Could this be a symptom or a side effect? | ADHD Information

The finger picking could be either one or both together. My son picked his fingers raw not on any meds so it was anxiety but the meds can cause anxiety as well so I would talk to the doc and see what they say but I do not think this is a tic.

I also dont think it's a tic, but do think it's anxiety driven and med related. Last year on Concerta my daughter was "picking" her skin and compulsively scratching. As soon as we went off the stimulant she stopped doing it. I'd call the doctor.

nurse4wounds the blowing is probably a tic.

Diane V39437.125625

One more opinion - my son picked at his nails and skin on stimulants.  Once we stopped the stims those issues went away.

My son picks at his fingers and toes constantly.  His fingernails are picked down to the nubs and once he gets them down that far, he starts to pick at the skin on his thumbs and big toes.  He says he wants the skin "smooth".  When I see him doing it, I remind him to stop but he does it mostly when he's in bed at night and I can't see him.  He wants to wear bandaids all the time b/c his skin is raw.  Is this a symptom of ADHD or a side effect of the Adderall or something else?  I'm at a loss as to how to get him to stop doing this.  Any ideas or advice is appreciated.Could be a tic, or anxiety driven. If it started after meds began then it could very well be med related, speak to his Psychiatrist about it? My son used to do that and now he makes a blowing noise out of his nose like he is clearing it, and it is so annoying.  He doesn't even notice he is doing it.  He also rips his fingernails off.  It is an anxiety thing I think.  Tics aren't like this.  I feel for ya.  It is frustrating and you wish you could do something for them I know.  My daughter picked her scabs while on stimulants and my doctor called it a tic. Our neighbor which is  on stimulants picks the skin on her fingers and toes also. Her mother said she did not start doing it until she started stimulants. I would mention it to the Dr.. Good Luck!!!

Count me in too.  My son does this ALL THE TIME, but doesn't seem to know he's doing it.  If he can give you a reason for it, I wonder if it's some type of OCD.  Of course I'm no dr.

I tend to think Will's is just a tic or anxiety just because he doesn't know he's doing it.

I hate to see it though.. And what's even worse than the fingers is he pick scabs on his face. I cannot stand that!  I have been putting Neosporin on it, which he doesn't like so that does help.

I feel for you too!

Merry Christmas!

Okay guys, from personal experience I can honestly say I picked from anxiety.  It was like a cycle I had to go thru I had to complete, picking every sore I had.  Yes it's a horrible habit and I'm being very candid because you can't see me. 

I had friends that would say "stop it" and I would look at them and say "don't you think I would if I could?"  Sometimes you don't realize that you are doing it but even once you do realize it you can't seem to stop until you have picked every one of them.

My dermatologist suggested that when I feel the urge to pick that I pop a rubber band that I wear around my wrist.  It worked somewhat.  Also suggested keeping the anti-biotic creme at-hand and apply instead, that also helped somewhat.  But taking stims always made the habit or OCD tendency worse.

Willsmama, don't ride him about it. I suggest gently stopping him from doing it without reprimand or calling anyones attention to it is the best way.  If you verballize your frustration he will become more anxious and the desire to pick will be greater.  As I said before just speaking from experience.  Also I have recently added Supercritical Omega 7 formulated for hair and skin and have noticed that my skin and the small sores have cleared up.  Maybe this could help.

I can't tell you how to label it. I can tell you that both my son and I do this. I've done it since I was a very small child and I wasn't on meds for the first time until I was 15. I'm not on meds now and I still do it. My son is off of meds too and he continues to do it. Meds may or may not make it worse I don't know. Now, that I've gotten older though it cramps my hands. Most of the time I am unaware I am doing it until my hands are sore. I also pick and chew my lips, cheeks and tongue until they are very sore. I do have anxiety issues and my son does as well. Perhaps that is where it comes from. But, I don't always 'feel' anxious when I do it.

For my child, this was a side effect.  It happened when he was on high doses of Focalin XR.