Jon’s Journey | ADHD Information

I only wanted to add that perhaps there is more going on than ADHD which would account for the fact that the meds stop working no matter what is tried. Riseradol is not a medication given to treat the symptoms of ADHD . This is your own unique situation and certainly not the norm for a child with strictly ADHD. Based on your posts the problems reach far beyond ADHD. I certainly feel for you and your son who us going through so much and I hope you find some real solutions.

Sorry to hear your family is struggling again.  When my child used Focalin XR, we had to increase the dose every few months.  However, he's been on the same dose of Metadate CD since Oct. '07 and he's doing great on it.  He has wonderful ADHD control, and the only side effect for him is minimal appetite suppression.  My point of sharing this is maybe you need to find the right stimulant for Jon?  Maybe not all medicines will show the initial promise of working well and then stop working?

The psychiatrist is giving Jon 'the medicine of last resort' - Seroquil. We will ease off the risperadol in a week and build up the seroquil. We started with 25mg and in two days he is doing better.

Risperadol is given for adhd to treat symptoms caused by stimulant medication. Jon's doctor is very up to date and progressive. The focalin caused visual hallucinations and if you read the fine print you will see that this is an unusual but noted side effect.

I don't know if anything else is 'going on' with Jon. He has been misdiagnosed, over-diagnosed, and has been through the mill as many of adhd kids have. Why can't more research be done? I do know that there is much less (almost 0%) adhd in 'blue' zone areas around the world- areas with much different diets and life styles such as Greece and Georgia (in the former Ukraine).

today, for the first time in a long time, Jon was able to play outside with other children from the neighborhood and was OK. So that is progress. Unfortunately, he still can't focus on school work. But we will work on it.

randyjim wrote:
Risperadol is given for adhd to treat symptoms caused by stimulant medication

Well, when a child is experiencing such terrible side effects from stims most doctors will take the child off the meds completely when nothing seems too work. Giving Risperadol is not the normal protocal for treating side effects of stimulant meds and the side effects you mention are not the common side effects of ADHD meds. Such unacceptable side effects usually occur with an underlying cause.

Its a good thing that you trust his doctor and Im glad things seem better. I will say a pray that things keep moving in a positive direction.

 

Its good to see you posting randy. Im pretty busy myself and dont post much but lately but its good to catch up

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Hi Randy! I haven't been on in a while, either and really just wanted to check in.  I hope that you can find something that works for the FAMILY. ADD/ADHD  isn't just affecting the child-it affects the family so I feel for you. Hang in there, say lots of prayers and I'll add  your family to mine as well.

It has been a long time since I posted anything about Jon. His focalin started to stop working in December and we have been hanging on by a thread. As of now he is off all medication except his riseradol. It is impossible for him to do any school work and his emotions are everywhere.

Today he socked his little sister in the jaw when she called him a name. He was totally mortified and after trying to justify himself he said he was 'just stupid'.

I don't want him on stimulant meds anymore. The effects are so good when they start on them and then after a few months you have to give them more and more to get the same effect. After a while, the child's emotions run amok when they are coming down from the effects of the medication. So more medication is added, different medications tried and the child is a guinea pig- reeling from the way the different medications make him feel and making him feel more and more worthless.

I am also not going to have him put on antidepressants. When Jon was so sick and was hospitalized a year ago I was given antidepressents. The side effects were horrible and although the depression seem helped, the anxiety was not. Trying to get myself off them- even slowly- was torture both mentally and physically. There is NO way I will put Jon through that.

His doctor is seeing him once a week now. She may try something else for the adhd (non stimulant). I am also going to look into acupuncture.

Just keep us in your prayers, everyone. We won't make it through another patch like a year ago.

I am sorry to hear what happened with Jon. My son also hauled off and hit someone at school today. Just when you think it's going well BAM! I understand what you are saying about the stimulant meds, it seems like this is happenning to Jake now 4 great months on Concerta 36 and I don't want him any higher right now but he is acting very impulsive and having problems with schoolwork again. As for anti-depressants, Jake takes Zoloft for 3 years and it has done well re his anxiety and moods.I hope that you find something that works I have heard accupuncture can be helpful.So sorry that the meds stopped working for Jon. Does he take Omega 3 fish oil? I know it's definitely not an instant fix or anything, but there is quite a bit of evidence that omega 3s help with mood issues and that they are good for overall health. You may want to check out the big omega 3s thread in the "Alternatives" forum.