ADHD and medication

**Scattymum** · 08-25-2006, 04:48 PM

I dont know if i have really mentioned it before her but Ciara (7) has ADHD, it was first really diagnosed in her first year at school when she was 5, we have been on a waiting list for the ADHD clinic for the last 2 years and finally got an appointment yesterday. Ciara is on the lower end of the spectrum with hyperactivity and inattentiveness/ lack of concentratio the primary issues, we deal with her issues very well at home and to us its normal because its all we are used too, we have no problem with the way she is at home, however it is becoming apparent that she is increasingly difficult at school. she has been tested and is a very bright child and is 2 years ahead of her age group in reading and spelling, 3 years in spatial skills and on a level with the rest

the people we saw at the clinic were really nice but it was a very intensive assessment - i think every possible question was asked. they were very complementary about our parenting skills and the way we handle situations with ciara. we have had tough two weeks with her, we have had a friend and her kids staying nearly 2 weeks and it really threw our routines off and Ciara has been very sensitive to the change - we have had some major battles about the strangest things!. I shall be glad when school starts backand we can get things settled into a proper routine again.

anyway, the we have to go back in a couple of weeks to meet with the medical team - they basically want to put ciara on medication ( Ritalin or concerta? - im not sure which drug, are they the same thing?).starting with a low dose,

i am torn - i dont want to medicate at all, every bone in my body is screaming no - only as a last resort but i have to put my feelings aside and do what is best for ciara - its hard being a parent! if being medicated will help her then we may have to do it

we deal with her all day and too us she seems okay -we have learnt to deal with her issues and are used to our way of doing things, its normal for us but obviously others,the clinic and the school see issues in her. Jamie is very like Ciara and i think we may have issues with him an the future, the clinic also suggested that he may be copying Ciaras reactions to situations though

i just dont know what is best so i am trying to get any info i can on medication, side effects, how they alter personality etc,

i know some of you have experience with ADHD and i wondered what your views are? if you have a child on medication how has it affected them - their personality, has the medication helped at all - in what way.
what are the pros and cons?

I know i shall have to do alot of thinking before we maqke any decisions but i wondered what others think? I am just trying to get as much info as i can.

thanks for any help!

**MOMMYDEAREST** · 08-25-2006, 04:52 PM

i have a cousin on medication "ritalin" and my cousin is 12. he has been on it for years. he seems kinda spacey to me when he's on the meds. a few years ago my ds was having the same situation as your dd. we waited it out a few years & he's doing fine now. i guess its all up to the child, parent & doctor. i heard there are some diets oyu can out your child on instead of doing the medication. then if the diets don't work, then you could possibly try the meds. it seems to me by the way you explain your dd, that she don't have the adhd symptoms to bad (just my own opinion). good luck, parenting is the hardest job in the world. hang in there!!!

**Scattymum** · 08-25-2006, 05:02 PM

we have tried diets, omega 3 oils etc, none seemed to make that much of a difference.

The problem is that she can be disruptive at school, climbing on chairs, shouting, pretending to be different animals and crawling round the floor, not listening etc!.
the wschool have been excellent and she has time outs during the day when a resource teacher takes her to run round the yard or bounce on the trampoline to work off some energy.she is also having lessons with the resource teacher to improve her concentration -learning to knit and type, play board games etc.

she is very like this at home but we have the time and patience to deal with her outbursts and to find other outlets for her energy, also spitting tasks into smaller things and giving rewards. Because its normal for us we dont see her as being different.

when at ho

**MOMMYDEAREST** · 08-25-2006, 05:06 PM

oh rachael i'm so sorry. i'm sure you are so confused. you need to do what you think is right. what you think is right, may not be what someone else thinks is right. so if you hear negative remarks from other people, just keep in mind you are doing what is best. you & your dh need to sit down & decide whats in your daughters best interest. good luck, sorry i can't be much more help!!!

**Scattymum** · 08-25-2006, 05:10 PM

thanks
my head is all over the place lol, I guess we are just trying to get as much info as possible to be able to make the right desicion and not just be railroaded into it to suit everyone else. At the end of the day its about Ciara and not me and i have to do whats best for her.
thanks for your input!

**AmyBoz** · 08-25-2006, 05:11 PM

As a teacher, I have had many students on meds for ADD. It makes a world of difference for them, and children who have had nothing but negative experiences w/school suddenly turn into school-lovers and are able to achieve to their fullest potential.

I see it like this...if your child had a cold, wouldn't you give her medicine to help her feel better? As far as I'm concerned, it's the same principle.

It sometimes takes awhile to find the right meds and dosages, but once it's all correct, I've really not seen big problems or side-effects.

**fernykins** · 08-25-2006, 05:48 PM

I would do what is best for the child......... My son has a stepson with ADHD and is austic........ They have been trying him on didferent meds. They are also haveing someone come out to teach them how to disapline him. Before my son married her. They do not disapline him. Me I would want the child to beable to do their best. If meds would help give the child a fighting chance.
Fern

**YankeeMom** · 08-25-2006, 06:26 PM

Rachael, we had a very similar experience with my youngest dd. She was exactly the same age as your daughter. She has also tested and been placed in the gifted & talented program.

I was very adament against labeling her & putting her on medication. I saw how it stigmatized my brother (he has adhd and was on ritalin). But after having her diagnosed by an actual child psychologist and listening to him talk about the different options available, we decided to give Concerta a try. One thing I did not want was for my daughter's condition to set her apart, Concerta is time released, so she would only have to take it in the AM before school. Unlike ritalin, which needs to be taken every 4 hrs, the Concerta lasted her the whole school day.

Like your daughter, we didn't have A LOT of issues with our daughter at home. But what issues we did have were helped immensely by the behavior modification techniques the child psychologist gave us.

I am happy to say though, at almost 12 yrs old my daughter has grown out of her need for the medication. The medication enabled us to teach her how to behave & learn how to deal with her condition.

Good luck Rachael.

**SHOPGIRL** · 08-25-2006, 08:10 PM

I'm a teacher and if your daughter has been diagnosed with ADHD, then the meds would probably make a big difference in school. Like Amy said, she will probably like school a lot more if she is successful. It sounds like you've tried a lot of different things already. It's great that what you do at home works. However, in a classroom environment, there are a lot more distractions, and there are only so many things a teacher can do to help a child with ADHD. I'm for doing natural therapies, but I'm also realisitic. If one of my children had ADHD, then I would certainly put them on meds while they were in school. I would want my child to like school and be successful. Kids take meds for allergies, depression, etc... Also, ADHD doesn't have a stigma. Kids notice other kids when they aren't on meds and have poor behavior. Kids wouldn't even know your daughter was on meds, especially if you use the time-release meds.

**AirForceWife** · 08-25-2006, 09:00 PM

Rachael, my son is also ADHD. I was very opposed to just pumping some drug into my kid to make a teachers job easier. We didn't have problems with him at home and I liked my son's personality. Another boy in his class was on Ritalin and was like a zombie! (way overmedicated. His dose was eventually lowered)

We had a great pediatrician and began him on a small dose of Ritalin, only in the mornings, to see if the stimulant based meds would help. When we found that they did he switched to Concerta. He has had no problems on it. It definately has not affected his personality! It helped him a lot as he was younger at school and he's in the gifted and talented program and is a very organized kid.

Right now we are in the process of pulling him off the meds. He's 12 and has learned techniques to manage. Our school year does not begin until next Wednesday, so we are going with a lower dose and going to decrease from there. The great thing about this is his Dr. listens to HIM. The doctor wanted us to just stop the medicine and see what happened, my son was concerned about this and wanted to take it more slowly. His doctor was very supportive of doing it in a way that my son was in control. All of his doctors have always made it a point to listen to us as his parents AND to him.

I know things are overwhelming right now. It's a lot of information to have to absorb. Read carefully, and don't be afraid to ask questions. Make sure she gets very thorough physical exams. I'm not sure how things work with the Irish medical system, but the combination of a pediatrician and a child phychologist can help a lot!

Good luck. I'll be thinkin' about you!

**SHOPGIRL** · 08-25-2006, 09:08 PM

Having a child in my classroom on ADHD doesn't necessarily make my job easier as a teacher. Medication helps the child focus. This makes learning easier for the child. Children who have ADHD or ADD tend to get into trouble more frequently, do less homework, absorb less information in class, and lead to lower grades. In time, if this condition isn't treated, a student will become frustrated and fall below grade level in learning.

Children on meds need to be monitored carefully through their doctor. As children go through puberty, their meds and dosage will change frequently. It's very important to find a good doctor when being treated with ADHD. Not all medications work well with all kids. Usually, behavior is monitored through teachers, parents, and the doctor. If this isn't being done, then a child could become overmedicated.

**Mom23boys** · 08-25-2006, 09:28 PM

Originally Posted by AmyBoz

It sometimes takes awhile to find the right meds and dosages, but once it's all correct, I've really not seen big problems or side-effects.

I have to speak about what Amy wrote. It does take time to find the correct meds. In fact, for my DS#1 it took 9 years to find the correct medication. I know it probably doesn't take that long for everyone because for the other two sons it was just a matter of months. All three of my children are ADHD. I do give my oldest and youngest medication, but DS#2 seems to control his with proper nutrition and exercise. He is an exercise guru and health nut. He doesn't want anything in his body that isn't healthy. I think with his attitude and workout routine, he has found his own dose of medication. I do keep in contact with his teachers and they will let me know if there is a problem. If it becomes too much for him to handle without the medication, I wouldn't delay starting him on medication again. I want to help them all be successful in school and life. I know it is very hard for DS#1 and 3 to focus without it.

My only advise would be, do what you feel is best for your child.

**AmyBoz** · 08-25-2006, 09:57 PM

Originally Posted by SHOPGIRL

Having a child in my classroom on ADHD doesn't necessarily make my job easier as a teacher.

Absolutely...medication is all about helping the child succeed, NOT about the teacher having an easy time.

**Goodwin17** · 08-25-2006, 11:03 PM

I think you've gotten some good advice here from the other ladies. From a medical standpoint I've heard lots of good things about Concerta. I wish you the best of luck. Your children are beautiful by the way. I love that picture on your avatar!

**AirForceWife** · 08-26-2006, 01:21 AM

The statement that I made was not directed at anyone on this board. I apologize if it offended anyone.

My husband and I were in a meeting to go over the observations from my son’s school that we would be taking back to his pediatrician. A teacher that was part of the "Advocacy" Team, but was not my son’s teacher, kept referring to “once you medicate your son”. She wanted to know how much Ritalin we planned to give him. When we told her that we felt that was a bit premature, that we had not decided that medication was the best route yet, she told us that we were short sighted and if we didn’t think it would help him, we had to know that it would make their job as teachers easier if he was medicated. She certainly did not want him in her classroom in a few years if we didn’t put him on something.

No one else in the room agreed with this statement and we were apologized to numerous times. She was removed from my son’s team, and we never dealt with her again. But she made the statement. And she believed it. Not all teachers do, and I know that. It drove a very important point home to me at that time – I am his advocate. I have to base my decisions on what is best for him. And that is the only point I was trying to make to Rachael.

Rachael, I am also very sorry if you misunderstood my point.