Diagnosis! Now what? | ADHD Information
You ask, "Now what?" I think you need to keep a very close eye on your son and his behavior. Look for improvements, what time time of day he does better, what time he does worse, and write it all down for future reference. Keep an eye out for side-affects and mention any to your doctor at your next visit. Some side affects of Adderall are: lack of appetite (weight loss); sleep issues (insomia); and sometimes increased anxiety (violent temper tantrums, unusual fears; social isolation). So for now, just watch him close and report any unusual problems to his doctor.Also, read whatever you can about AD/HD. Learn how the brain is affected by this disorder. Learn what different types of meds are available and what they do to a child's brain to make things better (but I'm sure you've been this already).
Best of luck to you.Hannah's mom- Things can be difficult on this long journey. It might take a few tries at meds to find the perfect fit. Do not give up there is help out there. There are many people here for you. Good Luck!Thanks. For a while now I have been so frustrated and have tried so many different things at home to try to help...thought I was losing my mind. I am hoping that now that we at least have a diagnosis we can begin to move forward.Hi, I am new to all this...my daughter has always been hyper and easily distracted, but also very creative. She started kindergarten this year(she is 6 now) and it has been an absolute nitemare. She was diagnosed yesterday with ADHD, OCD, and secondary anxiety and meds were prescribed. Metadate CD 10 mg. The pharmacy had to order that dosage and it won't get in until Friday. I am a single parent trying to take all this in. Do meds really help? I am so afraid I will lose who she is, but she is so miserable trying to behave at school and can't, and so am I. Everyone I know is giving me such a hard time about starting her on the medication, but none of them have ADHD kids. She hass gone from running into the school bulding her first 2 days to crying, stomachaches, feeling like her teachers and classmates don't like her and that she is stupid. My heart is breaking for her and like all of you I want to do the right thing for her. Any advice would be soooo helpful. Thanks!
Well, at that age, i'm not sure how important focus would be, which is what stimulants are best for. Why not target the hyperactivity and impulse. You might want to ask him about Tenex (blood pressure med) instead. It seems safer and more appropriate IMHO.
Adderall is heavy duty. I personally would not do it.
Adderall is very strong medication. If I was going to try I would try the ritalin 1st. He is very young but obviously needs some help. I agree about the tenex thing, how much focus does a 3 year old need? Why not work on the hyperactivity?Good LuckAdderall is dextroamphetamine, and commonly prescribed for ADHD. It is one of the strongest stimulants available.
Some people have good luck with it, others don't. Remeber not all meds are the same, and not all people are the same. Sometimes it is trial and error with meds.
It is VERY unusual for a child this young to be diagnosed, and i am shocked that he was dx'd in one visit. It took 6 visits and bloodowrk, EKG's, EEgs, for DD to be diagnosed, and she was 8.
Take a look here for more help on Adderall
We met with the behavioral psychiatrist today (FINALLY!) and after filling out questionnaires and having him read our behavioral journal, combined with the notes he received from our pediatrician, from our therapist, and observations of CrazyMad's behavior at the meeting, he has diagnosed an EXTREME case of ADHD (with a capital H!). I feel so RELIEVED, I can't even begin to tell you...
For over two years now we've struggled to parent him. He's hyperactive, he has very little impulse control, and he can be obnoxious.
When he's like that, everyone on the planet looks to you as his parents and doles out advice on yet another parenting method or book to read. I have felt like SUCH a failure. I cannot tell you how big a relief it is to find out that we didn't screw up - he just has a condition and cannot help himself.
The psychiatrist was incredibly nice and told us we have been doing ALL the right things. He said it's unusual to diagnose a child this young (he's 3-1/2), but, under the circumstances, he doesn't see any other explanations and does recommend trying out some medication to make all of our lives a little bit easier. So he gave us some pamphlets on both Adderol and Ritalyn and told us to read up and decide if this is something we want to do. He'd like to start with a teeny dosage of Adderol in the mornngs and continue journaling to see how it affects him before deciding to increase or take it throughout the day. Does anybody have experience with this drug? Any advice?
I hate to medicate my child, but the rest of the methods we've tried aren't working and I really want to help him before this destroys his self-esteem. He can be the sweetest, most charismatic, funny child when he's not destroying something or driving us crazy!
If I got a dx of ADHD, OCD, and secondary anxiety for a 6 year old, I'd get a 2nd opinion. You should read up on the diagnostic criteria for OCD. Sorry if I'm being a wet blanket, but I would not hesitate to interrogate this doc.Hi CrazyMadsMom,I'm there with you. My son drove me CRAZY when he was that age, and he started meds at 5 1/2. It was such a relief, I tell you -- he was like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon of hyperactivity, impulsivity, anger, and sensory disorders. And the advice about which book to read ... arrrgggghhh! I think there's such a spectrum within ADHD that not all kids drive their parents and everyone else completely batty as toddlers and preschoolers, but for those that do, every day is a CHALLENGE. I think that some kids are very easy to diagnose instantly, if other medical difficulties have been ruled out.
I would also try the Ritalin first. You can give a tiny dose, like 2.5 mg, and see if it takes the edge off. It might be enough to help him act like a normal, highly energetic (but tolerable) preschooler. I always thought that Ritalin was usually the first thing docs try, but I am learning from these boards that it isn't always the case. Can you ask the doctor what his thinking is regarding Adderall vs. Ritalin? There should be a reason that he chose it.
[QUOTE=NoTellin]If I got a dx of ADHD, OCD, and secondary anxiety for a 6 year old, I'd get a 2nd opinion. You should read up on the diagnostic criteria for OCD. Sorry if I'm being a wet blanket, but I would not hesitate to interrogate this doc.[/QUOTE]
I agree, hefty diagnosis for a 6 year old.
Super Hyper or impulsive kids might need to use Adderall but some doctors just prefer it. Most Doctors try a course of some sort of Ritalin 1st line. It just depends. I would do my research and maybe get a 2nd opinion from another doc. I wish you luck!Hi Joy!
My doctor says he suggested starting with the Adderall because it is the only ADHD drug that has been FDA approved for kids this young. He says he'd feel comfortable with Ritalin because it's been around for so long, but the "official" age category on that one is 5 & up. That's why wanted to try the Adderal first.
Hope that makes sense. I'm going to start tomorrow and give him just 2.5mg once a day in the morning and journal any changes, side effects and when we think it wears off. We'll do that for a week before we decide what to do next.
Oh I see it is an age thing. Well I hope this works for you! Good Luck!