Out grown the need for meds? | ADHD Information
Don't be disappointed if nobody responds that their child has outgrown the need for meds. I doubt they'd be spending time on this board if that happened to them. Although, from what I hear, you don't typically outgrow ADHD, but hyperactivity and impulsivity sound like they lessen as you get older. Maybe it's wrong to say they lessen. Maybe adults learn to manage it better. thankyou mom2adhdboy for your reply. I guess your right in a sense because parents come here only when they are having problems but I was wondering if anyone tried anything else such as diet when their child developed tics because I think the doctors will just want to give another med and I rather not if we do not have to. I rather try diet or vitamens if possible because I think that taking another med will just bring on the tics again.Is it possible he was misdaignosed? ADHD is never "outgrown", some do learn to compensate however. another med may not bring back tics. However, I do understand your hesitation especially as you feel he is doing well without them. If he is doing ok, then why not ride it out. In the meantime look at the alternatives board and start some supplements. These take a long time and are just as hit or miss as prescription meds. The most success consitent success from what I've seen (I give these to my daughter with her meds) is magnesium and Omega 3. Omega 3 takes months to see effects, but if he's doing well, why not introduce them now. My daughter also suffers terribly from tics when on stimulants (Concerta was the worst for us BTW). She now takes Desipramine, magnesium, Omega 3 and a multi vitamin. Has anyone ever had a child who took meds for several years and then as they matured did not need them any more? The reason I'm asking is because my son who is 10 yrs old and in 6th grade just stopped taking concerta 36mg because he started having tics. He has had them before but this time he was doing it a lot which was scary. He has taken the meds since first grade but we did not give it to him during the summer time or school vacations as he is not hyper but did need it to focus. He was a little hyper when he was younger but not overly and has outgrown the hyperness. Now it has been one week off the meds and we asked his teacher to moniter him this week. So far they said that he has been doing his work and staying focused. He recieved a 86 on his science test and an 87 on his vocab test. This being off the meds! He is bringing all his homework home also. If this keeps up I would love to keep him off the meds. I do believe that they did help him when he was younger but now that he has developed the tics while on them I rather not give him any, and if he does listen and focus then what would be the reason to? Also the tics have stopped since he has been off! It has been one week, like I said but has anyelse had this success and does it Last? Please let me know, thankyou very much!
I think many are misdiagnosed with ADHD - that is why some believe kids "outgrow it" b/c they never really had it to begin with. They mature and learn to control themselves....I believe too many people - doctors, teachers and parents want kids to behave like all the other kids and if they are too hyper or like to think in their heads a lot people are quick to slap dx on them.I am just realizing that I don't think my son is ADHD but suffering from years of neglect - emotional and from lack of food and his coping skills brought him to a hyper level - hypervigillent state...I am taking this new information with a grain of salt and keeping the med protocol for now but my point is that all the therapists, doctors and teachers think he is ADHD so who do you believe - a parent or someone who wants your kid to behave all the time?
Also, my son is only one med - tenex 1/2 mg a day and we have no rebounds or other issues. In fact, in the last week or so he has been unbelievably calm and compliant to requests. He is still easily distracted or doesn't stay focused in school all the time but his teacher said there is improvement. But his teacher said so are the other kids - so I am keeping my fingers crossed
Just something to think about
newmom39353.3457175926My son's psychiatrist say that yes, many people do outgrow ADHD. But the behavioral pediatrician said no, so I suspect that is up for debate. Try a wait and see approach.We were told that 50% outgrow the need for the
meds. I suppose that this does not mean that they
outgrow the ADHD.
One thing I am learning from this board is that ADHD
come in many shapes and sizes, so it is hard for me
to believe that all ADHD children will need meds
forever (although I think that my older son will).
Our psych said that many children do outgrow ADHD, especially children like my son. When we first began talking with the dr about meds, she indicated that many children, having reached the brain growth-spurt that happens about age 12, stop needing the meds to stay focused. She was pretty sure that my son would only need them for a few years. We're not banking on that, but we will certainly be trying a med break in junior high.
Who knows? Jenny McCarthy is now saying that autism can be cured (I'm with-holding judgement on her anecdotal evidence) so why couldn't adhd be outgrown?!
I am going to explore this subject a bit. May be of some help to someone.
There is some controversy over the carry over of ADHD to adulthood. The primary issue is that there are some major methodological issues with the studies that deal with ADHD over time. One issue: the diagnostic criteria in the DSM is only for children and this alone causes some issues in measurement. New criteria for adults are being developed for the new DSM for 2010 and we may see more progress on this. This subject, I suspect, will not begin to be resolved until the new criteria are published. The question remains open
Many believe as I do that the symptoms change with age but ADHD is pretty much yours for life. but also be aware as several have mentioned that your son may not be classic ADHD. There are a number of issues which mimic this disorder and it is hard to resolve in many cases. The ADHD diagnosis will often serve as a basis for successful treatment but not be the true underlying cause. In these cases, the child may truly get better over time.
Also keep in mind, as children get older that they often develop successful compensation schemes which allow them to deal their lives even with ADHD. These, while still ADHD, can manage without benefit of medication, often very successfully. Each kid is different.
Don't know if this is a lot of help but as far as I am aware this is pretty much the current status.
So to answer your question "Can ADHD children outgrow the need for medication", the correct answer is "Yes, no, perhaps, don't really know" or the classic adult ADHD response..."About children outgrowing the need for .....nice shirt you have on."
Diz
IMO, if the question is truly" if you outgrow the need for meds not if you outgrow ADHD", then the answer is probably yes. If you're mainly hyperactive type, with time, age and learned control of behaviors you may not to be medicated as you grow.
My husband is ADHD. He had hyperactivity, impluse and focus issues as a child. He was never medicated or treated. He followed the miserable education path == always in the office, suspended, sat outside the classroom daily, felt stupid, put down, poor academics, sent to an alternative school, etc. As an adult he does aerobic exercise ALOT. He constantly eats protein. And he takes supplements that make him "feel better." These are his unconscious coping strategies and they work. The only ADHD symptoms left are impulse and organization problems. These do not significantly affect his life. The biggest left over is low self esteem due to untreated ADHD.
I suspect that ADHD symptoms reduce to the point of not requiring medication for many.
NoTellin39353.8967708333I am a high school special education teacher. I have many students who took meds for ADHD until around the age of 14 and then suddenly were able to control most of thier own symptoms themselves. This is quite common. Congrats!
What an interesting assortment of responses to this question of outgrowing ADHD. I'll toss another into the pot! I might also be that, presently, "life is good" for your son; he is totally engaged and tuned in school and his general day to day activities. And because he enjoys what he's doing, his attention is good and so is his follow-thru.
so, he might not have "outgrown" ADHD totally, but conditions at the moment aren't causing it to "kick in", so to speak. I offer this alternative not because I've read or heard about it, per se, but given my own experience with ADHD, it seems possible!