Road to right medication | ADHD Information

I don't think you sound unfairly negative at all! It's just comes with the territory when we have such wonderful but difficult kids!  And I have no doubt that you are thankful for the good things.  I think moms and dads like us truly appreciate the good times with our kids because we know what it's like when it's not good...I mean we really know!

It's too bad he can't take stimulants  but that doesn't mean there isn't a solution out there!  Have you and your doctor discussed Strattera?  It may be an option if the Tenex doesn't work. 

Hang in there!  The summer is hard! Hopefully once he gets used to not having school and gets into a routine his behavior will even out a little!

Has he actually been diagnosed with ADHD also? Blurting things out and touching things can be a sign of impulsivness.  My son (without meds) is uncontrollably impulsive!  He touches everyone and everything!  I remember times in the park when he would just run up to a jogger (total stranger) and hug them! He would have the WORST meltdowns because he'd get in trouble for things that he really couldn't control.  If your son does have impulse control problems then stimulants can work wonders for him!  Just a thought... He is super impulsive and has indeed been dx with adhd by developmental ped, however stimulants are not an option he had really bad side effects off of aderall and he has extra heartbeats ( not stimulant friendly)  we tried a higher dose of tenex and bad behaviors came out even worse, and new ones that have went away since we lowered the dose.  I know its a balancing act of right meds, just hard to watch him go through all this while trying to find the right one.  Makes it harder I think that its summer and hes constantly around me, I unforuntunatly am his worst critic.  I must say he did okay today but at the ball game tonight he behaved super I was pleasantly suprised, we didnt bribe him it just happend :D  I know I may sound negative alot always spoting his problem areas, I assure you I am thankful and always searching for the good ones too.Its for anxiety  I believe as he is a hand flapper, spinner, must touch everything inappropriate in so many ways in public and at home, and big time blurts things out not making sense inappropriately and embarassing him and the family.  He doesnt have friends so while perhaps if i try to just deal with this behavior unmedicated he wont physically hurt himself ( although sometimes he does  by falling or he likes to walk backwards ) How can he possibly make friends doing all these bizzare things.  I try to have anxiety level low for him but even being at home and around his brother gets him going.  Maybe we will try it for a couple of weeks and if there are no results drop it right away,  I just hope its not a mistake.

I can certainly understand your frustration! Hopefully, the medicine will help, and if not, like you said, you can drop it. Our son has some wierd behaviors as well, but since he's only in kindergarten the kids are more accepting of it. He doesn't do the flapping or spinning though. His nurse practitioner wants to give him the risperdone because of his pdd nos behaviors. She says there is no stimulant med that will have an impact on this "quirkiness" that he has. But since he doesn't have much anxiety I don't see the need for it at this point. Actually he is an extremely happy child and seems completely oblivious to the fact that he is any different than any other kid! Sadly, time may change that but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

Medicine choices are such an individual and personal journey...you've got to do whatever you feel is best for YOUR child. Best of luck, and let me know how it goes!

Just wondering why your doctor wants to prescribe risperdone. Are there particular behaviors he is trying to correct that he feels would not be controlled with the more mainstream ADHD meds? The reason I'm curious is because our son's nurse practitioner thinks it would help our son as well, but I feel his behavior, although annoying and trying at times, is not out of control to the point where this medication is needed. Is it possible that the dosage of Tenex isn't high enough?  Our DS, age 7, isn't on stimulants (bad side effects), but takes 1 mg of Tenex in the morning and then again at night.  On his presonal activity scale...he has been turned down from a 10 to maybe 8.5/9.  Not a drastic difference..but the difference between having an absolutely horrible day and a pretty good day.    His Dr also suggested risperdone..but we elected not to use it at this time.

My 9 yr old ds wants me to entertain him constantly unless the tv is on which i refuse to give in to.  He is on a baseball team and we try to get outside alot during the day either walking with the dog, or yardwork together.  He complains constantly and my 4yr ds is copying the 9yr olds bad behaviors I feel like my house is nuts.  He is on Tenex 1 mg but Im not so sure its helping anything.  Doctor wants to add risperdone SP?  In a couple of weeks I wonder if we should be adding another med when maybe the first ones not right.  This doc has a great reputation so I'm on the fence as to following through or not.  I am glad its summer and son is home during this time, but the kids are driving me crazy just tryign to control the bad behaviors, and entertain them constantly.

Oh my gosh - I sure know how you feel!  My DD 10 is the same way.  We are home every day and, even with the TV, she is into everything.  No activity will occupy her for any length of time and I feel like I am about to to crazy.  She was on Focalin XR and her anxiety was really bad so we switched to Intuniv, which is Tenex XR, I believe.  The 1 mg doesn't seem to do much, but the 2 mg makes her sleepy and kind of out of it, and it is hard to see her like that also.  She also repeats herself constantly and asks the same question over and over.  I don't know if the Intuniv is going to work for her and am thinking of switching back to Focalin, even with the anxiety.   When she started Intuniv, the anxiety seemed to go away for awhile, but has come back.  I have to walk with her when she wants to go to another room in the house, the bathroom, etc.  So I don't know what we are going to do.   My doctor also has a really great reputation and seem to know so much about meds, so I trust him.  We are supposed to go back the third week in July, but may have to go back sooner.  I just wish we could find the right meds for her.  It is such a difficult process!

Have you talked to her toc about taking the stimulant with the Intuniv?  My son takes Tenex (short acting Intuniv) along with Ritalin.  The Ritalin (which he DESPERATELY needs!) makes his anxiety worse.  The Tenex smooths the anxiety out.

Yes, we are doing the same exact thing!  We started back on Focalin XR today and Tenex, 1mg tonight.  I am hoping that combo will work.One dose of Tenex may not be enough. My son takes it three times a day.  .5mg in the a.m., .5mg in the afternoon, and .25mg at bedtime.  If the Tenex doesn't seem to work for the anxiety then you may need to ask the doc about adding a daytime dose.

She has been on the 1mg in the evening for two days now.  She is now sleeping very little.  She had a hard time going to sleep, then wakes up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep.   Before, she was taking Clonidine and Melatonin, which helped her sleep through the night.  We don't see the doctor until next week, but I will call next week and leave him a message.  Also, the anxiety is back.  I wonder if Concerta would help?  She was on it a long time ago, but we switched to Focalin and it seemed to do better for awhile.  I hate switching around so much, for her sake.  When she was on the Intuniv (without Focalin) she was still very hyper, but at least she could sleep at night.  I am about ready to pull my hair out!!! 

The anxiety may also be worse because of the poor sleep.  So many things go wrong when a child (or anyone for that matter!) doesn't get the right sleep! Maybe you can try adding the Melatonin back in.  Was she on the sustained release Melatonin before? If not that may be something to try.  Give your doc a call.  You should be able to get approval for that over the phone. Good luck and I hope it gets better for her soon!