My son is 7 years old and was diagnosed as ADD a year ago, now I guess they call it ADHD. He takes 5mg of ritalin twice a day. His behavior has improved his handwriting has improved, however he licks his fingers constantly. Is this a symptom or side effect? Has anyone heard of this? Now his teacher is telling me she thinks hes OCD. I think teachers just want us to dope up our kids to make there jobs easier. I asked him why he licks hishands and he says there dry. We gave him his own lotion, and he says it doesn't help, he tries not to but he can't help it. This isthe behavior his "teacher" describes as OCD.
I need HELP!!!!!!
It could very well be OCD. I know, last I looked, dry hands was not listed as a side afftects of Ritalin but everyone reacts to medication differently.
When you do something over and over it is compulsive. I know that licking them will only make them dryer. Does he drink enough water? Is he compulsive about anything else? I do know that the compulsion can get worse in some cases but some just stay the same.
I don't think the majority of teachers want to "dope up kids". I think the majority want the kids to do well in school and you said yourself that his behavior has improved. If you don't think he should be on medication then that is your choice, not the teachers.
Sorry, not much help.
hi Debi
My son is on ritalin aswell . He doesn't lick his fingers but chews everything in
site and it hasn't stopped
but i did tell the doctor about it and he said it had nothing to do with his adhd or ritalin.
It is something you should mention to your doctor if it's only started since his been on ritalin .
I've heard nothing but positive things about this Goji juice. Has it become available in regular stores yet or is it still available only through independant distributors? Glad to hear it is helping him, and if he can be successful without the meds, what a bonus as well. Way to go!I wouldn't be quick to jump to OCD, unless its affecting his ability to cope every day, and get done what needs to be done. My 16 old has always had mild weird repetitive beh.s when on the meds. -chewing on coat/things, picking cuticles, rubbing nose, flattening hair, pulling on his shirt. They changed frequently, but I've noticed other kids on ritalin and they have similar little tics- I believe its a side affect of the med.One of my boys went through a horrible finger-licking period when he was about 7 as well. Was not on any type of medication either. It gradually just kind of faded away until one day we realized he hadn't done it in days. He's 9 now and hasn't done it in over a year. Hopefully, your boy will outgrow it. I do understand how awful it is for you, though - you hope other kids and grownups won't see him as a "germ" factory! No one except us seemed to notice, though. We just encouraged him to wash his hands a LOT.
My two boys are on Omega 3s (Effelex here is Canada) as well as Magnesium, if that helps. I have no real opinion either way - I have a friend whose daughter has been helped tremendously by being put on Concerta. I just wish my health care provider would cover the cost of alternative medicine!