My daughter is 6. We started on Adderall XR 10mg and Clonidine about 5 weeks ago. When she started the meds she had about 3 or 4 nights of serious meltdowns - inconsolable, screaming, hitting, crying, wanting me and yelling for me and when I went to her she continued crying, screaming and hitting. They last for about 25 minutes in duration and I feel so helpless almost like I am being cruel to her for giving her meds that have such horrible side effects initially at the beginning of starting the drug. She lost her appetite and concentration and focus wore off when it was homework time after school. My husband and I saw the psychiatrist on Mon. and we decided to put her on 18mg of Strattera and building up to 25mg and THEN taking her off the Adderall XR. She can't swallow a pill so we break open the capsule and put it on a spoon with some tasty drink and she gets this horrible after taste. I hate doing this to her. Has anyone experienced these side effects when you start your kids on a new med or wean them off another one???? How long did it last before the initial side effects stopped? I do believe the Strattera is the way to go - longer lasting, not such a decrease in appetite and not a stimulant. It didn't work for me - I take Adderall and my son does as well.
We went through hell last year with our son (15). 2 hospitalizations that ripped my gut apart. Now my daughter has been diagnosed. She's so little and I feel cruel giving this to her and guilty for passing on my f**ked up genes and in a pathetic way I feel mad at her for being so intolerable and this hurts me so bad. The meds will help her with school and help her self esteem, they will help her cope with her world much better. I know this but I hate seeing her go through these long lasting screaming, crying fits. It hurts to witness it. When my kids hurt, I feel even more hurt. I feel so vulnerable all of the time. Their pain because mine. My kids are worth all of the difficulty and I adore them and love them so much to the point that I think that I 'over parent' them with my smothering affection and love (I know that sounds f**ked up but that's how I feel). Every time I put her medicine on a spoon I shudder. I hurt. I feel hurt and sad and guilty for medicating my 6 year old little girl who is so sweet and beautiful.
Someone please give me some reassurance and understanding, please. I am trying to get through this but it is so painful. Please
Listen to me......when my son was diagnosed with ADHD and Aspergers I thought I was going to fall apart. When I started to think about what a horrible mother I had been to my son who couldn't help the way he was I thought for sure I was going to crawl out of my skin. Could I have paid the price for all the crap, and screaming that he wasn't trying hard enough, etc., I would have done so. Hindsight is good for paving new roads and nothing else.
I was useless to everyone and cannot tell you how often I cried by his bedside apologizing for whatever my involvement was that had made him this way. Once I purged myself of these feelings (and they took forever), I became a one woman militia for my son....and soon it will be sons.
I go crazy thinking is the medication he's taking too strong, is it not strong enough, will it cause depression, am I missing the signs of depression, is he depressed, is he angry, does he want to hurt himself, etc., and god help him if he's got some glazed look while he's alone in his room because then I really freak out. AND still I wonder - because surely I'm delussional- does he need them after all???? God I'm an idiot.
Meds work different on each kid, right? I know that Ritalin causes my 8yo to have migraines, that so far Concerta at 36 mg seems to last the right amount of time, but am unsure how effective it is. That Adderall causes rows of rages in all the children that I've known have taken it. That Straterra doesn't work on my 8yo, maybe it will be good for the 5yo, who knows. But mostly I've learned that if I don't educate my boys now, that they are different and that there is nothing wrong with that, that I can expect suicide attempts from both of them......and I would surely follow as I sit here writing to you today.
I am a broken record when I speak to them, constantly telling them how smart they are, and how they learn differently, and how the medication only helps them concentrate. How the only difference is the speed at which they learn things, although with my 8yo he will and is dealing with other autistic behavior.
What you do for your children is in their best interest. I don't know how smart it is to break a pill open though. I've been told on more than several occassions by different pharmacists that they are not supposed to chew the pills. You might be slamming her with a huge dose by breaking it open.
Be strong. Be loving. Be patient. Remember.......you create a safe haven for them in a world they can't catch up to or understand. Don't allow yourself to take that safety of you away.
J
well you are definately a great mother for supporting your daughter.. i think you should get her evaluated by a doc but it might just be the medications wearing off. I would advise you to avoid dairy products of all kinds. I have quit dairy products. they made me angry at myself, suicidal..hating myself...i strongly recommend everyone not to eat dairy products they cause anger in me. i'm sure other people would have the same reaction.