First time on one of these message boards. I'm at the end of my rope and feel like no one around me understands what I go through.
My 8 year old daughter has ADHD. She was diagnosed and has been on medication since 5. For about 6 months now, we've had her on Metadate CD and 5mg Ritalin in the afternoon. Lately, it seems to not be working as well.
The last few weeks, she yells at me, my husband and her 4 1/2 year old brother. She shows no respect to any of us. Everything is a fight! I try to keep my cool, maybe even joke about how silly she's being. Tonight was bad, though. I couldn't take her yelling at me anymore and started to cry. I said to her I was tired of always trying to make her happy when all she does is treat me so badly.
We had her on Concerta before. It worked great except it kept her awake until midnight or so. I'm wondering if I should go back to that. I'd prefer that over the way she's treating all of us. Any advice would be great. I don't know many other parents with ADHD kids. I feel very alone and like a failure.
Hi,You are not alone. I don't have any advice about the meds because my only experience has been with Focalin.
I literally dread my dd coming home from school and doing her homework and any makeup work she has because it is such a struggle and so time comsuming. So hang in there and i'll hang with ya.
You're not alone. Nights can be rough when the stimulant wears off.
Maybe ask the doctor about Intuniv? It's a 24-hour ADHD medication that helps some with impulsivity and hyperactivity. It doesn't work as well as the stimulant, in my experience, but it makes evenings and mornings easier when the stimulant is not in his system.
You need to read the book 1-2-3 Magic. It will solve these issues. It describes a discipline method.Thanks everyone. This is encouraging. Last night was better. Her doctor okayed getting her back on Concerta. Hopefully we'll see some change. Thanks for all the advice and support!I justed wanted to say that we have used melatonin for the sleeep issues with Concerta. But I have noticed that after about 1 1/2 of years of being on it she is eating much better and the sleeping issue is not as much of a problem.
Good luck.
If the Concerta works this time around except for the sleep issues then you may want to try Melatonin or ask your doc about adding Tenex/Intuniv to help with the sleep. My son takes Tenex along with his Ritalin to help with the side effects (his side effects are moodiness, aggrevation, and his sensory problems get worse). He needs a stimulant soooooooooooo badly and if it wasn't for Tenex, he wouldn't be able to take one.