Support? | ADHD Information

I am new to the board here, but not so new to ADHD.

My son is 5 now and was diagnosed with ADHD at 4 after I was at the end of my ropes and after beginning Pre-K with the school system he was having difficulty there as well. It's been a long road and still haven't definately found a medication or system that helps him. Strattera helping him for a while, but then quit working, we tried Concerta, but it made him lethargic. They put him back on Strattera for a while, but I saw no difference in him, so I took him off all medication for the summer. Now he's in Kindergarten and having issues again. I've received several letters from the teacher, and finally went back to the pediatrician for help. Now he's on Focalic XR (only for about 2 weeks) and this seems to help him at school, but not in the afternoons at home. I am also taking a Parenting class that will hopefully help me deal with  him better that I have been. I feel like I'm constantly fussing at him for something, and I hate being that way.

Just need to talk, I feel all alone in this and I'm extremely overwhelmed.

Stimulants usually wear off in the evenings and then have rebound. If Strat was working why not use it again, or with the focalin?

Strattera only worked for a while then quit working.

The last time he was on it, it didn't work at all.

Maybe the dose needs to be increased?

If it is working at school, you just need it to get you through the afternoon at home. He made need a short acting form for that.

Remember, these meds wear off. You will need to find ways to work with him at home. As he gets older, it will get easier.

I still know how I need to talk with my 10 year old so that everything is pleasant, and it works. Once you figure it out, things are ok. I just wish my husband would follow my lead!

Hi, you are not alone. I know what you mean. Thank god I have two other children that don't act like him so I know it's not just me. LOL

Parenting techniques will help but not by themselves. It feels like such a long road but one day they will be older and we will laugh at all they put us through! I promise!  Just keep pictures of the craziness so you can blackmail him when he gets older into coming for visits.

 

[QUOTE=tlclarkson]

Strattera only worked for a while then quit working.

The last time he was on it, it didn't work at all.

[/QUOTE]

Strattera is extremely weight dependent, if the weight changed the dose has to change. It has to be ramped, it is a tricky tricky med.

If the issue is that he's rebound from the Focalin ask the doctor for a short acting pill for afternoons.  My son has some horrid rebound issues when he first started taking Focalin and the ped. had no hesistation giving him that booster dose to ease the problem.  It also went away in 3-4 weeks.

And remember to choose your battles wisely.  Some kids really feed off the chaos they create.

Strat help in a different way than stims. It takes 4-6 weeks before you really see the full benefits and after that it needs to be taken every day to work right. With Strat, you cannot give it one day and not the next. It needs to be built up in the body.

Also, another pointer... I believe that meds DO NOT CURE, they only give a child an opportunity to improve if he wants to improve. IMO, without meds (or other forms of proven and effective treatment), kids cannot overcome their AD/HD problems. And... with meds, kids are simply given an opportunity to improve, but they need to get overcome bad habits and be motiviated to o their best.

[QUOTE=Dad in Akron]Strat help in a different way than stims. It takes 4-6 weeks before you really see the full benefits and after that it needs to be taken every day to work right. With Strat, you cannot give it one day and not the next. It needs to be built up in the body.

Also, another pointer... I believe that meds DO NOT CURE, they only give a child an opportunity to improve if he wants to improve. IMO, without meds (or other forms of proven and effective treatment), kids cannot overcome their AD/HD problems. And... with meds, kids are simply given an opportunity to improve, but they need to get overcome bad habits and be motiviated to o their best.[/QUOTE]

I like this post. Strattera does seem different than the other meds, and we've done many. You are exactly right it is enabling my daughter to have the ability to start to overcome her bad habits. She has many! We've been on and off stimulants for years and while taking stimualnts she could focus better, but was always nervous and restless so we had a whole new set of issues that got in the way. The Strat is just helping her be who she can be........and we're not at week 4 yet, so I am thinking we're going to keep getting better.................

Diane V39422.7230208333