Medication Advice | ADHD Information
Since he has an IEP, he is entitled to education in the LRE (least restrictive environment). Right now, his environment is pretty restricted. I would do what I could to have him in the regular classroom. He needs this to help his social skills. It's never an easy decision to medicate a child. But it's your decision and hopefully you've educated yourself on the pros and cons. HTHI understand. I resisted medication for a long time until I realized that I really wasn't doing my daughter any favors by letting her struggle. It wasn't that she didn't listen as much as that she 'couldn't'. She was so overwhelmed by what was going on around her that no one thing could get through to her, be it the teacher, or me. She actually put rocks in her ears at recess one day to "Help me concentrate". (Which ends up being a *really long story*!)
And, honestly, we have tried so many medications (we're on #7 right now) that I'm wondering if I'm doing the right thing. Yes, some of the side effects haven't been pleasant; but as her Mother I have no problem calling the doctor after a few days and telling him "NO!" We're trying Strattera right now, with minimal side effects. I'm not seeing any major benefits yet either, but I'm willing to give it time to see if it makes any sort of difference.
I guess it comes down to whether you'd think the pro's would out weigh the con's. Also, if you don't try, you'll never know if it could have helped or not. Yes, it is a really tough decision, but I'm sure you'll make the one that is the best for your son and you!
Choosing to medicate is, as stated above, a personal decision. My daughter is now on concerta and guanfacine (trials during the summer to look for side effects and benefits). This was after getting school accomodations in the IEP), taking behavior modification as far as we could (pretty good response but not enough) and trying some of the alternatives that have some supporting research. My daughter is bright but was failing and became depressed, anxious and defiant last year. We have started optimizing her concerta for the demands of school (now that school has started). We have seen positive results so far (only 1 week on meds).
Read the experiences others have had-both good and bad, as well as, educate yourself on the posible side effects and benefits of meds.
Good luck.
vickie38985.4820833333The side effects of stimulant medication for us are managable ( primarily appetitie suppression). For my DS his quality of life has increase greatly with the stimulant medication. He is in a regular 2nd grade class (NO special ed services),he is an excellent reader, a good math student and basically a happy kid. It took us a while to get the correct meds but when we did everything improved 100%.
Making the decision to medicate or not is a personal one but it is one that has worked for us.
Meds affect different people differently. It's possible that meds can help your son. Educate yourself. Go to the ADHD medications board and do some research as well as the alternatives board. You might find an answer there for him. Educate yourself. Find out about the side effects. How often do they show up? 50% of the time? That's too risky. 5% of the time? That's an acceptable risk. What are they? What kind of populations do they affect?
If you don't educate yourself, you're doing your son a disservice. You are condemning him to go through his life the way he is because of something you've heard about. Get the facts.
My ds is on Daytrana. It's a ritalin patch. It provides an even release of meds and a very gentle decline at the end of the day when it goes out of the bloodstream. There's no "low points" (my ds's words) in the day, no rebound. My ds failed the last quarter of pre-algebra in the spring and passed the semester with a D. This year, 93 is the lowest grade he's gotten in pre-algebra. That's an A. He's had no side-effects from it.
But my story of success holds no more water than someone else's story of side-effects. You have to decide for yourself and unfortunately, try something with no guarantees as to how it will affect your son. Before we started meds my son was miserable and frustrated. I picked him up at school the first day he started meds and he got in the car and said: "Mom, I like myself much better on these pills." That was all I had to hear to decide if it was worthwhile.
I'm not telling you to medicate him. I'm telling you to get busy and start to educate yourself. HTH!
susieb38985.584224537My son is seven and has ADHD, auditory processing problems and sensory integration issues. He has been having problems since his first year of kindergarten (he repeated) and is now in first grade. We have an IEP and he has been placed in a self contained classroom with only 4 other children who are handicapped. He has 2 other friends with the same diagnoses and they are all in the mainstream with an inclusion teacher in the classroom. Only difference is that my son is disruptive. He talks excessively and frequently gets up because he has difficulty sitting still. The Doctors are suggesting medication which I will not give him because I am terrified of the side effects. I feel as though any decision I make is the wrong one. If I keep him in a special education classroom it may emotionally bother him, if I mainstream him he will fail and if I medicate him I take the risk of exposing him to dangerous side effects. Problems at home are not severe, just a constant argument because he wants what he wants and will not settle for less. He is not violant, doesn't hit or have temper tantrams, just doesn't listen. The reward recognition and positive reinforcement has not helped. Any advice?
I agree with everyone's post. To medicate or not to medicate is a very personal decision. My DH and I disagreed totaly until school started and the phone calls started. He has gone with me to every doctor's appointment and has put his two cents worth in each time.
We followed up the doctor today and even he said wow you brought a different boy with you today. He sat nicely in the chair, looked the doctor in the eyes and answered all his questions.
It has been night and day with my son. Not to say that we still don't have issues. Meds don't cure everything, but they make life more managable.
As for education I couldn't agree enough. I have tapes that I listen to in the van on the way to and from work or errands. I have even subject DH to listening to them with me. I have several differnt books that I am reading. There is always one in the van, for when we have swimming lessons, or Sunday school etc. There is always one open on my computer table etc. I feel that there isn't such a thing as getting too much information on this subject. I have researched diets, and vitamins and other no med options.
You have to do what is best for your family. But I am very glad that we have finally made the choice to make his life better. We have tried several different meds and doses but we have gotten to the point where everyone is happy. My son is happy, his teacher is happy, his doc is happy and even my DH and I are happy. There can be light at the end of the tunnel, but you have to make an educated decision. Therefore, educate yourself until you feel comfortable enough to make the right decision for your family. None of us can give you the answers we can just share our experiences and that adds to you knowledge about this and can be a piece of education that may help you decide what's best.
My daughter also has Auditory processing, SI, and ADD (inattentive/impulsive)--we had a great experience with an OT who honestly nearly cured her SI stuff, and she has an ear filter for her auditory processing which is helping a lot...that said, she's also on meds--strattera and a boost of ritalin during school in the mornings. I was very hesitant to medicate her for the very same reasons, but relented when I saw that she was suffering both socially and overall with self-esteem..she always felt 'different' but couldn't really say why. She has been much happier since we started on meds, and she does well in school and with friends now...she is a changed kid. I know it's scary but would you consider just doing a trial of meds with him? That way, you won't be able to look back and say' I wish I had tried'..
Hi. My son is now 13, but we've known he had issues since age 5, so I am 7 years further down the road from where you are now. My son has been dx'd with ADHD Primary Inattentive, and auditory processing disorder, generalized anxiety, and gifted.
We held off meds for a very long time. In hindsight, for us, it was a bad decision to wait. We too delayed simply because we didn't want to face what we knew was going to be a difficult battle to find the right med and dose. We too were scared, but not too scared to try any and all options to help him He has responded so well to medication combined with therapy and omega 3 supplements, that I no longer 2nd guess my decision at all.
We waited until 5 th grade to medicate with stimulants. We lasted that long simply because my son showed primary inattentive symptoms versus the major H and disruptive symptoms. Waiting, however, took a huge toll on him socially, and by 4th grade we were into major anxiety and depression.
Medication works for some, not for others. I personally feels the vast majority benefit from meds as part of a total treatment plan. Meds are NOT the be all and end all. They are just ONE part of the treatment. Behavioral training and therapy are important parts too.
If the ONLY reason your son is placed in a self contained classroom is disruptive behavior...... I personally would be seriously looking at trying a trial of medication. You want him in a regular classroom with modifications/accomodations. You do NOT want him segregated if possible.
You mention that for now, at age 7, he is not violent, abusive, etc. That's nice for now....but as they get older and the pressures at school mount, you may be in for a surprise behaviorally. The power struggles you have with him at home now with him not obeying you may seem minor and harmless now, but they can quickly explode out of hand as a child gets older. Not to mention the serious damage that type of behavior has on yours and his relationship. Although my son was able to "hold it together" at school, as he got older into the higher grades, his home behavior worsened as the pressures at school increased. By 4th and 5th grade, we sought professional help because he was like a ticking time bomb at home. NOT a good situation.
Good luck to you on your decision. I'd stop obsessing about all the things that "could" go wrong with a medication trial. Stimulants are very short acting. If he has a bad reaction, its out of his system quickly. It is a wise decision, as a parent, to consider several treatment options that could potentially help your child. Don't rule things out before you personally try them just because you read of other parent's horror stories that may not bear any relevance to your son's situation.
If you do try a trial..... don't have a regular pediatrician do the trial. Choose a qualified psychiatrist. They are usually better trained in titrating (adjusting) the dosages to find the optimal therapeutic levels.
Okiemom
okiemom38985.7274652778MEDICATION WILL NOT HELP SID. THERAPY WILL HELP THIS. i WOULD HAVE THE CHILD FULLY EVALUATED BY A NP FIRST. MANY DISODERS HAVE ADD OR ADHD WITH IT.