My Darling Son... | ADHD Information
KADsMOM,
It sounds like you have been put on the right road to help your family. No better place than a Chidren's Hospital with trained professionals!
I am also glad they got to see your son the way that he truly is without meds. That will only help!
It took us quite some time to find the right med and dosage. We are getting ready to either increase or change, not sure which yet. I have been so happy with my DS's results with concerta. We tried the daytrana patch last Saturday only to end up giving him his concerta 3 hrs later. It never took effect. Then reading the side effects I was concerned about the patch.
I honestly look forward to the Daytrana people perfecting it. It is in the same family as ritalin and concerta. It will be real exciting once they have.
I look forward to reading your future posts on how things are going. Hang in there. Please post us with your progress!!
And I agree with Chase's mom, as least the school won't be interfering and making it any more difficult than it already is!
Best wishes!
Beth
I was here a long time ago and I got so busy and managed to forget my user name and password so I reregistered.
I have three kids a DD 11, a DS 9, and a DS 7. My Daughter is pretty much a dream and most definitely my easy kid. My youngest son is still on the fence. I am not sure but he definitely displays some ADHD symptoms, however it could be a case of following his brother. My 9 year old is my biggest issue.
He was a 32 week preemie and had a host of issues since birth. We have battled ADHD as a diagnosed problem now for 6 years and medicated him 4.5 years ago. He has always been on high doses and still struggled. His school has denied an IEP as he scored OK when they tested him in a room free of distractions and reality. I have seen a couple "generic" child psychiatrists and have HAD it with them jus tmoving his med doses around. So then I decided that we are going to the top of the list. I got him in for an intake at the Children's Hospital. I then took him there unmedicated. That poor psychologist got to see him in full mode when he is alone. She got us in to see one of the top psychiatrists they have, and recommended a panel eval for him with the Child Development Unit. (I am really excited to get him seen by the unit since we are having to retain him in the 3rd grade) The psychiatrist got to see him in full mode as well as her assistant and she is so on our side. She decided to take him off meds for 8 weeks to get a baseline behavior and everything on him which is going to make me crazy as although they did not work well they helped a little bit. So I am on a rough road through a good part of the summer. That's us in a nutshell I will add more later.
Oh no, it will be a long summer for you all. Try to know that in the end you are getting the best treatment for him. We have (more than once) had to take my daughter off all meds to start something new that takes several weeks to take effect (now being one of those times). Although I dont really mean no meds, just minor doses as we build. That is a challenge in itself, but it si only for a few weeks, not eight. By being able to properly diagnose and begin a treatment plan think how much better things are going to get. Keep us updated and try to find time for yourself (and your other children) during the long 8 weeks you have ahead. And welcome back.At least look at the bright side...no calls from school, since it will be happening in the summer. 
I know, I know, kinda lame, but I am a 'glass half full' kinda gal!
If you can stick it out, you may get the treatment that he needs and that works.....finally!
My daughter has also been recently taking the Tenex and I do think is helping us while we do our medicaton transition. It is keeping calm enough (well, sort of) while we VERY slowly build the new meds she is starting. It is worth looking into. Although it is a pill. Why can't he handle a pill in food? This worked very well for us for while. I had to have her in something I could open and mix. For quite a long time after breakfast she got a little ice cream, just do I could mis in sprinkled meds
.I am going to ask the doc about tenex and guanfacine. It seems to be just what we need over the summer. The daytrana is great for my son during school, but i just can't see keeping him on it over the summer. I think he needs some unfocused time. As long as it isn't so agressive like it was this weekend. As far as the patch, my son did get red marks from it but he has been on it for 8 months and I nolonger notice anything the next day. We switch sides and I really can't tell which side it was on the following day. he is on 15mgs and I think I would be in a looney bin if it was for daytrana. He refuses to take pills, he gets physically ill. Thanks for the info Ill read up on those meds and talk to the doctor.Practice deep breathing and buy a trampoline....
I'm glad to hear you are getting top notch care for your child. Sorry about your summer. My son who is 10 takes the daytrana patch for school, and off on weekend. This weekend which isn't quite over was one of the worst. He was not on meds totally out of control. I could go on for days, but basically harassing his brother and brothers friend to no end. Last night I just broke down and cried for hours. I don't know what to do except keep him on the patch everyday, which means he doesn't want to play outside and is very focused on the computer. He does have an appointment on the 23rd which is good, I just do have any solution because he can't take pills, or pill in food and is is 60 lbs at10 years old, which is why I take him off on the weekends to put on weight. I need an answer to get some peace in this house. I am losing the control very fast.aus10 Have you looked into the tenex? It calms Chase a touch and controls many ADHD symptoms such as hyperactivity, aggression, etc. Here is an 8 page thread that has a ton of info on the med. I have been using it for Chase since Christmas break, and it has been a big help in him gaining weight, as well as calming his quick temper and other ADHD symptoms....all except the focus, which he doesn't need when not in school.
http://www.adhdnews.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=24770& PN=1
Although tenex (guanfacine) is a pill, it is not time released and it can be crushed or split into smaller pieces (and is is a pretty small pill to start with). Guanfacine is prescribed "off label" for ADHD at the moment. You may need to take in some of the articles to give the doc and open the discussions.
http://www.peacehealth.org/kbase/topic/detail/drug/hw164961/ detail.htm
http://www.askdrjones.com/2006/11/07/tenex/
http://www.shire.com/shire/NewsAndMedia/PressReleases/showSh irePress.jsp?ref=600&tn=3&m1=8&m2=13
vickie39223.5531365741aus10,
My son tried the patch last weekend for 3 hours - nothing! Then I read how some are giving their children a short acting dose of a med until the patch kicks in. And I read about the rash. I just couldn't do it.
Do you think the patch is helping him? I wonder if there is something that would work longer and better.
My son has been on concerta and it really works well. For the past 2 1/2 years his dose has been great. We now need to do some tweaking, but the patch wasn't it, at least not yet.
For the past year he has been growing and gaining weight.
The guanfacine has helped him to eat, plus the doctor has explained that his body has adjusted to his meds.
To make things easier for him AND you, I would try another med and look into guanfacine. I bet things will change for all of you!!