial sweeteners and colors out of his diet, and anything else natural that has been suggested. Yes we felt it helped a lot but when he is at school under the teachers supervision who has a classroom full of other students to teach and cant give my stepson one on one all day so he can do his work then I will not apologize to anyone for feeling its NOT ok to fail in school. Its not ok that the teacher tells us that he is way behind because not matter what she does or we do he just sits at his desk playing with his pencil instead of doing his work. It’s not ok that he is at school all day and then comes home and takes hours to do his homework, even with one on one because we help him and work with him rather than give him the answers just to get it done fast.
And NO It was not at all an easy option. At first we said we would never give meds to him, in fact for a few years we said no.
As I said a forum is to give advise and share experiences not force ones opinion onto others that are having enough struggle dealing with the decision to medicate or not or who already feel bad enough that they are medicating. Every medicine offers benefits for many patients, along with the possibility of undesired effects (not just with ADHD) but you have out way the pros and cons and find what works best.
I’m not sure what makes you feel you are such an expert on how to deal with ADHD, but please don’t make others feel bad because they are dealing with a situation that is different in every case.
I cant imagine anyone wanting to put a label on their child and also give them mind altering Drugs with awful side effects simply so they would get good grades and not hate school, it passes beyond any explanation and to me says it all , this is where the problem lies its an easy option.
I tried Attentive Child (from GNC) and fish oil for my 8 year old stepson before trying meds. they both work great for his Hyperactivity and while he is at home. When he first moved in with us he couldn't even sit still at the dinner table. But where school was concerned it didn't help enough with his attention. Because your son is older they might help him more in school. we continue to give him fish oil and attentive child but decided to try meds because we didn't want him struggling and hating school.
Sorry the above post was for Aggiesmom not 808dad. it is in the same thread just a few below 808dad dated Sept 10th 9yearold Boy ,
It is a few below your post dated Sept 10 9yr old Boy Gifted/learning , by noteasy just click on it .
I tried to message you to ask you, but couldn't--I'm wondering if you could post a link to the "noteasy" thread to which you are referring in your last reply above.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Read the other thread "noteasy' and then make your own mind up. its there for you to see.
Go onto your search Engine and see for your self the out- rage of what these Drugs are doing to children ,most of whom are simply suffering from lack of parents focusing on the positive side of their childs behavior and channelling their energys in constructive ways, Parents of children with attention deficits also need to face their own fears that they are somehow to blame for this disorder-and to give themselves credit for all they do to set clear guidelines ,reinforce responsible behavior.Why not listen to your girl friend and Mom, and also go and get the information on the side effects of these Drugs.
Try without the meds..a drop in grades, as long as he isn't failing, should be ok for a while and work on other things like getting a good nights sleep, eating healthy foods, restricting television and video games. If your girlfriend thinks her opinion should matter, she should be assisting with the raising of your son as well. I took Adderall and I wound up a depressed, nervous wreck on the stuff and I only took 10 mgs a day during the week for work only. Some people do not react well with the drug and it sounds like your son is one of these people. I personally think no one should take them but that's just my opinion.
Trust me, the meds are necessary. People who don't suffer from ADD/ADHD do not know what it is like to live with it. I know that not ALL teens suffering from this disability are affected the same way but we self-medicate. For me, its the internet and TV. I don't have to think when I'm watching shows or surfing the net. For my mom when she was younger it was drinking, for my cousin its drugs, and for his sister its all of the above. All of us have been to a psychologist who specializes in ADD and we've all been diagnosed. For me, I almost can't function. I can't hold a conversation, I can't sit and listen to my professors some days when I forget to take my meds, and I become extremely emotional.
And make sure you know your options. Talk to your doctor about different meds. I was on 3 before I landed on aderoll (?). I tried Concerta, the time release concerta, the time release aderoll, and now I'm on just plain aderoll. Its a life saver
And make sure you know your options. Talk to your doctor about different meds. I was on 3 before I landed on aderoll (?). I tried Concerta, the time release concerta, the time release aderoll, and now I'm on just plain aderoll. Its a life saver
ADHD/ADD is a serious disability. Your son will be worse off if he does not get good grades and starts to hate school. This could lead to him not finishind High School and not going to college. Help as much as you can. I agree with halbashes. Try to medicate him for school only. You can take him off the med during weekends, vacations and after 4 pm. Concerta is a 12 hour medication. Talk to your doctor about trying a shorter timing drug such as Metadate CD which is only 6 to 8 hours in span (and do not give him too much in quantity). Good luck.
Why not try the way of your Mom and your Girlfriend as they feel it would be better to keep him off drugs,I dont think a drop in grades means he should be on Drugs do you, I do agree consistancy is the key but also lots of good feedback and Positive attention, are you too hard on him? What other activities do you guys do together Sports? Games?
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