Teenager with ADD,is driving me to a heart attack.

Sonia - posted on 02/12/2011

My son put me through tough mornings and refusing to go to school in 8th grade, and I was at my ends wit. How I got through that time were establishing consequences and speaking with the school on how to handle him if he doesn't go to school. So what I would do were take all his privileges such as iPod, left him with 2 shoes2pants, shirt, etc. Literally a room with no door and pretty much was empty. It was tough love, but it worked. All these items were removed for short period of time, and he would have to work to get it back. As far as school, I would go with him from class to class if I had to and he hated it. Mostly because his friends liked me and could not figure out why he painted this horrible image of me. So when he workef on getting up and ready to go to school on time, i would reward him with small stuff like making his favorite dish to buying a song from itunes. Well now he is 16 and is the first to get up and ready for school on the am. Occasionally he gets grumpy, but then I remind him it's not worth the consequences and he snaps out of it. Hopefully this helps.

Fannie - posted on 01/26/2011

Talk to his doctor , if she writes a new prescription and tells why she is changing him... the insurance will cover it... my son is on HEALTHY OPTIONS.. and I have had his meds switched as one stopped working... if the other med worked better then they can switch him back... my son also takes clonidine (normally used for high blood pressure) but in our case , for SLEEP, most A.D.D. meds will not allow normal patterns of sleep... and since he is at the highest dose , they added melatonin.. that you can get from any food supplement store... the combo really helps him... if he doesnt take it , he is up all night , literally... he is 13... ALL A.D.D. meds have to be re-evaluated as the child grows... it is definately a medication that the dosage goes according to the childs weight... so if your child gains weight ... the med may not work as effienciently.. if the child loses weight , same thing.... its not one of those meds you put them on and then thats it... it needs to be re-evaluated... look for behaviors... for instance , when my son starts getting in alot of trouble at school... that is a sure sign that he needs to be re-evaluated... Good luck to you

I would definately get him re-evaluated by his doctor and also get him connected with a behavioral counselor asap, YOU ARE GONNA NEED IT... ESPECIALLY THUR THE TEEN YEARS...

Kathy - posted on 01/26/2011

I'm sorry you and he are facing this problem. Mornings can be very tough.
First, sympathize with your son in the afternoon or evening, when you both have calmed down. He is wrong to yell at you--and I would say that, calmly--but you also can say that you understand how hard it is to be very tired and have to go somewhere. Discuss with him what might help him sleep. Ask him for ideas. You might have him look over the suggestions at ADDitudeMagazine's website, for example:
http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/...

Talk with your nephew's doctor about these effects from Strattera. Sometimes a doctor can run interference around the bureaucrats for you. Statera and Adderall are very different, so he may be able to make a case for authorizing Adderall.
Because that can take time, also review the sleep problem with the doctor. Was nephew supposed to go from 25 mg straight up to 80? What time is the last dose of the day taken? Is your nephew getting screen time (TV, Computer, video) last hour before bedtime? That makes it harder to sleep.

Debbie - posted on 01/26/2011

Can you not go back to your doctor and tell them what is happening and explain that his previous medication worked for him and this one isn't, my son was on strattera it is an awful med, he was very tired and tearful and had bad mood swings while on it and he wouldn't eat.

Timeko - posted on 01/26/2011

Hey let's work on you first........ sit tdown, close your eyes inhale slowly and exhale slowly about 5 - 7 times. Now i have a question , his med has a side effect of making him sleepy? Why not give it to him later.