Thoughts on ADD and ADHD

[kiki304]

Hello to you moms! I have a question.. What are your thoughts on medicating children who have ADHD? Both my sons were diagnosed recently (ages 8 and 9) and I was just wondering about the pros and cons of medicating verses not. Any advise will be helpful! UPDATE!! A few days after I posted this, and after ALOT of thought, I decided to go ahead and start my 9 year old on ADHD meds. He had been on them for almost 3 weeks and I can't even EXPLAIN the difference I see in my ds... I swear to you, CONCERTA is the best thing that has ever happened to him.. I have my son back!! I've always loved my son, but I actually like him now too:) Just wanted you moms to know how things are going now!! Thanks again..

[barefootmommi]

I am facing the same issue with a 6 yr old boy .... Still haven't decided !

[Mama2ETA]

I think medications need to be a last resort. Start with schedules, therapy, nutrition, cutting out crap, exercise, discipline methods and sleep schedules. Those are all places to start and medication should be last resort, this is imo only, not trying to offend anyone over it. Some children do need medications, but I definitely think all other methods need to be in place before finding a medication if it is eventually needed.

[BaBeezandMe]

My boys are both ADHD and Autistic and they take Adderall XR and Tenex and they are doing very well.

Medication should be seriously researched before making this decision IMHO.

Best of luck to you and your boys!

[Mrs.Worthen]

I tried changing my sons diet first, it helped a lot but not enough. Then we went to meds and he does way way better in school now!

[JasonsMom2007]

I agree

Quoting Mama2ETA:

I think medications need to be a last resort. Start with schedules, therapy, nutrition, cutting out crap, exercise, discipline methods and sleep schedules. Those are all places to start and medication should be last resort, this is imo only, not trying to offend anyone over it. Some children do need medications, but I definitely think all other methods need to be in place before finding a medication if it is eventually needed.

[BaBeezandMe]

Quoting Mama2ETA:

I think medications need to be a last resort. Start with schedules, therapy, nutrition, cutting out crap, exercise, discipline methods and sleep schedules. Those are all places to start and medication should be last resort, this is imo only, not trying to offend anyone over it. Some children do need medications, but I definitely think all other methods need to be in place before finding a medication if it is eventually needed.

I agree, kids thrive on consistancy, therapy and lots of discipline.  Once all those are in place then medication can be considered if there is still a problem.

Then again it may not even be ADHD.  It could be sleep apnea.  My son had sleep apnea so bad last year that he was suffering with night terrors AND apnea episodes SO BAD that his oxygen levels would dip below 70%!!  He was having terrible behavior problems in school.  He had his tonsils and adenoids removed July last year and he is a completely different kid!!!  ALL his behavior problems are GONE in school this year!!  He is still on medication but he really does need it.

Try looking into sleep apnea or another sleep issue because LOTS of kids are being misdiagnosed ADHD and it turns out the REAL ISSUE  is a sleep problem that can be easily fixed.

[CjEmmemommy]

My soon recently started low dose meds, I had tried multi diet changes, seeing a chiropractor, multi viitamins and fish oil ect supplements, He already had a good sleep routine and consistent direction. I thought he might need more one on one time so both my husband and I startedstates with him and talking to him more daily.I worked with him over the course of 18 months and he didnt getting better. I could even argue he was getting worse.
I finally decided we would try meds, if they didn't work I would go back to doing what I could and if they did I would be comfortable with that knowing I didn't jump right to it. Turned out to be amazing, we all noticed an instant change, he went for notes everyday to stickers, he is doing better school work and getting along socially. He is proud of himself and showing a lot progress. He is on a low dose which I feel better about and we haven't noticed any change in mood, sleep or eating habits and he is silly funny, outgoing and loving,,
It's been a good thing and hike I still hope to wean him off at some point, I would be okay if it worked like this forever.

[Mari6443]

Same here, except with my 7-year-old DD.

Quoting barefootmommi:

I am facing the same issue with a 6 yr old boy .... Still haven't decided !

[momma0ffive]

it really depends on you and your family.  i have two boys diagnosed with adhd the younger has adhd, odd, anxieyty/depression

with my older son after years of back and forth we decided to try medication.  there are side effects but once it was worked out the medication workd great for him.  it calmed him down so he could focus in school and he wasnt getting into as much trouble at home.  at the beginning of 6th grade we decided to stop the medication and see how things workd.

at that time my second son was also diagnosed.  i had decided that i wasnt going to go through all the bs of the back and forth and so i decided not to do medication.

i have read a few books and articles on adhd and choose different .....behavior modifications and see what works for them.  i work with the teachers and counselors at school .  they seem to be doing great.  there is still issues with getting them to focus all the time but for the most part they have adjusted well.

[Rebekah8787]

I was told in 1st grade that the teacher thought she had ADHD I kept putting it off cuz I didn't want to give her meds well they brought certified teachers in to do extra testing and they also thought that she had ADHD so I figured if it helped in school then I'd go for it. It was TERRIBLE doing home work w her she either endup crying from being stressed or I'd b ready to pull my hair out they also thought she wasn't mature enough for or age. Well that was 2 yrs ago, last yr about summer time I talked w one of the doctors and said how I really don't think she has ADHD, let me point out it did make her calm down she was on a low dose but would fall asleep in school she also went from 84 lbs to 58 lbs because it makes them not hungry it was sad watching her not want to eat. But anyway I though the other doctor I thought she was emotional more then ADHD she suggested trying Zoloft for anxiety well we weaned her off of her ADHD meds and she's just on Zoloft I've never told the teachers. Her one doctor doesn't know she's off either I went in one time to get a refill and the doctor I like wasn't in, he goes why's she on Zoloft I said I wanted her on it he goes no and puts her on another brand of ADHD meds it pissed me off well that wk was terrible so I called back and told the nurse to get a hold of my doctor that she had to be out back on Zoloft. Well she's gained most of her weight back she loves her food again and from time to time she acts out. She only gets 25mgs of Zoloft so it's not a lot she was on high dose if ADHD meds, I think some school teachers and doctors r in a hurry to just say yes that's what it is here give her kid this and it will turn them into a zombie, don't get me wrong at first it was nice but every wk they'd up the dose, every child is different so Zoloft might not help, I know I don't want her to be on it forever and would like to slowly take her off if it maybe when she gets into 5 grade she's only in 3. Good luck and if your child turns into a zombie they r on way to high if dose and watch out for side effects also they have evaluators at MHMR to be seen by a doctor that specializes in that first before you put them on meds