Mom new to ADD/ADHD - Scared & Confused | ADHD Information

My son was also just Dx with ADHD on Thurs. I was pretty certain for about 3 yrs that he had it. I however, did not want to medicate unless absolutely nessecary. I waited until it started affecting his school work and behavior in class. In all honesty I probably could/should of started the process of officialy dxing him at the end of last school yr, but I didn't due to a few reasons.

He is in 2nd grade and is 7 1/2. He is on focalin 5mg, but he will most likely go to 10mg next week. Better to undermedicate and then increase if needed. I certainly do not want him taking anymore than he needs.

If you feel your daughter was dx too fast, then definitely get a 2nd opinion, and/or take her to a psychiatrist. Do whatever you need to educate yourself as much as possible. When/if you go for a second opinion be armed with as much info as possible so you know what to ask. That is what I did before my son's Dr appt.

Good luck!! As a feelow Mom of a newly Dx child, I certainly understand how you feel. Feel free to email me anytime

Anyone out there who has a child on Focalin, I would love to here how its working for your child, any side effects you see, and also any advise would be greatly appreciated

Laurie

Chantelle,

The first med our doctor tried with my son was short acting adderall. The first day he took it, he fell asleep. So I changed the med ( I was pretty scared and rushed him to the doctor). He later tried ritalin, concerta, focalin, strattera and guess what, he is now taking ADDERALL long acting. I am not sure if it is the long acting formula that is doing the trick but this med works wonders and my DS is able to focus, complete work and he tries to keep his mouth shut ( when appropriate). My ds has been on this med for about a year and a half.

I am not a doctor so I don't have any medical advice...this is only our story

joemom39131.6474652778Chantelle is it the xr formula?

My DS has been on adderall for 3 weeks now. It seems to be wearing out by 2:00pm. Just in time for his most difficult class at school. Several people had mentioned maybe giving my child a dose before school and then sending a small dose to school for the nurse to administer around 1:00pm. Has anyone else had this problem???

Hi there everyone. I am new to this site and have an 8 yr old who was just diagnosed with adhd. today he started his medication and i am really worried about the loss of appatite and nausea. I feel for momoftwogirls for I got the same reaction from his teacher and left the school feeling like a total idiot. He has is one of those hyperfocus types and does well in the classroom but when it comes to unstructered time like p.e. or recesses that's when the trouble begins. Is there anyone who has any advice for me...I could really use it .

Thanks, Citygirl in california

[QUOTE=citygirl]

Thanks, Citygirl in california

[/QUOTE]

HI citygirl. My son is now 9 but soon to be 10. He had trouble in both of those same areas as your son. My son is easily overstimulated, as well as hyperactive -I always say he is adhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhd!

He takes concerta, 72mgs, as well as guanfacine, 1 mg, each morning. The guanfacine is what seems to help my son with the hyperness, as well as his overstimulatation.

It is really hard on us moms who love our little ones dearly, and these schools who have no clue what it is like for them.

We went through the loss of appetite and sleep stuff, but his body eventually adjusted to the medication and now he is growing both in height as well as in weight.

Also, when it comes to the medication, if it is not a positive day the very first day, wait until he comes home from school on Monday, increase his dosage. WE all start at the lowest doseage and it needs to be moved up immediately. By waiting, your not going to see a difference. It won't show until the dosage is increased. If the medication is the problem, then change the medication.

We use a psychopharmacologist who specializes in these medications to oversee our medicines. It is he who started the guanfacine in addition to the concerta.

We moved up with the dosage quick, but took a full 6 months to find the right med and the right doseage. My son has been at the same med/dosage for 2 1/2 years! My son started meds at the end of first grade . He is now half way through 4th!

Please post any questions!

Best wishes!!

Beth

BETHANN39145.0800231481

Thank you so much Bethann. I t broke my heart to see him flop into bed tonight, which as you know is not the usual. His DR. is a specialist and a very nice man so I will wait for what happens on monday and then if need I will call his doctor. He's on the 18 mg of concerta and while it really helped him slow down his pace when it began tapering off he just felt terrible.

He's such a cute kid and it breaks my heart to see him miserable.

May I ask what is guanfacine ? I've just started reading the posts and have seen it mentioned quite a bit. Again, thank you so much for your time, I feel a TON better. :) citygirl

If you go to the forum "NIGHT FROM $%*@ on page 7, chasesmom mentions that she "bumped up 6 pages" on the medications forum. Tenex is it's brand name, guanfacine is the generic brand. It REALLY helps!!

Yes, I have so been there, all alone, I might add. My husband has it also, but is in a lot of denial about himself. If it wasn't for me, my dh would have no direction in his life, employment wise as well. He, like my son, is extremely intelligent, but never had any direction. I swore to myself the our son would not end up like his dad, who graduated a famous university in 3 years, cum laude political science only to never go to law school, but do a lot of manual labor dead end jobs

One more thing, 18mg of concerta is the lowest dose. He may need to go to the next level starting Tuesday, after that first day back at school - just a heads up. Call the doctor immediately and change him immediately, don't wait, it does NOT build up over time. You will notice results on the first day at school, have the teacher tell you of any difference. He still may not change with the overstimulation until you up the concerta or even add like the guanfacine. We once upped the concerta, but did not up the guanfacine, and the teacher saw NO change until the next day we upped the guanfacine from .5mg to 1.0 mg! That's how important gaunfacine is to our son!

Keep posting questions - I work overnights from 11pm to 7am here in Boston, so I'm up!!

Beth

citygirl, I have heard such good things abut the tenex but I believe that some of your other options should be tried first. It took us quite a while to get the best med with the fewest side effects. My son took concerta also and while it did slow him down, it did not work on his focus and the side effects of this med ( as well as all of the meds in the ritalin family) made him very grumpy near the end of the day. I think we were up to 36 mg before we quit concerta. My DS takes adderall which helps his focus and he is not nearly as grumpy at the end of the day ( he is primarily bouncy). I like knowing that the tenex is out there if he needs it down the road but for now it is easiest sticking with one med.joemom39145.2334259259[QUOTE=Chantelle]

I was hoping someone could shed some light on my situation. I have a 11 year old son , who was diagnosed as ADD. He was put on a 15mg does of adderall.

I got two calls from school on his first day taking it , saying he couldnt keep his eyes open. He fell asleep at recess on the swing.

I called his doctor immediately, and they lowered the dose to 5mg. Today was his second day to take it. when I picked him up from school he was very tired and out of it.

When adderall wears off , does it make you more tired than ususal? And what are anyones suggestions on this. He has baseball games starting and seeing his condition today when i picked him up, he wont be able to function...[/QUOTE]

Hi there Chantelle,

Any one that falls asleep on the medication, should stop taking it and call the doctor. I bet that is the wrong medication for your son.

Call the doctor and tell them immediately!

General message-

I knew my son was different from the moment of birth (he came too weeks early - I should have known he was not going to be patient). I have spent his 8 years of life trying to get the bottom of what he had. I pursued it with a psychologist and he told me my child was "Active Alert" which i had a book on - there are some like characteristics.

He has had tubes in his ears, tonsils,adnoids out and a fractured skull - (these are the major things).

I had him evaluated because of the skull fracture. I had auditory processing evaluation done, ADHD testing all done when he was younger. I then felt like I could not be helped so I left it alone. Eventually I went on an anxiety drug to help me cope, gained weight etc. Finally, after having more issues at school etc I decided to have him re-evaluated out of town and got a diagnosis at the first visit.

I was leery also of having it happen so quickly after I have been spending years on this. But, my ped is great. She talks directly to my son and advises him that if I tell them something that is not true he can let her know. Every appointment she makes sure she directs her questions to him so that he feels apart of the process.

Maybe, I was ok with a quick diagnosis in the end because I got some relief from him and it was the first time in a long time. Either way, we are on the right track and his med has been working for a long while now (knock on wood)

Joemom-

Yes it is the XR . I was thinking maybe the dose wasnt high enough anymore. He started at 15mg. Too strong, so we went to 5mg. Now he is on 10mg. Wondering if 15mg is now what he should be on....

I'm an adult who, after a 20 minute visit with a psychiatrist, came out with a prescription for adderall! The first week I took it, I too was very reserved, but that wore off. I heard from others I spoke to and others who posted on this board how suspect I should be of a 20 minute evaluation, so I went to a psychologist who specialized in ADHD. He was of no help. So I ended up having a full 8 hour+ neuropsychiatric evaluation done which confirmed the original ADHD diagnosis. I've spoken with my pediatrician about my ADHD, and of all the doctors I've seen, my ped. seems more savvy than all the others about this trait and the medications to treat it, plus he certainly knows me well after all these years!

My son also takes adderall and I remember the first few days were very quiet... he has been on this med for almost a year now and YES he can still talk up a storm even on the Adderall.Chantelle,
It is common for parents to see a marked contrast to what they are used to experiencing. I was surprised the first day too. He was quietly attentive, on track and engaged at a big Sunday school event. Normally he would have been all over the place. I will never forget that even his eyes looked different. They did not have the wide round look of trying to take in everything at once, instead they were narrower. Also this change in him was apparent on only a small starting dose of 5mg of Ritalin.

My son has completed his third full day of adderall now. Since Im new to this, please be patient while I ask questions that I probably should know.

He seems very quiet. He is usually talking my ear off and demands me sit with him and play alot. He isnt doing that for the past 3 days. Just quiet and reserved. Is this normal.

Although I complain when he would leave me alone nor quit talking, Im now concerned because he isnt leaving me along nor talking.

Is this normal????

dcomp -- I hope they are holding your child back in kindergarten for academic reasons and not behavior reasons. Holding him back is not going to improve behavior. Also, a school counselor is diagosing and recommending meds?!

Chantelle - My son was on Adderall XR, then metadate and now Daytrana and I have NEVER heard of any of these meds making the kids sleepy, only alert and sometimes can't sleep. Maybe try a different family of ADHD meds - I really liked the metadate/daytrana family (lower doses) so far. I am also researching other alternatives.....good luck.

Stay on this site and read, read, read....this is a great source of info, real life experiences from familys who have unconditional love for these patients, not just a chart...you will learn so much - I have in such a short time and fell better empowered to deal with his dx and more confident in trusting my gut....

Chantell,
Check my reply at "mothers of with ADD/ADHD children"

I am also new to this.....but have known for a while my sons problem. He is 6 and is already looking at being held back in Kindergarten. I am really very afraid to put him on drugs. His father and I both have addicts on BOTH sides of our family.......so he is double disposed to have addiction. Has anyone tried alternative forms of treatment that have actaully worked?

I have been an emotional wreck all week at the thought of putting him on drugs. I just met with the school councler about this on Monday and she was so quick to get a solid diagnoses to try drugs..........HELP!!

welcome dcomp,

Studies have shown that proper treatment of ADHD with medication reduces the risk of substance abuse, not raises it. I too, have relatives with substance abuse issues and recognize that use of caffeine, niccotine and drugs is a form of self-medication (which is a poor substitute for effective treatment).

If you can, find a good child psychiatrist or neuropsychiatrist to get a definitive diagnosis prior to starting any treatment. You should also have tests run to rule out other disorders that can mimic ADHD (thyroid, anemia, etc). This also gives you baseline labs for future monitoring. ADHD can have symptoms that over lap other disorders and can have other disorders co-morbid so you want a strong diagnosis before starting any treatment plan. Also make sure your child is getting enough sleep, because sleep deprivation can mimic ADHD or make symptoms worse.

In the meantime, I would look at ograms marble system (top thread) for a positive reinforcement behavior plan. As far as alternatives, there are studies supporting the use of omegas and posibly magnesium (check these threads on the alternatives board).

Regardless where this journey takes you, you will find information and support here.

vickie39129.5684722222

I am beginning to see that she is perhaps the exception, rather than the rule....but there must be others out there that are just as competent....I just love her to pieces and so do the boys!

I have never had an appointment there that she did not ask the child in question how things are going (not just about why he is there) in life in general, and she always asks me if I need to talk about anything as well. Never in a hurry to leave and go on to the next patient...I think we hit the jackpot, and I am so thankful, because I am sure I would have to travel at least an hour or more if I could even afford a psych and could find one.

Chasesmom- it sounds like you've got a great ped. Most do not spend that kind of time with their patients. Our ped is managing meds for us, although we did go to a neuropsych. for evaluation because the dx was complicated by anxiety and she couldn't rule out depression. I think we have felt even more comfortable with her because when we first went to her she told us about her experience with treating ADHD and then said she wouldn't dx him because it was beyond her expertise.

Sometimes the ped or primary doc is the only choice- I've been unable to find a psychiatrist who is taking on new, non- crisis patients (for myself) in my area, and it's a good size city with several comprehensive mental health facilities. Problem is most of them on our insurance list only do in-patient.

[QUOTE=NoTellin]I am not comfortable with peds diagnosing ADHD, especially in that manner, with no testing. Lots of conditions can mimic ADHD, and 50% have a comorbid condition. My ped will not diagnose ADHD. She says that many times it looks like ADHD, but is not. He sends you to a specialist. He also will not prescribe ADHD meds. He says that managing ADHD meds is a specialty requiring a high level of expertise.[/QUOTE]

Our Ped is the exact same way, she referred us to a Psychologist for a full Psychological Evaluation, and she also had an EEG (because of a seizure) so I'm very thankful that we had to wait to be put on meds because if she was given meds right away from the Pediatrician she most likely would have been given a stimulant med that would increase the seizure risk. This way we know for certain that it is ADD and not another condition and since she did have a seizure during the waiting period we were able to put her on Strattera which is a non-stim med and safer for her while we wait for the final word from the Neurologist.

I'm not wanting to scare you in anyway, but as others suggest I would also recommend you find a psychologist and a psychiatrist to get a 2nd and 3rd opinion.

The problem is that some of us could no way afford a psychiatrist's eval. Our insurance will not cover it, and we make too much for medicaid, or even Healthy Start/Healthy families.

I have no idea if my ped is a developmental ped, but I do know that she has been my son's ped since his birth, and is very knowledgeable on the ADHD meds. At each of our visits, both before and after his dx, including all of his checkups for his whole life, she has spent time to talk to him about his life, school issues, and to speak to me about our family concerns. Since his dx, she is even more thorough, spending an hour at each med check discussing with him how he feels the med is working, then asking me the same questions.

Maybe she is an oddity, but I totally trust her judgement and her input on all things....and I have no other choice, really.

I am sure that there are others out there in the same boat.

I was hoping someone could shed some light on my situation. I have a 11 year old son , who was diagnosed as ADD. He was put on a 15mg does of adderall.

I got two calls from school on his first day taking it , saying he couldnt keep his eyes open. He fell asleep at recess on the swing.

I called his doctor immediately, and they lowered the dose to 5mg. Today was his second day to take it. when I picked him up from school he was very tired and out of it.

Have you ever thought of getting her a weighted lap blanket for the classroom? I've read that sometimes that extra weight in the lap will really help them to remember to stay seated. My nephew has a weighted stuffed animal that he now has to help him stay seated (2nd grade). It doesn't seem "weird" to his classmates.

I also am not confortable with peds diagnosing without doing the Psych evaluations, and the necessary bloodwork and ESPECIALLY the Ekg's before using Stim meds.

I would consult a psychiatrist for an absolute diagnosis.

I'd recommend you do some research so you can feel comfortable with either your current form of treatment, or figure out if you'd like to pursue another route. No one can really do the research for you (i.e., pediatrician, etc.) -- I'd read all you can and then make an educated decision about what makes the most sense for your family. Welcome to the board, this is a good place to start.I am not comfortable with peds diagnosing ADHD, especially in that manner, with no testing. Lots of conditions can mimic ADHD, and 50% have a comorbid condition. My ped will not diagnose ADHD. She says that many times it looks like ADHD, but is not. He sends you to a specialist. He also will not prescribe ADHD meds. He says that managing ADHD meds is a specialty requiring a high level of expertise.

Hi Momoftwogirls, It looks like she is doing better with the 10mg. It is obvioulsy helping, and she is eating. Keep an eye on her, and I highly recommend calling the doctor sooner than 30 days if it stops working, if she is taking the 10 but it is not helping her. Other than that, yes, meet with the doctor in 30 days to discuss the month.

I wouldn't think too much about the teachers/principal. I am glad that it was quick for your daughter's sake!

Best wishes and keep us updated!

Beth

Some pediatricians are very quick to diagnose and start meds, especially if the case looks straight forward (no comorbid conditions). They sometimes start a med to confirm the diagnosis (an older method but still used).

Now for one of my analagies:

It is kind of like when a person has a urine infection: 90% of the time it is caused by e. coli and responds well to a certain class of antibiotics. The doctor can go through more testing to confirm, or can treat and if it works fine, if not then test further. This method saves the patient money and works most of the time. However, ADHD is not a urine infection and the meds are taken for a much longer period than an antibiotic (this is where this treatment model falls short).

I would continue with the treatment because you are seeing a positive response. I would also start the search for a child psychiatrist that has experience with managing meds for ADHD. A more experienced doctor in this area will be beneficial if any of the co-morbid conditions show up, and can be better at tayloring the meds and other treatments to your child's need (both now and as she grows - think puberty ). It can take time to get into a good psychiatrist that takes your insurance (there is a shortage of them), but well worth it if you can find one.

Also, you might consider that you might not hate the idea of using a medication. What you might hate is that your child has a condition that makes things harder to deal with, and that condition is severe enough to require a medication. It took me a while to realize I did not hate my thyroid medication; I hated having hypothyroidism requiring treatment and adding to the difficulties of life and making me less "normal". I then realized how lucky I was to have a codition that is easy to treat with very safe meds, others are dealing with diabetes and far worse conditions than mine. ADHD meds are also generally safe and have been in use for more than 50 years.

vickie39128.436400463

Wow... I feel like I've been on a roller coaster ride for the last week.

I've always known my daughter has had a hard time focusing. She is 7 yrs old and in 1st grade. She seems to be in and out of her chair at school, home and social settings. I often have to say "Do you see any other children running around right now? You need to stay seated!" During math, especially she seems to have a hard time focusing. She is often aware of everyone else's needs in the room. The other obvious behavior she has is she often seems to be in her own world. She often "paces" by skipping half running back and forth while humming. She is a very caring, thoughtful, and consciences little girl. I've heard that this is not typical ADD/ADHD behavior but she is extremely organized and neat.