4yr old taking Dexedrine Feeding problems | ADHD Information
BTW, in clinical trials Concerta (also methylphenidate) was demonstrated to have the least affect on appetite. Unfortunately due to it's release mechanism the tablet must be taken whole, which probably makes it a poor candidate for a 4 year old.[QUOTE=foggyguy]Four years old on Adderal? That's WAY too young!
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Actually, dextroamphetamine (Dexadrine) is approved for treatment of ADHD in children as young as 3. If it is your opinion that 4 is too young, I respect that. In many cases I would agree. But every child's circumstances are different and sometimes treatment is a necessary step. Dexedrine is approved for such children and has been proven safe and effective. For children ages 3-5, the recommended dosing begins at 2.5mg/day and can be increased to as much as 40mg/day in divided doses.
Four years old on Adderal? That's WAY too young!
[QUOTE=foggyguy]Four years old on Adderal? That's WAY too young!
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Just wanted to say that I respect your quote and believe me this wasn't an easy decision.
My Daughter has had problems since she was 2 years old. At Preschool we tried everything to help her, diet managment, fish oils, etc. When she started school at the beginning of Sept I was called in to the School on the first day because the staff could not handle her, even though they had met with me and her before she went.
They were ready to exclude her from day 2, I had various meetings with them but they said they could only manage her for an hour a day. (9am-10am).
My Daughter is 5 in November so this is an important time for her, she needs to learn and mix with other children.
Her consultant recommended trying this drug as it's the only one available for a 4/5 year old.
She has now been granted 1-2-1 support at the school for half days and the teachers and my Daughter are all a lot getting on a lot better and she comes home happy because she has had a positive experience.
I do not like my Daughter being on medication, as any parent would agree, but I want my child to feel happy at school, fit in, make friends and learn with children her same age, not in a room on her own with just a teacher.
I am concerned about her eating problems, but it's still early days. If this continues then I would have to look at other options, that is why I have asked for advice on here.
Kerry
How can you tell add or adhd in a child that young. I thought all kids this age are hyper.[QUOTE=Brent]How can you tell add or adhd in a child that young. I thought all kids this age are hyper. [/QUOTE]
She had various reports and charts completed from her pre-school, primary school, doctor, consultant, GP, paediatrician, Speech therapist, Educational psychologist, health visitor etc.
As you can tell she has seen many people, this wasn't just a quick soloution, this has been going on for a long time. When she started Primary School and had to sit down a lot more the problems got even worse. I didn't want her to go to a special needs school (as the school wanted), as she is very bright and loves to learn new things. I have been told she is very bright for her age so I thought going to a "normal" school was better for her.
Kerry
Hello all,
I'm new to the forum so pls take it easy with me
My 4 year old Daughter has ADHD and has started taking Dexedrine. Her dose is 2.5mg twice a day. Since she started taking it 3 days ago she has lost all her appetite and is also refusing to Drink a lot of the time 
Just wondered if any one has some advice they could give me, could it be that her body needs to adjust and I just need to take a step back?
Any help would gratefully received.
Kerry
You probably already know that loss of appetite and weight loss are very common on these meds. Often that passes, but sometimes it can be problematic. Some people find methylphenidate (ritalin) to have less affect on appetite.When our son was medicated he ate then took his medacine.He even grew and put weight on when on it. Add protein shakes,icecream, fruit smoothies great ways to add weight. We did it that way to lesson stomach issues also. Brent38625.3649074074Kerry -
as you said - you KNOW your daughter better than anyone. People who can make statements about children at a certain age being too young fo medication obviously haven't lived with a child who has EXTREME ADHD!!!
I understand you situation completely - as a matter of fact, your story is remarkably similar to mine. My daughter is now 4 1/2 and has been on meds for 10 months - she is a diffifernt child! our family can function outside of the house as well - we also have gone through months of behavioral training which was also very helpful.
Medication was a very tough step to take, but i did my homework, took her to a ADHD clinic at a world renouned teaching hospital with specialist who treat very young children - i KNOW medication was the right thing to do in our case.
My daughter has "normal" life now - she can stay in school, interact with other kids and go out inot the community with her family without fear.
Do what you and your Dr. think is right for your daughter.
My son also had eating problems and refused to eat at regular meal times ( lunch and dinner) He even refused treats and snacks. Breakfast was his best meal and I would try to pound him with calories. We later switched meds and now he seems to eat normally and even enjoys snacks. DS was on concerta and now is taking Strattara and RitalinLA.
hello foggyguy/brent...i think it is pretty easy to tell if a child is particularly hyper. i am no expert but in my neice's class there is an absolutely lovely boy, Benjamin, but he is off-the-wall and has been since i have ever known him (aged 2). he has the attention span of a gnat. he is a great kid, really lovable, but like a fly on acid.... he cannot sit still, cannot focus, and it is far more obvious in that environment as most of the children are extremely well-behaved there.
as it happens he is not on meds and i am not sure why as i think he would greatly benefit from them BUT it is a tiny school and he has a great psych/social worker who comes in and works with him in the school. and by all accounts he is much improved - far less hyper. it is a small countryside school so people are fairly accepting of oddballs there anyway.
(and maybe it IS less obvious in America where behaviour seems to be an issue with all children. or is that just a horrible stereotype?)
but thinking about it brat, in fact, is almost synonymous in Europe with the idea of an American child! and that's nothing new - i was just reading a book published in 1913 in which the English author who is normally fairly urbane and relaxed kinda guy, P G Wodehouse, is up in arms about the horrors of spoilt American kids, with no discipline, particularly repulsive lack of manners etc. --- so even then! and maybe that makes it more difficult to diagnose here, i don't know.
but i don't think people should confuse the two issues. for me, they are entirely separate. a badly behaved child should NOT be put on ritalin/adderall no matter if it makes their behaviour more tolerable but an adhd dxed child should because it is about helping the CHILD cope with their BRAIN and the struggles it gives them - not to help the parent or teacher cope with discipline issues.
they are not the same issue. speaking as a very biddable and polite child i can vouch for the fact that add children are not necessarily badly behaved at all. it depends on the type of ADD and other factors - including what one terms 'badly behaved'.
chjones38625.6403356481i'm on side here with foggy and brent.. i think giving 4 year olds amphetamines is not the way to go..
if there are other issues associated with your daughter, the adderall will only mask them..
there are many parents on this forum whose kids were dx with adhd but it was later found that they had other issues, ie, bipolar, etc..
it sounds that the problem is more than just hyperactivity..
just my 3 cents worth..
As I said before, I respect everybody's opinion but to be fair you all don't know me or my Daughter and the problems we have had.
I know that having a 4 year old on medication does seem wrong to some people, but she has had 2 years of not fitting in and everybody grudging her on her ADHD when if fact she is a lovely polite girl who is very caring in nature, I wanted people, teachers and children to get to know my Daughter, the girl behind the ADHD and to see how wonderful she is.
I know my Daughter better than anybody and when she is a danger to herself due to her impulsiveness and hyperactivity it frightens me what could happen. Before the medication she would try to walk off with strangers, try to give strangers cuddles and kisses in the street, would run out in to roads, etc. She is almost 5 and couldn't be expected to be on a child strap if she goes on school trips.
It took a long time for me and the Doctors to take this step.
I didn't leave this topic to start a debate on the right and wrong of medication for a 4yr old, but to ask for advice on helping her to eat and drink properly while on it. I thought the experience of other people could help me to help her. Maybe this wasn't the right place.
Thank you to the people who have given help.
Kerry
Kerry - You made the decision that is right for your child, you and your family, don't worry about others thoughts - alot of times they are misinformed and/or don't know your individual situation. It took almost a year, but now DS, 7, is eating like before he started on meds. As long as they don't become unhealthy, most usually turn a corner with the side effects of stimulants. I hope this helps her to have a happy, well adjusted life - just like my son. Take care and know that they're always going to be people who just don't understand how wonderful the meds can be for a persons entire being. LisaI'm an adult on Dexedrine, but I experience almost zero appetite and also don't ever feel thirsty (even though I know I should be!). So I can relate to what you are going through with your daughter.
What works for me is I eat a big breakfast before I take my morning dose of Dexedrine, otherwise I just can't eat. And then right after breakfast I take my vitamins etc. Then I know I got a good chunk of my daily caloric needs in and nutritional needs as well. By lunch time my first morning dose is starting to wear off so again I kinda get my appetite back a little bit, so I'll force myself to eat something again, and then by dinner same thing, the afternoon dose has worn off and I'm somewhat hungry then as well.
I've only ever been on Dexedrine so I don't know how it compares to the other meds in regards to appetite and thirst. I've been on it since Aug 2004 and the whole appetite thing hasn't gone away at all so I really have to watch and make sure I eat regularly and I also make sure that when I eat it's healthy and good calories.
I'm assuming your daughter is taking the short release tablets and not the long acting spansules? If that is the case the short release tablets usually kick in in about 30 or so minutes. Try getting her up a little earlier in the morning so she can eat a bigger breakfast while she has her appetite and then give her the meds after breakfast. You also might have to educate her teachers a little bit and let them know when the morning dose will probably be wearing off and she might have to eat or be able to have some sort of a snack during that time before her next afternoon dose. For her problems with lack of thirst and drinking, maybe try giving her popsicles (either the pure fruit, or pure fruit juice kind not the straight sugar filled ones with artificial colours/flavors), or even milkshakes where you can sneak water in there.
I haven't had to work with a child that has ADD or is on medication (my kids are only 1 and 3), but these are the things that help me with Dexedrine and the side effects.
I hope that helps you! You sound like a wonderful mom who is doing everything she can for her little girl!
:o)