Tracy,
It sounds like you have a great pedi that is really willing to work with you and your child! I think that is sooooooo important!!
Vickie...thanks for the link...that marble system sounds great and I am going to try that with my dd. Sounds like something that could really work for her!!
Thank you I have definatly been blessed with a great family doctor with good referrals as well.
I just wish the school here would get off of my back about the diagnosis. They swear he is more on the Autistic side than ADHD. But what do they know right? And I have done many research and my son is definatly not autistic.
Tracy
[QUOTE=whereToStart]
Tracy,
It sounds like you have a great pedi that is really willing to work with you and your child! I think that is sooooooo important!!
Vickie...thanks for the link...that marble system sounds great and I am going to try that with my dd. Sounds like something that could really work for her!!
[/QUOTE]Thank you Jenn,
I am a bit worried of the side effects but the pediatrician is really good and understanding. He will be on a one month trial and if anything during that month things are not right he will be taken off immediatly. I just hope and pray the side effects won't be too harsh on him.
I will definatly keep you all updated on things and thanks for the welcome and support. Means a lot to us.
Tracy
[QUOTE=whereToStart]
Hi there...first off, welcome!! This is a great support system and I always learn so much and have so much support from people that actually understand what my family is going through...
Anywho, I think every child will react differently to medication. For my dd, the ritalin made her do things she never did before...like chewing the skin off her fingers and she lost her appetite, never wanted to sleep. She was also really emotional (which I contribute to the fast peak ritalin has). It definitely helped, but the side effects were too much. She tried Adderal and that helped but she was REALLY emotional...where she had breakdowns at the same time every day (again contributing it to the fast drop-off of the meds). She's on Concerta now and it has been wonderful, but she's growing and I'm thinking she may need the next dose up to help with her focus and impulsivity. She has no side effects from it either!!
Good luck and please keep us updated on how it helps k!!
~Jenn~
Hi Vickie and Thank you for the welcome and support.
I agree. Like most medications, everyone reacts differently to them. And as my pediatrician assured me that we will start at the lowest dosage and see how that goes. I hope and pray that it works out. If not guess we have to move forward. I am glad I have found this place to come to during those hard times and of course the good times.
Thank you for the link. I will definatly check that plan out.
Tracy
[QUOTE=vickie]
Hi Tracy and welcome. Methylphenedate (Ritalin is one of many forms/brand names) has been used since the 1930s and is relatively safe. Like all meds, there are side effects and everyone responds differently to them. We are working to find the correct dose of concerta (long acting form of methylphenedate) and have seen some good results so far. Do you have a behavior plan in place. If not, check out Ogram's marble system:
http://www.adhdnews.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19898& PN=3
[/QUOTE]Hi there...first off, welcome!! This is a great support system and I always learn so much and have so much support from people that actually understand what my family is going through...
Anywho, I think every child will react differently to medication. For my dd, the ritalin made her do things she never did before...like chewing the skin off her fingers and she lost her appetite, never wanted to sleep. She was also really emotional (which I contribute to the fast peak ritalin has). It definitely helped, but the side effects were too much. She tried Adderal and that helped but she was REALLY emotional...where she had breakdowns at the same time every day (again contributing it to the fast drop-off of the meds). She's on Concerta now and it has been wonderful, but she's growing and I'm thinking she may need the next dose up to help with her focus and impulsivity. She has no side effects from it either!!
Good luck and please keep us updated on how it helps k!!
~Jenn~
Hi Tracy and welcome. Methylphenedate (Ritalin is one of many forms/brand names) has been used since the 1930s and is relatively safe. Like all meds, there are side effects and everyone responds differently to them. We are working to find the correct dose of concerta (long acting form of methylphenedate) and have seen some good results so far. Do you have a behavior plan in place. If not, check out Ogram's marble system:
http://www.adhdnews.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19898& PN=3
Hello everyone!
I am new to the forums here.
My 8 year old son was recently diagnosed with ADHD. He was suppose to start taking Adderal but unfortunatly my insurance does not cover that drug and I am not able to afford it so our pediatrician changed his medication to Ritalin (which is covered by the insurance)
I have heard mixed messages regarding Ritalin and here in my area people can be very judgamental when it comes to that certain medication. Some going as far as making me feel like a bad parent *sigh*
I just want to know what your experiences with the Ritalin drug was and what to expect. The pediatrician did explain all the possible side effects and everything and my son will be started on the lowest dosage and also only on a one month trial. If things go good he stays on and if not he will be removed from it.
Thanks for taking the time to read my message and I look forward to hearing what you have to say and getting to know you all.
Tracy
I AM IN 2 MINDS ABOUT GIVING MY SON RETILIN,WE HAVE UNTIL NEXT YEAR TO TRY EVERYTHINGELSE LIKE THERAPY AND HOMEOPATHY,WE ALSO HAVE AN IEP AT SCHOOL,THE SIDES EFFECT WORRIES ME BUT AT THE SAME TIME I WANT HIM TO BE ABLE TO INTEGRATE AT SCHOOL.
I AM TAKING CONCERTA MYSELF AND THE BENEFITS ARE GREAT BUT I HAVE NO APPETITE,IT IS THE ONLY SIDE EFFECT I HAVE,
Katine,
If the short acting ritalin turns out not to be right for your child, your insurance may cover some of the other choices. My insurance covers meds not on their formulary after the formulary meds have failed. I personally prefer the long acting forms such as concerta so that a dose does not have to be given at school and to avoid the ups and downs that some people have with the short acting forms.
SomeOneHelp,
Issues and side effects of a medicine taken a prescribed dose if far different then large amount used in an abusive manner. Ritalin may be similar to cocaine, but taken orally and at the prescribed dose it acts in a benefitial manner for ADHD and some other disorders. You would have to crush a bunch of ritalin pills and inject it, to get an effect similar to cocaine (including the side effects). This is drug abuse and is illegal. Even cocaine has medical uses as a topical aneshesia. If you have a glass of wine with dinner, you are getting antioxidants, if you drink a bottle of rum with dinner you are abusing it and will experience the side effects (short term and long term).
I just want to say, that while it is true each and every child is different and each child would react differently to the medicine, but the side effects should be taken into consideration. My son (who has severe ADHD) was taking Ritalin and it worked for a while until the side effects started kicking in....he was extremely emotional. Crying at the smallest things that never bothered him before. It only got worse. He became more violent. The Ritalin not only caused a decrease in appetite (which is the cause of having your growth stunt), but also caused him to lose sleep. In which they gave him something to help him sleep. They were giving him uppers and downers. The wanted to give him anti-depressants. It just seemed like there was no end to it. He could not take any other ADHD medication because we have a family history of tourettes.