There is plenty you can do. You should read as much as you can about ADHD - meds are just one part of treating ADHD. There are plenty of books and resources available on line and at the library (check out the alternative treatment section of the board). You need to arm yourself with information. You can try adjusting his diet to help behaviors. You can see a naturopath who can help with supplements and also help diet wise. You can implement behavior modification techniques at home and at school. Magic 1-2-3 is an excellent plan on helping behavior.
I believe medication should be a last resort, not a first. Best of luck.
Many, many people choose not to use meds for all different reasons. Check out the alternatives board on this site. Very informative, you will get a lot of help.
Is your doctor a Board Certified Child Psychiatrist? Normally this is the discipline of choice when having a difficult time finding the proper medication for a child this age. Nothing wrong with a fam prac or ped with routine cases but I would suggest looking at this option. This is their field.
Good luck.
Diz
Dizfriz is right about the type of doc when things get complicated. You might need to look into co-existing issues like ODD, anxiety, depression or mimicing issues like bipolar. There are many med choices and the more experience the doc has with managing past the first line of meds and dealing with co-existing conditions, the better off you and your son will be.
There are some studies indicating that omega 3 fatty acids can help with mood issues. The alternatives board can point you to those and other things that may be of help. Make sure the doc knows what you are giving, because everything can have side effects and can interact with other things.
You may be looking at meds like antidepressants (help with anxiety and work on some ADHD), mood stabilizers (at low dose), or alpha 2 antagonists like clonidine or guanfacine.
Look also at the top thread of the parent's board for ogram's marble system. A positive reinforcement behavior plan can be very good with these kids. There is also a book called the Explosive Child that can help and Magic 1, 2, 3.
Good luck. You will find help and support through this tough journey.
How old is your son?
Just more data for you to look at if we havent already swamped you. My daughter takes Desipramine for her ADHD. She has coexisting anxiety and stimulant meds increased this. She had a lot of side effects form many different stimulants. So we are now using Desipramine which is a tricyclic antidepressant. It is not as widely used as it used to be for ADHD as it requires routine EKG rpior to use and blood work. It also needs to build in your system, it's not like a stimulant in and out of your system in a matter of hours. My daughter is very med sensitive though. With this we are not seeing side effects. Not even drowsiness and EVERYTHING make sher fall asleep. You can Google it and find information. I have noticed her being much more "even" now that we're at a decent dose. So far we are happy.
Just wondering, could your son have Bi-Polar? If you suspect it, the bi-polar needs to be treated first. Once you treat the bipolar, you can come back and treat the ADHD.
If one has bipolar and the adhd is being treated, the meds exasperate the bipolar. they really make it worse. No fault to the child.
My son also had trouble with Adderall. It made him psychotic to be truthful. He has been on concerta AND guanfacine for the past 3 years. And very successful I have to add. He is an A student, exceeding their expections all year long!! It is on the report cardSSSS! All us parents were told that no students exceed their expections and get 4's - mine got (14) 4's, so it does exist!
It is very common for ADHD'ers to have a co-morbid condition going on. My son is 10 and has both a speech delay AND sensory integration.
I just thought your description of your son on meds sounded like bipolor, however, I am NOT a doctor!
regards,
Beth
My son takes Strattera for adhd symptoms even though we found out a few mons ago he has asperger's but he still takes the med for the same symptoms.
Strattera comes in a capsule form and I open the capsule and pour it into a teaspoon and then add a little water. and he takes it that way. He is 7yrs old and also can't swollow pills.
However Strattera is kinda a contraversal med. Some like and some don't as with almost all meds.
I will say in the beginning my son had a tough time on it but I stuck it out cause it was the only med that I could find that didn't have meth products in it and know he is doing great on it. Even though he is having to take a small dose of Prozac with it because it was making him very emotional.
Just a suggestion for med you don't have to swallow!
to bethann
This is one of the reasons I suggested a Child Psychiatrist. It is part of their job to rule in or out other diagnosis. Never hurts to be safe especially when there are unusual reactions to medications.
Diz
If he has anger, emotional breakdowns, and violent behavior only when on the meds, then it's the meds. From what I've read, anger and over-emotional behavior is a typical side effect of stimulants. It does sound like you need a psychiatrist prescribing and not a pediatrician. This med management business is a specialty and some struggle for awhile to get the med right.
Personally, I'd get to work on the pill swallowing. Start with those cupcake sprinkles on the back of the throat, work your way up to tic tacs and get him swallowing pills.
As far an non-med alternatives I have found that ADHD symptoms have been reduced by (not gone): high-EPA fish oil at a theraputic dose, magnesium, and homeopathy. Behavior approaches work as well. check out the alternatives board.