My 3.5 year old son is ADHD-seriously hyperactive. We tried ritalin and just tried Adderal XR yesterday. Both have had severe side effects. He is clingy, crazy, still hyperactive, can't sleep or eat and emotionally unstable on both. Any ideas? Any success with non-stimulant medications? I know these usually don't help with the hyperactvity...I am at my wit's end.
Having been in your place I can feel for you!! If you can't see a change almost immediately with the medication than you are correct, it is not working. It is so hard for a parent to know what the right thing is to do. Please talk to your son's doctor about allergy testing. If you have insurance it should cover most of it. If you don't have insurance there are a lot of states with programs for families who can't afford it.
Rather than a stimulant medication which is contra-indicated for children younger than six- talk to your doctor about clonidine or other meds that will sedate your son. His behavior is pretty scary for him, too and he is too young to really verbalize this so he is even acting out more.
If you can, give your son very warm baths with lavender oil or other calming scents. They are sold in the supermarkets in the baby aisle. Then swaddle him and hold him- even rocking him if you can to calm the both of you.
Take care of yourself. Drink plenty of fluids and try to get some sleep. Try to get your son in a daycare for part of the day to give yourself a break.
Good luck and I hope some of this helps.
Seriously, I feel like a sedative is what he needs. That sounds terrible, but some of the best days with him have been when he is REALLY sick and unable to express himself physically.
It's like if he could just slow it down slightly, his aggression and bad choices would improve.
Thanks for the help so far.
Straterra is a non stim, but rarely used in kids under age6.
Have you tried diet changes?
When the weather gets nicer let him burn off energy at the park and tire out that is what I do or by the pool. In the home do you have activities to help burn off energy and call it the energy time and when you want calmness try watching a movie snuggling. It will be hard but try to make a routine of it, good luck.