Need Advise About ADHD drugs | ADHD Information

Hello, I am new to the ADHD  and the drugs. My son is 3 and has been on 5mg of Adderall for one month, it helped during the day, but in the late afternoon he became a bear! Dr/ switched him to Ritilan 10 mg and he has been on it three days, he is absolutely horrible, he has screamed for hours, hit him self, bit himself and then tried to beat up all the kids at the sitters.  Forget that the DR. said try it two weeks, oi can't stand another day of him being miserable. Has anyone used any natural  or herbal meds for ADHD? I know he needs something, but its not ritilan. Help
Cheryl < =""> The short acting Adderall only lasts for 4-6hours, that's probably why he was acting like a bear in the afternoon.  You should try giving him an afternoon dose, or trying the extended release - xr, which I'm not too sure about yet.My daughter is 8. ADHD We started her on Ritillan xr and to my utter disbelief she was worse.  I didn think it was possible.  I didnt wait for the doctor.  When my daughter came home the second day, angry, more hyper than I'd ever seen her in my life, completely out of control and when I finally did get her to stand still, I got down on my knee's , took her hands in mine, looked in her the eyes and calmly said.  It's ok, relax, calm down, tell me what your feeling.  She started to shake, pulled from me, and with tears and a look of desperation on her face screamed at me.  I cant calm down.    I walked into the kitchen, took the bottle, dumped it down the disposal and that was it for ritillan.   as the night went on, she got better.  Not often, but apparently there are instances where kids have the adverse reaction and this was clear one.

We tried Adarall ( sp ? ) for a while but we saw no change at all.  We took her off of it and decided to try other options.  Diet, excercise, sports and for a while things seemed ok.  They werent actually, they were just consistant.  It was tough but we knew what to expect.  Not really a good alternative, but faced with the first two options, we opted not.

about a year later, I conceded as much as we thought we could handle this with other options, we needed.. No.  She needed more help than we could provide.  We agreed to try another medication.  Concerta.  went from 18, then 36, and now 54.  Nights are tough.  I posted not too long ago " loosing My Mind"  Anyway, seems things are calming down a little.  It's 11:30 and by 10pm she was asleep.  Late yes, but not compared to 12:30am and 1:30am.  She is doing well in school.  Teacher has noticed a difference.  Her appetite has decreased, but thats not uncomon either.

I am trying to learn as much as I can.l.  One of the things I did do was increase her vegetable intake to 3 vegetables at dinner time.  eg.  tonight at dinner it was mashed potatoes and carrots together.  Broccoli and colliflower.

She takes a multi vitamin every day and I make her lunches for school.  Healthy Introducing more protein into her diet and higher Iron as well.  If I'm not crazy, I have to be onto something because last night and tonight she was asleep within an hour after I put her to bed.  To help her I let her read.  It always helps me relax when I'm restless and cant fall asleep.  Couple pages and I'm gone.  It seems to help her too.

I spend more time with her.  talking with her, praising the wonderful things about her and less focus on the negative.  Not that I dont discipline.  I do.  I just remind her daily what a wonderful person she is. Little things.  Tonight as an exercise  ( her handwriting needs improving upon ) we climbed in my bed and I dictated a few sentenses aloud and she wrote them.  It was a  2 paragraphs describing her.  She didnt realize it until we started and the whole time she wrote, she had this huge grin on her face.  We kept the tone quiet and calm and what I liked the best was, it was our time, she was relaxed, it was uplifting for her and beneficial in more than one way.  for her spirit, but she was also  working to write in her best handwriting ever.  when she was done writing what I'd dictated, she gave it back to me and we hugged.  Afterwards, I signed and dated it and I'm putting it up on the wall in her room and told her that whenever she feels down about herself and cant think of anything that good, that I hope she'll read it and let it remind her of how increadibly wonder she really is...   She of course decided to dictate to me as well and I had to write.  When we were done, she signed and dated it.  So now we both have something special when we need to feel special.  Might sound silly, but so what.  She is amazing, and if this helps her remember that, that it's what ever it takes.

I had a point in the beginning to all of this but I think I've lost it.    I dont know where this road were on is going to end up, but I do know that where ever it leads, we're going together.  I've pulled her back from her friends a little as well.  Keeping her close to the hip for now.  I want to get us in order first.  One step at a time.   I have to say that with a bit of a laugh because she's been grounded all week and this is where I've seen the most improvement.   Thinking of keeping her grounded on a daily basis ( I mean this in a good way ) Kind of like.. I'm onto something and I dont want anything to mess it up until we're on a little more stable ground.  I want her feeling good, positive, and being able to make better choices.  if I let her loose now, Oh man.. she might come back like a wid cat thats been out scrapping for a week in the rain.  I'll never get her back.

I'm doing the best I can and I guess thats what it comes down to in the end.  you do what right for you, for your child.  If you need to reign her in for a while, so be it.  Healthy food, positive attitude, more one on one time and positive reinforcement.  The meds only go so far.  That is what I'm learning and Please dont tell me I'm wrong, because right now I'm hopeful and its the first time in a very long time that I've felt that way and not just fear.  It's a good feeling. 

Either that or I've completely lost my mind.
If the child is having very undesirable side effects, that indicates either the dose needs to be adjusted or changed. Also, a bad reaction could indicate that the child has a co existing condition like bipolar disorder and if thats the case, stimulant medications can trigger mania. At the right dose and the right med for the child that is truly just ADHD, there should be minor side effects. Unfortunately, because the dose and type of stimulant medication can be different for everyone, sometimes it takes a while before the rigt med and the right dose is found that brings maximum benefits and minimal side effects.  Whats most important while your child is going through a trail of most is to keep in close contact with your childs physician and if you dont have a doctor trained in the field of treating ADHD, seriously consider getting one.. Good luck and dont give up yet.As the ADHD parent of a 3yo son, I think that 3 sounds very young to
start medicating. Is your doctor an ADHD specialist? I would look for a
second opinion. Ritalin as is makes me nasty yet the extended dose
Concerta (same drug with very sophisticated delayed release) makes me
feel normal. I'd look to see a pediatric psychiatrist before using meds on
someone so young.

Watch out for the herbal remedies - one of the great things about Ritalin
is that its been studied to death so its pretty well understood.

Hi, I read this post and was not going to reply, however I kept thinking about it so, I felt the need to say something. I am a mom of a 5 year old , non-add/adhd as far as I know. I am 31 and have a recent diagnosis of ADD. I am concerned as well about your sons age. 3 is very young to start handling medications and it it worrisome that with certain side effects that come with medications and your son not having the verbal capacity to let you know what he is actually feeling mentally and physically that reactions to these meds could be quite dangerous. It is difficult enough as an adult to filter through side effects, headaches, stomach aches, dizziness, irritability,and so on.  I know when I took wellbutrin I even had some fleeting psychotic thoughts. It's just my opinion (I'm not a doctor or expert), and I don't know what your life is like or the problems you have been having, but I would steer clear of any meds for as long as possible and get him into behavioral therapy, play therapy, change environments and diet etc. and exhaust those possiblities first. Good luck and your in my thoughts.WHAT AGE CAN TELL ADHD OR NOT? I HAVE SEEN PRESCHOOLERS ON MEDS ALREADY. TODDLERS TO ME ARE SUPPOSE TO BE ACTIVE. SCHOOL SHOULD HAVE GROUP TIMES AND INDIVIDUAL TIMES. RECESS/PE NOT TAKEN AWAY AT ALL. tHEY NEED THE BREAK/ RELEASE ALL KIDS. dOESN'T HELP PREVENT OBESITY EITHER.ALL KIDS NEED GOOD SUGARS NOT BAD.TEACH THEM GOOD HABITS WHILE YOUNG.