Best ADD medicine on the market?
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question: What do you think is the best ADD medication out there? Or is there really one that stands out from all the rest?
Lisa,
I don't think there is a "best" ADHD medication out there. As you well know from all the posts on this site, each kid's brain chemistry responds differently to each med. I personally prefer long-acting preparations because for my son, the send-off and come-down are smoother plus you don't have to give a dose at school (which embarrasses my son). But that's a personal preference.
Why do you ask?
i have steered dd away from meds for the past 5 years simply because i was medicated as a teenager and it made me into a complete zombie.. i know that there are medications that don't do this, but as the saying goes 'once bitten, twice shy' still stands..
dd is upstairs with her tutor right now, 9 am on a saturday morning, and he is amazed at how well she has managed to stay focused and concentrate.. i contribute this to the alternative therapies forum that has helped me immensely.. it would help more if tater stopped ignoring me and responded to my lecithen question too
what smallmom, megmaguire and leighga have responded all ring true.. there isn't one perfect solution, one perfect adhd drug.. the drugs will not change behaviours nor do they help with the co-morbid issues..
i hope you find the right therapy for your child!!
There may not be a "perfect" ADHD med because very few kids have pure ADHD, and some kids diagnosed with ADHD are misdiagnosed. Co-morbid conditions frequently interfere with the efficacy of ADHD meds. Concerta and Focalin have both worked well for my son in terms of focus and attention, but he still struggles with school because his anxiety gets in the way. Lisa, there may not be a "perfect" ADHD med for your son because his other issues are not treated by these meds.
Seriously, I think the reactions to these meds can vary so radically from child to child. My son, over four years, took 9 meds and had 13 med changes (ex. mixing one with the other). There wasn't a single medication that did the job well. We dealt with constant side effects. "Alternatives" to meds have helped tremendously this summer. Fingers crossed they help with school, because I can't see us going back to meds.Exactly, why are there so many medicines that don't work and do what they are suppose to do? My son has beena guinee pig for a lot od meds that just don't work, and that's very frustrating as we all know. I just want to know why there isn't a "Perfect ADD medicine" out there developed for the children. I know that each parent will respond differently to this and of course, each is entitled to his/her opinion. Afterall, I do believe that most good parents have good insticts about what is best for their child. I just wanted to say that as a teacher and a parent of 2 adhd kids, I have seen medication work WONDERS for children ..... I mean in ALL areas! It DOES change behavior because they have the control that they did not have before meds. I have seen it first hand with me own children. Also, my daughter went from c's and d's to A's and B's after meds, along with having more friends and quality relationships. Neither of my kids, nor the kids that I have had in my classroom on meds, have been "zombied out". That is because we have better med choices and good doctors now, along with compelling research on how much medication can help. Yes, as my kids get older, I expect them to develope better "coping skills" so that eventually we can go down on the meds. However, getting them through school successfully (academically and socially) is our #1 priority right now. My personal oppinion is that the good definitely out-weighs the bad when deciding to medicate. Afterall, it is a medical problem...... would you not treat your diabetic or asthmatic child? Just one Mom's opinion! Good luck to each of you! dawndesh, i'm happy that your children have found success with medications.. there are a lot of bad stories out there and its comfort to hear of a successful one..
Thanks, Brooklea.... I can tell by your posts that you are a very concerned mom and "on top of things" for your daughter. I hope she has a better year this year. I feel your pain, I really do! One thing I have noticed, that has nothing to do with meds, is that as my son gets older, all of his issues are getting better. We have actually cut down on his meds to begin training him to gain better self control. The summer has been great but when school starts, that will be another story! We'll see and be hopeful! Your daughter has her best advocate in you! Keep in touch! By the way..... our DREAM is to visit Austraila! What part do you live in? great news about your son dawndesh.. just be aware that adhd presents itself in a different form when the mid teenage years kick in.. i like to call it 'active disengagement' when motivation levels fall to an all time low.. i hope your son bypasses this!!
i live in melbourne, down south
danke for your kind words, they are greatly appreciated..
Our best medicine (for the moment anyway) is none! We are pursuing alternatives!
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