Impulsive when speaking - help! | ADHD Information

Thanks for your insights, Jillette.  Can anyone tell me what the differences are between the meds and why drs prescribe one over another?  I am so new to all of this and wonder what the differences are.  Do different drugs help with different behaviors?  I'm sorry if I'm asking dumb questions, as I said, I'm a newbie!  Please forgive me!

All the stimulants are used for all the same things. BUT, that doesn't mean that they will all help with the same things, or as much, in every person. Every person reacts differently to every medication. Another medication very well may work better for him, or it may not. Why doctors choose the ones they do, who knows. If you notice that he is still lacking in other area's, attention, focus, follow through, he may need a medication adjustment, in dosage, or a different med.

I gotta say though...a lot of adults here will tell you that this a huge problem for those of us with AD/HD. It is one of the most significant impulse control issues that many adults still face. Medication has helped me probably 50% with this, but I don't think my impulsive mouth will ever really be 100% under control. Age helps with this a great deal, but I think it's a problem for many of us, even as adults.

One other thing, don't argue with him. It's stimulating to argue, so many people with AD/HD, especially children, love to argue just for the stimulation. It can become a very nasty habit. The best way to kill this is to not engage with him. Then he will have to find other ways to stimulate himself during these times. You don't have to get in a power struggle, or argue, to still be the authority figure.

Good luck!

Hello all!  My 9 yr-old ds was dx with ADHD in April and started on meds in June.  He currently takes 12.5mg Dexedrine per day.  We're trying to get the meds right before school starts back up and thought we had been on the right track, but more and more, we notice he doesn't follow-through on things we ask him to do, is VERY argumentative (he's always right and we're always wrong), and is still EXTREMELY impulsive in what he says.  He has never been a risk-taker, so his impulsivity shows up only in what he says.  I don't think he can whisper! ;-)

Can anyone tell me what we are to expect from medicating him.  This past Saturday, we had a perfect day - very few confrontations and he was rather agreeable to be around.  This was quite shocking to dh and myself, and we praised him up and down the more he did right.  Sunday morning, however, was back to our usual ... loud and confrontational.  Maybe we are expecting too much from medicating him.   Maybe there's another med that would work better.  I will be discussing this with his dr later in the week, but welcome comments from your own experiences.

Meds help but do not cure everything I would discuss with the prescribing doctor in case this med is not for him.  It sounds like the med may not be a good fit, good luck and let us know what happens.  Jill

Welocme to the board.

We used the 'magic 1-2-3' method by Dr. Phelan to help manage discipline issues (such as arguing about EVERYTHING.) I don't know how much of what you're going through is 'ADHD' caused and how much is 9 years old and testing the waters of independence. Right around 9 is actually when those nasty hormones creep in a little and change your sweet child into a (dare I say it) a pre-teen, or 'tween'.

Lots of third and fourth grade teachers deal with kids getting 'attitudes'. So, it may be ADHD and an incorrect medication, or it may just be 9 years old going on 10 and testing the waters. Let the games begin.