Meds for my son
 

A new study on my son indicates the possibility of him having ADHD. We are considering medical treatment options. If you have pertinent information regarding the pros and cons of stimulants (we're thinking Focalin) versus non-stimulants (Strattera) please respond. Our next appointment is the 25th.

Thanks!

Re: Meds for my son
 

I really think it all depends on what works for YOUR child. My son is on Adderall. He's been taking it since he was 4 years old and is 16 now. One year, when he was about 8th grade, the doctor decided she needed to have him try some other meds (Straterra was one of them, as was Focalin). It was a horrible experience and he basically lost a whole year of learning in school. In the end, he ended up right back on the Adderall. The Adderall works for him when nothing else does.

Re: Meds for my son
 

If he is like mine he has alot of entergy and he is a boy and does not like to pay attention.......don't dope him up he will be a Zombie...He will grow out of it..

Re: Meds for my son
 

Good grief. I'm sure all kids are exactly the same. Way to generalize.

Re: Meds for my son
 

He's been a wreck for a couple years, but too young with not enough information to sort out what's going on in his brain. Plus, there's far too much overlap of symptoms in all these disorders. But, he's most definately, not a Neuro-typical kid!

I totally get that what works for one child may not work for another. Just trying to weigh the pros and cons of these two options. There are factors of both drugs that I like and dislike.

Re: Meds for my son
 

One doesn't "grow out of it". It only gets worse. Much worse.

Re: Meds for my son
 

One of my nephews was diagnosed with ADHD. My sister, based on her own experience (a diagnosis of "hyperactivity" in the 1960s) was understandably opposed to medication and resisted it for quite a long time. However, attempts at behavioral modification failed to bring about change and she finally decided to go with medication. They had a pretty good success with it, but it's something you're going to have to monitor and stay on top of.

Oh yeah, the medication was Adderall...sorry!

Re: Meds for my son
 

Yes and no. As a special education teacher, I believe there is an over-diagnosis of this very real condition. In the years I've taught children with ADD/ADHD ... some are the poster children for it .... while others are just misunderstood.

When folks say "outgrow" it ... I think they mean ... as experience, maturity take their natural course .... AND COPING SKILLS are taught ... children often learn to manage their condition. This seems to happen often as the child reaches his/her mid-teen years, IMO.

The special ed tag ... like everything else has its pros and cons ... but often concerned and involved parents seek to find ways for the child to manage their ADD/ADHD before high school ...

Here in TX, having Special Ed learning IEPs ... in this case under Other Health Impairment means the child's high school diploma is not "the same" as those in general ed ... and this can unfortunately affect the transcripts and decisions that colleges make .... this often does not apply if the child just has a BIP or Behavioral IEP, imo.

I'd recommend Focalin as a med only when all non-traditional avenues have been exhausted ... including behavior modification, diet, and homeopathic.

Tweaking the dosage ... often is pain-staking and heart-breaking to all involved...

Re: Meds for my son
 

I'll modify my statement: It only gets worse...if it's the real deal and a severe real deal. Would that be a more accurate statement? These disorders left unaddressed and denied don't just disappear like asthma occasionally does.

Re: Meds for my son
 

Good advice.

Re: Meds for my son
 

If you are looking for other alternative treatments before medication, you might want to read this book.

http://www.amazon.com/D-D-Nutrition-...2404567&sr=8-1

Re: Meds for my son
 

Thanks. As I said, the road has been long with seemingly no end in sight. For him, behaviour modification is not enough. He's told us that he wants to "do good, but his brain won't let him."

School hasn't started yet this year, but I'd describe his IEP as somewhat successful. He gets a daily sensory diet, also individual time with a social worker and a speech pathologist. We all still have concerns because of his anxiety, mood swings, aggressive behaviour, and his inability to follow the most basic directions.

The thought is, that a med will give him help in his concentration and attention, which will aleviate some of the anxiety, etc... We have several other recomendations such as dietary, games, and activities, that we are trying as well. But we do feel, this is the next step to follow in his situation. I guess I'm looking for any personal data someone out there in AFF might have regarding either of these drugs.

From what I've read, Strattera might have less side effects, but may take several weeks to "adjust". There may or may not be the desired effect and I'm somewhat concerned on what that "emotional ride" might be like for him. God knows, he's had enough already. Right now, I feel as if Focalin might be a better choice for us to to try first. We can find out sooner if it will help him, and if not, then maybe try Strattera.

Thanks for the link, Tina.

Re: Meds for my son
 

So you all are satisfied with the stimulant. Have you seen any downside, besides when the Dr. wanted to experiment?

Re: Meds for my son
 

Back in the day, what did they do with kids before all these drugs?

Re: Meds for my son
 

They likely grew up undiagnosed, untreated and struggling to survive in society, for their entire lives. (They had mental hospitals way back; must have been a terrible place! Now they just have prisons; probably an upgrade to the mental hospital.)

Before this, I had little understanding and thus little empathy for individuals with a mental disorder. I'd even say I was sceptical, as your question would seem to indicate you are. Today, I have a growing appreciation for the study of neuropsychology and the achievements and advancements they've made over the years.

Re: Meds for my son
 

With you, bro. There is a lot to be said about mental health that few either understand or choose to dismiss. There is no doubt that science has shown links between our neurology, body chemistry, hormones, etc.

You don't just pray through asthma or grow out of diabetes.

There are many Christian adults who need help and even medicine.

Re: Meds for my son
 

drummerboy_dave,

My son in law has ADD. He is about 30 years old and has a Masters degree in business, is fluent in Spanish, etc BUT ADD is a huge problem in his life.

He had been on medication (adderal I believe) since he was young and it allows him to function. Like many of us he believes medication for ADD is over prescribed and some children who really are not ADD are diagnosed with it. He has discovered the hard way that he was not one of those children and must have the medication to be able to focus whether in school or on a job.

He decided a few years ago to forgo the medicene and just count on God to help him. For those two or so years he went through about four jobs. He could not focus and would say or do inappropriate things eventually that would get him fired.

Once he started back on the meds he got an excellent job and kept it for the three years until the Company pulled out of our state.

I can always tell if he has not taken his medication. The difference in behaviour is striking. If he is singing old negro spirituals loudly at 6:30 am then I know he has not taken his medication yet!

It sounds like you have spent considerable time making sure your son actually does have a problem beyond normal adolescent ones. With that in mind I would urge you to pursue the path of finding the proper medication to help him now so he does not get behind in school or his social development. I have no knowledge to suggest one medication over another but just to pursue finding one that works for him. I will be praying for you.

Re: Meds for my son
 

Yes, I'm skeptically big time.

Re: Meds for my son
 

Is that true? ADD is often diagnosed by non medical people. In the case of my son, we just changed schools. Now he is 3 years ahead of schedule in getting a college degree in chemistry and math.

Re: Meds for my son
 

I prayed my daughter thru asthma. God delivered her. She is a track athlete at the national championshiops level now. I have a bible study partner. He and I prayed over his ex mo-inlaw and she was delivered from diabetes. I am familiar with diabetes. My nephew is diabetic and sells diabetic drugs. His wife is a Pharmacist. But he hasn't been healed.

Re: Meds for my son
 

They were called insane asylums. Jails contain a lot of people with mental illness.

Re: Meds for my son
 

I often hand out a book, bringing up boys by Dr James dodson. Schools expect boys as students to act like girls and they can't adjust to confinement to a desk. They want to touch feel and explore.

Re: Meds for my son
 

Great post :thumbsup

Re: Meds for my son
 

My daughter is ADD and she wasn't diagnosed until she was a freshman in high school. So, it isn't just boys being boys or a behavioral problem. My daughter's is a processing issue.

Once she started medication she made straight A's. She tested gifted in a couple areas, but because she had a "mis-fire" or processing issue in her brain she couldn't always comprehend or retain information coming in.

She struggles with it at times as an adult in her job, but doesn't take medication now.

Re: Meds for my son
 

Drummerboy, for Keith the stimulant is what works. The same may not be true for your son. You may have to go thru several different medications before you find the one that works best for him. Everyone's body chemistry is different and no one can know ahead of time which will work for him.

One of the things we have found with Keith is that after we knew he had to be on Adderall, then we had to figure out what the right dosage is FOR HIM. When he was on 20 mg of the Adderall XR, it just was not doing what he needed it to do. We finally ended up at 40 mg and that does the job for him. But before we settled on the 40 mg, the "team" (his pediatrician, the school representatives, ourselves and several others involved in his case) thought perhaps we should be giving him a booster dose of 20 mg of Adderall (not the XR) at 2:00 in the afternoon. It didn't take long to figure out that dose was far too much for his system. He turned into a zombie! We quickly backed off. Keith is 16 years old, so he is able to tell us if the medication is doing things to him that make him uncomfortable (occasionally, he'll tell us that it is making him concentrate TOO much! Imagine that!). Listen to your child. He'll know better than anyone else how HE is feeling :)

Good luck with this. It's a hard decision to make.

Re: Meds for my son
 

Thanks all, for your feedback and prayers.

We are giving Adderall XR a try. Today is the first day with Dr. follow-up in a month, social worker next week. I am so stressed; hope it can help.

Re: Meds for my son
 

I was diagnosed "Hyperactive" and Dyslexic. "Hyperactive" was the old term for what is now ADHD.

I got Ritalin back then and I think the dosage was higher than now. not sure but it seems that way.

I also knew several kids that were much like me but were just treated as behavioral problems. They ended up in Jail and I didnt.

Re: Meds for my son
 

That's so very interesting.

They say that the rates of diagnosis for ADD, ADHD, and PDD's are increasing dramaticly. I think the cases were always there but they were missed more often than not. Subsequently, the child grows into an adult without the ability of "self control" and the behaviour problems escalate into criminal activity. I have great empathy for these kids.

All I can say to a cynic; is that I hope they temper their skepticism with gratitude, that they and theirs don't have a developmental disorder.

Re: Meds for my son
 

I have ADHD and dyslexia. I understand fully that the diagnosis may be overdone however, I can attest that it is very real. those of us who live with this know for certain.

The only other thing that I would suggest DBDave, is that you sit your son down and have a very frank and honest discussion with him about it. You will be shocked at his ability (if you havent already) to take in the information and deal with it.

dont let it be an excuse for not being successful either. Everybody has to over come in life. this is his. He is fortunate to know early on what he must overcome. Lots of folks learn far too late.

Plus he has concerned and engaged parents! NOTHING is more important.

Re: Meds for my son
 

Ferd, I suffer from rather extreme dyslexia myself which is the main reason my posts tend to be rather short here. It takes a ridicules amount of effort to type several paragraphs and spend at least 5x as long proof reading and correct my flip-flopped words. This makes it all the more painful when I DO spend any amount of time thinking up a post only to have the main point(s) completely ignored by whoever I may be directing it at. It really REALLY forces me to carefully "pick my battles" as they tend to require a ton of effort and time on my part.

Re: Meds for my son
 

agreed! On the other hand one of the things I love about forums is that it requires my repeated practice of writing!

Re: Meds for my son
 

Proofreading?! Which forum are you on, anyway? :toofunny

Re: Meds for my son
 

i know there is a tendenci for som to talk like this

Re: Meds for my son
 

One of the things that the psychiatrist who tested Keith initially said to us was that studies have shown that a great number of people who are drug addicts also suffer from ADHD and the theory is that many of those people realize that there is "something different" about themselves, so in order to fix things, they are self-medicating. I don't know how much truth there is to this, but it really does make alot of sense.

Re: Meds for my son
 

When my son was in grade school they wanted to medicate him ,starting with ritalin, we said no, that aint happening, he was a constant whirl, non stop talker, couldnt leave other kids alone in school etc .(we eventually put hm in a christian school,smaller classes more attention from teachers) His sisters would beg him to shut up, he would keep right on talking while they did it. Well he is 27 now, has been to iraq where his fellow soldiers treated him like the company mascot ,everyone loved him, including the ladies from all the pics i saw and back and now works for me in construction, Still loves to talk, His girlfriend loves that ,is the kindest, most generous,easy to get along with,unending patience, person you will ever meet.So i wouldnt be so eager to do that,Maybe as one of my co workers said when he was growing up "hey he is just high on life"

Re: Meds for my son
 

I'd guess there's a lot of truth to that.

Re: Meds for my son
 

Once again, just because your son "likes to talk" doesn't mean he's ADHD.

Re: Meds for my son
 

I am ADHD (but dyslexia is my main stumbling block) and hate talking.

Anyone who hangs around me will see that I always have a stress ball in my hand squeezing it and tossing it back and forth. In fact, any stress ball that lasts more than 30 days with me is better than 90% of the rest. I give each one I try a "Randy scale" rating.

Re: Meds for my son
 

Duh !! Thanks doc !!