well, adderal is an amphetimine and Focalin being a type of ritalin is not. My Dr tries ritalin first then moves on to others. It has the longest track record and isnt an amphetimine although it is a stimulant. myself i got more "speedy" from a large Starbucks when i drank coffee than ritalin. I think a lot of Drs jsut push what the Pharcueticals sending them glossy fliers about filled with wonderful studies that I am sure were all done right..vioxx cough cough...I am glad Ritalin worked for me it's been used for a long time and it's "evils" are well documented that's not true of newer meds. From the info I have read Focalin is a form of ritalin that works at a lower dosage than the generic...sounds like a dman fine proposition to me if it's true
Ohh...one more thing....the technical terminology is AD/HD...regardless of whether the person shows symptoms of hyperactivity. It's not a big deal, just a lil "tid bit" lol
We haven't started meds yet. The Dr. wants to try Focalin. My daughter is ADD (not ADHD). She can't swallow pills - she is 9. We'll have to crush and put in applesauce. She will also have to take at school. I don't want her to have to take meds at school. (They'll have to crush and put in applesauce . . . ) I don't think the "whole world" needs to know she is on meds. Going down to the office everyday is kind of obvious about taking meds. Am I overreacting ???
I plan to ask Dr. why he wants to try Focalin - I'm thinking about Adderal XR (but I am not a Dr.)
It would definitely be a good idea to discuss your "concern" with the Dr.....Perhaps there is a reason why he wants to try certain meds or avoid others. When finding a med, it's important to remember that it can be a difficult process. I understand that you don't want your daughter to have to go to the office while at school. However, keep in mind that long-acting medications may not be best/work best for your daughter. I definitely think that it would be a good idea to talk to the Dr. though and perhaps try the longer-acting formulas.
Meds work differently for every person, as you may know...But I personally take Adderall and Adderall XR and they work great for me...If you have any questions, we'll do our best to answer!
Best of luck and keep us posted!
I found this website today looking for information that might help my daughter with side effects from ADD medication. My daughter is 22 and now graduating college in pre-med from a large state university. Her ADD was diagnosed at age 7 so I have gone the distance here and the finish line is in sight. We were lucky enough to have such wonderful cooperation from schools, doctors, tutors etc that medication was not needed until junior year in college to help her deal with organic chemistry, calculus, etc. She now takes medication for high intensity lectures and her exams. Medication is not a cure--it's just a help with symptoms. Before starting a medication program, I highly suggest a long talk with her teacher, and maybe the school psychologist to find out how ADD affects her. Each child is different and ADD manifests itself in different ways. If there are effective ways of dealing with her issues without medication, it would be great to explore those and see how they work. My daughter took her tests in a private office by herself so that she didn't have to deal with distractions from other children. She was given more time to do the work so that she didn't have to feel pressured. Once you know what works for your daughter without medication then you can phase in using meds when absolutely needed. I am an advocate of using meds when needed because ADD is a chemical deficiency but they have side effects. You are lucky that she does not experience the hyperactive part than makes some children unmanageable. I was also a special education teacher for a while before children so I was able to see things from different perspectives. Since she is only 9, there is a whole lot of time to find out the best way to work with her situation. Good luck.