which meds for ADHD work for you?

Danna - posted on 01/18/2010

My daughter is also 8. She has been on a variety of different meds since she was 6. We finally tried a relatively new drug called Vyvanse about 9 months ago and it is the best one yet. It is not perfect, but it is the only one that she doesn't have a rebound effect from when it wears off. In fact, I was recently diagnosed with ADD (at 40 years old) and am taking Vyvanse too. What a difference it is making in my life!

Kelly - posted on 01/15/2010

hi Jen
I am the mother of a 10 year old ADHD child. I have tried a wide range of meds but have found concerta xl the best for us as its a 1 a day as slow release and lasts upto 12 hours. I was like you in the beginning and questioned the use of meds for kieran but when we tried them it was better all round ..he was calmer, he could concentrate more and he seemed happier in himself. Taking all this into account i think for my family medication was the best way to go, but in the end if you give it a try and its not for you at least you will know.

regards kelly

Jackie - posted on 01/15/2010

My 14 yr old has been on Metadate CR, successfully, but it stopped being effective last year, and it also was interfering with his growth. He is now on Concerta, and it so far has not seemed to impede his growth, but it does kill his appetite for 8 hrs or so. He has had a side effect of nervous ticks, but he is aware of them and tries to control himself. He takes a mood stabilizer in conjuction with his ADHD med as well, and it has helped with his attitude immensely. He tried Strattera but it made him so moody and almost violent, so I would be very careful with that particular drug.
Best of luck to you, and I hope you find a regimen that works well for you.
-Jackie

Patricia - posted on 01/14/2010

my 8 yr old son now takes addrell xr 10 mg,is this a low dose,he has adhd & odd,and his behavior at the beginning &the end of the school yrs r descent(i think because they r,easier&laid back)but the in betweens i dont know what 2 do,almost everything i find on the internet 2 read wants money,ive took him 2 therypist,&different counseling,it all seems as a joke,does anybody know of real sloutions for a normal family,i know that adhd isnt normal,but regardless hes going 2 grow up in a real world & i have 2 raise him for that.

Nicole - posted on 01/12/2010

With the exception of the Vyvanase, my son has tried just about all the other medications mentioned above and the only one that doesn't have any destructive side effects for him is Focalin XR. Now after several years, he is on the highest dosage allowed and this year Guanfacine was added as a booster and that combination works fairly well. Now if we could just get the teenage hormones under control.....

Jennifer - posted on 01/12/2010

My son in 6 and was diagnosed with ADHD in kindergarten when he was 5. We also have been on several meds but as of Nov. 2009 his Dr. prescribed Intuniv a brand new ADHD medication, he stayed on Datrayna 10 mg patch for the first few weeks, then we went to 2 mg Intuniv with Datrayna and that was to much so we took him off of the Daytrana and he is doing ok on Intuniv 2 mg. At his med check we will go up to the recomended 3 mg doseage on Intuniv and from what Ive seen it should be Great!!! Intuniv is also NOT a controlled substance, like most the other ADHD meds are so once they are on it and stableized a refill can be called in for you, no more going to the Dr. once a month for a handwritten script! That in itself is awesome!!!! Also- he is eating and sleeping just fine- Intuniv has about a 12 hr time frame so 12 hrs from the time it is given they get sleepy, I have just had to adjust that to where I give it to him right before he goes to school and he gets sleepy right around bedtime!

Samantha - posted on 01/12/2010

hi there. i myself am adhd and as such so is my daughter who is also aged 8. she was diagnosed at the age of 3. after alot of drs advices and attempts to try all those tried and tested methods that all the drs recommend we tried our daughter on a medication. unfortunately this did not seem to work. if anything she lost her personality and became (for want of a better phrase) zombiefied. we then sat with our daughter during one of her calmer moments and had a "serious conversation". we all sat on the floor and stated what was acceptable and what was not, but we also came to and agreement that we would use stickers (as this is what she loves and has plenty of, maybe you could try marbles in a jar) to reward her in anything throughout the day. such as being nice to pets, sitting still for a short period of time, not temper-tantruming, not being destructive and so on. the things that she herself found difficult and if she managed to achieve them then she earnt the sticker. at first we found a low aim of about 5 a day and at the end of each day if she achieved the total weather some were removed by herself (when we informed her that what she was doing was not in line with the agreed behaviour). as long as at the end of the day she still had 5 stickers then she would have a choice from a little goodie bag (doesnt have to be expensive. some little poundshop goodies) of 1 thing that would not be took off her after she had earned it. we then as she grew acustomed to the routine and got a little bit wiser, extended it to 2 days of good behaviour and 10 stickers a day. we as it stands now have a weekly treat and pocket money earned just keeping room tidy and being helpful, taking dishes to kitchen and so on. suffice to say she is doing well. we do on occasion have a off day, but on the whole we have found that she is more able herself to control her adhd, than i was at her age. it wasnt until i came off my medication myself aged 17 that i then had to teach myself to control it, and i suffered a great deal trying at such a late stage to achive that. i do hope that this is of benifit to you. just one more quick thing, my daughter according to my mother is about 25 times worse than i was at my worst. it can be done and i alone can understand how hard it is, but individualising to your son what will work for him is my very best advise. stay away from medication unless it really is the very last resort. good luck and please let me know how you get on. there is always someone to talk to here if you need me. sam.xx

Amy - posted on 01/12/2010

My son is 10 going on 11 and we have tried every medication that is possible. He has been diagnosed since he was 3, so it has been a long road. He also has Oppositional Defiant Disorder, which causes him to not take authority well at all. He is on Vyvanse right now, which doesn't seems to be changing things much differently than the Concerta, but he is on a low dose. So your not the only one that has been struggling with this! My main thing is, don't let him think that it's "Magic Medicine". the teachers made the mistake of doing that with my son, and now if he has a bad behavior, its the medicine that is not working. That's his excuse for his behavior. Be in constant contact with the teachers so you know what is going on when you are not there because they have to and like to use easy ways out to make it easier for them! This will hurt your son in the long run. He will learn bad habits quick and trying to break them is very hard! Good luck and be patient, and don't just let the doctors talk you into doping him up, the medicine might be the cause of the problem. Alot of doctors over medicate and most parents don't see it.

Shelly - posted on 01/11/2010

Megan started taking Adderall XR 5mg once daily but she also takes 1/2 a pill of Tenex or Guanfacine 3 times a day with that to help her with her ADHD. I like Adderall XR it has helped with her focus, the only side effect is that it has decreased her appetite drastically. She usually only eats a couple of bites for lunch and has a really good dinner because the Adderall has worn off, hope that helps you.

Mary - posted on 01/11/2010

My daughter has ADHD and now so does my step-son (who happens to be my daughter's half-brother), both of them use Strattera. I find Strattera to be the best medication for ADHD on the market, it does not have any steroid in it and as my step-son gets older and gains weight we have to increase his medicine dosage.

Some parents don't like their children taking a steroid, Concerta, Dexedrine, Ritalin and Aderall all have a steroid base, which can alter your child's personality when they are on it. These medications also can suppress their appetites.

My daughter is 22 years old and a new mother and doing great, and my step-son is 13 and also doing well on Strattera.

Pamela - posted on 01/11/2010

MY SON WAS ON CONCERTA FOR TWO YEARS AND IT WORKED GREAT FOR A WHILE WITH A FEW SIDE EFFECTS LIKE NOT EATING, POOR GROWTH AND CONSTANT COMPLAINING OF STOMACH ACHES. BUT IT CONTROLLED HIS BEHAVIOR TILL HE GREW RESISTANT TO IT, WE HAVE ALSO TRIED STRATTERA, WITH NIGHT TERRORS AS A SIDE EFFECT, AND RITALIN WITH CONSTANT CRYING AND WHINING, hE IS NOW STARTING FENTALIN??? HOPEFULLY WITH NONE OF THE SIDE EFFECTS. i HAVE ALSO TRIED SEVERAL HERBAL OR NATURAL REMEMDYS FROM A HEALTH STORE AND NOT REALLY ANY EFFECT AT ALL. HE ALSO HAS OTHER ISSUES LIKE OCD, ODD, AND DYSPRAXIA THAT ALL SEEM TO GO ALONG WITH THE ADHD, HOPE THIS HELPS

Tatinya - posted on 01/11/2010

Hi Jennifer,

It is hard to know what to do. I struggled with putting my girl on medication. We tried Concerta. It works very well for her. I saw a difference in her school work in a week. We still have a structured school and chore time. I use a star chart and she gets a star for finishing her work and chores well and on time. At the end of the week she gets a reward depending on the amount of stars for the week. We pick the rewards. We have had to increase her dosage of concerta. 36mg a day. We can go up one more and than I think she is maxed out. Her math is up to a C and it is was at an F! Hang in there. It does get better. You might have to try a few medications but you will find the right one. You know your child and you will be able to tell when they are fuctioning better! I hope that helps. If you ever need to talk, I am here.

Nikki - posted on 01/11/2010

Try giving them a cup of coffee in the morning. I know it sounds crazy, giving a hyper kid more caffiene but caffiene works the opposite on ADHD kids. It calms them down. I have 3 boys with it and I tried the meds. Didnt work. Now I deal with them being hyper till I cant anymore and thats when the coffee comes out lol.

Kyann - posted on 01/10/2010

my daughter is 8 & my son is 6 both of them have adhd, our doctor has put them both on the daytrana patch..school is now going well they pay attention in class & can concentrate on individuial work & not have the urge to get out of their seats & roam the classroom..it is wonderful & i recomend trying it especially if they have trouble swallowing a pill.

Melissa - posted on 01/10/2010

I have a friends son who takes concerta and has for years. He does well on it but its a time released med so it takes a bit longer to kick in in the morning. He takes a very ow dose of adderall in the morning with it so he has something in him. ( Its very ugly before meds kick in) I have ADD and tried strattera. It made my concentration better but i felt like i was in a box. If I was doing something I was concentrating so hard that it wouldnt register someone was talking to me. It also made the outside noise sound odd. I dont know if it normally does that or if it was because im an adult. But every med will act diff. on everyone.. It depends on how you matabolize it. I just put my dd on meds. I finally decided i would try it and if i didn't like then she didn't have to continue taking them. Good luck!!!!

Melissa - posted on 01/10/2010

is this approved for kids that young? My DD is 4. She has been taking adderall for a little over a month. We just went back for a follow up and they changed her meds because it wasn't really helping. They put her on Adderall XR but im waiting for a prior aproval before she can try it. Does it bother her appatite? The adderall messes with her app. too. She only weights 31 lbs even before the meds.

Melissa - posted on 01/10/2010

I have felt the same way about meds all my life. But when my son, 6 yrs old, got into school with his ADHD I knew I had to do something. He was getting into a lot of trouble every day and even got kicked of the bus. But no matter what I did, nothing worked. So his psych put him on Concerta and right away there was a HUGE difference. He listens better. He doesn't get into truble any moe. He hasn't had any problems in school in more than two weeks!!!! I love Concerta. It's time release. So he takes it at about 6am and it wears off around 4. So it's working all through school and through homework time! It's wonderful. It's been a blessing for our family.

Chanel - posted on 01/10/2010

me, my 7 yr old son, as well as my 10 yr old brother all have adhd and add for myself i've taken focalin, adderall xr and regular adderall but for me adderall works very well, now my 7 yr old son he has taken vyvanse and focalin the vyvanse had him picking his eyelashes out and eyebrows out so he was switched to focalin and the same side effect happened so now he is taking adderall as well and it has not had any side effects on him the only thing is his dosage has had to get moved up about 2 to 3 times now my little 10 yr old brother was just diagnosed with add last week and he takes vyvanse and him hisself notice the change in his focus and attention level so far it's working for him so sometimes it takes a lot of changes on the meds before you finally get the right meds that will work so just be patience and you will finally get the right meds for you

Monica - posted on 01/10/2010

my son has been on meds since he was 9. they tried adderall, concerta, adderall xr, and finally now he is on vyvanse. This has been the best med so far. It works all day even through homework. Hope this helps.

Karen - posted on 01/10/2010

my son is now almost 16yrs old and has been on concerta off and on since he was 10. it worked wonders for him through elementary and middle school... now, we have decided to work with him through high school without meds and is doing okay. i think concerta was a great gateway for him to see how it is to feel normal and not be distracted all the time. also, being on concerta helped him prove to himself that he is smart and can get his work done. i think it saved him... and me :)

Donna - posted on 01/10/2010

My son was diagnosed at the age of 5 and we have been on all the meds of strattera, adderall, and concerta. He has build up a tolerance to each of these, He is currently on Focalin XR in the am and a booster dose in the afternoon to help with his homework. It has not affected his growth, but does have a affect on his appetite. He is currently 10 and been on this med for almost 3 years and is doing well.

Christine - posted on 01/10/2010

My son is now 12, started medication at age 4 or so, started off with amphedimine salts, then focolin, then aderall, then vyvance, now concerta, he takes an over the counter melatonin at bed time to sleep (i strongly reccomend this all natural aid if you need help at bed time) He was diagnosed with ADHD/ODD, and an anxiety disorder with some super sensitive something (tags in clothes, bumps in socks, certain material bothers him to the point where he will not wear or touch things) You will need to try different things, so far the Concerta has been good for him. Of all the meds we have tried Vyvance was the worse one for him, was very zombie like on that. Just remember 2 of the biggest things when dealing with our children besides the meds...1-behavior therapy=counseling, this helps with goals/consequences and working through the feelings they are having and how to appropriately show their anger,frustration etc. and 2-You as the parent have to set up boundries and schedules and STICK to them no matter how much they fight with you about it!! It is damn hard but these I have found almost work better than the meds. Hope this helps a little bit. Stay strong!

Andrea - posted on 01/10/2010

I know it is a scary decision, but in the long run I think it truly helps those that are clinically diagnosed with ADHD. My son is almost 13 and he has been using concerta for about 5 years now on and off. The only real side effect that I have notice is that it hurts his stomach the first day or two after he hasn't taken it. He takes 36mg with a 24 hr push during the week for school purposes only. This is so when he gets home he can continue to focus on his homework. The regular tends to where off right after school and then he is doomed when he gets home and homework takes forever for him to accomplish. He rarely takes it on the weekends or in the summer so he can just go out there and be a kid. Really it is up to your child's body and how it is going to react to the medication. It may take a couple of tries to get the right dosage and right meds. Don't give up though!

Kathleen/Deborah - posted on 01/10/2010

Hi Jennifer, , , you are a a very strong woman! ADHD is a powerful diagnosis. . . it somewhat controls our children. We must be their advocate. I feel out of all the medications that have been prescribed to my son who now is 15 has been VyVance! This is the TOP! It is fairly new on the market BUT seems to have a longer attention span. It stays in the system longer . . . my son has shown improvement over the past 5 months of taking it.. It has helped him in school focus, concentrate and complete homework. I will keep you in my prayers that GOD lead you to the appropriate dosage of the medication that best suits your son.

By the way: My neice's daughter is about the same age of yours. She is on CONCERTA and I have seen a MAJOR CHANGE!!!

April - posted on 01/09/2010

alot of doctors will tell you that a non stimulant is good but sometimes you have to use stimulants and so far the one i have found that works the best is Adderall my daughter takes it and it helps her ( when she remembers to take it ) lol shes 14

Nicole` - posted on 01/09/2010

My daughter is 10 and has ADHD and she has been on Concerta for almost 2 years. She does really well with it, but of course there are some side effects to it. The side effects vary, depending on the child and with her, they actually change, but I think that this is the best thing for her. She does so much better in school and at gymnastics. Even she likes the way she acts better, with the medication. She started out with the 18, then moved to 27, then 36. But, when she took the 36, she didn't want to eat. It controlled her hyperness better, but she lost weight quickly because she wasn't eating at all. So, after about a month on the 36, we had to drop her back down to 27. She does also have to take Melatonin, just 1mg, nightly so that she can go to bed. If she doesn't take it, then she won't go to sleep until 2am.



While you are at the doctors this week, you might want to also ask your doctor about Melatonin, to help your son sleep. You can buy it at any grocery store, but where we live in MD, I found Giant to have the best price. It is in the Vitamin isle.



Here is a link to Concerta's website and it actually has a coupon for a free month, which is a GREAT deal!!!!!



http://www.concerta.net/children/about-a...



Good luck!

Amy - posted on 01/09/2010

My son is on Daytrana it is a patch and I love it, it works so well for him and he doesnt have to take a pill:)

Stephanie - posted on 01/09/2010

My oldest is 11 and Strattera has been a wonderful for him. I tried for a long time not to do the meds, but he has been an A B student ever since, so happy with the results. My second has Autism with ADHD and the Strattera worked but made him feel itchy and he was scrathing sores all over himself, so he is on Concerta and it works well. My husband asked me if it's worth it, so took him off over the holiday break while we were on a road trip. We didn't make it an hour down the road and he was asking if I brought the meds!! Definate difference. I am looking into trying a new diet that many seem to have success with. It is CGFG (Casien Free Gluten Free). Found some nice cookbooks to try out, but don't have any news on that yet.

Ruth - posted on 01/08/2010

My son is ADHD and is fourteen now. It has been a long road which we continue to traval everyday. He has been on concerta for years now and it has been an absolute blessing. I can see the difference in him within the hour. Meds was the most difficult decision I have ever made but I have learned over time that it is in my son's best intrest. He would have complete meltdowns and his friends were getting scared of him because he was "different". He knew he was different too so the meds helped him cope. This helped him make friends and get his school work done. So, I recommend finding the right drug for your child to help them cope like their peers. It took us years to find the right med and there was times that I thought it would never end.

Elenice - posted on 01/08/2010

Hello!!!!!!!!!
I already tried all medicatins with my son and for hGabriel the best one is concerta

Michelle - posted on 01/08/2010

Hi Jen
I know where you are at I was in the same boat a few years ago......my son is on Risperadal and adderall which works really well for him. My nephew is on concerta and my brother seems happy with the way it is working for him. The biggest thing to look at is once you have made a choice keep track of what changes you see in the behavior do you like the person they are becoming but give the meds at least a week to regulate as I hated my son the first week he was on his, because I was used to a child who basically bounced off the walls his playing in his room quietly and non destructively was a little hard for me to deal with but by the end of that first week I got used to the change and realized my fun loving little boy was still there just in a calmer package

Micah - posted on 01/08/2010

I have a son that will be 8 in May and he's got ADHD with traits of autism. He's been on dexedrine before and I didn't like it. When he was on it, he used to get this "glazed" look in his eyes that would give him a look like he wasn't there. I hated it. He's been on Adderall though for quite some time and that seems to work best for him. He also takes Clonidine (to control his aggression) and Risperdal (to help him with anger outbursts and it helps him sleep at night). He's never been on the Concentra or the Strattera, but I've heard positive things about the Concentra. I've actually thought of having the doctor try putting my son on it because the Adderall works, but it does make him fall asleep in the mornings at school and I don't want him to miss things that he could be learning. The only advice that I really have for you is PLEASE don't let the medication steal your son from you....if the meds make him not seem himself, make the doctor change it. I don't know how well it's proven, but I did hear something about adding blueberries to their diet helps to control behavior as well. I'm currently testing the theory to see if it helps or will work. All I know is, it can't hurt or make things harder!! I wish you the best of luck and if you ever have any more questions you would like to ask me, my e-mail address is cagedwolf29@yahoo.com.

Best Wishes, Micah :)

Jennifer - posted on 01/08/2010

Thank you, Tylur gets his heart tested on Monday, so I will have to tell the doctor what I am going to do a couple days later. It has been so nice of everyone to give me their stories. I will take everyones advice into concideration and I know have more questions to ask my doctor, which is good. I had no idea what to ask before or what I was going to do. I will ask about meds on the weekends.

Michelina - posted on 01/08/2010

I am of the school of thought that any meds you take youre body grows used to. That said I also feel that my sons body needs a break from the amphetamine once in a while. I do see a huge difference in his behavior. But since I am his Mom I deal with it, better me than him getting in trouble at school. Besides I dont want to have to increase the dosage if I dont have to. lower is better if it will work. The higher dosage makes him irritable

Nina - posted on 01/08/2010

My grandson in also ADHD and has been diagnosed with it since he was 6. He is now almost 12. I agree with all the other posts that you are the one to be able to tell what works best for your child. The only thing I worry about is not giving the meds on weekends, holidays, etc. My childs doctor said it was not good for him to stop the meds, even for the weekend. Ask your doctor's child what is best for him.

Kelly - posted on 01/08/2010

I do not take my son off his medication on weekends or holidays. I see a difference in him without the medication even for a day and he can not stayed on task or focused even in his everyday reasoning without it. My advice would be to see how he does on it and consult with his pediatrican.

Michelina - posted on 01/08/2010

My son has been on concerta for 3 years now ( 18mg) and it was the best thing I ever did for him. Before he was started on it he got into trouble everyday at school, and i had the principal calling me at least 3-4 times a week. It's very frustrating, I know. But it will be the best thing you can do for your child in the long run. Besides they outgrow ADHD . just make sure you have the dosage correct. The 27 is too much but the 18 works well. I also keep him off the meds on weekends and for school breaks.

I wish you the best, and remember there are other Mom's out there who are having a hard time with thier kids, it is not you doing a bad job as a parent.

Kelly - posted on 01/08/2010

My son is 12 years old and I was told when he was 2 that he had ADHD. I passed that off as he was just an active 2 year old BOY. I wish I had listened because it would have saved him a lot of frustration. I was told through his school years that he was a nudge, he has issues with being very impulsive, couldnt focus or sit still in his seat. Finally last year he had an episode with school and boy did I wish I would have listened. He takes Concerta 54 mg. He is doing 110% better. He is so much happier. He made honor roll this year for the first time ever. He hands in his papers. He is able to think more clearly and think before he speaks. Of course, he is 12 and he still has a 12 year old attitude but he is so much better. I thought he would be a zombie and lose his personality but he did not. At first, he did not eat as much as usual but that is picking back up a little.
If you see there is a problem and it has been documented by a doctor, I would not delay any further. I did. and I felt very guilty because I felt like a lot could have been avoided, but God has a reason for everything. Good with with your decision.

Nicci - posted on 01/07/2010

i was in the same boat you are i didnt know about starting the meds finally i put my 6 yr old on focalin it is a mild low dose and with the fish oil works great. i also have him on a natural vitamin at gnc choline also called brain food its a natural vitamin for add. he has done wonderful on it in school and at home. he has been on it since the beging of the school year.

Shannon - posted on 01/07/2010

My son was first diaganosed at four, he is now seven, with ADHD and we tried 4 or five different kinds of medicine including, vyvvance, focalin, and concerta. All of them took away his appetite and his personality so I took him off of everything for awhile. Back in September we took him to his regular pediatrician and she prescribed Daytrana which is a patch and not a pill. His teacher said she noticed a marked improvement the first day, and he hasn't lost his appetite or his personality. Within the first couple weeks his focus had made a 100 percent improvement and he was able to sit still in his class and get all his work done everyday!! I would strongly suggest to any parent to ask your doctor about Daytrana, it worked best for us, and there is no pill to swallow!!

Michelle - posted on 01/07/2010

My son was diagnosed at 6yrs old. I refused to medicate. I quit my job and tried to make my sons world comfortable and stable for him. His grades improved and our family life improved. At ages 9-10 he would come home and have tearful fits. He was having trouble making and retaining friends. This was something I could not help with. We finally gave in to having him medicated. The first med. did not work at all. But then the neurologist gave us Vyvanse. He has been doing great and has lots of friends now. We also do fish oil Omega 3-6-9. It helps.

Jennifer - posted on 01/06/2010

I am glad to hear meds do work and my son won't be so stressed out anymore. He gets so upset with himself. He is so unfocused and it will be nice to see him be able to stay focused. Thanks again for all your stories and help.

Marion - posted on 01/06/2010

My now 13 year old daughter is on 54 mg of concerta and 5 mg of ritalin. The ritalin is not used much, it is just to help, if needed after school so she can do her homework. The forst thing they put her on was aderael and well we did not like that at all, she was like a space case and very lethergic. So we went on to try concerta. That has worked well, now we just deal with her stubborness. We have another daughter who has ADD and with her she was never put on meds so when our youngest got ADHD we did not want to have her on any meds, but again the ugly side of ADHD came out and if we wantted her to do well in school we had to help her with meds. Just remember you know your son best and if he is not acting right try something else.
Good luck!

Janet - posted on 01/06/2010

My son is 18, diagnosed with ADHD at 16. He's on Vyvanse and we both can see the positive changes! He is still growing and the Vyvanse hasn't stunted his growth any.

Jennifer - posted on 01/06/2010

My son was 4 when we found out that he has adhd when he was in preschool he would hit an kick an throw chairs at the teachers an students now that he was put on metadate he is doing so well an he is not zombieish an his eatting habits havent changed he seems to have more control of his body also im so happy for him

Jennifer - posted on 01/06/2010

My son is alittle guy already and I am scared that the meds will slow his growth. Is this common with all the meds or just some? Thanks for telling me about what you guys going though it helps me to know what I am going to go though or what I should look out for. I have to take my son for a electrocardiogram to test his heart and then make a choice on what to start him on and everyone telling me there stories helps and makes this a little less scarry.

Jennifer - posted on 01/06/2010

I have a 9 year, who was diagnosed when he was 4 and we have had a time with his Meds, he has tried a few of them, so far we have had the best luck with CONCERTA, of course every child is different, My 6yr old was also diagnosed ADHD when he was 4, but he has a mild case compared to my 9yr old, He is on Aderall XR, both of my children also take a medicine to help them sleep.....

Linda - posted on 01/05/2010

My son is almost 14 now. He was diagnosed when he was 7 and put on Stratera. He did well with it but had no appetite and wasn't growing at a normal pace ( for him). His skin also had a pasty gray color, so I took him off after 3 years. He did great for a long time, grew like a weed and had a great appetite. But as puberty hit, so did the ADHD, in full force. Last year his doctor suggested Vyvance. It has been a God-send. My son is so much happier, he really feels the difference when he's on it or off it... he still has a reasonable appetite and is still growing like a weed. I would strongly suggest it for successful treatment of ADHD. Sign me, a Happy Mom

Jennifer - posted on 01/05/2010

Thank you for all your help and advice I am so lost as this is new to me and I don't know anyone else with a child with ADHD. Just like you Jen I did fish oil and it helped a bit but not enough but I should try it with meds maybe it will help keep the dose low. Kelly I was wondering if wetting the bed is an other symptom of ADHD? My son still has bad problems with this and if it is I will be glad if the meds can help him with that aswell.

Kelly - posted on 01/05/2010

My daughter was just recently diagnosed and the doctor gave me samples of Intuniv 1mg to try. My lil girl is 3 and the meds HAVE to be swallowed whole because they are time released. It took a couple of days but on the third day she finally swallowed it!!! For the first two weeks she was VERY sleepy at times. I could immediately tell a difference though. After the meds got into her system, it kind of leveled out and she's not sleepy now and the meds work sooooo good!! She was peeing in her pants everyday, jumping nonstop, running in circles all day, screaming, throwing things, very mean and hateful, not listening to a word I said.....and now she has not had an accident since she started the meds, listens to me (for the most part, she's 3), pays attention instead of running in circles, doesn't throw things anymore, no screaming all day, and she is sooo loving now! She will come up to me all the time, hug me and say "I love you mommy"!! She never did that before! That is my favorite part of the change in behavior! Intuniv was just approved in November 2009. It is a non stimulant and works with the receptors in the brain. I love it! You might ask your doctor about it. Good luck! I hope you find something that works for him!