Not sure what to do | ADHD Information

I have a 6 year old that was recently diagnosed with ADHD and they would
like to put her on ritalin however I have been doing a lot of research on this
drugs along with others (Similar/generic) and I am finding that there are kids
are getting really sick with things such as ITP, Aplastic Anemia, which is
leading to Leukemia. Our doctor is not forcing however teachers are very
insitint I am thinking I would rather deal with a difficult child than put my
child's life at risk. I have been getting a lot of information from this web site
called ADHD drug atrocity it has a ton of information. Any input would be
appreciated.

Hi Swill and welcome.... there aren't enough hours in the day to read all that's been written about the most commonly prescribed adhd drugs, and rest assured that anything posted on a site called "ADHD drug atrocity" will be negative and biased. It appears to me that for every scientific, peer reviewed, double-blind study of an adhd medication with a positive finding, there are a dozen claims (without basis in fact) stating the opposite.

I suggest that if your doctor is someone who you trust, to discuss thoroughly your concerns with her. Decide based on what you feel is best, in consultation with your doctor--don't decide based on what teachers or biased websites are saying. If you don't feel your doctor is someone who is providing you with sufficient information you need to make an informed decision, it's reasonable to seek another doctor's advice.

Hi Swill, welcome. I just wanted to say ditto to Johns post.

You cannot go by everything you read on the internet. Shouldn't actually. Anyone can post anything. There are lots of people and lots of places on the internet to just get on a soapbox and say whatever you want. This site itself is a wonderful source of support, but it is also a group of people sharing their experiences, some positive, some negative, some on their own agenda and soap box. My biggest advice to you is to read as much as you can. Become knowledgable on all aspects of ADHD and it's treatment options. In your reading follow up where this information is coming from as John states. Know the studies done, not just someones "opinion". Those are fine too, but again take with a grain of salt. Talk with your doctors, read books, sort it all out in your head and then make an informed decision that fits your family and family's needs. Dont listen to anyone tell you, dont do this, it doesnt work, or dont do this it's harmful, or do this it works, nothing is perfect not does anything work for everyone the same. So take it all in and toss the trash, then sue the advice that works FOR YOU.

Meds are scary, they just are. BUT research has shown that meds with behavior therapy work. Ritalin has been around for 40 years and has been studied and researched so much, you can find tons of studies. On this borad alone you will read many, many success stories on kids and adults who's life completely opened up for them. I am not by any stretch pushing meds at all. There's a terrific alternative section on this board with more wonderful successs stories using changes in diet and supplements, it's all very personal and very individual.

Welcome to the forum and feel fee to ask any questions you will get a lot of good support and hear experiences from other parents.

Swill, don't forget that untreated ADHD has serious side-effects also. Sometimes the quality of life is affected as the child develops a loser-attitude. Kids with ADHD are more accident prone and this could be deadly behind the wheel of a car. I could go on and on.

Ritalin is among the most studied medications that are given to children, which is great because that means that there is plenty of info about it out there. My recommendation is to go to your public or university library and use their database to access the actual studies, not just the articles about them that are on the internet. Journalists pick and choose what info goes into the articles based on what will create the most "sensation" so you want to take those with a grain of salt.

Also keep in mind that for every horror story out there there are thousands of success stories- it's just that when a med works as it should no one feels the need to let the whole entire world know.

If you haven't done so already, pick up a couple books by Russel Barkley. He's widely acknowledged as a leading expert on ADHD and his books will explain much better than any of us can how and why meds work, along with tons of other great info.

And keep in mind that meds are not always the answer.... there are many alternatives... but they require a TON of research and patience... and they are not as immediately effective as meds...but may be more effective long term. I am not pro-med... nor am I anti-med..... you can read some of my other posts to see where I stand and things we are doing that are working (but it doesn't mean what we're doing works for everyone).

My son and I both used meds and they worked well for a while... then the tolerance came and we both had to have more and more until we had to switch meds...then we went through the same thing all over again.... and ultimately both had to stop due to congenital heart conditions. I knew about mine but risked it. My son's wasn't discovered until he started having chest pains and shortness of breath and had a thorough evaluation by a cardiologist.

I have to say that the meds did NOT cause the heart condition...but with the heart condition, the meds could cause cardiac arrest and that was a risk I wouldn't take with my son. That is why I suggest having a thorough cardiac examination (not just an EKG, but also an Echocardiogram) before EVER starting meds.

AND DO NOT give in to pressure from the school. They have no right to tell you to medicate your child! They are breaking the law if they do! BUT you should go ahead and count on being an advocate for your child from now on in school and elsewhere because if you don't step up and demand what's best for your child, no one will (but I am sure you will, otherwise you wouldn't be on this forum).

However, don't just do "nothing" because, as someone else posted earlier....ADHD can severley effect the quality of a person's life as they grow up and even into adulthood if left untreated. It is a condition that can not (and will not) be ignored. Be sure to find SOMETHING that will help your child-- whether meds or alternatives.

adhdwarrior39575.4848958333

Ditto what John and Diane said.

Most ADHD meds are water soluble and are out of the system within 4,6,8, 12hours. The only ADHD meds that actually build up in the system are the non stim meds like Straterra, and wellbutrin for example. Although there has been some relation between some ADHD meds and some disorders such as Aplastic Anemia, it is very very rare, and the benefits of meds generally outweight the risks. Unmedicated teens tend to use illegal drugs to self medicate.

DO not let the teacher pressure you to use meds, by law they cannot even suggest them to a parent. To do so would be practicing medicine without a license.

Swill, the stim meds are water soluble. That means the meds leave the body by the end of the dosing period. They do not build up in the body.Thank you all for your comments I am continuing to do my research. But let
me ask you guys a question.. What does methenol break down to in the
body? This is in ritalin and its sister drugs. And what does aspartate break
down to in the body? This is in adderall. Yea but what that website is saying makes a lot of sense if you think about
it. The articles are talking about METHANOL in ritalin and sister drugs -
methylphenidate, focalin, metadate, concerta, methylin and others, as well
as aspartate in adderall, breaking down to formaldehyde in the body
biochemically, which further breaks down to formic acid or formate and
causes leukemia. There apparently are sick children who have developed this
and they even have pictures of some of them. [QUOTE=granny Fran] Swill, the stim meds are water soluble. That means
the meds leave the body by the end of the dosing period. They do not build
up in the body.[/QUOTE]

OK, that may be true, but the damaging effects that the drugs did while in
the body, remains in the body, and undergoing the same consistent assault,
must and will manifest itself in a breakdown of the body in disease.

Swill, I checked out that website- you're right that it's some scary stuff, but those people are not doctors. What the peson found was a substance that had a similar name or chemical connection to something that its known to be dangerous. The fact is there are many things that we put into our bodies on a daily basis that are only a step or two away from being toxic- BUT they aren't.

The ingedient in Adderall (which I take) is amphetamine aspartate monohydrate. The aspartate indicates that the amphetamine is in the form of a salt. Aspartate (without anything else attatched) is the salts of aspartic acid, a non- essential amino acid (meaning our bodies make it). It is commonly found in sugar cane and molasses.

My older brother was dx'ed with adhd in adulthood, although many of us strongly suspected it for many years. I have watched him drop out of school, become addicted to drugs and alcohol, be in constant financial trouble and running from bill collectors, and struggle constantly in his relationships. Please don't forget that there are "side effects" of untreated/undertreated adhd as well.

Swil,

Every medication has a potential side effect. Have you ever taken tylenol? some people get hives and some end up with renal failure. That doesn't mean that tylenol isn't a good medicine.

sudefed? My gs can't take it because he is one of the very few who are allergic to it. It sends him into absense seisures which can last for over 24 hrs. , or cause death. That doesn't mean that I don't take it when my sinuses ar acting up.

It sounds to me like you are reading the "scare, hype, gloom and doom articles".

The website reaks of Scientology and IMO I beleive the agenda is about promoting and seliing books written by authors who are all affiliated with the Church of Scientology. Information is only as good as the person or people supplying it so before deciding whether the information is credible, do research on the source of information first. A serious red flag pops up when scare tactics are used in combination with recommendations about books that should be purchased to validate the claims on the website

swill --- i don't think there is any point in just scaring yourself to death. you are much better off being pro-active RIGHT NOW.

you are under no pressure to start meds immediately and there are a TON of options out there including parenting classes, cognitive behaviour training, diet options and cutting certain trigger foods out of the diet, IEP and educational plans you can look into.

get as much info as you can and start with something - to address the problem with your school, daughter and education. you can start with something extremely simple like adding Omegas to her diet. check out the alternatives forum on this website... it is a great source of info.

most parents go to meds after having TRIED all other options first. so you too have that choice. as long as you are seen to be pro-actively out there helping your child - i can't see that any teacher can "bully" you and legally they can't anyway.

exercise is key. structure is key. self-esteem building is key. a proper healthy diet is key. no trigger foods/dyes/artificial preservatives. putting in helpful time-management schemes. using ogram's marble thing for discipline techniques - buy the book one, two, three magic or it just goes on and on and on and on....

there is SO MUCH you can do before you start freaking yourself out with scare stories on websites - concentrate on what you CAN do... not on what you can't/don't want too, it's just a waste of your time, energy and resources so put them to better use looking at solutions/techniques to address whichever problems the teachers feel your daughter has and you feel happier with!

plus before going on meds - be sure to have a THOROUGH evaluation by more than one doctor/neuropsych!!!

good luck with it.

chjones39577.1810069444

I've done the same thing these last few days. I check different websites to see what people think of a certain ADHD med and one place has all positive experiences and the other is gloom and doom and it was driving me nuts. I've had my son on ADHD med before but we didn't feel he was growing enough and he was really grumpy when he came off the med. After reading this string of e-mails I feel better about what I should do for my son. I give my son medicine for colds, bronchitis, and whatever other physical ailment he has and I just went to look back at some of them to see what their side effects were and some of them almost made ADHD meds look harmless, but my son didn't get any of the serious side affects that were listed and yes, if he got bronchitis again, I would give him the same stuff because it worked. And I will try this new ADHD medicine on him to see if it works. If not, I will stop and never use it again and see about something else. He just struggles so much and is having a hard time with school and making friends. He's getting more defiant and he is just the sweetest kid but his ADHD/OCD is just getting the best of him. I've got to try whatever I can to make sure he has a very happy and successful childhood. I've already lost this whole year because I was stubborn and didn't want to give any other medicine a shot. I didn't weigh the facts any better than I did, but not anymore. I'm getting more informed.

Swill, you will do the right thing. Just don't let one website with a bunch of negative information turn you off to giving your child something he may need to help him. A friend once told me when I was trying to decide if I should give my son ADHD medicine, would you give your child insulin if he were diabetic? That has stuck with me, just that little question. Yes, i would do whatever it takes to care for my child. Just gather all your info, talk to your doctor, etc. etc. My son will start his new medicine this weekend so we can watch and see how he does with it before sending him off to school on it. I hope it works and I hope the direction you go works likewise. Keep us updated. Have a great weekend.

you won't just be dealing with a difficult child. it's not that simple. that will be the least of your problems if you cannot reduce the symptoms. your entire life can be sucked up by this. i cannot even begin to list the tactics used by schools, so i won't go into that. you'll get comments from daycares, no one will return calls for playdates, only 25% of birthday invitations will be responded to, you'll pray for a best friend. self-esteem issues may arise due to peer rejection or academic struggles due to not focusing, you may find yourself teaching core academics at home b/c your child wasn't listening in class. at age 6, your problems have not even begun. best bet for alternatives is high-epa fish oil, magnesium, and neurofeedback. alternatives are very expensive. so while you are being tortured in other ways, you will also take a major hit to your pocket book, while you try to get some results with alternatives. usually you get some results but not enough from alternatives. don't get stuck in analysis-paralysis.I think others have given you good advice. If you're interested in possible alternatives though, check out the "alternatives and complementary medicine" forum on this message board. Lots of reading!! [QUOTE=granny Fran]

Swil,

Every medication has a potential side effect. Have you ever taken tylenol? some people get hives and some end up with renal failure. That doesn't mean that tylenol isn't a good medicine.

[/QUOTE]

I'd like to add this: Have you ever looked at the inserts when you get a prescription? Sometimes, the possible side effects are alarming - for example, when I've read prescription inserts for antibiotics; I'm better off just leaving those things folded.

Just like anything on the web, including opinions expressed in this forum, you have to be careful what you choose to believe. In this forum you can see a person claim one thing about her child and then in a different thread say something exactly opposite on the same day. If you listen carefully to just about any drug commercial on television, you will hear a host of side effects that will make your hair curl. Like anything in life, you have to weigh the benefits vs. the possible drawbacks. I recently had a conversation with my son's psych about EKG's and blood pressure and heart failure. She said that these concerns surface every few years and really irritate her because these meds have been around for so long and have one of the best safety records of any medication. BPQW39577.4229282407Don't forget to observe your child at school if at all possible so that you have an idea just how bad the situation is. Group situations is where you will really notice the problems. When I first observed my dd at soccer and Girl Scouts and saw how different she was from other kids, I became very concerned. I felt so bad for her and guilty for bringing her into the world. If I had done nothing about her situation her quality of life would be very poor. By the time I finally did get doctors to understand that she was really suffering dd had slipped into depression. Now all her meds are fine-tuned, we use omega 3's, and dd has many organizational tools, we've had counselling... I can't imagine dd going through life without meds. Meds are about 70% responsible for her success. [QUOTE=granny Fran]

Swill,

Ritalin was first used to treat adhd symptoms in 1937! It is one of the most studied and documented medications out there. I would think that a 70 yr history of success with the medication, all side effects, etc. documented would account for something!

It's been around a heck of a lot longer than Tylenol ,and I bet you aen't afraid to take that.

When it comes to giving our kids med of any sort ,for any reason;it takes a leap of faith.

[/QUOTE]

hi granny fran,

i'm not sure where you got 1937, the information i checked reads that ritalin came to market in 1957 for adults and 1963 for children before testing was required, and the first study was the tx ritalin study in 05. The biggest thing that I find peculiar about the manufacture is that even if we're talking 55 years later or so, they still claim not to know what the long term effects are. Thats what i don't get, i mean how can this be? how can thye have it both ways? it appears adderall came along in the 90's, but all of the newer ones, pretty close to now, in the 2000's.

Since you ignored me you obviously are an alarmist hoping to work some people up. Sorry that's not going to work for you here. We take our advice not from internet alarmists but from doctors. Best of luck with your decision.

The children who have gotten aplastic anemia and other diseases could have already had a predisposition to those diseases. They don't give all the variables to the kid's lives, I"m sure, they are just quick to blame meds.

I've had my son off meds for almost a year, and in that year he did poorly in school. In his state testing last year, he scored advanced in both math and language arts and was accepted into the GATE program at school this year. But this year his grades don't support what the test says. I tried to do the diet route, but my son was resistant to that. He wanted his cereal and the like and didn't understand the diet. After getting suspended twice in a month and almost expelled, it was apparent to me that he needed the meds. He has to be on Indepedent Study for the rest of the school year because of what happened, but luckily he wasn't expelled. He is back on meds and he can focus so much better now, and he walks through the house now instead of jumping, running, rolling, etc. I didn't want him to be the kid who gets put in Juvie for beating a kid with a bat because he lost his temper.

If you can do it with diet, etc, more power to you. It's a lot of work and sometimes can get expensive, but good luck!

Sorry I didn't respond specifically to your post Corrina. I'm not sure why, but you seem like your upset or angry at me or something- i dunno, strange, but it's almost for like the very thing your accusing me of, but only it's actually happening from like your side. You know, the pressure, that your group is right, and they're group is wrong. I dunno. I don't get it. All I'm trying to do is weigh the pros and cons, and find the truth, but if I do that, I'm in the wrong somehow?

I've read about the pros and the cons quite a bit. It does appear that the child with the aa was not predisposed to this illness, and that all tests for such were ruled out and found to be negative, doctors admit she "acquired" it from something, and since the family says this was the only med the child was on (ritalin) for eight years, thta they are certain this is the cause. I mean, that holds impact with me. Sorry if that bothers you, but this is my child's life at stake, and I'm not going to take that lightly.

I know you guys look to each other and that this is where you get your advice from here on this website, and your fine with that, that works for you, and thats cool. I am looking at the long term consequences however and I am just unsure as what to do.

There is definitely room for disagreement on this board. If it gets to the point that we are just spinning our wheels, lets all just agree to disagree. We all have to do what we have to do.

I agree with mamark.

Swill people here do tend to get defensive as parents who medicate we are CONSTANTLY judged, and thats not fair. You have every right to your concerns, believe me we've all had them too. You should not be judged for them.

Everyone needs to understand you're posting on a public message board, you're going to get ALL kinds of replies, you dont have to like them all. It's a public board, the point is to give your take on the topic not attack each other, it's good to disagree, gives lots of sides. Everyone here has a mind of their own and is free to make thier own choices.

Swill,

I just wanted to share a bit as everyone has alredy given you excellent information. My son has just turned 6. He is a very bright and pleasent boy. He has been suspended once from kindergarten and gotten in school suspension twice. I refused to acknowledge the ADHD, b/c i did not want to put him on meds. i dont think anyone WANTS their child to be medicated. I have read and read and read and made the excuses for him but at the end of the day the quality of his little life is suffereing and that is NOT fair to him. I have wrestled w/ the drugs and the possible side effects and the long term use, but i have to give him a chance to be successful. I know i could not monitor his diet to the fullest extent if i tried a more natural approach. I will be very involved in his meds decision and we will spend extensive amounts of time in therapy. I want him to have the best care and i think by asking all the questions you are on y our way to doing this. I just wanted to say again.. : Noone wants their child medicated.. i think any of us here would give our right arm for our child to function normally. Good luck!!!

Swill, There's quite a lot of info on alternatives offered by Dr. Daniel Amen.... here is one article that I've found quite interesting

I've tried a number of the supplements in this article--I don't know for sure whether or not they have helped relieve my adhd symptions or alterned my mood at all--my "trial" with them has been going on for about 4 months. I was hoping I could ease off taking my prescribed adhd medications and just use these supplements, but I'm definately not there yet, and may never be. (I'm working with my doctor on taking these supplements).

I liken the difference between the two this way: if I'm having trouble reading some "fine print", I can squint my eyes and usually make out most of the words, but reading this way is a strain physically and mentally and only works for short durations. If I put on reading glasses, it's easy to read the fine print and there's no struggle doing it. That's how it is with me so far... the supplements help a little, like squinting; taking stimulant medication is like putting the glasses on--reading the fine print is effortless and no longer a chore.

John D39589.8390509259

swill,

My dd uses Arctic Pure EPA. She takes 2 gel-caps per day amounting to 1000 mg of EPA and a little DHA. We have noticed about a 20% improvement in dd's attention and mood. We started about 3 months ago. Some kids use Omegabrites and Nordic Naturals. All three have a good reputation for purity. I didn't want a higher dose of dd's regular ADHD medications because she is prone to side effects. The Omega's have helped us to minimize the dose of dd's Daytrana patch. She is also on Strattera.

You've got to check out the "latest Omega 3 Research and dosage" thread on the Alternative and Complementary board.

This is the second time I have tried to post this reply. Hope it sticks this time.

mamark39589.6870949074Omega-3 (1 gram day theraputic dosage), neurofeedback, magnesium, social skills classes, and an IEP (get RSP time daily, 1:1 aid part time, extra time on tests) -- these are the best "alternatives" -- and be prepared to give a lot of your personal time and money.

I just couldn't resist adding to this.

I don't think any of us wanted our children to be on meds, it's scary and emotional and a very personal decision. If I were you I would not go back to that site again. Listen to everyone here. Most of us have been dealing with ADHD children for quite some time. But once again putting your child on medicine is a very personal decision. However I believe that decision should be made with all the facts not just some sites version of them. There are plenty of people that are against medicine but these are usually the people that do not have children with ADHD and they don't have to watch them struggle and be a social outcast and be angry all the time.

I had my daughter is Behavior Therapy for 6 months, during that time I did nothing but research. We tried alternatives and nothing worked. Finally it came down to having to make a decision. It took me days of crying and talking to my daughter about what she wanted for me to come to a decision. When she told me "Mommy I want to be like everybody else, not to get in trouble all the time, not be mad anymore, and to have friends." That's all it took.

My daughter is now 9. She is on a 7th grade reading level, 7th grade math level, and a 12th grade Social Studies level. She knows more about Art History than I ever have and is in all kinds of sports. She has tons of friends and is now the happiest kid I've ever known. My husband, her dad, is in the Navy and we are now in Japan and we are having some issues but we'll get through it as always.

However, this is just our story. I know there are people out there who do great without the meds and whose kids get by without them. There are also people that have had bad experiences but there is also a lot of good one's too.

Just don't let one website make your decision for your daughter.

Swill,

There are many conflicting issues with ADHD and medicine. It is a personal decision and no one should be attacked either way for their decision. From your posts you make it sound like you believe we are willingly killing our children by giving them medicine. That is your opinion and that is fine. However, that is YOU'RE opinion. You should not make us try to feel bad for the decisions we've made. It was a very hard decision for all of us to either put our children on medicine or not. There are plenty of parents on here that do not medicate their children and we never attack or try to persuade them to do otherwise, that is what works for them and their families.

We have all done our research and have our own viewpoints. But from what I understand from your last post you make it sound like you believe that the government is intentionally poisoning our children? That's a BIG conspiracy theory. No one made us give our child medicine (or for my husband to take medicine, he is ADHD as well). This is our decision.

You don't sound like you are trying to weigh the pros and cons or get information. You have already made up your mind. So, I suggest this topic be dropped. We would love to be here to support you with any problems you have and there are many people who know a lot about Alternative treatments.

So, welcome to the board and lets just leave it alone.

Hi Swill,

I spent 2 years taking the alternatives route. Hours of research (ask me, I probably know about those alternatives, lol), hours of time, lots of money. I tried it. I was determined. Many things got a solid college try. I truly dug in on some alternatives. For other things, i devoted hours of research time. Nothing ever worked well enough so that he could successfully function in a school environment. While I was doing this I had to make compromises to keep my son from being sent to alternative school. It all depends on the severity of the ADHD. If the severity is moderate to high and the school is assertive, taking the alternative route will probably cost you some degree of control over your son's life. It is a balancing scale. Bottom line, my unsuccessful exploration into the world of alternatives was not worth the price that I had to pay in the school environment. Sometimes the actual choice is meds (retain parental control) vs IEP (significant loss of parental control). I wish that someone on the board had told me that. I don't see a way to get the control back at this point. He has the IEP but now that he is on meds he is not really benefiting from it, yet he carries it around his neck like a weight.

Jessica N39619.9082638889

Sorry it takes me so long to get back to you guys. My work keeps me busy long hours.

I agree with Diane and Mamark that certainly there are conflicting opininos on the issues, and that with many people, there will be many varying opinions no matter what the subject.

It bothers me, what I read about the meds. I do believe there is some truth to what that board is saying and that the meds are being up-played, while their harm is being down-played. I've never trusted government, and I dont' think that will ever change, and I do think the drug companies are corrupt on many levels.

Well I guess the teeth are coming out now. Clearly, one cannot generalize on any topic unless it is pro-drug your kid on this board. I have not personally attacked anyone or judged them for any decisions they have made about drugging their child. I have simply made commetns and hopefully asked thought provoking questions, and made important points.

Doesn't anyone on this board think it is SUSPECT that the manufacturers of ritalin still claim (55 years after the fact) to not know what the long term effects of ritalin are? Forget your dispute with me for half a second, and think about that. Why and how can that be?

I generally stay out of these discussions and/or debates or whatever anyone wants to call them.

I really feel kind of bad this whole thread turned into this though.

Swill, I am sorry you sort of got ganged up on, that's not fair, you came for advice, HOWEVER, it also wasnt fair that you you challenged every single response. This is how/why people get defensive. It didnt' really matter what anone said, you weren;t really going to like their answer.

I saw you posted on the alternatives section which is great, as I truly believe you cannot have too much information, nor get too many opinions, nor know too many people's stories.

OK now I'll shut up, but I just wanted to sort of put out there how badly this thread made me feel as I hate that it's always this line drawn between "med users" and "anti medders", it's sort of silly. Why does anyone feel SO strongly about what others do????

We are all doing the same thing, the best we can for our families.

Swill, just for the record. You probably are not aware of that people that "medicate their children" for their "medical" conditions take offense to someone saying that they are "drugging" their kids. You probably meant no harm, but it comes off as if parents who decide on the medication route are are obtaining illegal drugs to make our kids zombies. It's a real slap. Sounds very closed-minded even if you don't intend for it to come across that way.

I think that this thread probably needs to end. You have made a fine decision to not medicate your child. You need to try this out for awhile and see if you can make it work for yourself. Your fear of medications is too intense to do otherwise. Good luck to you and your child.

I am so proud of y'all on this thread. Really good information was put out there and tossed around. This forum is for this and for the wonderful support we give each other.

ANY substance we put in our bodies can have an adverse effect: even foods that many of us eat on a regular basis. Seems to me that Swill is driving herself up the wall wanting to do the right thing for her child. Everyone gave her info and support. Now it is up to her to make an informed choice that she feels is right for her child and family.

I learned a lot of things about a lot of you that I didn't know before and think you are all wonderful warriors for your children and families! It makes me so proud to be a member of this forum.

Swill- we are here to support you emotionally. No one can or would ever tell you what to do. Fear makes so many people defensive. You have nothing to fear because you have done your research, talked everything out. Now it is between you and your child's doctor (or even just you). Best of luck and keep us informed on your journey.

Randy

Well said Randy!! There has been lots of good suggestions from both sides. I hope Swill you just trust yourself.. We have all been there..We did our research and we each came up with our answers and solutions. Even though I medicate myself and my daughter i love the info from those that dont..Sometimes I am even envious that I just wasnt able to do it without meds..but I know myself and I wasnt as diligent as needed and as motivated and couldnt follow through on alot of the other programs people were trying. What does that say about me...well I have heard it all..but in the end I chose what was right for my child, for me and for my family. And Swill I do apologize for becoming so defensive before, but please beleive that we all have done the research you have. We too have seen all the stories and have tried to find answers. We all have searched our souls..we have endured many restless nights trying to figure out whats best..We each came to our choices after much consideraton. You too will see after you make your decision ,wether you medicate or not, you too will be judged and will get defensive when someone makes light of your choice.Like you made your choice in a minute with no thought for the future. Thats why I had gotten so upset. I researched and read and read and read more and tried many different ways of helping my child for about 5 years before ever giving her meds.Please dont think the things we said were because it was meds against non-meds..it couldnt be further from the truth. We support all choices , we are all in this together..These are amazing people on this site doing amazing things for their children. Good Luck..

You have not made important points, you have lowered yourself to the point of fear mongering. Panicky "what ifs" are not facts or arguments - they are taunts. Inflamatory statements like "drugging their child" (as opposed to medicating per doctor's orders) attacks everyone who comes on this board, whether you call us out by name or not. You make it sound like we're lacing our children's baby bottles with heroin to keep them quiet.

I believe that there is too much bureaucracy surrounding the testing of medicines. It should be left to the doctors, not the politicians. The drug companies can slip through the cracks in the laws too easily. Do I believe they actually don't know the long-term effects? No, I don't.

But, so what, they don't admit it. Doctors of children are generally pretty benevolent, and usually they're fairly smart. Even if they didn't get an official warning from the Surgeon General, if they thought that a medicine they were prescribing could hurt the kids they know, they wouldn't do it.

As I've said here again and again, if you have concerns about drug side effects, make sure you have a doctor for your child that you trust and has common sense and doesn't have a God complex, and get their opinion. And if you still don't trust it, get a second opinion. And even if they both agree, if your gut says something else, go with your gut.

No child is identical to another. There is no way to predict with absolute certainty how an individual child is going to react to medication or therapy or anything else. You have to get out of that 100% trap, because it's never going to happen, just trust yourself and do something. Spinning your wheels is not helping your child. Take the time to weigh the evidence you have and then make your decision for your child knowing that if it doesn't work out the way you want it to you can always change your mind and go another direction.

You have to give up a little control. You couldn't keep your child from getting ADHD, you can't control how we feel about medication, and you can't control the future. So relax just a bit so you can hear what your own instincts are telling you.

Maybe you need to get a new doctor that you can trust more. Maybe you need to trust yourself that you can handle what you're going through. I don't know what's going to help you. But I do know that trying desperately to unsettle us isn't going to help your situation.

I second that emirateswife. I know SWILL thinks we all hate her, but that is soooo not true. It was absolute hell making the choice to medicate, but after almost 3 years of Alternative options I had to try it. I felt it awful, and in part still do every day I give DS is pill. I wasn't trying to sound harsh, but the topic completely slide into a different area. I don't want to debate about meds, I have and still have to in real life. Here, I can make the choice to not go to that side of the boards. IMHO there is nothing on the earth that can think of that could be more personal that the care I choose for my child. I question myself all the time, and if I had all the answers I wouldn't be on this board. This is one of my "happy places" and I couldn't take not feeling that way. Often I've heard that people that choose the alternative methods consider themselves to be more open minded. I've lived it, I tried it all and came to a point where I knew I had to be open minded enough to try meds when NOTHING else worked. On a side note: I've been taking Concerta myself for about a year, and it has changed so much for me. It makes me sad to know that there was something out there that could have changed most of my social, educational and personal experiences as a kid, but I never was given the opportunity. I can't put DS through what I went through, especially since he had ADHD while I don't have the H. that little letter changes everything.

Sorry so long. Good luck with your quest SWILL, and as I've read several time througout this thread, we all understand that you must make the choice you can live with.

"I don't know whats causing so much ADHD like behaviour today that was never to rarely here before our day and culture, I dunno, perhps it is the ultrasounds, who knows? But maybe just maybe, these kids who are medicated now for what we "think" are priority #1 reasons, will one day have very serious medical issues, cancers and organ failures because of the meds, and we will find too late that the truly #1 priority was their physical health, over school work and focus, and home behaviours. If we medicate them now to survive life's little bumbs (no friends, etc..on and on) - and I use that term lightly, because I think the perception is skewed), will they live to see their tomorrow? Or are we unawares that we are making patients of normal children. That's all I'm wonderin'." - Swill -

Ar you kidding me? ADHD like behaviour today? My brother had it way back when he was a baby. He started taking drugs at ten cause he couldnt cope, he couldnt focus...He died at 33 due to drug complications..and you want to tell me that kids who are medicated could have serious medical issues one day..ONE DAY..well my brother and many others never got that one day!! They never got the chance to see if the meds would cause cancer..you know why?? because close minded people and doctors had other answers..other solutions..They were pushed under the rug and forgotten ..the ADHD problems they had they were made to feel quilty for..so what did they do..they self medicated to be able to function in this world....I will take the chance of my daughter having medical issues when she is grown..at least she wont have to resort to self medicating to cope ..."lifes little bumps"...you call the pain our children suffer daily as lifes little bumps. When my daughter at ten stopped eating, became agorophobic and was extremely depressed..you think thats lifes little bumps. Are you kidding me!? Do you have any idea of how the suicide rate has jumped in this country for young teens? ADHD has been here for generations.It is hereditary..So this ADHD behaviour thing is probably due to more than "sonograms or something" ..My mom didnt have a sonogram when she was pregnant with my brothers and I and 2 of us got it...And you know what lots of people get medical conditions who dont take the meds..Cancer is rampant, heart disease kills millions every year..organ failures happen every day...and you know what, they are all not on ADHD meds...maybe its the air we breathe...My daughter and I have a better life that we are now treated..Some have found ways to cope without the meds..and they are successful in it..and thats great..but you know what at least we are all trying something that improves our childrens lives...unlike some who can only berrate what others are trying to do and still yet have no answers of their own! emirateswife39637.3059490741

This is such a bummer post. Part of me wants to forget it was ever put up here. But the other part wants to try to put a band-aid on on the bruises of everyone yelling at each other here, including me.

We've all heard horror stories on both sides of the medication line. We're not doctors, we don't know each other's kids, we can't tell anyone else what to do.

We can support each other and our individual decisions.

I have a hunch that Swill just wants to stir some stuff up, either just for the fun of it or as a way to test her ability to stand up to others who want her to give in to what they say. She's not going to make a decision, because she's already made it. We're not going to help her, we're just going to be the victims of her barbs.

So as annoying this post is, I suggest that we all practice turning the other cheek. Because if we can master Swill's taunting, we can stand up to anyone who wants to judge us about how we take care of our children.

Good grief. Are people just joining so they can subject good, decent parents that are invested in their kids success and future to more prejudice? Y'all need to find a better past-time, or here's another idea (I am speaking to the haters here...not my virtual support team). Have the self control and wisdom to notice that there is an entire section of this messageboard dedicated just to this topic for a reason. Meds, no meds this thread was recieving attention initially because good people wanted to help another parent in need of support. If this was all a sham, and now the original poster is having others denegrate and chastize "us" that speaks to character all on its own. If this is the real deal and you are honestly torn, then my heart goes out to you....because that is what support is for. Nothing has been written by these finactics that I have not read or actually had spoken AT me before.....truly, reading those fear-mongering monologues only managed to waste my time. Blah blah blah, yep my kids gonna explode in 5 years...uh-huh I'm evil, gotcha. Sounds like Charlie Brown teacher. But look, if the only way you can get people to listen to you tirades is by 'covert-posting-ops' then that should tell you something. Go to the section of the board for this and don't bother anyone else's time. Pleeeaase. twodoodles39637.4037037037I agree with you that Swill probably wants to stir some stuff up....and I probably should of allowed myself cool off time before going off...but you know when someone says what my ten year old baby was going through is lifes lttle bumps ...well it got the best of me....I also agree that this wont be the last time someone confronts me on my choice to medicate...and I will just have to remember why I chose what I did..and that really i guess is all that matters at the end of the day. I have appreciated all of you no matter wether you medicate or not , and have enjoyed hearing new ways to help my child..and I am sorry I let someones taunting get the best of me. I guesss I will have to learn to be more thick skinned. You guys are right. It's like a bad car accident...no matter how hard you try you just can't ignore it. We've all let her get us stirred up...I know she got to me a few times. I don't know why I felt so compelled to defend myself against someone that obviously doesn't care one way or another. I guess after years of defending our decisions with our daughter it is second nature.My daughter has been on concerta and now on focalin xr for 3 months.She also takes lexapro for anxiety and depression. I knew from teh time she was about 5 or 6 that she had add symptoms..but i read so much bad and negative stuff that i chose to not medicate. The last 5 years were hard and horrible for my daughter. She couldnt complete simple tasks that all her friends could..sleepovers were non existant because she was socially immature compared to them. Her inattentiveness causes her to miss half the conversations then they think shes ignoring them. She became oppositional, angry, depressed and anxious. By the time she was ten she was agorophobic. We couldnt go on vacation, we couldnt go to the store, we couldnt have a day with out her blowing up and we had to walk on eggshells. I could count good days on 1 hand..and i would have to think hard and long to fill up that hand. Her add made her life hard..She knew there was something going on..she wanted to remember simple daily tasks..to remember what was jsut said in a conversation..she wanted to understand the socail cues her friends were giving..She is a totally different child today. She is happy ..can go out in public..can talk with her friends and can hold a conversation with them without missing half of what they have said..She now can sit down and do all her school work in 2-3 hours every day without fighting with me..She wants to read now all day because she can remember the last 3 pages she read....I now look at my 11 year old daughter and see a future for her. SHe is amazing and talented and nothing can stop her. She gets up and and takes her meds before i can even remind her. She knows her life has changed..Now, i can only count bad days on 1 hand...and that i jsut chalk up to being a regular 11 year old. On her 11th birthday this may, she hugged me and whispered in my ear..."mom, thanks for helping me to be free".. I cried of course..I never once questioned all the antibiotics my kids would take,or the dimetapp,or the singulair and zyrtec they all take....My one regret..not really looking into the A.D.D. meds better when my daughter was 6 or 7 ..then maybe , just maybe i could of prevented some of her anxiety and sadness...She tells me that when she was not on meds..her brain was "crazy"..too much info..and she couldnt make sense of it..My daughter has always been a butterfly ..but before she was stuck in her cocoon..now my daughter flies....I am not saying meds are the way to go for everyone..or am i trying to tell anyone they should do it..But we chose meds to save my daughters life and to improve her life..not to improve her grades!! People say well you dont really know what the meds can do long term..well i know this..that my unmedicated ADHD brother died of his lungs hemorraghing due to street drugs he was taking to help him be able to function in regular every day life. So no, I dont know what all the long term effects of focalin xr are, but i also dont know what the long term effects of her A.D.D, O.D.D and anxiety left untreated are.

Swill,

I am not trading my daughter's health for grades. It has improved her life in several other ways as well. Before she was put on the medicine she was never asked over for sleepovers and when she would ask other kids over their parents wouldn't let them come over. She was socially lacking. She was also very angry and sad all the time. Since beginning medicine she is always busy going to birthday parties, sleepovers, play dates. She is a VERY happy go lucky kid. She plays lots of team sports and her coaches always say how good of a team player she is, she's always rooting on the other players and will play whatever position they want. She is an all around good kid.

Ritalin has been around for a very long time and has been reformulated many times to make it even better. I had a cousin that took it when we were kids and his hair fell out. Needless to say I was VERY against medicine at first. However, I did lots of research and looked at all the pros and cons of medicine. I only went to sites that were accreddited research sites, such as .org, .mil, .gov sites. I read all of the relevant information, talked to all of her doctors, spoke to other parents of ADHD children (both taking meds and not) and talked to my daughter. At the time my husband and I were divorced but he also had a part in making the decision (He is also ADD and took medicine as a child). This was the best decision for our family. Our daughter loves her medicine. She enjoys being able to think clearly and make rational decisions and have lots of friends.

She is now off of her medicine for a few days and HATES it!! She goes to the doctor tomorrow to find out if she can get back on it. Every medicine she wakes up and asks if she can please take her medicine today. She knows that the medicine does not control her or make her who she is but she says that she likes that when she takes it she can control her feelings better and she thinks better.

However, this is just our decision based on our experiences and research. We've had 4 great years with no medical problems what-so-ever. She hasn't even had so much as a cold. She is constantly active, in tons of sports and school activities.

I was just saying to do proper research. Look at sites done by real doctors and scientists not a bunch of people that want something to blame their childs illness on.

Hi navywife, As I understand the site to be saying, these parents are parents who did feel their child struggled with some behavior or learnign disabilty and put them on the drugs back in the 90's, so i guess what they are trying to relay is that the damage can lie dormant many years and then show up with leukemia or something later on, and i for one think thats a pretty terrible trade off for good grades, i dunno, why would they (doctors) prescribe them to children if they could hurt them? i mean, whats goign on, don't they know, or do they not?

Swill,

It's been around a heck of a lot longer than Tylenol ,and I bet you aen't afraid to take that.

When it comes to giving our kids med of any sort ,for any reason;it takes a leap of faith.

emirateswife,

I couldn't have said it better myself. My daughter's doctors had taken her off of her meds for the last few days to see if they were the cause of some other problems she was having, of course they weren't but I almost started crying this morning when my daughter begged me to please give her her meds so she could think straight.

She started cheering in the docs office today and thanked him like 20x when he told her she could go back on her meds tomorrow. It's not about the grades or about us, it's about them and how they feel. I've had uncles become drug addicts trying to self-medicate, one is now dead and the other one still isn't right. I see a beautiful future for my little girl and the medicine will help her stay on track.

Jamie,

Exactly!! I totally understand! Grades are the least of my concerns at this point. The fact that i want my 11 year old to lead a " normal" life without self medicating later is why we put her on the meds. It wasnt easy to do either..some people think it was an easy decision..it wasnt..but the thought of my brother self medicating so he could " feel normal and think straight" ( in his words) was the real sticking point. And just so people dont think my brother was a drug addict living under a bridge, he was a pilot for a major international airline when he passed away. I too Jamie, see a future for my child..i look at her now and see an endless amount of opportunities ...

Karin

Emirateswife

No one will force you to medicate your child. My son isn't medicated (which is why I stayed out of this conversation), because his doctor feels that since he responds well to environmental changes, we should follow that route to the end before medicating him. Have you talked to your child's doctor? Are you feeling pressured to use medication? Because I can completely understand how pressure + scary articles can make you feel so extremely conflicted.

That stated, let me tell you, dealing with an unmedicated 6 year old with ADHD is a lot of work. I'm still in contact with his school multiple times a week (next meeting is tomorrow at 8 AM), I have to monitor his schedule rigidly, it seems sometimes that every little thing becomes part of his "reward/discipline", and I do have to put limits on our lives because of his ADHD.

I have the impression you are trying to pressure other posters into agreeing with you. I don't know if you're horrified that we are 'poisoning' our children, or if you're practicing standing up to the 'pro-medication' group surrounding your son in this safe environment. If it's the former, thank you for your concern, but it's not going to change our opinions. If it's the latter, you don't need to convince us of anything. We will support you and your decision, and we will help you stand strong with any decision you make.

It is scary thinking about what might happen down the road, and it can immobilize you. That's not going to help your child. If I were you I would have a frank discussion with my child's doctor about what else can be done before medication is started, and what the effects of the medication will be, and how can you gauge success, and bring copies of the scary articles so your doctor can talk to you about them, even better if the doctor wants to do further research to get to the bottom of the claims and discuss what is discovered with you at a later time.

The good news is that time is on your side. It's not like a horrible injury or a life threatening disease that you have to make a decision about right now - you can take the time to research how to proceed. But remember that your child, not your fears, must be what's most important when you make any decisions.

Please keep talking to us. We want to know how things are going and to be that support you can lean on whenever you need us. Best of luck.

[QUOTE=Swill]

There is no documented evidence in medical journals to substaintiate such a claim and just because someone has an opinion doesnt make it true. Parents, speak to the professionals and make sure you have real facts before makiing any decisions. What parents are relaying is their own opinions which can be interpreted many ways. Those with ADHD struggle with life in genenral, not just some behaviors. The role of medication is about the child meeting their full potential and having quality of life. Medication is not a behavior pill. It allows the child to make a choice and Ritilan has been around since the 1950's.

Upon doing accurate research, you will gain a wealth of knowledge about ADHD and medications for it.

Doctors take an oath to "do no harm" and that is a very serious oath for the vast majority of physicians. There isn't a conspiracy. Doctors are very research-based. 9-10 years of college earns them a little respect in my mind. To think that the vast majority are not compentent is not realistic. Are they perfect. No way! But, most are trying to use critical thinking skills to make the best decisions for their patients. This is their livelihood Reputation is everything.

If there are a few testimonials from patients it just doesn't meet the standard for a solid scientific study. If you develop leukemia you probably would look back and speculate just what the trigger was but that doesn't prove anything. If there are enough patient-testimonials then a study will be ordered to test the validity of the rumors. A small study is not as convincing as a double-blind large study. Several small studies can sway doctors but genuine testimonials are rarely taken seriously. Rumors are naturally not considered valid at all.

I think the hardest thing for a parent is to trust science if science has never been of interest to them. I'm not necessarily giving you this attribute but there are many people that have been taught to fear science. I was a science major and my occupation is science so I feel very comfortable with the scientific method. I was actually taught how to interpret studies and look beyond the media reports. I know when a study is too small or possibly biased. If a supplement company claims to have the cure ADHD I'm going to be very skeptical. They have less oversite than a pharmaceutical company. Where's the study? What side effects are there? Just because it is natural is it healthy? I don't totally trust pharmaceutical companies but overall they are held in check because they don't want to face a lawsuit. I do tend to favor medications from a drug-class that has been around for awhile. Now, if you ask me to understand philosophy, art, music or poetry then I am at a total loss. It is just too foreign to me.

I do understand and respect your opinion Swill. It took me quite some time to feel comfortable with the idea of medication. We had to try everything else because we had a late diagnosis. It took several years for doctors to figure out my very bright ADD daughter out. You child is young yet so you don't have to rush into something that you don't feel comfortable with. Studies show that the kids that use a variety of compensating tools do better that those who are just medicated so bone up on all the behavior modifications, think about a healthy diet, consider omegas etc... Keep doing your research. You may never feel comfortable with medication and that is OK just consider the source of your information. You might want to see what the National Institute of Health says about ADHD treatment.

mamark39600.6693634259

Wow, I must say I’m actually still surprised to hear your still not sure what to do? I mean I remember coming on here about the first time you did w/ concerns about my 6 year old. My decision has been to schedule his apt. w/ a child psychiatrist first and discuss what ever issues he may find. We will go from there. I swore up and down that I would NEVER medicate my child. I have 3 other children who are completely capable of functioning in a controlled environment; however my 6 year old cannot. All medications great and small have ALWAY run a risk, you can’t take anything w/o a warning label on it about the possible effects. Even a lot of so called "natural" drugs have major issues when it comes to long term use. Bottom line, you are giving the gift of a child. You love and shelter and protect that child, you hurt when they hurt and you defend them to the death. You as a parent have to make the BEST informed decision you can. Whatever it is, you can only do what you believe to be the best decision at that time. I have an 18 year old so I know from experience a lot of the best decisions you make will be the wrong one, but that is just how life works. I cannot allow ADHD to continue to control my child’s school environment, I cannot continue to allow him to feel beat down b/c he is not like everyone else. I pray you find the answers (whatever they are) that you are looking for. Good luck and i hope you find something that works soon.

Got it - drugs are not an acceptable option for you, and you're obviously uncomfortable to be in a situation where people have chosen to do something you don't agree with.

We are not going to rehash all the possible negative consequences of medicating our children here. It would be like freaking out every morning you put your child on the school bus that there *might* be an accident, and how bad an injury your child might sustain. We can all drive ourselves nuts going over something like that, and do you know where it would get us? Stuck in the same place we started, because you can't make a decision if you're wallowing in fear, and you can't make progress until you know what direction you're going in.

So - if you're not medicating your child, what are you doing?

My son is not on medicine. Some of the things we do to encourage him to take control (rather than giving in to his ADHD fueled impulses) are 1) having very consistant schedules 2) curbing punitive actions 3) giving him goals he can reach 4) consulting him when deciding on goals and rewards 5) reminding him about his behaviors and goals 6) pointing out when he's done a great job of controling himself, and not letting him off the hook when he hollars "it's not my fault - it's the ADHD!" 7) supporting him when he runs into less sympathetic people 8) monitoring his diet to make sure he gets the nutrients he needs to maintain his active lifestyle 9) helping him with his "wind down" procedures to help him gain control when he loses it

I don't agree that my concerns should be dropped just because they make navywife uncomfortable. Thats like saying we can continue to talk as long as you like the topic or conversation at hand, but if we don't like your point of view, then, we really don't want to hear from you, so go away. Is this forum one sided, if not, why should my concerns be dropped, ended?

I don't know whats causing so much ADHD like behaviour today that was never to rarely here before our day and culture, I dunno, perhps it is the ultrasounds, who knows? But maybe just maybe, these kids who are medicated now for what we "think" are priority #1 reasons, will one day have very serious medical issues, cancers and organ failures because of the meds, and we will find too late that the truly #1 priority was their physical health, over school work and focus, and home behaviours. If we medicate them now to survive life's little bumbs (no friends, etc..on and on) - and I use that term lightly, because I think the perception is skewed), will they live to see their tomorrow? Or are we unawares that we are making patients of normal children. That's all I'm wonderin'.

Swill,

I didn't say you were making me uncomfortable. Honestly I could care less if you medicate your child or not. It's a very personal decision for each family to make. I was just saying that you are being very rude and not listening to anyone. There have even been people on here offering to help you find alternative treatments and you have completely ignored them.

As far as long term affects go. My husband is ADD and was medicated all the way through high school and has just recently decided to go back on the medication. He had to go off the meds because at the time the military would not let him join while on it (that has changed now). During the time he was off the medication he drank like crazy, did drugs, got in trouble with the military (he actually got out for awhile, on his own choice), jumped from job to job, was angry all the time. Now he is doing great. He loves being back in the military and is doing great. We are happier now than ever and have a steady life. He has had no long-term effects from medicine. Quite the opposite. He has had long term effects from not taking his medicine. His impulsiveness has ruined our credit and has made our lives very unsure up until recently.

I'm not saying you should medicate your child by any means. I'm just saying to quit trying to make us feel bad about OUR DECISION. Our daughter likes her medicine and the last time we took her off of it she was miserable and wanted to take it.

ADHD is genetic, plain and simple.

I guess what I'm saying is quit being so rude to people. We are not attacking you or trying to make you change your mind. We are just trying to give you our experiences and help. That is what this board is for. We all help one another. Even if people don't have answers to your questions just their encouraging words help so much, knowing that someone is out there going through the same things makes us feel less alone in a world that doesn't always except our children or us.

I really do wish you the best of luck and hope that you find answers to your questions.

Hi i thank you all for responding. I have spent considerable time at that ADHD Drug Atrocity website now, and wanted to really understand what they were saying before I made a decision either way. I thinK i am going to loko into alternatives to adhd medicine. I do not want to medicate my child.

Can you guys give me some alternative advice to meds? I mean, what's working for others?

Swill, if your looking for information on alternatives, pleast post your questions on the alternative board. Thanks and good luck. ADHD Message Boards: Alternative & Complementary Medicineswill, think about omega 3 fatty acids. I'm very skeptical about alternative meds but I've chose to try the omega 3's. There is actual research to support the claims.

It is so hard to know what to do for our kids. There is no easy 100% correct answer. (I have read a lot of the posts here, but not all...so I apologize if I repeat PPs) I think most of us had the same feelings in the beginning of the process of dealing with ADHD. I read it all too, and I was sure that I was being self and lazy by considering meds for DS. You have to do what you think is the best for your child.

One thing a friend of mind pointed out is that Ritalin has more years of data and research than almost any other pharmaceutical out there. Its been around for 30+ years and I believe they sutill continue to research it effects/effectivness. Just food for thought. I'm not saying this means no kid will have a bad experience with it, but that made me feel a bit more comfortable with the idea of meds for my son. **my ds' adhd was so severe that it would be neglectful for me to NOT give it to him. In order to learn how to NOT NEED the meds he actually needs them if he has any chance of quieting his mind/body to learn what is appropriate. I had to remember it was about his success...and not me**

This is a great site with tons of information and good people...its a great tool/support for this kind of discussion.

Good luck!

twodoodles39632.3471180556