3 1/2 year old-medicate? | ADHD Information
Today I opened the capsule on top of yogurt....I feel bad because he has a fever today but he is getting better than what he was. I will try the tic tac when he is all better.....good luck to all of us! Keep me posted
Suggestions for getting little ones to swallow a pill - put it in a spoonful of pudding, or applesauce, or something like that that your little one will eat. No chewing, and when they swallow the food - the pill goes right down! I started this way with my son and now he can take them with just a drink.so you dont waste the pill practice with tic tacs (orange flavor if they dont do mint) or mini m $ m's. He may surprise you! My 6 year old has been taking Omega supplements for about 4 months and she swallows them easily.Good luck peacefulmom. It is exciting and scary starting meds, isn't it? Keep us all posted.
Thanks Joy2 for your post. That's exactly how I feel. Great job putting it all into words!!!!
Our children are precious in His sight
Peaceful mom-
You and I are in the EXACT situation. Doctor prescribed 5mg Adderall XR 1/x and I am going to start on Sat. since he has preschool during the week and I want to see the effects for the first time myself and monitor.
My doctor said the effects should be right away, but I question how dramatic it will be at such a low dose.
How do you plan to adinister the medicine since it is a capsule? Maybe your child will swallow, but I don't think my little guy would like that at all. Any ideas would be appreciated.
I am excited for you and me!!
Joy2-
Very eloquently put. I am right with you.
Hi all,
My dev ped prescribed Adderall XR 5mgs 1X per day. She wants a follow up in 2 weeks. I forgot to ask her...how long will it take to see a change??? He is home sick now so I was thinking I would give him his first does this Saturday or tomorrow if he is feeling better. I tried to do a search on Adderall here and my searches always fail. I am SO scared and SO excited!
This is an ancient thread, but I so feel the OP's pain. I knew that our son was different almost from the day he was born. By day 3 when he hadn't stopped crying for more than a few minutes at a time, I really wondered what I had gotten myself into, and it definitely got worse from there.We started Ritalin when he was 5. I think that some of the discussion on these boards about meds really relates to the severity of the behaviors. Many people can't imagine medicating a 3 1/2-year-old, but it could be that their child's behavior was less disruptive than the OP's. I am by nature not an angry person, but being at home with my son left me angry, depressed and crazy-feeling. Even his grandparents didn't like him. NO ONE wanted to be with our son -- his behavior was impossible. He received constant negative feedback. He spent much of his time jumping on the furniture, running through the house and throwing himself against the wall or screaming. He tried to control me at all times. We started taking him to professionals at 3 1/2 but no one was ready to tell us that he had ADHD, so I continued to feel like a huge failure as a mom and wondered what to do with him each day. I couldn't take him anywhere except the playground, and winter days were just miserable.
I did not want him to be "normal" -- just to function in a way that wasn't completely destructive to the house, his toys, his playmates, his family. If you don't live through it, it's hard to imagine how out-of-control a toddler can be. The worst part is, everyone you meet blames you, the parent, even if you have read all the books and are trying your best to structure your child's life. The child is having one negative experience after another. Your house is a mess, your marriage is surviving on memories and a common misery, and you feel like a total failure in every way.
I was against medication until I couldn't take it any more, and now I am a total advocate for it. I see that my son now has 90% positive life experiences and our stress level as a family is far lower. Every once in a while we forget the medication and remember what it was like and what it could be like -- so impossible and unhappy for everyone. Why would we want to do that?
Ritalin is NOT archaic, by the way. I don't know how people get these ideas about Ritalin. Read the research about ADHD and the effect of Ritalin on the neurotransmitters and then decide. It is highly effective for people with ADHD and one of the most researched medications in the world. If there were a medication that worked for autism like Ritalin works for ADHD, parents of autistic children would be lining up to get it. We are lucky that we can get help for our children.
I don't mind having a child who isn't "normal", but I don't want him to spend his life suffering, without friends, living below his abilities and intelligence, being seen as the "bad egg" for his inexplicable behavior. Why would anyone want that for their child?
The neuropsych eval is a great idea. He/She should be able to help guide you. I wish we had found one earlier.
I hear ya - I hated waiting until my son was 5, but I didn't have any choice. I have always been super involved with my kiddos, and I always knew they had ear infections, or strep, or needed glasses long before anyone else recognized there was a problem. I just know my kids.
You just have to keep on advocating - you know them best. When my daughter was 4 - I took her to her pediatrician and said I wanted her hearing tested because I knew she couldn't hear right. They didn't believe me because her speech was perfect - and they said she wouldn't have good speech if she was hearing impaired. I told them I didn't bring her in because she had a speech problem, she had a hearing problem. Just to shut me up, they tested her hearing in the office, and guess what? It came up to refer to her a specialist - in both ears! Once we went to the specialist it was determined that she has a bi-lateral permanent hearing loss.
When my son was a year old, I knew he couldn't see. You couldn't even turn the pages in a story book because his face was so close to the page. I took him to the eye specialist - who asked me why I was there. I told him my son was near sighted. He said - who told you that? I said - no one had to tell me - I can tell. He said - most kids this little are far sighted - not near sighted. But they tested his sight anyway - and guess what? His vision is 20/200! He is very definately near sighted! So much so that he can't see more than a hand's width away from his face!
My point is this - you know your kiddos better than anyone else. And if your instincts are telling you something is wrong - trust them. And don't give up until you find out what it is and how to deal with it. If that is diet modification, or supplements, or therapy, or medications - whatever it is - find the answer. You are the only real advocate your kid has. I wish you luck! =)
I am scared that I will have to wait until 5. That is such a long time to not be able to learn and thrive. I am really upset that I have his age against me. I belive that Early Intervention is best and I have done so much and I can't make it happen.Sending you hugs peacefulmom
Remember we are here for you. We are all struggling with the same thing, ADHD.
You are not alone!!
Thanks everyone. We had a play date today. Sigh. Toddler friendly home. My DS decided to just run from room to room and slam all the doors the ENTIRE 3 hours. Never mind all the toys that were there. We locked the doors we could. Gave him thinks the he liked (abc books, puzzles)....nope....would not even eat. Way to wired. My DH said last night after I told him I made an appt w. a neru doc that he is not ready to "drug" our ds. Another sigh. I think I will also make an appt w. his ped (she is a developmental ped) and talk to her 1 on 1 and see what she thinks. We spent 3 grand on RDI and he can't even pay attention for us to implement it. I am feeling sorta alone (dh) and very frustrated. Maybe with a professionals opinion we can see eye to eye. I am just tired.you really have to take care of yourself. Every minute of every day is mentally (and in some cases physically) exhausting for us. That's great you are seeing the doctor, you guys need some guidance. I havea couple fo suggestions, do what you like with them 
. My first is, I personally would NEVER do a 3 hour playdate with any 3 1/2 year old. I think with kids like these playdate should be kept really short, like 1 hour. Your son is high strung. dont expect him to read books and do puzzles, he's NOt going to do it. He (and tou) are being set up for disappointment before the getgo. We all want our kids to do typicla things, but they can't. We really have to accomodate that or they will just be out fo control, we'll be frustrated and we're already tired
. Try to work with his hyperactivity rather than against it. You have a long road ahead of you. He is very young, a LOT of this stuff is going to just get better as he matures ADHD or not, it still gets better. Not really less frustrating, just a little better. He still needs downtime at 3, try to do short plans in the morning and short plans in the afternoon. 1-2 hours at the most at a time. Dont expect him to behave in stores or during quiet activites. The things you cant avoid, make sure AT ALL costs he is rested and not hungry. Also get your own quiet/down time. You need to take care of yourself as the patience we all need to endure is huge! Hang in there. Take the med route slowly, ease your husband into the idea. Again, thatmay not be where you go with this anyway, but if/when you do you both need to be really comfortable with the decision.
Again, it DOES get better...........hang in
[QUOTE=edbson]ODD is Opositional Defiant Disorder.
Since my DD was not born with ADHD, and did not have it at age 3, I really don't know what to tell you. I wouldn't medicate a cild that young, since there is no way to make a definite diagnosis, and I certainly would not use his Dad's meds, Illegal thing there.
I would try Omega's, a therapeutic dose of 75-0EPA/480DHA should be good to start. We use Nordic Naturals.
[/QUOTE] Sorry just learning how this forum works, I don't think that Ritalin is the answer to ADHD, it is archaic, and has really no effect. My daughter was diagnosed at the age of about 3.5, we really did not start the meds till about kindergarden. The are a lot out there to chose from and it is a case by case deal. We have tried Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta and now Vyvanse, I am not liking the Vyvanse, when she is not on it; OMG she is worse than ever, I am beginning to research some natural ways to get this under control, any advise is welcomed.Every day of the week, including summers. He is ADHD every day. It does not go away, he will get better at managing things in his life as he matures, but he needs his meds, the way that I need glasses for my near sightedness.
Imagine if my parents didn't buy me my "presciption" glasses in 4th grade so that I could read the blackboard? I would have struggled, suffered, and had a hard time in school, as well as outside of school. I wear my glasses everyday, including weekends. That is the best way I can explain it.
The only side effect is loss of appetite. AS soon as the medication takes affect, all his sillyness and goofyness stops. He starts to listen, pay attention, focus and takes things serious that need to be taken serious. All of a sudden his intelligence really comes out, all his strengths get stronger!
He did have sleep issues for a while, but all that went away.
We only give him meds in the morning, nothing in the afternoon to get through the night, he is good. And the meds are pretty much out of his system and he eats and sleeps. WE have a routine. and it works. But it took us some time to get here.
I just made an appt for a Ped Neurologist for March 14th. I called all over the place and no one will see my son until he is 5 or 6. This doc does treat children with adhd. I hope I am seeing the correct doctor. One place I called said how do you expect our doctors to work with a 3 year old? He needs play therapy not a psychiatrist. I have time now to research and get my husband to see that we are trying to help him and not hurt him and that it is somehting we can stop/change if we see it is not right for him..... I am not sure I am seeing the correct type of doctor. I just can't find any Pediatric neuropsychologist's.
I did this with my pediatrician and went to Children's Hospital. They took my son when he was not quite 5. My son was soooooooooooooooooooooooo adhd. You could see him coming a mile away.
My biggest regret and guilt is not medicating him immediatly. He ended up labeled in kindergarten and suffering in 1st grade.
The teacher worked with me to start medication. We tried everything to not medicate, but he needs it. It was the best thing we ever did for him, but I still feel horribly guilty for my ignorance!
they may not give your son meds at all. I would wait until the appointment. There are a lot of people who feel that you will not receive an accurate diagnosis until they are older, as you experienced when calling around.
Med are also controversial. I believe that people have said that some medications have not been approved for under a certain age. But there are people who have their children medicated through a professional and qualified doctor.
It will depend. Obviously educate yourself, but don't jump the gun!!
I feel in my heart that I have tried everything else. Diets, Listening Program, RDI (can't get him to be my apprentice because he can not focus on me), sensory diet, weighted vest, huggy vest, belts, bouncing, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhgggggggggggggggg ...guess it will be a wait and see. I am just scared that no one will address this w. meds due to his age. I hate giving him tyenol but I would do anything to have him succeed as best as he can. I am sad. Really sad.I was really sad before his meds changed his life. Sometimes I feel really sad because he has adhd. It is very emotional for all of us. Thank goodness for the boards!
I am kind of new to these boards myself as we just got an ADHD diagnosis a month ago, but I feel your pain. My son is 5 - and once we got the diagnosis, we started him on meds and the improvement has been amazing. I have known his whole life something was "different" about him. He was diagnosed SID when he was 2, and we made some changes then that helped some, but it didn't help everything. This ADHD diagnosis and subsequent med therapy has helped with all the things the sensory changes didn't help.
My doctor did tell me he has suspected my son of being ADHD since he was a lot younger, but couldn't make an official diagnosis until now. We have struggled so much until this point, and although I am ashamed to admit it, there were days I just didn't want to be his mother any more. I didn't feel I was giving him what he needed. And that isn't like me - I am a strong, capable, type A individual, and to feel so helpless just about did me in.
Despair isn't an emotion I ever felt before, as I am the one people turn to in times of crisis - I have always been that way. But not being able to help my son function - regardless of what I did or tried - there were days I just wanted to give up.
So, hang in there. Do all you can, research all you can - this board is an amazing resource of information. Ask questions - and don't give up. It is worth the fight in the end - that I promise you.
peacefulmom,
my son was in early intervention. he didn't speak until he was over 3yrs of age. his younger sister said momma before he did
We had him with speech therapy and an OT for sensory integration. He was diagnosed with adhd shy of his 5th birthday (I diagnosed him personally at the age of 2 1/2!)
Preschool was a nightmare, they denied services by lying (long story for another day) but because they got scared, they gave him an IEP to enter kindergarten with and recieve the services.
With the help of speech and ot, and adhd meds, DS who is 10 1/2 is an A and B+ student, now with a 504 due to testing out of the IEP, he no longer qualified.
People thought he might be autistic, but children's hospital in boston told us NO WAY, too social. I then thought aspberger's but the more I learn and he grows, I don't think that anymore either.
Mine had the weighted vest, loved it!! Your son is very young, but the sensory "stuff" changes as they outgrow it and new ones will arrive, but they will outgrow those too!!
Please keep posting any questions that you have. I read and responded to your other post on the other board, do you really think he is autistic?
Try the Omega 3-6-9 Essential Fatty OilsHi again,
Yes I do feel that PDD was a very accurate dx at one time. Now, I know it is something, just not sure what and some days I don't even think about a dx just that he is happy. He had little eye contact (that is so much better except when task avoiding or in trouble) Self stims were visual and very embarrassing at times because it was "strange", little language, no emotional connection, he is very lovable but sort of in his own world. Alas, here we are 2 years later and he is talking, not stimming, and plays with his sister. He is far from being typical. He is self directed, has break downs on transitions, seeks sameness, fixates on letters and numbers the most. And my main concern, he can't focus long enough to learn. He is also very clumsy because he is not paying attention (he has a black eye as I type-laps and more laps) He is a great sleeper. He will go to bed at 8 and talk himself to sleep by 9. No more naps usually but he can fall asleep during a movie at nap time. He is up at 5-6. He was just moved into a class double the size, new building, oh and he went from 2.5 hours to 5.5, new teacher and new friends. He has a 1:1 for 10 weeks and then we revisit with the school district. I know he will need the 1:1 on longer because he can't even sit for circle in a class with 8 kids and one he was comfortable with. My DH is scared of meds. Side effects. Long term side effects. I am not scared. I know in my heart that I have done every sensory diet, therapies, diets, etc and we need to address the lack of attention and hyperactivity. He thinks 3 is too young. Here is my take. Let's talk to a doctor and see what they say. Let's try it. Let's educate ourselves like we did with ASD. Let's do all we can. His preschool did not really want to move him to full day because of the class size, but he needed more and they did not offer anything integrated with less children. They do not think he needs the special ed class but I know they won't see how smart he can be if he can't slow down.
Bethann, who dx him? What age did meds start? What side effects do/did you see? I need to get dh to see that yes he is young but we have 1 whole school year to help him get into a integrated kindergarten class. At this point they would not take him because he would be disruptive as he is now and can't sit. Thank you all so much.
Pediatric neuropsychologist diagnosed son. HE also had HORRIBLE eye contact, couldn't sit still, disruptive, hyper, DID NOT need special education because very smart - all are is ADHD symptoms. He is awesome with his meds. Meds make him focus, slow down, great eye contact for concentration, etc.
I thought for the longest time that it must be aspberger's, but it is only ADHD, with sensory stuff!!
Medication saved my son's life! My husband fought me until he saw our son struggling and being labeled and suffering because of his own fears of meds.
Bye the way, dhubby is the other aDHD'er, go figure. He too suffered as a child, another story!
Please keep asking any questions!!
Do you give meds on the weekends????? what side effects do you see???ODD is Opositional Defiant Disorder.
Since my DD was not born with ADHD, and did not have it at age 3, I really don't know what to tell you. I wouldn't medicate a cild that young, since there is no way to make a definite diagnosis, and I certainly would not use his Dad's meds, Illegal thing there.
I would try Omega's, a therapeutic dose of 75-0EPA/480DHA should be good to start. We use Nordic Naturals.
[QUOTE=momjx]Sorry just learning how this forum works, I don't think that Ritalin is the answer to ADHD, it is archaic, and has really no effect. My daughter was diagnosed at the age of about 3.5, we really did not start the meds till about kindergarden. The are a lot out there to chose from and it is a case by case deal. We have tried Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta and now Vyvanse, I am not liking the Vyvanse, when she is not on it; OMG she is worse than ever, I am beginning to research some natural ways to get this under control, any advise is welcomed.[/QUOTE]
I don't think Ritalin is archaic,and it DOES work, but it may not have worked for your child. It is not the only med, and certainly stims are not the only thing available.
[QUOTE=hyperboy1]Our 3 1/2 year old son is more than likely ADHD (my husband is as well). At recent appointment, dr suggested that we could try medication. Ritalin-5mg, twice a day. Anyone out there tried medicating so young? He is not a danger to himself (does have a sense of fear and safety), so the big issues are hyperactivity, lack of focus and attention. This effects him everywhere-home, preschool, etc. So I am weighing the pros and cons.
Also, ritalin vs. a longer lasting med? Any thoughts? I know my husband has many peaks and valleys with ritalin alone.
[/QUOTE]
i don't really know about the pros and cons of medicating at 3 1/2 --- the brain is still developing then, i suppose, and probably at its most rapid rate given that it is around this time that language and all those key skills (that can take us as adults years to acquire) are being acquired, assimilated and put to use!
i don't think that ritalin necessarily interferes with that process at all. i would say that giving the child good/bad nutrition would possibly have more impact on the general brain development - and that ritalin is more concerned with chemical "balance" rather than brain development/retardation. but i am no doctor so it's just my opinion.
but as an ADDer i have to ask outright - WHY it is that you want to medicate? i am just curioius whether it is because you only like NORMAL? or to put it another way: if we were in a society where it was customary at play-dates for children to run around slamming doors and all your child wanted to do was sit and look at a jigsaw whether you would want to medicate him so that he would want to run around and slam doors?
does that make sense? am i asking a clear question or not?
i am genuinely curious by the way - i am not playing devil's advocate or trying to be difficult - i have ADD and my life is, without doubt, a mess in materialistic terms but i don't medicate myself. i choose not to (and i have never medicated myself so i can't give a comparison, most who DO medicate have nothing but positive things to say about it, though).
the reason i choose not to - is difficult to explain. intangible, i guess. it is more to do with the things "unseen" than seen. i would not give up my ADD because it is a part of me that enables me to appreciate the subtle/the unreal perhaps (although more real to me)/the essence.
i think it is fair to try to be honest about why you are choosing to medicate. you want perhaps to "normalize" your child, is that right? but from my perspective as an ADDer - i don't see what is so great about being normalized. it is a more difficult route in life being an ADDer but to me (possibly. probably wrongly as i have never been a normal so i can't evaluate what that is like) it is a more worthwhile path. plenty of ADDers do NOT think that, though!!!!
the difficult thing is the worthwhileness of it - is not something one can point toward tangibly - it's in the head. in the soul. something like that. all the TANGIBLE things are the negatives (the impulsivity, the selfishness, the distractibility, the hyperactivity) - all things one can see clearly in a life like Mozart's for example - but then fortunately for him, his intangible was made tangible through music. that expression of the soul which so many ADDers are so much closer to than normals had an outlet, a form, which could be accepted and appreciated even by NORMALS! it often amazes me that normals can "hear" music, when they can't seem to "hear" or "see" other intangibles at all and often accord them no worth - or at least at first and then somehow seem to come around to appreciating them later - like the Impressionist painters or similar.
ADDers seem to have nothing to offer - in terms of what normals value. but what normals value often seems to be nothing of worth to an ADDer. et voila! the problem is there.
well, i don't whether that will serve to clarify or just confuse further.
i often worry for ADDers who have "normals" for parents because everything they have of worth within themselves is discounted as nothing (particularly in specifically materialistic cultures) or worse than nothing, positively harmful.
well, i wish you luck whichever way you choose. i am unmedicated and a horrible disappointment to my parents, and trial, and general disaster zone - but for all that my mother still loves me - amazingly!!! and so do my siblings - not that i deserve it at all. in the end i don't know. i think there is a lot of unreasonable societal peer pressure - to have ones kids be "ordinary" is easier all round of course - for them and their parents. but perhaps not more worthwhile. i don't know. i have no clue.
i am glad i am unmedicated. but there are loads and loads (distinctly the majority) who wish they had been medicated earlier etc. etc. i guess it is just a question of whether one sees ADD as a gift or a disability. certainly it means one is outside the 'norm' but whether that is a positive or a negative - seems to depend on external factors and in the States where "conformity" seems to be quite a religion, with distinct persecution and a whole phalanx of enforcing officials within schools, doctors offices and neighborhoods, then perhaps the balance IS shoved toward the negative.
well - good luck!
chjones39497.2943055556
I am sorry that it has taken me so long to get back to you. We went out of town on a field trip with my oldest child. No, we did not medicate at three. Tried different things; read books, a consistent behavioral plan. We just knew at three that things weren't as they should be. Our ped. referred us to the ped. pysch. at his four year checkup. We began meds at 4.5. We have never regretted our choices. We also see a therapist that helps us with the challenges.
I do not recommend medicating every child, and medication isn't for every parent. Talk to your Drs.
Our Children are Precious in His Sight
And I, too, do not think that Ritalin is arachic. There are a lot of newer meds out there, but Ritalin is one of the most researched drugs ever. We have not tried Ritalin. We have been lucky to have had success with the first stim. tried; Dexedrine.
I will tell you what another ADHD parent told me. This isn't about you, it's about your child.
[QUOTE=avamomof4]I will tell you what another ADHD parent told me. This isn't about you, it's about your child.
[/QUOTE]
I will tell this to dh tonight.
Thank you Ava. What is ODD? I am sorry I don't know. Did you start meds at 3? Again, thank you for sharing.my son was 3 1/2 almost 4 short of a month when we decided to go with medication....we used Focalin XR 5mg. until this year and he is 6 as of a couple months ago.
we also met with a nutritionist per recommendation of son's doctor that prescribed the med....he believed in looking at the whole picture. He felt (we have new doctor now due to insurance) medicine was just a small piece of the puzzle.
we also use play therapy...don't have to go as much as in the beginning but we continue at least once a month a preventative measure.
My son is doing awesome right now...we had a few touchy situations at the beginning of school but he is loving school and has the self desire to do well. I truely feel if we had not gone the route we did in the beginning we wouldn't be seeing the good we are now.
I'm also a believer in getting help early on so that they can learn the behaviors they need to have a positive self esteem and opportunities to succeed in school early on. I've seen too many kids over the years at the schools I've taught in that never receive the help they need and they struggle terribly. I can't imagine ever allowing this to happen to a child of my own when there are quality professionals that can help. With consistent follow-up with doctors, therapists, nutritionists, etc. I feel we can provide our children with positive futures. Some children need meds and some don't. A parent has to do what they feel is best for their child.
We knew that our child more than likely had ADHD at 3 too. We took him to see a pediatric psychiatrist who diagnosed him with ADHD. We have also added OCD and ODD since then. We did opt to medicate, and we do not regret out decision. His quality of life has definitely improved since beginning the meds. He is doing good in school, and he can actually sit and concetrate. He doesn't get in trouble at church. He was VERY impusive.
Your choices will be limited at such a young age as far as the medications. Our child is on Dexedrine 10 mgs in the a.m. and at lunch and 5 mgs in the afternoons.
Good luck in your search.
Our 3 1/2 year old son is more than likely ADHD (my husband is as well). At recent appointment, dr suggested that we could try medication. Ritalin-5mg, twice a day. Anyone out there tried medicating so young? He is not a danger to himself (does have a sense of fear and safety), so the big issues are hyperactivity, lack of focus and attention. This effects him everywhere-home, preschool, etc. So I am weighing the pros and cons.
Also, ritalin vs. a longer lasting med? Any thoughts? I know my husband has many peaks and valleys with ritalin alone.
you probably won't have a LOT of choices as most meds are approved for age 6 and above. so maybe find out your choices then research from there. I wouldnt "try" medication personally. I would follow the channels and get a psychiartrist or ideally neuropsychologist consult, get your diagnosis then start to decide how to proceed. In the meantime many people begin Omega 3 supplements, and start a behavior modification plan (this will help him whether he's ADHD or not).Any Omega 3's to recommend? We have been to a behaviorial psychologist and the doctor suggesting medication is supposedly a child behavior and development specialist. He only recommended ritalin because my husband is taking it. He suggested we actually give him some of my husband's medication to see how he reacted.
oooooh, no I am not sure I'd do that.
My 5 year old take MorEpa minis as they are small enough for her to swallow. Omegabrite sells a liquid if you odn tthink he could swallow a pill and Coromega has one that's like orange pudding. Look on the alternatives board on this forum, lots and lots of infomration on Omegas.
I also agree with Diane. 3.5 seems a little young to me... This post caught my eye. I too have a 3.5 year old with a dx of PDD-NOS. While that was very clear at one time, we have seen progress and with hard word we have seen all self stims almost disappear. He does fixate on abc's, numbers, shapes and colors. He can read over 30 words but you would never see that because he can't slow down for more than 2-3 minutes. Even with dvd's he cam not watch them until the end. He used to. He is in a full day integrated preschool we. a 1:1 aide but he can not slow down to learn, sit for circle. Transitions are awful. Our developmental ped says he has co-occurring symptoms but we have not went for this dx yet. I am looking into it. I am scared. We have had him in therapy since 16 months. Speech, OT, ABA (done), RDI, Listening Program, etc. So we know he has sensory issues, he wears a weighted vest at school. We need him to slow down and pay attention or he will never be ready for kindergarten (2009). My DH and I have been discussing add for a few weeks now. It is getting in the way of his learning at school and his slowing down for us to implement RDI in our home. I am for meds of they help a child succeed when needed. I know 3 is young. I know. I know. I never thought I would be considering this. I am open to hear any suggestions or stories. I need it.