School leans toward stimulants | ADHD Information

That is because most alternative medications only work for a little while, then you have to change , or increase dosage, and wind up back on the pharm meds..It is too bad that the alternative meds and pharms can't get together to treat this.. why don't your posts ever say that?

 Now why is your post in here and not in the alternative meds?

 oh, I see, you use SCARE TACTICS TO MAKE FEARFUL the posters, not to INFORM.


 now put your anti meds website down...

One of the problems with a lot of schools is that the school councillors are lacking in experience in psychology and most are not involved in registered psychiatry.  They often are working with outdated manuals and information so they many times don't have all the details.  Sad but true.

They really should refer parents to a qualified psychiatrist rather than try and push one med over another.  Even doctors won't touch an iffy case of ADHD as they can be other things too.  I'd worry if a school councillor says "get this kid Ritalin" as they most likely have no idea if it is ADHD or not.

I am a proponent for choice in meds - so when I say this you can believe that I also believe it.

A councillor should only be able to say legally (and ethically) that your child is having behavior troubles and that by observing over a period of time it would seem likely to be ADHD.  Then they should pass the number of someone with the know-how to diagnose to you.

It would be like getting the only diagnosis here.  We can say seems like or seems unlikely - but in the end only someone with an MD on their title can say for sure.

I think that most districts are working on bills that spell out exactly what can and cannot be said about diagnostics in a school setting.  Hopefully they add that referrals and not med recommendations should be part of it.

Meds work - only if the child needs them.

Last year my son was having too many difficulties and couldn't take RitalinSR. The resource teacher mentioned that Concerta may help. I mentionde this to his doctor and we decided to keep him off meds for Grade 4. So I know that sometimes the school will mention a different med as an alternative.I wouldn't push them to discuss it further.

That's what I've decided would be the best course, because in other ways they have been very helpful.  I feel they are just going by what they see and don't really know much about medications otherwise. 

I now wonder if hers is really that bad and would rather try alternatives to medication for awhile at least.  The idea putting medication in that little body worries me.  

Some of the behavior has been dealt with in other ways and her grades are a little better.  Incentives to change her behavior does sometimes work.  So, that gives some time to try something else and keep studying those alternatives.

Thanks for your input.

The schools are dealing with many kids with varying degrees of ADHD and other disabilities which meds can help quickly and effectively. It is much easier for them when a child is put on meds.

As parents, we are looking at one child whom we love more than life itself. It is only natural for us to want to weigh and measure all the risk against the potential gain.

It is two different perspectives viewed from different angles. Neither one is necessarily right or wrong.

It is illegal for schools to do more than suggest that you talk to your ped about the possibility of medicating. Giving any type of advice or opinion about a specific med is too much like prescribing, so just mentioning Concerta was risky for whoever you talked to. They may know more about meds than they are saying simply because it could be the end of their job if they do say more. I wouldn't push them to discuss it further.

Your best bet is to do your own research and talk frankly to your dr. Drs in general know much more about meds than supplements. They think in terms of meds rather than supplements.

 

Thanks Glen.  They did go a wee bit over those guidelines into recommendations.   I don't think they realize that all kids are different as far as chemical imbalance.  I have learned a lot about it from reading on this site.  Still reading. Ritalin/concerta same thing.If it's a chemical imbalance add the missing chemicals they are missing. We all need supplements anyhow the soil gives no nutrition in foods today. It is against the law to push meds on parents. pastmember38672.6048726852Has anyone had the experience of being guided toward prescription stimulants by the school.?  When I asked if there was anything except Ritalin they guided me towards Concerta as being a lot better.  I thought it was something other than a stimulant.  Not once did anyone mention an alternative medication.  Neither did the doctor.  I had to find out on my own. 

I just wondered if this is pretty common when the child has ADHD?