Hello everyone, I requested suggestions awhile back about ADHD medicines. My son has now decided that he does not want to take medicine anymore for his ADHD. He says he is happier without it. When I talked to his doctors about this they said we are the adults and he is a child. We have to make the right decisions for him and they are the professionals. All medicines have side affects and you have to way the needs to the side affects and if it is more benificial and is needed you have to take a risk. The doctor said I can give you a 5 page list of side affects for Tylenol from my medical journal, but we still take it because the chances are so slim. The same as surgery everyone is told they may die while under anesthedic but, we still do it because it is neccisary. I agree to an extent. He is 12 years old and he is old enough to say how meds make him feel. Should I go ahead with a second opinion and a fresh look at my son's condition? I took him off of the medicines for 1 week and we had parent teacher conferences the following Monday. THe first thing the teachers said was, he has been having trouble focusing, staying on task, and completing his work. I was already causeing problems for him and the teachers did not know I had taken him off of the medicine so they were not looking for problems they saw them without heads up. This is such a hard call. Any moms with ADHD children or medical background that can help? Melissa
my grandson is 8 yrs. old and without his meds. , he is the same way, doesn't consintrate,on his school work either, I'd say if he is having problems, talk to the dr. about what he has him on, maybe it is too strong for him.......Good Luck
While I agree that researching meds is absolutely in your best interest, and a 2nd opinion never hurts... I want to give you the analogy someone once gave me after we had THREE doctors from DIFFERENT practices to diag our son w/ ADHD and mood disorder....
Imagine the need for glasses... would you let him chose at that point that he feels better without them? The true need for ADHD meds or mood meds (in the case of our child) is very similar to that of eyeglasses, it provides clarity and focus.
Good luck.
is it possible to put him a lower dosage of his meds. so it will still help focus and stay on task at school, but leave him feeling bogged down and sluggish. i've also heard that there are certain diet aterations you make to help with adhd symtoms...like cutting out refined sugars are and gluten. i'm really sure eexactly what else is involved, but it's probably worth researching. but the doc is right, you are the parent and he is the child and you have to make the decisions that you feel are best, and he must abide them.
Do you think that he doesn't want to take them because it's medicine. Will he take vitamins? I have information on some vitamins that contain no chemicals and work extremely well with ADHD children and adults alike. If you think I can help you can find my contact information at www.homeofficemamma.com. I would love to help you out. Good Luck.
your pediatrician sound horrible. i hate medicating children as a first step. there are so many things you can try other than meds. i question was posted a few weeks ago regarding natural treatments for adhd, and a lot of great answers were posted. you should look it up. i posted a response regarding diet changes that can really improve adhd and have no side affects, other than your son may miss a few of the foods he is used to. if he is unhappy on the meds, you should find another way to treat his adhd. if you want to know about the diet changes i know about, let me know, but look into the other post regarding natural adhd treatments.
.
I know I am late responding but my husband has ADD and was never diagnosed until he was 31. He struggled with school and college and his life was so disorganized and he kept losing jobs and not advancing. He started medications and it helped him significantly-- he stated that he wished he had been on the medications when he was in school-- it could have made a huge difference in his career and his education. So... we are watching our children closely for this condition and will likely be in the same situation as you are someday. Just my 2 cents....
Mel
My 32 year old son has a 7 year old boy with adhd. He wants to keep him off the medicine because he says he doesn't eat well on it. BUT off the medicine, the child can't be still, eats a lot, talks outloud during school, is wide open and don't mind. Put him back on it. He needs it to kinda control his brain activity.
Hi Melissa,
I understand your concern. We just want to help our children. I have an 8 year old son with ADHD and more recently he was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. I have had the same conversations with him about how he feels when on his meds. I can tell you, the same issues as you have arise. He says the meds make his stomach feel "weird". I, like you, let him go without the meds for a bit also....just to see what the results were. Teacher phone calls started coming in. I have tried different meds, and finally have one that works and doesn't give him any negative side effects...so far. oh, and some of the others were horrid side effects...so I think it is a matter of trying different ones until you find the right one. I also have had the push-back from others..."you don't need to medicate your child, it is a discipline that he needs", " i would NEVER give my child drugs"...etc. They don't live my son's life or mine. Since the meds he has been focused and is an A student, has been able to maintain relationships and IS a happier child (even though he says he's not!). We, as the parent, have a tough job. My feeling is that it is more beneficial to him to take it, then not. I truly understand where you are coming from. Feel free to email me if you like. Oh, by the way...single mom here with 2 sons, 8 and 6. Good luck!
I agree with many of the responses. My sister has ADHD, not diagnosed until she was 30 or so and she indicates the side effects can be hard to handle- especially as the meds wear off. She takes 1/2 dose of what they recommend and is able to function but not as many side effects. There is Vivanse which is a proform of Ritalin and is suppose to have less of the side effects because it breaks down slower and gives a longer lasting effect. There is nothing wrong with second opinions, research your area for a pediatric neurologists that has a lot of epxerience with ADHD, they may be able to get the meds better adjusted.
Good Luck!
Morning Melissa C,
I can surely feel your pain as they (the school) told me in November that my daughter who is 7 had ADD... So I took her to our physician who "refused" to put her on medication until complete evaluations were done. With Jenna, I knew she could do the work, but she absolutely has trouble as you say with completing her work, & staying on task. I had a meeting with their (the school) S.A.T (Student Assistant Team) telling them of my Doctor's wishes, so we came up with a game plan. Now her teacher was not that thrilled with this as Jenna did have these problems. Here's what we did.... We started off by giving her a list of her work, & made it as a check list that she was responsible for herself of all of her daily work. She did it with flying colors. We then kept a tally of exactly "how many" times the teacher had to get her back on task, now these interventions were done for 10 day periods, again she nailed it. All this with no medication. I was not opposed to medication if that was what she needed, but Jenna is in a Discovery School so I have to volunteer 30 hours per year, so I spend a good amount of time there, so I see what is going on first hand. One option would be to change his medication if it makes him feel bad, as our Dr. did tell us that if in fact we did have to put her on meds we may have to try a few before we found the right one. I myself am a single Mama. I have a 20 year old son, & a 7 year old girl, whom I might add I thought was the menopause, as I got pregnant at 40, having her at 41!! But she is without a doubt the best thing that ever happened to me.... Don't get me wrong my son
is wonderful, but God sent me Jenna when my Mama was diagnosed with cancer, & when she died I was 6 months pregnant....
Life may not be the party we panned for but while we are here we may as well dance!!
:o)
I wish you all the best...
goodmorning Melissa, I have a son who started out with adhd and progressed to bipolar. first may I ask what medicine is taking? the reason I asked is because when my son was 12 he did take resperidol to keep him focus and on task in school. later I found out that he was just being lazy. he told me that he no longer needed the medicine and like you I tried it his way. you are not creating a problem your descision was based on the person who's taking the medicine. research other medicines for the condition. keep in tune with your son. my son is now 19 and a NAVY GUY! GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!
I am an adult w/ ADHD. I have just started on ritalin for the first time in the last 3 months. I do have side effects but they are not ones that create problems like the adhd does. ADHD causes me social problems, clutter, and no real goals as an adult(or should I say every goal, I want to do everything). If he has it as bad as I do please weight in how he will do as an adult. All the things I have to struggle with(things I dont like to do) really create depression in my life. When I take the pills they dont bother me much at all. I have been much less depressed and happier with my social skills with others. also, I seem to be much more approachable.
single mom adhd 44
Hi Melissa, I have a 10 yr. old boy and he has been on adderall for ADD since Kinder. He too says he is much happier without the medicine. We tried to switch him to concerta over Christmas and he was happier and had an appetite!!! He ended up developing a cough that we think was a reaction to the concerta (side effect). HE is still coughing even after ENT Dr. put on on allergy and asthma meds. Not sure if it was the concerta or not. My Husband and I know Jordan focuses more on the med. and we want him to do well in school. We do have a friend who took their son off in H.S. and he did fine. ADHD is a little different because you have the hyperactivity to deal with. It is hard enough for kids to sit still hour after hour and is more difficult for your son. This is a hard call. You don't want him getting into trouble. I feel he may not be quite old enough yet to be able to control himself in class. Maybe wait until he matures a few more yrs. How long has your son been on ADHD meds.? I worry about growth. My son is so small (his father was the same at this age so I',m not to worried yet), but I don't want the meds. to affect his growth. Any feedback on this I would love to hear? Don't know if I have helped you much, but I am an asst. teacher 4th grade and I see boys getting in trouble everyday for not being able to be still and quite.
Donna W.
You're right, he is a child but 12 is old enough to know how the meds are effecting him. There are most always alternative treatments available. Most everything can improve with diet and or natural suppplements. I am suggesting a NEW DOCTOR & New Start with his treatment. Try a search on the Internet Alternative treatments for ADHD. I know a friend of mine who's son had this, he was on the meds through most of his young childhood. Finally as he became a teen he complained about how the meds made him feel. They did seek another type of doctor who treated the symptoms without drugs. I can't remember the type of doctor. Her son is now 27 been off the meds since around 13.
Hi Melissa,
I have a grandson who is ADHD and I am with quite often, and have spent time with him in his classroom, and he is on concerta, and My grandson who is 10 doesn't like to take his med either, but if he doesn't he is not focus, and I have done some reading on this, and one parent, put their son in Marshal Arts, which helps them to focus, and we are looking into this possibility,
Another thought is take him off of it during the summer, and try giving him coffee,with hardly no sugar,
The caffeine will slow him down, it works the opposite on a child with ADHD, than it would with someone who does not have it.
I hope this helps.
Barb
Our son will be 12 years old next week and he takes medicine daily also. He tells us that the medicine doesn't help and he could focus if he wanted to; however we know the medicine does help him focus in school. He has been on the A/B honor roll this whole year and that is amazing in itself. About a month ago, his teacher contacted us letting us know that he wasn't able to concentrate after lunch, he was wired and moved around constantly. We made a drs appt and we had to increase his dose - he has grown so much over the winter. He still don't think he needs the medicine and we hate to medicate him and spend the money on it; however it has proven to help him with school work and behavior. I suggest to continue with the medicine for now and just like us we hope and pray they will mature quickly so they can quit taking the medicine everyday.
visit: www.Shaklee.net/Focht
Hi Melissa,
It must be really tough when you are trying to do what you consider the best thing for your child. There are so many variables involved with ADHD, & nutrition is one major factor.
I have been using Shaklee food supplements & protein drinks for over 30 years. Since my family has had such great results from using Shaklee, I also educate others so that they too may have opportunity for a strong foundation for their minds & bodies.
Shaklee has been around for over 50 years & has been invited on Oprah's show several times this year. I will be glad to send you some information or testimonials in regards to ADHD & Shaklee nutrition, if you so desire. In the meantime, if you want to look at my website, you can navigate on it to see what Shaklee has to offer. Also below are some addt'l notes from others that you can glance at.
On my website take a look at Shaklee's Soy Protein, Vita Lea Multi-Vit, Optiflora, EPA, Cal/Magnesium, B complex, & GLA. Also look at the Vitalizer Strips... it already has most of these food supplements in it.
If you decide to go the nutritional route, just let me know if I can provide additional insight.
It can be done.
Donna Focht
visit: www.Shaklee.net/Focht
I was the founder and president of an online support site for ADHD, ADHD.com for 5 years so I have learned alot about the symptoms and the various challenges that families face.
I have been using Shaklee products for nearly 4 years on my whole family, most of whom have ADHD. I can tell you that the products help a lot but you have to take a very aggressive approach that often includes a lot of diet, and sometimes lifestyle, changes to get beyond the need for medication.
In terms of other products, we had tried some other brands and really saw no reliable results. I think many products just don't have the level of nutrients needed to make a difference that can be seen or felt.
I'd say keep on a good nutritional path & look for some positive results Renee
I am a former certified personal trainer, I have studied nutrition and continue to make it part of my lifestyle. I am not a Shaklee rep, just a customer.
I can tell you that I absolutely love their products. They are of the highest quality and standards. Shaklee has been around for a very long time and is a company of high integrity and ethics.
They are on the leading edge of technology without sacrificing quality.
Patty
ADHD SHAKLEE TESTIMONIAL
Robin was diagnosed with ADHD. After more than a year of doctors, learning labs, psychologists and specialists, we were given a prescription for Ritalin. I came home, sat down and prayed, "Dear God, am I doing the right thing for my child? Won't you help me help her?" As I stood over the garbage can ripping the Ritalin prescription into pieces, I felt a great sense of peace. The following week, Shaklee came up on two different occasions. At my office someone mentioned nutrition, learning disabilities and how Shaklee products seem to work best. Then, a friend said, "Hey, I had a patient tell me she has a child with ADHD and put the child on vitamins called Shaklee. Thought you should know...gotta run!" By this time I knew what God was telling me. I found a Shaklee distributor who helped me design a program for Robin including Meal Shake, Vita-Lea, B, Cal/Mag, GLA and Zinc. The results were unbelievable. The difference in Robin's behavior and learning abilities was amazing. To prove it was the vitamins, I decided to put it to the test. Robin's teacher gave the class their spelling words for the week on Monday, tested them on Friday, with a pre-test on Thursday. From Monday to Thursday, I gave Robin no supplements. It was a rough week. She was very irritable and hard to get along with. She cried over every little thing. When I picked her up from school she said she had a bad day and nobody liked her. I knew what was going on, but I had to complete my test. Robin's teacher sent notes home saying she had difficulty staying in her seat, squirmed a lot and frequently spoke out of turn. On Thursday, she took her spelling pre-test. Without vitamins in her system, this test showed she was dyslexic. She missed every spelling word and was unable to perform at her grade level! On Friday morning, she had vitamins and Meal Shake before she went to school. The Friday test was perfect. The difference was just astounding. Robin calls B Complex her spelling pill. In addition to learning problems Robin woke up two or three times each week crying with pain due to leg cramps. When I had them, my mother called them growing pains. After Robin started the vitamins, she had one bad night but none since. Parents and teachers: Unlike Ritalin and Cylert, vitamin therapy does not require your children's kidneys and liver be checked every six months. Do you really want to give those drugs to your children? Vitamin therapy works! ~Angie Easley
Another article:
Treatment Options
Conventional
What are the treatments for ADHD?
The most common treatment for ADHD is the use of stimulant drugs. Whether or not drug therapy is recommended is often related to the severity of the symptoms. The use of methylphenidate, the most commonly prescribed drug for the management of ADHD, has increased 700 percent in the past five years.(1) Sometimes drugs called psychotropic medications may be prescribed. These are drugs that are most commonly used to treat psychiatric disorders. Using the standard tests that are associated with the diagnosis of ADHD, along with a thorough physical examination, your physician will be able to prescribe a medication that is most appropriate.
It seems that stimulant drugs may serve as a homeostat to stabilize arousal and thereby temper the spontaneous fluctuations that are characteristic of ADHD.(2, 3) Most parents report positive outcomes with the use of these drugs even though the side effects associated with them may cause concern. Some of the side effects include sleeplessness, lack of appetite, and increased thirst. Parents must monitor these side effects during early treatment with stimulant drugs in order to assure the best dosage for the child.
While conventional drug treatment is common, there is mounting evidence that many ADHD sufferers can achieve dramatic results with dietary, nutritional, and environmental interventions. Particularly among young children, non-pharmaceutical interventions provide a risk free alternative that can be explored as a first line of treatment. If drug therapy is chosen as the preferred treatment, then combining that therapy with solid nutrition and dietary supplementation can result in a more comprehensive program.
Nutritional Supplementation
Additional information (Precautions) is available by clicking on the underlined supplement.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Omega-6 Fatty Acids
It has been suggested that a lack of essential fatty acids is a possible cause of hyperactivity in children. It is more likely the result of varying biochemical influences. These children have a deficiency of essential fatty acids (EFAs) either because they cannot metabolize linoleic acid normally, cannot absorb EFAs effectively from the gut, or because their EFA requirements are higher than normal.
Some of the physical symptoms reported in ADHD are similar to symptoms observed in essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency in animals and humans. Researchers report that a subgroup of patients expressing many symptoms similar to those seen in EFA deficiency had lower plasma levels of docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid compared to those with fewer symptoms.(4, 5) Children with low levels of total omega-3 fatty acids exhibited significantly more behavioral problems, temper tantrums, and learning, health, and sleep problems than did those with high proportions of omega-3 fatty acids.(6)
Magnesium
Magnesium is one of the most commonly deficient nutrients in children with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders.(7)
Magnesium supplementation has been found to reduce levels of hyperactivity when the children being studied were given 200mg each day over a six month period of time.(8) The chief sources of magnesium in the diet are fruits and vegetables.
N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)
N-acetyl cysteine is a sulfur-containing amino acid that helps to remove toxins from the body.(9, 10) Some studies indicate that exposure to toxic metals such as mercury(11) and lead(12) result in declines in attention and memory, as well as many other negative effects. If patients with ADD/ADHD are found to have elevated levels of toxic metals, N-acetyl cysteine is an effective agent to utilize in a detoxification program.
Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus acidophilus
Studies report an association between ear infections in childhood and the development of hyperactivity.(13) Some practitioners believe that this is because the antibiotics affect the healthy bacteria in the intestines allowing toxins to enter the blood stream. The intestinal tract in a healthy person is populated with beneficial bacteria. Antibiotics can destroy a large percentage of the beneficial bacteria. If probiotics are not taken following a course of antibiotics, "bad" bacteria that are normally present in only small concentrations can compete equally with the few remaining friendly bacteria. If substantial amounts of pathological bacteria proliferate, it is quite possible the toxins excreted from their metabolism can enter the blood stream, causing hyperactivity, blood sugar anomalies, malabsorption of nutrients as well as other conditions.
Diet & Lifestyle
The effect of diet on children with hyperactivity disorder has been the subject of debate for over 30 years. During the 1960's, Dr. Benjamin Feingold, a California pediatrician, studied the effects of a low salicylate diet in the treatment of ADHD after observing an exacerbation of symptoms among hyperactive children when they ate salicylate-containing foods. Feingold's observations led to a controlled clinical trial, which demonstrated that in addition to artificial colors and preservatives (which contain high amounts of salicylates), 90 percent of the ADHD children in the study had additional food intolerances.(24) The most common allergenic foods among children have been identified as cow's milk, corn, wheat, soy, peanuts, and eggs. Additional "problem foods" have been identified. An experimental diet among preschool boys with sleep problems and hyperactive behavior demonstrated that after removal of artificial flavors and colors, dairy products, caffeine, MSG, and chocolate, over 50 percent of the children improved.(25) One study compared the treatment success of dietary restriction with methylphenidate and found that while 44 percent responded to the drug treatment, 24 percent had equal success with dietary modifications alone.(26)
Avoid/eliminate all sugar and simple carbohydrate and white flour/pasta foods.
Avoid/eliminate all foods containing artificial flavoring agents, coloring agents, and preservatives.
Identify and eliminate food and environmental allergies
Full Spectrum Light: Dr. John Ott reported doing time lapse photography of a hyperactive child in a Sarasota, Florida elementary school. Over the weekend, the standard cool white fluorescent lights in this classroom were changed from their original tubes to full spectrum fluorescent lights. Within a week after the new full spectrum lights had been installed, the films revealed a reduction in the amount of hyperactive behavior with the new full spectrum lighting.(27)
Biofeedback: Numerous trials support the use of biofeedback as a retraining tool for brain patterning.
visit: www.Shaklee.net/Focht
Hello Melissa~
To be honest with you, I would listen to my child. It sounds like he is old enough to know that it makes him feel different. My 8 year old daughter is ADHD, and I have removed her from all meds because she acted like she was high/stoned on the meds...it didn't matter what brand or what dosage. Try all natural options...take him to a naturpath, they have all natural herbs and vitamins that will help him without all the side effects. My daughter started to take Vitamin B-12 Complex and it helps her concentration. She is doing great in school. She is still a kid, not a quiet robot. You don't have to listen to me, but I think a kid should be a kid and if your son realizes that it makes him act and feel different, then you should listen to him. Good luck.
Stephanie