New Parent of 5 year old | ADHD Information

Hi Joeycatsmom!

When you find the right medication, it can be like a miracle! Straterra may not be the one. Don't give up.  We started on Straterra when Noah was 5 and it worked amazingly well, but only for 3 months. Then we tried Adderall which had very bad side effects.  We have been on Concerta for 2 years now and up to now with the exception of having to raise the dosage when he gains weight it has worked well.   When the meds are working he is a sweet, likable little boy.

I hope you get to experience that too. You sound like you are going to be a great mom to that lucky little boy!  Happy Mother's Day a little early!

On December 25, 2006 my husband and I got custody of his 5 year old nephew.   He has been abused by his mother and she no longer wanted to "deal with him".  We have been married for almost 5 years and do not have any children of our own. 

Right away, we got him enrolled in preschool and got him updated on his shots and had a well child check.  Let's just say the Pre-school part is not going so well.  He does not get along well with others.  We have also been seeing a therapist to help him out.  She suggessted we talk to his pedatrician about getting him on some meds to help him cope with ADHD and anxiety.  Our Dr. put him on Strattara.  He's been on it for 3 weeks now, and let me tell you, his moods have been so dramatic.  Screams and cries over nothing. At preschool he has melt down after melt down.  We thought he had a hard time BEFORE, but it seems like the side effects are overwhelming. 

We had him take the meds at breakfast, and he would be ok in the morning, but by afternoon he was out of control, and would not go to bed at night.  So we started giving it to him at supper time.  He would go to bed, but would not sleep through the night, and then would have a horrible time at preschool.

We have decided to stop the Strattara for now.  These message boards have been a great eye opener for me, it comfirms what I thought was happening. 

What dose of Strattera is he on? What is his weight? Strattera is weight/dose dependent and on the wrong dose for weight it will cause side effects.

Is he seeing a Psych or a neurologist?

Welcome,

This must be very overwhelming for you and your husband... I applaud you on this huge task you have taken on.  Your nephew is very lucky to have you and your husband in his life.

Good for you for putting him in pre-school and getting his new life under way.  He sounds like he has been thru quiet a bit in his life.  I was wondering who dx him with ADHD??? and when???  if he is only 5, that is somewhat early.  I was thinking that is may be more that ADHD... just going by what you said about his past. 

I think the therapist is a great way to help him deal with what his is going thru.  I am sure you seen the other post regarding the different ADHD meds.  Strattara sounds like it might not be the one.

I have been reading and posting for a couple months now and there is a wealth of information on these boards.

Good luck to you and your new family

 

Hey joeycatsmom!

I want to applaud you  and your husband for being true parents!

This little boy sounds like he has been through an awful lot for just a 5 yr old.

My son is almost 10 and was diagnosed right before he turned 5. My biggest regret is that I did NOT medicate him right away. I sent to kindergarten and first grade where he became bullied, teased, and labeled by both children and teachers.

I started meds at the end of first grade. We had trial and errors. We started seeing a psychopharmacologist that summer and he has been a life saver.

Just an FYI, a LOT of adhd'ers have a co-existing condition. My son has anxiety. Some have depression, others could be bi-polar, etc. So that is why I like the psychopharmacologist, he can pick up on all those things and can mix up all the meds - he is brilliant with the medications. And believe me, there are so many out there, that there is a med for everyone that will help them, you just have to take the time as well as be patient!

He tried adderall xr but became angry, psychotic, etc - real bad for him, we then went to concerta. We all dealt with the not eating and sleeping stuff, but it was great at school. We then added guanfacine to the mix and found the right meds and dosage over the next so many months. We also added straterra to the mix so that my son had a med in his system at all times, however it made him depressed. He even said he wanted to kill himself and he was only 8 at the time. We stopped stratterra immediately and all that went away!

He is still on both concerta and guanfacine after 2 1/2 years. Guanfacine/tenex helps with both anxiety, over stimulation, impulse controls for my son.

He is happy, involved in sports, has GREAT report cards, but still has the ADHD stuff, like the social stuff from kids. He doesn't tell on anyone for fear that HE will get in trouble for tattling.

I am begining to think that a lot of that is such kid stuff now a days. I feel as he gets older and because he is so kind hearted, that that should get better. At least I am hoping!

I can't praise your husband and you enough. Please post any questions so that we all can help you guys with your son!

Beth  

 

Thanks for all of your encouragement!  We did stop his strattara, and today we can see change already.  He did not go to daycare/preschool today because my husband is off today, but will go back tomrrow, and hopefully i will have a good report from the teacher.

We would ask him why certain kids made him mad, or what made him act out and cry/scream, etc, and I think he honestly didn't know.  At least before he was on the meds he could tell us what had happend that made him act out.  Does that make sense?

It is an interesting journey parenting another person's child.  haha I have to add to that just because it struck me funny, its an interesting job parenting any child lol. but yes, my hats off to you also and my prayers are with youWould you say that his ADHD was caused by the abuse, or was it present in
him since birth?

Hi,

 congratulations on your instant family.  My dh and I got to start a second family after all of our children were grown.  We are now raising our 13 yr gs.[since age 15 mo]

    First off, I would seek out as much info as you can about your new addition's birth, whether or not mom took meds while pg, if she abused drugs or drank alcohol,etc.  See if his immunizations are up to date.  

Then I would seek out a good neuro psych.[you could try a nearby university]  At age 5 ,it could be adhd.  It could also be a number of other things, including PSTD.  If it isn't adhd, the meds could cause his behavior.[of course, as you may already know, the wrong med could do the same thing]  It is an interesting journey parenting another person's child.  I wish you the best.  Keep us posted, ok?

i would also ask about post tramatic stress disorder given his history.