Help! Starting son on Dex. only 6 ??? | ADHD Information

Thanks Jackrabbit for ur reply.  It was helpful and usefull.  I have the prescription but am reluctant to give it to my son. He is in a daycare with a school implemented program in the morning like S.K..  So that is why we wanted to see how it would help his morning program, as he hates to do the english worksheets.  It requires too much concentration and he complains about them all the time. He'd rather do his math sheets instead cause they're quick and easy for him.  So as you suggested i myself wanted to try these pills, so as to relate to the feelings that he will encounter on this medication.  I have never done amphetamines or any chemicals so I have absolutely no experience with this class of drugs.  His father, I don't think i'll take that suggestion because his father would probaly enjoy the high too much and that wouldn't be a good thing. Thanks again for th reply. ahhhh the life of ADHD.Hi,

I've been taking Dex for about 6 years (for ADD), since high school and, now into adulthood.My little brother has also been on them since he was about 10, for ADHD .

> I'm worried about the side effects for young children, ie
> loss of appetite, insomnia, etc.

That will happen, although he will develop a resistance in a few months. Dex last about 4 hours then begin to wear off, so don't take them anytime before sleep.

I'd advise you start on 1x 5mg dexamphetamine tablet.
This will be enough to seriously change the behaviour of a child.
Dex are a fairly strong stimulant, and for a 6 year old any more would be overkill.

> Does anyone have experience with young kids and Dex.  Also, what
> about the long term effects??? Drug addiction???

There are long term side effects.

Dex are addictive, and the withdrawl symptoms will be similar to other amphetamines. Honestly, your local hard drug rehab clinic will probably be more useful than your doctor on this topic.

My experience has been that doctors don't know much about them aside from what the medical manual tells them. I've had good experience with psychologists.

My little brother doesn't take them when he's not at school.... and the only difference is, he's hyperactive.  At the other end of the spectrum, some people can feel lazy when taken off them quickly.


Eventually you might want to up the dosage as his body mass increases.
However, every time this happens your son will also develop a higher 'resistance' to them.

I'm on 3 a day, and that works for me, I started on 4 and I weigned less then.
My brother has a 12.5mg slow release tablet, which he prefers.

A slow release tablet might be better for a young child, as they're in a capsule, and dex can be hard on the stomach.


I've had all sorts of amounts of them at once.
Generally, 10x5mg dex would have roughly the same level of effect as 1mg/'point' of speed, or methamphetamine. So that's a rough guide.


> Loss of appetite
This will happen. I have no problem eating normally. I'd advise you feed your son as usual and keep doing so. He might not want to eat while under the effects, ie, at school. However your body isn't rejecting food or anything like that, it's a psychological effect.

Some More possible side effects
- hardening of the arteries.
- loss of penile flacidity while on dex. No doctor ever mentioned that to me.
 you might want to get your husband to try a few one weekend so he can explain   to your son what's going on... That description sounds very grim, but it's not that bad. ( Herbal remedies will fix this )
- increased heart rate, so be aware of this when playing sports
- and more I can't remember now.


In my personal opinion, having taken more dex in more different doses than any doctor will have, you are ill-advised to begin your son on dex before he's even been in school.

If he's disrupting class, and messing around too much to pay attention then you've got a case for dex, but ADHD isn't some infectious disease.... your kid's just hyperactive, it's a good thing!  :-)

Hope that helps, feel free to ask any more questions :)

 

My son has recently been diagnosed with ADHD.  He has been analyzed and confirmed.  The Dr is starting him on Dex.  I'm worried about the side effects for young children, ie loss of appetite, insomnia, etc.  Does anyone have experience with young kids and Dex.  Also, what about the long term effects??? Drug addiction??? Help New World for me and I'm scared for my son, especially now that he'll be entering grade one in the fall.