Hello. My 6 year old was diagnosed with ADHD about 3 months ago. She was started on the lowest dose of Concerta which has been increased 3 times. She is now on 36 mg and it still isn't working.I am going to her doctor tomorrow to try and get him to change the medication rather than just keep increasing it. I work in an internal medicine doctor's office and although we do not see children her age, I have heard wonderful things about Adderall. Emily has had insomina with the Concertta but now that bad. I feel like I have tried everything and nothing is working. I hear from my mother that I was a hyper child and she never had to put me on medicine, and that makes me question my job as a parent. I don't know. Now I feel like I am rambling, so if anyone has any advice I am new to this and extremely confussed. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.
I would definitely ask your doctor. Concerta isn't the answer for every child. It certainly wasn't for my son. Now if you try a bunch of meds, and get the same reaction from all, then I would have to wonder if the diagnosis is correct. At this point though, I would think a med change is logical.
Editing to add:
Don't worry about what mom says. Maybe you were hyper because you had (or have) it as well, or maybe you were just an active child. Maybe you had (have) a mild case, that you could do okay with without meds. Who knows?! If your child is struggling though, why keep the struggle up if it can be alleviated. Don't let other people make you question your parenting. You know what is best for your child. Follow your heart, your instincts, your child, and you won't go wrong. Unfortunately you will find through this process that many people will suddenly get the idea that they have a right to decide what you do with your child. That they have a right to chime in on your parenting. That they suddenly some how know your child better then you do. It can be hurtful, and isolating, but you really have to try to let it roll off of you. In the end, it doesn't matter what they think because they don't have to live with her, or in her body, and most of them don't have clue what living with ADHD is like.
ladym38827.9204976852To be honest, I'd take him to a NeuroPsych for an evaluation. A pediatrician isn't educated in detail about childhood disorders to know which he has and, since he's prescribing meds, I'd want to be careful. My son was misdiagnosed twice and, in the process, put on over nine meds. They ran the gamut of ADHD meds to bipolar meds. He hasa neither. He has high functioning autism. You really need a thorough prof. to figure out what our k ids have, since the different disorders tend to have similar features, especially when the kids are under 12, but the treatments are far different. Adderrall does NOT work well for all kids, even those with ADHD. It can cause aggression, anger and, the case of kids who don't really have ADHD (a mimicker) even violence. My little guy is very placid, but, when misdiagnosed with aDHD and put on Adderall, he became aggressive and unable to sleep. Ugh. It hit the trash can fast. There are other disorders that mimic ADHD--I mentioned two of them: Early Onset Bipolar (especially with rages) and high functioning autism (especially with lots of sensory issues, rote learning, lack of spontaneous interactive play and certain delays/often mainly social. A pediatrician won't run the right tests to see what's going on. Even Psychiatrists often mess up these dx. There are performance tests that point to certain disorders. NeuroPsychs are good at using them. Many professionals use ADHD as a dumping ground dx. for everything. Be sure he has it, then consider the meds. Hyperness and inattention are not always ADHD. If it turns out it is, you can go from there. Don't rush meds. I did and I'm sorry. My son didn't need meds. ASD doesn't require meds. Know what your child has. Good luck. It could take a while until you have the answer. OlderMom38827.9375231481I can't offer any advice on the meds, but I would like to point out a few things about you not needing meds as a child.
Think back to your childhood. If you were that hyper and untreated, you probably remember things that were said that hurt you deeply enough to leave scars even now. Were you always being punished and given the impression that you couldn't measure up not matter how hard you tried?
What I am trying to point out is that ADHD wasn't recognized as much even a few years ago. There are a lot of adult ADHDers who really wish they had been treated, given meds, understood and helped to develop. Just because you got by without meds doesn't mean that it was the best thing for you and/or that your daughter should grow the same way.
You have it in your power to give her a better life, to help her keep her self esteem. You do what you believe is best for her and don't worry about what your mother or anyone else thinks. Why should she suffer now because you survived without meds?
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WOW I am impressed. I just posted this last night and already I have so much good and helful feedback. I thank all of you. This has probably been the hardest 3 months ever. I went to a PTA meeting last night and spoke to my daughter's teacher. To listen to someone tell you how horrible your child is, is really hard. I wanted to cry. Now I am so anxious for my daughter's doctor to call, that I am on pins and needles here at work. Anyway. Thank you guys so much for all of your help. I really really appreciate all the help I can get.
As far as the not being medicated as a child. After my first child, Emily, was born I suffered from really bad post partum depression that never went away. I have been on depression meds ever since. I guess it always catches up to you in one way or another.
Thank you all again.
not a prob.. some times you just dont know were to turn its like know one understands you, even your best friends dont always get it. Im so new to this as well but i cant stress how glad i am that i found this site, its nice to know that your not alone that other people are going through the melt downs and med probs to.
Mother's know what's best for their children. Dont worry about what other people say regarding putting your daughter on meds. As a mother of a 9 yr old ADHD boy I know what your talking about. People always want to say~well there just hyper or you dont dicipline them. Nobody knows what goes on your household. My son is pretty mellow when he is on his meds~well sort of! Everyone always says that he doesnt need meds. He went to school one day forgetting to take his meds. It was a different story then. His teacher couldnt even have her prep hour free because she did not want him bouncing off the walls with the sub. People do not know until they are in your shoes! Basically, what Im saying is go with your heart not what others think. If you know that your daughters behavoir is not like what it supposed to be~check it out.
Katie,
Thank you so much for that. I know that my mom and everyone's mom is only trying to help and that they never mean to be hurtful. I know that no one is really an expert and please know that even the littlest idea could mean a world of difference. Thank you again and please let me know if there is anything I can do to help you out. Believe me sometimes all you need is someone to listen.
my son did not do Well on concerta ...the doc had to keep upping the dosage...it turns out that this was not the med for him aand infact any med in the same family ( ritalin, concerta, focalin) made him irriatable...he does great on Adderall..
I understand how you feel it like no matter how hard you try nothing is working... My daughter is 5 and was DX about 3 months ago as well. My husband (seperated) is bipoler and cant for the life of him get that our daoughter is sick not just hyper, my father thinks its my ex's falt that shes this way, my mother in law say's its because we dont have any control over her. I know how hard it can be but mom always knows best.. not the person next door, im to new to all of this to give advise on meds but you know your baby and you know whats wrong with your baby!!!!! just keep your head up, your doing a great job as a Mommy.