Input please! | ADHD Information

Thank you Spencer Your suggestion is worth looking into. I would have never thought of milk....Certain foods and drinks can have a great impact on our children.. My husbands cousin was plagued with migraines from a very young age, as it turned out she was allergic to her "favorite" chocolate cakes her mom used to bake her..

I'm so happy you found something that works for you, our grandson is 7 too.

And, thank you Scotmama, ADD? Is there much difference between ADD and ADHD?.. His doctor told me very little, only that he had the hardest kind to diagnose because he has little symptoms and trust me I would have never guessed!

His major signs are forgetfulness, writing some letters and numbers backwards and having trouble going to sleep, sleeping in class and on the bus.. He's never been easy to get to go to sleep, he's a night owl. He does seem to sleep all night once he falls asleep, only it's a restless sleep and his doctor attributes this to the ADHD and his being left back last year..He is doing very well this time around in first grade. The only problem his teacher has with him at our last conference is talking out of seat and touching other students when in line "clowning around"....

Thanks again to everyone! I wish I had the Internet and these kinds of boards when my son was young..

The best to you all!

It also could be ADD.

YOU TEND TO BE MORE ON THE SLUGGISH SIDE.

And, I thank you cr123! Something to look into!

I really hate putting him on prescription drugs :( I will look into your suggestion further.. Thank you and the best to you!!! 

I'm really happy I came upon this message board....

Our son was diagnoised at 7 although we knew things were not right from very early days.  He would fall asleep at the breakfast table and often in class.  Then by chance on a waiting room wall I read an article about intolerances to milk /dairy.  Without telling the teacher, I took him off all milk products and he woke up!!!!  He began answering our questions and participating inclass.  The teacher thought a miracle had occurred and was amazed at the change in him.  He is still ADHD, but the milk greatly reduced his ability to function.  Hope this is helpful!

My grandson was diagnosed today with ADHD. To be honest I was shocked.   My son had ADHD and their symptoms are completely different.   I would have never guessed my grandson has ADHD.. Only, the school has been complaining of my grandson sleeping in class and he often falls asleep on the bus on the ride home..Other than the sleeping in class and being forgetful and yes, last year he was left back..He had no other symptoms.. He doesn't seem hyper at all, nothing like my son was.   His doctor prescribed "Clonidine" Is anyone familiar with this drug? She said it was mostly to help him sleep. I feel very uncomfortable starting him on drugs :(   Any input on the drug prescribed to him or any one who has a similar situation, your feedback will be greatly appreciated.   Scared Grandma...  

ADHD is separated into sub-types: primarily hyperacive, primarily inattentive (posibly your grandson) and combined. My youngest is diagnosed as combined.

Clonidine and guanfacine (Tenex) are blood pressure meds that happen to be effective against some ADHD sysmptoms: calming, sleep issues, hyperactivity, impulsivenss, weight issues of stimulant meds but not attention). They are often given to help with sleep issues. Lack of sleep can cause or worsen ADHD symptoms. Maybe if sleep issues can be addressed first, other meds can be avoided or the doses minimized. One potential issue with these meds is suddenly stopping: this is due to a rebound of blood pressure. Here is a link for an ADHD med chart with clonidine near the bottom:

http://www.myadhd.com/treatment_tools/medicationchart.html

My daughter is on guanfacine to help with weight issues from a stimulant med and help her sleep. From birth, my daughter has had sleep issues and would not go to sleep until midnight. On the guanfacine alone, she finally started going to sleep by 10PM. Her doctor and I were worried that some of her ADHD symptoms were worse due to lack of sleep.

vickie39010.7064351852

Thank you SO much Vickie, I had no idea there were sub-types, in fact when my son was young he was misdiagnosed with mild depression until he was older.

I thank you for your feedback, it was very helpful to me in understanding what's going on..

I wish you continued success with your daughter!!!

Hi and sorry about your grandson.  My thought also was that he has the inattentive type of ADHD.  You know, kind of off in his own world, spacey, forgetful.  I have a DH like that!

We also have sleep issues here, due to stimulant medications.  We use melatonin, a non-prescription OTC sleep hormone found in any drugstore or any store with a vitamin aisle.  It works great so you might want to research it.