No meds that work? | ADHD Information

Clearly your child has been through a trial of meds and if none of these medications produce favorable results, perhaps you should revist the diagnosis and get a second opinion from a neuro/psychologist. What type of doctor is your child being followed by at this time? Your child is certainly better off not taking what isnt helping but he will be better off once you pinpoint the problem and assert treatment suited to his needs. Good luck and keep us posted.

jmom, read the alternatives board.. there might be something there that may help your son...

good luck..

HE'S BORED !!!

Try exercise. Get him involved in an organized sport. Get yourself involved in his sport.

Take him to the local high school football games.

Cut way way way back on video games and TV. Make sure he's too busy to do any of that.

Get involved in his homework. You should be able to find some National Geographic or Discovery films that relate to any of his science, geography or social studies subjects. Watch them with him. You can find these films at the library. While you're there, get some big picture books on science stuff.

Have enthusiastic expectations and if you treat him right, he will rise to surpass those expectations.

So, please explain to me ALL KNOWING ONE. When all of those actvities fail, where do you turn? My SD is very busy doing stuff, but surprise, surprise she STILL has ADHD. HMMMM.........

My parents did all of the things you are suggesting BALANCED but it did not cure my ADHD. I have also tried to self regulate as an adult to include excercise and diet. I also went down the homeopathic route because I simply would prefer not to take drugs. Unfortunately I either need to structure a life that is suitable for someone with ADHD or I have to use drugs to help me conform to societies "norm" which includes most forms of work and a family life with people who are not ADHD. As a university educated individual who wants a good career and family life drugs have ended up being a valid and needed option. I am currently not on meds but am going back on strattera Monday. The difference of me on strattera and off strattera is substantial. It is always wise to consider all aspects of life and each individual who lives with ADHD needs to make a decision that is suitable for themselves. Others experiences are wonderful for reference but cannot be a rulebook for others.sdw227,
Why do you feel you need to be on a med.?
Are you hyper or inattentive or both? I find it very uplifting tha you graduated from college. I already worry that my 9 yr. old will not even graduate HS. How did you manage to get a college degree?
BTW, my son has inattentive and is not hyperactive.

College was very hard for me. I went to a small college in Virginia...William and Mary. That is where I was first diagnosed as ADHD...by a professor. Actually they thought I had a learning disability. My Dr later diagnosed me as ADHD. The university gave me "learning safely nets" to help me along. I was really impressed and surprised. They had a whole department devoted to people who learned differently. Instead of the typical two years of French classes...that I could just not do...they put me in an intensive two month French class that covered two years. I was assigned to a french house that other students where in and we signed a contract to only speak, eat, sleep, read and think in French. Everything was labeled in the house in French. It was kind of amazing. It worked for me.

About meds. I feel that I am a smart person. I just never seem to be able to harness my "smarts" and make them work for me. My attention can't keep me sustained to the end...so to speak. I get bored. I need constant mental change. I always start new projects. If they are short project I may finish them. If they are long projects....like a career....I don't. I switch to a new project or job to keep me from being bored or to keep my interest. At 36 I have to stop doing that. What company wants to hire someone that has had 10 different jobs in five years. When I was on meds it was a pretty wild experience. My brained seemed to clear up. You know those board with "dents" in them that marbles roll around on and eventually settle in to a dent to stop rolling? That is how my thoughts are. With the meds all my marbles...or thoughts...stopped rolling around and seemed to solidify. It was no longer a chore to focus. In the mornings I need 3 hours to get out of the house. I can waste a whole day doing nothing. When I was on meds I shocked myself with actually getting out of the house on time with everything I needed in order <laptop in bag, cell phone in bag, appointment book, etc>. I didn't have to go back in the house 15 times to get something else I had forgotten.

The side effects of meds is why I am off at the moment. And I moved when I went off meds the last time...like moved from one state to another...and didn't have a job so there was no need to focuse. Strattera gave me a gawd aweful stomach ache. Concerta made my head feel like it was in a vice grip. One thing...I did not give the meds a fair chance. I am starting very slow with Stratta on Monday and have taken some measures to combat the side effects...ie, herbal stuff for stomach. I hope like crazy that I can tolerate the meds and get through the whole adjustment period. It is really cool when your brain "clicks" when you take meds. It makes you feel like you can accomplish more than you every dreamed.

About your kid....he/she will make it. Just be patient and find a doctor that will help you know how to help him with learning. We need to learn in a different way and to make us learn traditionally does not always work. Find out how he learns. They gave me tests. Then they showed me how to learn. It really works. Learning requires more than just meds.

" I get bored. I need constant mental change. I always start new projects. If they are short project I may finish them. If they are long projects....like a career....I don't. I switch to a new project or job to keep me from being bored or to keep my interest. "

OH MY GOD.... I HAVE ADHD !!!! .... AND SO DOES EVERYONE ELSE I KNOW !!!! WHAT A WINDFALL FOR THE DRUG COMPANIES !!!

Dear sdw227,

Maybe you're just "normal" like the rest of us. Almost all humans have a "self discipline" problem. I can focus very well on a few aspects of my life. The rest of it is a mess.... and I like it like that.

Why don't you just accept yourself for who you are and stop caring about how the world perceives you? Your "French class" experiment proves that if it is important you, than you can do it.

Yeah, he's more mathlete than athlete, as they say. He does have quite a knack for mechanical things, like his dad. Wires, electricity, tools. It's a skill that's not really appreciated in school.really all ya gotta do is shoot him up with dope before he goes to school

jmom - sounds like you have a bright kid! I was into pulling stuff apart at that age - took decades to get the putting it back straight!

homo - shut up - I will not feed you

jmom, is the doc you are seeing trying more than just drugs? Ask your doc about alternative learning techniques...also, your kid may not like sports. I hated them. I did like cross country. Try artsy things. Or just activites that don't immediately leap to mind. Try alternatives to sports. I loved colonial Williamsburg. All the groovy old buildings with dudes dressed up in costumes...I loved the science museum with hands on exibits...stuff like that. I know that is vague, but he may just have a guenuine dislike for sports.

My son's tried Ritalin, Focalin, Dexedrine, and Adderall. None of them seem to satisfactorally address his attention problem. His body seems to adjust to low doses, and they become ineffective. But higher doses produce loads of side effects. I'm so frustrated. He needs constant help in school. The teacher says it looks like he's better off without the meds, cause they don't seem to be working, and the side effects are a distraction themselves.

Yes, read the alternative board. Drugs didn't work for my son either.
I often wonder if he actually has inattentive ADD. We are trying to avoid all
red and yellow food additives, perservatives, artificial flavorings.
We are also trying fish oil for concentration and flaxseed. Less sugar is also helping.

Hey, my topic got totally hijacked. I am simply expressing my frustration with how medications seem to only work very temporarily for my 8-yr-old son. Thanks to all with legitimate suggestions. I hope they work for someone out there. But right now, my son's first response to trying new things, especially sports, is "no." (even going to the movies!)

[QUOTE=jmom]

[/QUOTE]

Sorry jmom!! I never intend to derail a good train of thought like yours.

Your son is exhibiting common ADHD behavior. I did the same thing. It's new so it's not for me!!! I was totally hit with anxiety on things new and difficult (at least hard to my young mind). I was severe inactive ADHD - and would take any opportunity to feel safe and comfortable for the right now - the future was a concept I never thought about then.

A good child psychologist can teach your son how to cope when it gets scary. They know how to give your son new tools to reach out and not feel the anxiety. All that without meds - though the meds can help!

I'm 38 now - survived pretty much intact. My mother was prematurely gray and dad prematurely bald - I'm kind of sorry for those two I did a number on them for sure.

He'll make it - and with todays tools he'll do pretty good! Just know there's a better day ahead for you and yours. I'm glad you are here.

sdw - and all you wonderful ADHDers and family - DO NOT FEED THE TROLL. This one is looking to leave the muck and get everyone here all ticked off. "ooh - you don't have an illness you poor deluded people! You're all victims of the establishment and the pharmaceutical companies! Eew. " Rakin' the muck as he/she/it goes along. Poor sad troll.

If you feed it - it will never learn to venture out and find real food of it's own - like on the www.ritalinkills.com or www.scientology.org - it's natural habitat. It has a very tiny brain - like an iguana and relies on its' sense of smell and its' ability to fling muck about in attacks or as defence.

When we walk away - the endangered forum troll will move on to the more fertile grounds elsewhere - looking for its' food somewhere else.

This message has been brought to you by thetans - that little alien in tom cruises' brain. He's grrrreat and straight!

[QUOTE=GlenW]

When we walk away - the endangered forum troll will move on to the more fertile grounds elsewhere - looking for its' food somewhere else.

This message has been brought to you by thetans - that little alien in tom cruises' brain. He's grrrreat and straight!

[/QUOTE]

My cat is looking at me like I'm some stranger he's never met... he's never heard me laugh so hard before!!! You have to admit, sometimes it's fun to watch them fling muck! Who says we never found the missing link......?

Just remember - we must protect all nature's creatures. Just like mr. beaver and mr. moose - we must leave mr. troll pristine. When you hear the sorrowful cries in the night "Travoltaaaaaaaaa, Cruiseeeeeeeee, Travoltaaaaaaa!!!!!" - enjoy them at a distance. Take pictures, leave footprints (not in their butts now - be nice people). They are endangered now - as more people realize their brains are used for more than keeping their ears from touching in the middle.

We must protect this species! In the wild - there are no more than a handful. They move from forum to forum, seeking only to feed on the ire and fear of others. They aren't breeding as much - as it turns out most of them seem to be trying to breed with the same sex way more often! It's sad - but true.

So - lets all just watch them, bring the kiddies! But whatever you do, don't shout just whisper.. Feel for them - they will all be gone soon.

This message has been brought to you by the Ritalinkills.com Ritalin Kills - because L. Ron Hubbard said so!!! Take our word on it!!! Oh, and buy Battlefield Earth!!!

I think its a bit of a Catch-22. My son refuses to do team sports like soccer, baseball and the like. He finds them too difficult to so, because he can't focus on what's going on. He flat-out refuses to do them. Even one-on-one like tennis is hard for him. His body just looks disorganized on the court. When he was on the drugs, boy did his tennis improve. But, not his school work.

Balanced, I guess it's a combination of medical doctors and my own intuition. No, my life has not been like my peers. And no, my symptoms are not similar to those around me. And no, it isn't as simple as will power to accomplish. I wish it were that easy however! It is easy to belittle. It is harder to empower.Also, keep in mind the French class was designed specifically for people with ADHD/learning disabilites.

So, here we are again, my 8-yr-old's back on Adderall. Monday was great, he was like a new kid. Tuesday seemed fine, too... he got a 96 on his first-ever test in geography!!!!! Now, Wednesday, nothing. It's like he didn't take anything at all. So I'll guess we'll up the dose, and pray side effects don't kick in too badly.

Why don't you add something to help with the higher dosage adjustment/side effects. Some add a small dose of strattera at night to help with side effects with stims. Just a thought.....its called combo therapy....

I think I would give it longer then 3 days, if he is not acting wild and mad.